One might not think that the first duet between Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would come 60-plus years after the Beatles were formed. To be fair, Starr harmonized a bit on some of the iconic band's songs, so maybe that counts as a duet? Not really.
So, we music lovers should be in for a treat on McCartney's forthcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, due out May 29, when he almost accidentally teams up with Starr on a track called "Home to Us." Starr was initially only supposed to do a bit of drumming, but he got called back in to make the album. Literally.
Was the effort worth it? Will Beatles/McCartney/Ringo fans be happy with what the pair, as well as the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, produced? Well...
How good is the Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr duet, "Home to Us"?
To be fair, a McCartney album dedicated to a reflection of his boyhood in Liverpool would have gone amiss if it hadn't had Starr on it in some form. Sir Paul clearly understands that, too. Hence, Starr is a part of making one of the songs on the record. In the greater scheme, it makes sense.
Specifically to "Home to Us," the sound is rich, of course, and jaunty. This isn't modern pop so much as a 21st-century take on what a B-side Beatles might be. That isn't meant to be disrespectful either. The truth is, a Beatles B-side from the 1960s is still better than any of the music made then or in the sixty years since.
The tune begins with a bouncy beat, and McCartney chimes in with his classic vocal style. While the lyrics are admittedly reflective and now Auden-esque, they are good enough to fill in. The Beatles weren't so much about being Bob Dylan, of course, but creating music that rose above Dylan's poetry because the entire track was fuller.
For sure, nothing is wrong with the song. It's finely produced, clean, and well-written. One wonders, though, if Ringo Starr needed to play a part. His addition makes sense as he and McCartney both grew up in Liverpool and formed the Beatles, but McCartney, the true and worthy icon of the duo, could have gone it alone on the track.
Starr's presence almost feels gimmicky. It's fun, but is it memorable? Likely, only because of McCartney's peerless (historically and literally) ability to create a melody. The song holds up because of that, and not because of Starr's involvement.
Chrissie Hynde's part is simply to add depth to the vocals. She is fine, but only deserves, in this specific track, a passing mention.
Overall, the song is fine. One can listen without any guilt, but let's make no mistake here: The tune is worthy because of the excellence of Paul McCartney. Ringo Starr's part could have been done by nearly any competent musician, and the tune would hold up. The connection to the Beatles and Liverpool is almost a drawback.
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