5 Albums I Can’t Live Without: Ringo Starr of The Beatles

Ringo Starr reveals his favorite albums that he can’t live without. The Beatles’s drummer Ringo Starr shares his 5 albums of all time.
Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer of the iconic band The Beatles, is a memorable part of music history, his rhythmic beats and characteristic style leaving an eternal mark on the fabric of popular culture. Starr’s musical career began long before the global phenomenon of The Beatles took the world by storm in the 1960s, when he was born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England.
Starr was famous for his unique drumming style, which his constant precision and attractive groove could identify. He was instrumental in shaping the sound and popularity of the Fab Four, contributing to their unequaled musical legacy.
Ringo Starr also earned several awards and honors over his long career, including entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles and for his solo work. His influence as a musician, songwriter, and peace advocate has established his place as a beloved and respected figure in the international music community.
Ringo Starr‘s influence is still felt today, performing as a timeless reminder of the enormous effect that music can have on people and cultures.
Following The Beatles‘ split, Ringo Starr began a solo career that showcased his skills as a vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. His singles, such as “Photograph,” “It Don’t Come Easy,” and “You’re Sixteen,” showed his capability to produce exciting tunes that attracted fans.
Look at Ringo Starr‘s favorite albums that he can’t live without below!
Related: The Top 7 Songs That Ringo Starr Named As His Favorites
Ringo Starr’s Favorite Albums That He Can’t Live Without
The Beatles‘s famous drummer, Ringo Starr, has shared his respect for other musicians too. And Starr picks his favorite albums he can’t live without. Regardless, he loves to listen to different genres but also loves pop, blues, alternative rock, and classical rock musicians, particularly those who influenced him in his musical career.
Which music albums does Ringo Starr listen to?
- “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley
- “Little Richard” – Little Richard
- “Modern Times” – Bob Dylan
- “Fearless” – Taylor Swift
- “Abbey Road” – The Beatles
1. “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley

The 1956 release of Elvis Presley‘s “Hound Dog” record is regarded as a classic turning point in the history of rock and roll. With its electric vocals and dramatic presence onstage, “Hound Dog,” the album’s title track, instantly became a classic and symbol of the essence of rock ‘n’ roll.
The “Hound Dog” album, which featured a variety of country, rockabilly, and rhythm and blues influences, encapsulated Elvis Presley‘s innovative musical approach and brought in a new era of popular music that would affect the genre’s course for decades to come. With hits like “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Blue Suede Shoes,” the album made Presley a cultural icon and established his place as a trailblazing force in the music business.
Accepted by fans worldwide, Elvis Presley‘s “Hound Dog” record shot to the top of the charts, confirming his status as a phenomenon whose influence would go well beyond the borders of the music business.
Ringo Starr shares why he likes Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” as one of his favorite albums he can’t live without:
“I was working in this factory, and I took this girl to the movies because I had no money. The only seats left were two in the front, and we are in the front row and, haha, trying to impress her in the front row.
She worked in the office of the factory I worked in, and, anyway, the date didn’t go well. And I snuck up into her office, and on the dictaphone I recorded ‘Don’t Be Cruel.’ So that’s an important song. And Elvis was the best, Elvis the King.”
2. “Little Richard” – Little Richard

When it came out in 1958, “Little Richard” was the first album by the famous rock and roll pioneer Little Richard.
“Little Richard” is the second record by American musician Little Richard. It came out in July 1958, ten months after Richard said he was leaving rock and roll to become a minister.
Like his first album, it’s mostly made up of A-sides and B-sides that have already been released. Several of them reached the top of Billboard’s Rhythm & Blues and Hot 100 lists.
Nine of its twelve songs made it to the top of the charts in the US. These included “Lucille,” Richard’s fourth million-seller, “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” the rock and roll classic “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” and “The Girl Can’t Help It,” which was the title song for the movie of the same name. Two Tin Pan Alley songs recorded in Richard’s frantic way are among the tracks that have never been released.
The “Little Richard” record, which included electrifying songs like “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” and “Rip It Up,” captured the essence of Little Richard’s wild stage presence and personality, making him even more of a pioneer in the history of popular music.
“Little Richard” had an effect that went far beyond their first release. It influenced a whole generation of singers and is a key part of rock and roll music history.
Ringo Starr reveals why he likes Little Richard’s “Little Richard” as one of his favorite albums he can’t live without:
“England was not playing rock and roll. The BBC were not really playing rock ‘n’ roll. But, there’s this country called Luxembourg, who had this huge antenna, and in Liverpool, we could hear the radio they were sending out. They had The Alan Freed Show, so my mate Roy and I, at four o’clock every Sunday, this is what we did, we listened to this show.
“Little Richard came on, the first time we’d heard him, and we were like ‘Whaaat?’ He was just so great, but what was great because we were young teenagers, he said, ‘Shag on down to the Union Hall!’ Shag on down, you know, it means something different in England. Rock then became a force and Little Richard was always leading it.”
Related: The Beatles Members Net Worth in 2023: Life, Albums and Most Earning Member
3. “Modern Times” – Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan‘s 2006 album “Modern Times” shows how creative he still is, even after all these years. Dylan is one of the most influential people in the history of popular music. As Dylan’s 44th studio record, “Modern Times” shows how he has continued to grow as a master storyteller and poet.
Dylan’s characteristic gravelly vocals carry his deep lyrical insights and social comments on songs like “Thunder on the Mountain” and “Spirit on the Water,” giving “Modern Times” a timeless sense of wisdom and introspection.
The song “Modern Times” is a moving example of Bob Dylan’s artistic growth and his continuing importance as a musical visionary. Its themes include love, death, and the complexity of modern life.
Ringo Starr tells why he likes Bob Dylan’s “Modern Times” as one of his favorite albums he can’t live without:
“We could do this for the rest of the week just on Bob Dylan. This song (‘When The Deal Goes Down’) is really emotional, ‘Maggie’s Farm’ is another one of my faves too.
I did a track in Memphis with Bob. I was doing an album there, and he came up to sing on it, but the album fell apart, and so did we. One thing was the person who was looking out for Bob at that time said, ‘Bob’s gone’, so I said, ‘Where’s he gone?’, ‘Graceland’. I said, ‘That’s good,’ he said, ‘That’s bad’. It depends on which way you look at it.”
Related: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Beatles
4. “Fearless” – Taylor Swift

“Fearless,” Taylor Swift‘s 2008 album, was a turning point in her career. It made her a global star and cemented her place as a major figure in modern pop and country music. As Swift’s second studio album, “Fearless” has all of her signature elements: heartfelt storytelling, catchy tunes, and relatable lyrics. It grabs the essence of teenage heartaches and dreams in a way that makes sense to fans of all ages.
With hits like “Love Story,” “You Belong with Me,” and “Fifteen,” “Fearless” is a perfect summary of Taylor Swift’s coming-of-age story. It shows the ups and downs of young love, friendship, and self-discovery.
Not only did “Fearless” get good reviews, but it also won Swift a lot of awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2010. This made her even more of a powerful force in the music business.
Ringo Starr describes why he likes Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” as one of his favorite albums he can’t live without:
“Taylor Swift. I love Taylor Swift, that’s just how I am. I love her, and you know you can’t doubt the Black-Eyed Peas, that’s pretty powerful. But, there’s hundreds of bands out there. You really can’t, I can’t hear them all. I didn’t all the acts in the ’60s or the ’50s, you know, you have to listen to what you listen to.”
5. “Abbey Road” – The Beatles

The Beatles‘ “Abbey Road,” which came out in 1969, is considered the greatest album ever recorded. It is regarded as a masterpiece of popular music and is the conclusion of the band’s unmatched creative journey and new sound experiments.
George Martin, the music director, was told by Paul McCartney that the group should get together and make an album “the way we used to do it,” without the arguments that started during the sessions for The Beatles (also known as the “White Album“).
Martin agreed, but only if everyone in the band, especially John Lennon, decided to let him make the album the same way he had done previous albums and the rules would be followed.
However, no one was sure it would be the last work by the band. George Harrison later said, “it felt as if we were reaching the end of the line.”
Featuring famous songs like “Come Together,” “Something,” and “Here Comes the Sun,” “Abbey Road” shows how brilliant the band was as a whole, combining rock, pop, and psychedelic styles to make a full and varied soundscape.
“Abbey Road” is more than just a great song. It’s also a cultural touchstone that marks the end of an era for The Beatles and shows that they were one of the most important and innovative bands in the history of popular music.
Related: All The Beatles core albums in order according to chart ranks
Ringo Starr explains why he likes The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” as one of his favorite albums he can’t live without:
“We did do Abbey Road, and we was like, ‘Okay, that’s pretty good’. But none of us said, ‘Okay, that’s the last time we’ll ever play together.’ Nobody said that. I never felt that. We’d made this record, and then we would go off and do whatever we wanted to do. And then Paul would call us and say, ‘Hey, you want to go in the studio lads?’ and we’d do another one.
So it was not the end – because in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make. So I never felt it was in stone.”
What are your thoughts on Ringo Starr‘s favorite albums that he can’t live without? Let us know in the comment section!
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Oh LAWD. Taylor Swift? Ringo, you must have fallen off the wagon.
( Heavy sigh).
What do the Black Eyed Peas have to do with Taylor Swift?