Listen to Paul McCartney’s First-Ever Official Duet With Ringo Starr: A Long-Awaited Reunion For Beatles Fans Worldwide
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Capitol Records officially released Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr’s first ever standalone duet, titled “Feet on the Ground,” on October 16, 2024, marking a historic moment for rock music and Beatles fans across generations. For over 60 years, the two surviving members of The Beatles have collaborated on group projects, guest features on each other’s solo albums, and one-off live performances, but this marks the first time they have recorded and released a track credited exclusively to the pair.
McCartney first wrote the upbeat, warm-toned track earlier this year while drafting material for his upcoming 27th solo studio album, and has shared in recent interviews that he immediately thought of Starr once he finished the first draft of the chorus. “The song is all about sticking together through the chaos of life, and there’s no one I’ve walked through more chaos with than Ringo,” McCartney explained in a press statement. The pair recorded the track over three days at Los Angeles’ Henson Recording Studios in late August, with McCartney on bass, piano and lead vocals, and Starr on drums and co-lead vocals. Longtime Beatles producer Giles Martin oversaw the recording session, and noted that the pair’s chemistry remained as electric as it was during the band’s 1960s peak. “They didn’t need sheet music, they didn’t need 10 takes to get the harmonies right, they just fed off each other’s energy the way they always have,” Martin shared.
The track blends classic Merseybeat rhythms, McCartney’s signature melodic bass lines, and Starr’s instantly recognizable understated drum style, with a soaring chorus that has drawn comparisons to late-era Beatles tracks from Abbey Road and Let It Be. In its first 12 hours of release, “Feet on the Ground” amassed over 2.1 million streams on Spotify, topped the iTunes rock charts in 19 countries, and trended at number 1 on global Twitter. McCartney and Starr have confirmed they will perform the track live for the first time at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November, as part of a special tribute segment honoring The Beatles’ 60th anniversary of their first U.S. tour. The pair have also teased that they have recorded two additional collaborative tracks that may be released as part of a joint EP in 2025.
Featured Comments
As a Beatles fan who saw the band play live in 1964, I never thought I’d get to hear a brand new, standalone duet from Paul and Ringo in my lifetime. The harmonies in the chorus gave me actual chills – it sounds like it could have been a lost track from the Abbey Road sessions. Thank you both for this perfect gift after all these years.
I’m 19 and got into The Beatles during the 2020 lockdown, so I never thought I’d get to experience a new Beatles-adjacent release as it dropped until last year’s “Now and Then”, and now this duet. Ringo’s drum line is so classic and distinct, no one else has that same loose, warm style. It’s so cool to see two guys who’ve been friends for 60+ years still making great music together.
As a rock critic who’s covered Paul and Ringo’s solo work for 15 years, this duet is far more than just a nostalgia grab. The songwriting is sharp, the production feels fresh instead of dated, and it’s clear they made this out of love for music and their friendship, not just for streaming numbers. I really hope that teased 2025 EP actually happens, they’ve still got so much to offer.
I cried the first time I played this track. With John and George gone, getting new music from the two remaining Beatles feels like getting a hug from my childhood. I already bought the vinyl pre-order, and I’m flying from London to New York just to see them play it live at the Rock Hall next month. Worth every penny.