Ringo: “I wanna hold your hand … with my new album”

The Beatle who earned his famous nickname by covering his fingers with rings is now making news with a bracelet. “Liverpool 8,” the new Capitol/EMI album from 67-year-old Ringo Starr, is being released Jan. 15 as a CD, a digital download and also as a “pre-loaded USB wristband” that includes all 12 tracks and a slew of extras, including “a personal video message, interview and track commentary from Ringo Starr, behind-the-scenes making-of footage from the recording sessions, ringtones, photos and more.” (Shouldn't those be "Ringo-tones"?) There’s more details at www.ringostarr.com but this already opens a whole new world of albums-as-accessories. How soon can we buy “Blackout” by Britney Spears in the ankle-monitor format? And how great would be to work toward the weekend by wearing Loverboy’s greatest hits in your headband?

--Geoff Boucher