BEATLES MAGAZINE: PAUL McCARTNEY: "RINGO WAS THE FIRST GUY IN THE BEATLES TO TURN US ONTO COUNTRY MUSIC"

Tuesday, 11 March 2025

PAUL McCARTNEY: "RINGO WAS THE FIRST GUY IN THE BEATLES TO TURN US ONTO COUNTRY MUSIC"

Paul McCartney explained how a classic Beatles song came about as he lifted the lid on how Ringo Starr introduced the band to new music. Ringo hosted a concert special on American channel CBS on Monday (March 10) to celebrate his country album 'Look Up', which was released in January.

The show saw Ringo play a number of Beatles classics, including 'With a Little Help From My Friends' and 'Yellow Submarine' as well as new songs from the album. He was joined on stage by a number of stars, such as Sheryl Crow and Jack White.

It also featured a video message from Paul, who spoke about Ringo's long-standing love of country music and the song 'Act Naturally' by Buck Owens, which Ringo sang when The Beatles covered in 1965. 'Act Naturally' follows a narrator who wants to make it big in Hollywood as an actor, which Paul likened to Ringo in the film 'A Hard Day's Night'.

"Ringo was the first guy in The Beatles to turn us onto country music. We were very much into rock and roll but he was heavy into country.
"So, he had a lot of records we didn’t have and he was a big admirer of some of the country stars of the time. So of whom we’d never heard of, I must admit. He goes way back into country music, so it was natural for him when we first recorded for his track to be a cover of the Buck Owens song ‘Act Naturally’."

"You know, it’s the story of Ringo. He came to do the film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and he was the star. He was the one who acted naturally, so he’s got a long love, going way back, of country music and so, it’s great that he’s done a country album and I love him.

"Maybe my favourite song of his would have to be ‘Act Naturally’. Come on."

'Act Naturally' was released on the album 'Help!' by The Beatles in August 1965. They performed it live a number of times, including a 1965 episode of 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and on their US tour the same year. Ringo has continued to play it live regularly since, with his All-Starr Band.

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