Ken Tucker

Beatle fans have known of Ringo Starr's love of country music ever since he had the Fab Four cover the Buck Owens hit Act Naturally in 1965, singing a rare lead vocal. Look Up isn't even Ringo's first country album. That was way back in 1970.

Beatle fans have known of Ringo Starr's love of country music ever since he had the Fab Four cover the Buck Owens hit Act Naturally in 1965, singing a rare lead vocal. Look Up isn't even Ringo's first country album. That was way back in 1970.

Beatle fans have known of Ringo Starr's love of country music ever since he had the Fab Four cover the Buck Owens hit Act Naturally in 1965, singing a rare lead vocal. Look Up isn't even Ringo's first country album. That was way back in 1970.

While producer T-Bone Burnett has written most of the music here, he and Ringo have selected some clever new songs, including a couple by an old pro, Billy Swan. Swan will forever be known for one beautiful number one hit, I Can Help, from 1974. Swan's always charming songwriting yields this lovely interlude called You Want Some.

While producer T-Bone Burnett has written most of the music here, he and Ringo have selected some clever new songs, including a couple by an old pro, Billy Swan. Swan will forever be known for one beautiful number one hit, I Can Help, from 1974. Swan's always charming songwriting yields this lovely interlude called You Want Some.

While producer T-Bone Burnett has written most of the music here, he and Ringo have selected some clever new songs, including a couple by an old pro, Billy Swan. Swan will forever be known for one beautiful number one hit, I Can Help, from 1974. Swan's always charming songwriting yields this lovely interlude called You Want Some.

What makes Ringo such an effective country vocalist? Well, the rhythmic sense that made him a great rock drummer guides the way he phrases, giving a country lyric the air necessary to breathe life into the story it's telling.

What makes Ringo such an effective country vocalist? Well, the rhythmic sense that made him a great rock drummer guides the way he phrases, giving a country lyric the air necessary to breathe life into the story it's telling.

What makes Ringo such an effective country vocalist? Well, the rhythmic sense that made him a great rock drummer guides the way he phrases, giving a country lyric the air necessary to breathe life into the story it's telling.

Freed from the demands of rock and roll volume when singing with the Beatles, Ringo's crooning possesses the kind of relaxed authority that usually only a genius like Willie Nelson or Ray Charles can make sound so easy.

Freed from the demands of rock and roll volume when singing with the Beatles, Ringo's crooning possesses the kind of relaxed authority that usually only a genius like Willie Nelson or Ray Charles can make sound so easy.

Freed from the demands of rock and roll volume when singing with the Beatles, Ringo's crooning possesses the kind of relaxed authority that usually only a genius like Willie Nelson or Ray Charles can make sound so easy.

Ringo spent a good chunk of his post-Beatle career fronting a series of what he calls his all-star bands with a rotating cast of rock stars.

Ringo spent a good chunk of his post-Beatle career fronting a series of what he calls his all-star bands with a rotating cast of rock stars.

Ringo spent a good chunk of his post-Beatle career fronting a series of what he calls his all-star bands with a rotating cast of rock stars.

The 11 songs on Look Up feature less glitzy but no less strong support from Nashville vets like bassist Dennis Crouch, pedal steel player Paul Franklin, and younger budding stars like guitarist-singer Molly Tuttle and bluegrass guitar phenomenon Billy Strings. Strings' most recent album, released late last year, Highway Prayers, has brought him a larger audience than Bluegrass usually attracts.

The 11 songs on Look Up feature less glitzy but no less strong support from Nashville vets like bassist Dennis Crouch, pedal steel player Paul Franklin, and younger budding stars like guitarist-singer Molly Tuttle and bluegrass guitar phenomenon Billy Strings. Strings' most recent album, released late last year, Highway Prayers, has brought him a larger audience than Bluegrass usually attracts.

The 11 songs on Look Up feature less glitzy but no less strong support from Nashville vets like bassist Dennis Crouch, pedal steel player Paul Franklin, and younger budding stars like guitarist-singer Molly Tuttle and bluegrass guitar phenomenon Billy Strings. Strings' most recent album, released late last year, Highway Prayers, has brought him a larger audience than Bluegrass usually attracts.

The biggest guest star on this album is Alison Krauss, with whom Ringo hits an emotional peak on this collection called Thankful.

The biggest guest star on this album is Alison Krauss, with whom Ringo hits an emotional peak on this collection called Thankful.