Ringo finds a home on the range with new country album

Ringo Starr has always seemed most at home on the range.It is my opinion that, had he not become a Beatle, the drummer would have preferred to be a cowboy.His career — both with the Fab Four and beyond — has reflected that.Starr, who will turn 85 in July, just released a solo album in January, called "Look Up."Produced by T. Bone Burnett and featuring guest appearances by Lucius and Alison Krauss, the record is a pleasant collection of country and cowboy songs. The fact that Starr would do a country album isn't shocking. Starr has often performed those songs, such as when he provided the lead vocal on The Beatles' version of Buck Owens' "Act Naturally."What did surprise me is the condition of Starr's voice.While his vocals are certainly not for everyone — his deep baritone sometimes ventures into a cartoonish sound — the voice itself is as strong as ever.And Starr can give a solid — sometimes passionate — performance on the mic.In 1963, on The Beatles' first album, Starr rips through a banger on the group's version of "Boys," a song originally made popular by The Shirelles.Starr also has been effective singing "It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph," solo offerings he co-wrote with bandmate George Harrison.Actually, one of the sweetest moments from the Beatles film "Get Back," released a few years ago, is Harrison essentially guiding Starr as he writes "Octopus's Garden" during 1969 recording sessions.George really brought out the best in Starr as a songwriter and performer.But Starr can hold his own, and he does with his latest release.Ringo manages to get sentimental on his new record, such as on songs like "Time on my Hands" and "Thankful," where he shares the microphone with Krauss in front of soulful slide guitar and his own lively drumming.The thing that stood out to me is that, at this point in his life, Starr can do whatever he wants. He has more money than he can spend, and is one of the certified legends of rock. He doesn't have to keep playing, keep recording.But here he is, making a sweet, friendly country record. The album doesn't wear out it's welcome. "Look Up" only has 11 tracks and runs about 38 minutes in full.The cover photo for the album complements his simple approach: It's just a black and white photo of Starr in a cowboy hat.Many of his contemporaries are gone, but Starr is still going, and still producing material worthy of your time.For all his success and fame, Starr remains a cowboy from Liverpool.And I'm so thankful for that. Zach Baker is sports editor of The Courier and Review Times.