Flaming Pie

''Flaming Pie'' is the tenth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 5 May 1997 by Parlophone in the UK and Capitol Records in the US. His first studio album in over four years, it was mostly recorded after McCartney's involvement in the highly successful ''Beatles Anthology'' project. The album was recorded in several locations over two years, between 1995 and 1997, featuring two songs dating from 1992.

The album featured several of McCartney's family members and friends, most notably McCartney's son, James McCartney featured on electric guitar. In ''Flaming Pies liner notes, McCartney said: "'' he Beatles Anthology' reminded me of the Beatles' standards and the standards that we reached with the songs. So in a way it was a refresher course that set the framework for this album."

''Flaming Pie'' peaked at number two in both the UK and the US and was certified gold. The album, which was well-received by critics, also reached the top 20 in many other countries. From its release up to mid-2007, the album sold over 1.5 million copies. The album was reissued on 31 July 2020 as a part of the ''Paul McCartney Archive Collection'' with bonus tracks, outtakes and demos.

The album is ranked number 988 in ''All-Time Top 1000 Albums'' (3rd edition, 2000).

Background

An early version of " Beautiful Night" was recorded in 1986. "Calico Skies", which McCartney had written when Hurricane Bob had hit while McCartney was staying on Long Island in 1991, and "Great Day", which features backing vocal from his wife Linda McCartney, hailed from a 1992 session, recorded before the 1993 release of album '' Off the Ground''.

Starting from the mid-1990s for four years, McCartney was involved in ''The Beatles Anthology'', a documentary on the history of the Beatles. The documentary was originally titled ''The Long and Winding Road'', named after the Beatles song of the same name. During 1995, as the ''Anthology'' albums were starting to be released over a two-year period, EMI did not want McCartney to release a solo album in the meantime. McCartney said that he "was almost insulted at first" before then realising that "it would be silly to go out against yourself in the form of the Beatles. So I fell in with the idea and thought, 'Great, I don't even have to think about an album.'"

McCartney was occupied with working on his second classical album ''Standing Stone'' in the interim.

Album title

The title ''Flaming Pie'' (also given to one of the album's songs) is a reference to an anecdote that John Lennon told in a humorous story published in magazine '' Mersey Beat'' in 1961 about the origin of the Beatles' name: "It came in a vision – a man appeared on a flaming pie and said unto them, 'from this day on you are Beatles with an A.' "

Recording and structure

Beginning in February 1995, McCartney teamed up with Jeff Lynne, Electric Light Orchestra lead singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer, as well as an ardent Beatles fan. Lynne had previously worked with former Beatle George Harrison on his 1987 album '' Cloud Nine'' and in the Traveling Wilburys, and also co-produced " Free as a Bird" and " Real Love" for the ''Anthology'' project. Intending to produce something pure and easy – and without elaborate productions – McCartney sporadically recorded the entire album in a space of two years, working not only with Lynne, but with Steve Miller. The album also featured George Martin, Ringo Starr and his own son, James McCartney, who plays lead guitar on "Heaven on a Sunday". McCartney wrote the song "Young Boy" while his wife Linda was making lunch for a ''New York Times'' feature on 18 August 1994. McCartney and Miller started recording "Young Boy" on 22 February 1995 in Sun Valley, Idaho

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases