Ringo Starr has nailed down a Jan. 15 release date for "Liverpool 8," his first new solo album with Capitol/EMI--proprietors of The Beatles' catalog--since 1974's "Goodnight Vienna."

The name of the album and its title track "refers to the section of Liverpool where I used to live," Starr said in a press release. "The song was actually Dave Stewart's idea, as a mini autobiographical travelogue: 'I was a sailor first ... ' and then, 'Liverpool I left you'--because I did. 'But I never let you down,' which is true."

Starr co-wrote all of the 12 original tracks featured on "Liverpool 8," along with help from his usual group of collaborators: Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Mark Hudson, Sean Hurley, Zac Rae, and Dave Stewart.

"The writing of the records is always the same," Starr said. "It's the same group of guys and we all sit together and write about what's happening.

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