Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have reunited for their first-ever duet, a track titled "Home to Us" that celebrates their shared upbringing in Liverpool. The collaboration appears on McCartney's upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, produced by Andrew Watt.
At an album listening party in Los Angeles on April 16, McCartney, 83, described how the collaboration came together. "I saw Ringo and said I worked with this guy Andrew," he recalled. "Ringo came over to Andrew's studio and played a little bit of drums."
However, the process wasn't without its hiccups. Watt initially felt Ringo hadn't recorded enough drumming material, leaving him "a little pissed," according to McCartney. The situation grew more complicated when McCartney sent the demo to Starr for vocals, but Starr only sang on the chorus, leading McCartney to believe he didn't like the song.
Fortunately, the misunderstanding was resolved, and Starr returned to add more drums. The result is a heartfelt tribute to their hometown. "Even though where we lived was a little rough, it was home to us," McCartney said.
Beyond being their first duet, the collaboration marks another milestone: as McCartney humorously noted, "Ringo's never done a duet with one of the Beatles."
Starr also shared his enthusiasm during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, explaining the unique recording process. "Paul got the song and then put everything else on it. So it was like in reverse—the drums were on first," he said. "But it's really great. It's amusing, and it's very real, 'cause that's where we come from."
The Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney's 21st solo studio album, is set for release on May 29.