A “one of one” edition of Ringo Starr’s ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’—issued on a unique acetate disc that marks an important advance to analogue playback technology, positioning of musical art in the fine art world.
In 2025, Starr entered the studio to re-record the song with Joseph Henry ‘T Bone’ Burnett III, the Grammy and Oscar winning composer, musician and producer. Unlike the 1967 release of the song from the Beatles, only a single copy of this new recording of ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ will be offered on a groundbreaking, new audio medium that combines the best of the past and the present: the Ionic Original. This new format embodies the depth and resonance of an analogue vinyl record while dramatically improving upon its sonic quality, playability and durability.
The patented technology behind the Ionic Original builds upon advances in nanotechnology and material sciences employing proprietary ion assisted deposition, and other advances in materials science to generate a protective sapphire and quartz gradient coating upon a traditional acetate substrate specifically designed for the superior reproduction and preservation of analog sound. This new hybrid technology yields the ‘holy grail’ for recording artists and audiophiles: a single format that can offer superior sound reproduction, foreign particle resistance, durability, excellent signal-to-noise ratio, longevity, portability, and compatibility with existing playback equipment.
In Burnett’s own estimation, ‘an Ionic Original is the pinnacle of recorded sound. It is archival quality. It is future proof. It is one of one. Not only is an Ionic Original the equivalent of a painting, it is a painting. It is lacquer painted onto an aluminum disc, with a spiral etched into it by music. This painting, however, has the additional quality of containing that music, which can be heard by putting a stylus into the spiral and spinning it.’ The first ever Ionic Original recording of Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin in the Wind’ was sold at Christie’s, London, 7 July 2022 for £1,482,000.
The present recording of ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ presented on the Ionic Original was recorded in 2025 in Los Angeles and Nashville. For this recording, Ringo Starr on lead vocal and drums was joined by Lucius (Jessica Wolfe and Holly Proctor) on harmony vocals. They were joined by Dennis Crouch on Bass, Mike Rojas on Piano, David Mansfield on Electric Guitar, Rory Hoffman on Crypto Clavier, and Colin Linden on Dobro. The song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and produced by T Bone Burnett. It was engineered and mixed by Michael Piersante. Recorded by Michael Piersante and Mike Stankiewicz at The Village West in Los Angeles, CA and East Iris Studios in Nashville, TN, with additional engineering by Karl Wingate. Ringo Starr’s vocal and drums were recorded by Bruce Sugar. It was mixed at Studio Z at The Village by Michael Piersante with Michelle Freetly, and assistance from Eddie Roberts. It was mastered by Gavin Lurssen and Ruben Lurssen at Lurssen Mastering in Burbank, CA. The production coordinator and music contractor was Ivy Skoff.
Sculpted for NeoFidelity’s Ionic Original discs, the bespoke American walnut case holds the one-of-one audio acetate. The lid is milled into its own three-dimensional articulation of the song’s audio wavelength; inside, an aircraft-grade aluminum cradle and fabric bumpers suspend and protect the disc. A recessed metal French cleat on the back lets the piece hang securely and flush on the wall. A work of art to house a work of art.