McCartney and Starr record first duet for new album

In a landmark musical collaboration, former Beatles Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney have released their first-ever duet, titled "Home to Us." This marks the first time the legendary musicians have shared vocal credits on a song since embarking on their respective solo careers more than five decades ago. The track is featured on McCartney's latest album, "The Boys of Dungeon Lane."

“

Well, it’s the first time we’ve ever done it like a couple, we’re both singing it. I’ve sang a few choruses on his tracks. He’s played on my tracks. He’s come over with the bass. It’s not like we don’t know each other.

While Starr and McCartney have collaborated on each other's solo projects numerous times over the years, "Home to Us" is the sole duet on McCartney's new album. Starr expressed his enthusiasm for the reunion, joking to PEOPLE at his birthday event, "It’s not like we don’t know each other." He fondly recalled their time in The Beatles, calling it "the best band ever" and praising McCartney's "incredible" bass playing and songwriting skills.

The song "Home to Us" delves into themes of origin and shared history. McCartney explained that the lyrics reflect "where we came from," drawing parallels to common experiences of starting from humble beginnings. He specifically mentioned Starr's upbringing in Dingle, a tough neighborhood in Liverpool, noting that Starr "used to get mugged coming home, because he worked." McCartney himself grew up in the Liverpool suburbs of Speke and Allerton.

“

I loved it because we were in this band together, and it’s just the best band ever. And Paul, his bass playing is incredible, and he’s a songwriter. I mean, I can go on forever. He’s just a wonderful lad.

"Home to Us" is the second single released from "The Boys of Dungeon Lane," McCartney's 20th solo effort, which came out on May 29. The song opens with McCartney and Starr's voices singing in unison about "the place we used to live" and the "unimaginable places" their lives would eventually take them. It follows the lead single "Days We Left Behind," which McCartney performed on "Saturday Night Live" in May.

“

In writing the song I’m talking about where we came from. In common with a lot of people, you come from nothing and you build yourself up… Ringo was from the Dingle, and that was well hard. He used to get mugged coming home, because he worked. Even though it was crazy, it was home to us.