Driving Rain
Encyclopedia
Driving Rain is the twelfth studio album by Paul McCartney
, recorded and released in 2001 it has now sold 2 million copies globally. It is his first studio album since publicly announcing his relationship with former model and anti-land mine
s activist Heather Mills, whom McCartney would marry in 2002. The cover of the album was taken with a wristwatch that had a built in camera.
s brisk making, Driving Rain — except for two songs — was cut with David Kahne
co-producing in two weeks, starting in February 2001 and with a set of new musicians whom McCartney intended on backing him on tour.
On 11 September 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City
when the terrorist attacks
occurred and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "Freedom" (the simplicity of which greatly recalls John Lennon
's "Give Peace a Chance
") and helped organise (alongside Harvey Weinstein
) The Concert for New York City
, a massive all star show at Madison Square Garden
on 20 October where "Freedom" was performed to a very receptive audience. Impulsively, McCartney halted the pressing of Driving Rain so that "Freedom" could appear as a hidden track (since the artwork had already been printed). The just released, and somewhat daringly uncommercial "From a Lover to a Friend" (which only reached #45 in the UK) was repackaged with "Freedom", though the single failed to re-chart.
In May 2007, McCartney said there are those who ascribe "militant" connotations to "Freedom" and, because of this, his decision to remove the performing of it from his 2007 setlist. although suggesting it could possibly return when he next mounted a US tour. About the song, McCartney added "I thought it was a great sentiment, and immediately post 9/11, I thought it was the right sentiment. But it got hijacked. And it got a bit of a militaristic meaning attached itself to it, and you found Mr. Bush using that kind of idea rather a lot, in a way I felt altered the meaning of the song."
In November 2001, Driving Rain was released to generally strong reviews but stunned many with its very low sales, specially considering that McCartney's previous studio album of original material, Flaming Pie was a Top 2 hit in both the US and the UK. Maybe due to the lack of a hit single to support it, Driving Rain peaked at #46 in the UK, and became McCartney's lowest selling album in his homeland. The US reaction was a little stronger, though still underwhelming, with the album making #26 and going gold. Once again, there were no major US singles for McCartney and his new album.
Beginning in April 2002, the "Driving USA" tour — a massive success which would lead to worldwide tour extensions — was launched. After a nearly ten year break and a difficult period in between after losing Linda, McCartney was back on the road and enjoying himself again.
, except "Spinning on an Axis" and "Back in the Sunshine Again" co-written by James McCartney
.
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, recorded and released in 2001 it has now sold 2 million copies globally. It is his first studio album since publicly announcing his relationship with former model and anti-land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s activist Heather Mills, whom McCartney would marry in 2002. The cover of the album was taken with a wristwatch that had a built in camera.
Background
Driving Rain features many uplifiting songs inspired by and written for Heather. Clearly determined to follow the example of Run Devil RunRun Devil Run
Run Devil Run is the eleventh solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in 1999. It features covers of both familiar and obscure 1950s rock and roll songs, along with three new McCartney songs written in the same style...
s brisk making, Driving Rain — except for two songs — was cut with David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
co-producing in two weeks, starting in February 2001 and with a set of new musicians whom McCartney intended on backing him on tour.
On 11 September 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
when the terrorist attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
occurred and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "Freedom" (the simplicity of which greatly recalls John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's "Give Peace a Chance
Give Peace a Chance
"Give Peace a Chance" is a song written by John Lennon, originally under the moniker Lennon–McCartney, released as a single in 1969 by the Plastic Ono Band on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 13 in the United Kingdom, Apple 1809 in the United States. It is the first solo single issued by Lennon, and...
") and helped organise (alongside Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein, CBE is an American film producer and movie studio chairman. He is best known as co-founder of Miramax Films. He and his brother Bob have been co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company, their film production company, since 2005...
) The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City
The Concert for New York City was a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks...
, a massive all star show at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
on 20 October where "Freedom" was performed to a very receptive audience. Impulsively, McCartney halted the pressing of Driving Rain so that "Freedom" could appear as a hidden track (since the artwork had already been printed). The just released, and somewhat daringly uncommercial "From a Lover to a Friend" (which only reached #45 in the UK) was repackaged with "Freedom", though the single failed to re-chart.
In May 2007, McCartney said there are those who ascribe "militant" connotations to "Freedom" and, because of this, his decision to remove the performing of it from his 2007 setlist. although suggesting it could possibly return when he next mounted a US tour. About the song, McCartney added "I thought it was a great sentiment, and immediately post 9/11, I thought it was the right sentiment. But it got hijacked. And it got a bit of a militaristic meaning attached itself to it, and you found Mr. Bush using that kind of idea rather a lot, in a way I felt altered the meaning of the song."
In November 2001, Driving Rain was released to generally strong reviews but stunned many with its very low sales, specially considering that McCartney's previous studio album of original material, Flaming Pie was a Top 2 hit in both the US and the UK. Maybe due to the lack of a hit single to support it, Driving Rain peaked at #46 in the UK, and became McCartney's lowest selling album in his homeland. The US reaction was a little stronger, though still underwhelming, with the album making #26 and going gold. Once again, there were no major US singles for McCartney and his new album.
Beginning in April 2002, the "Driving USA" tour — a massive success which would lead to worldwide tour extensions — was launched. After a nearly ten year break and a difficult period in between after losing Linda, McCartney was back on the road and enjoying himself again.
Track listing
All songs by Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, except "Spinning on an Axis" and "Back in the Sunshine Again" co-written by James McCartney
James McCartney
James Louis McCartney is a British musician and songwriter living in London. He is the only son of songwriter and former Beatle Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney...
.
- "Lonely Road" – 3:16
- "From a Lover to a FriendFrom a Lover to a Friend"From a Lover to a Friend" is a song by Paul McCartney, featured on his 2001 album Driving Rain. It was released as a single and spent two weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #45. It also reached #6 on the Canadian Singles Chart. In the U.S...
" – 3:48 - "She's Given Up Talking" – 4:57
- "Driving Rain" – 3:26
- "I Do" – 2:56
- "Tiny Bubble" – 4:21
- "Magic" – 3:59
- "Your Way" – 2:55
- "Spinning On An Axis" – 5:16
- "About You" – 2:54
- "Heather" – 3:26
- "Back In The Sunshine Again"– 4:21
- "Your Loving FlameYour Loving Flame"Your Loving Flame" is a love song by Paul McCartney, written for his future fiancée Heather Mills. It appeared on his 2001 album Driving Rain and was also said to have been the LP's lead single. Its status as a single is not clear, however, as Wikipedia omits this song from Paul McCartney's main...
" – 3:43 - "Riding Into Jaipur" – 4:08
- "Rinse The Raindrops" – 10:08
- "FreedomFreedom (Paul McCartney song)"Freedom" is a song written and recorded by Paul McCartney in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001. McCartney was in New York City at the time of the attacks, and actually witnessed the destruction while sitting in a plane, which was parked on the tarmac at New York's John F...
" – 3:34- Due to the last minute addition of "Freedom" to Driving Rain, it was not listed in the track list and thus appears as a hidden track. "Freedom" was recorded live during The Concert for New York CityThe Concert for New York CityThe Concert for New York City was a benefit concert, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks...
with later studio overdubs. There are some copies of the CD that was issued with an outerbox and a different cover and the tracklistings featured "Freedom" as an official track.
- Due to the last minute addition of "Freedom" to Driving Rain, it was not listed in the track list and thus appears as a hidden track. "Freedom" was recorded live during The Concert for New York City
iTunes exclusive track
- "From a Lover to a FriendFrom a Lover to a Friend"From a Lover to a Friend" is a song by Paul McCartney, featured on his 2001 album Driving Rain. It was released as a single and spent two weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #45. It also reached #6 on the Canadian Singles Chart. In the U.S...
" (David Kahne remix 2) – 5:26- In 2007, upon adding McCartney's catalog of music, the iTunes Store added one of David Kahne's two remixes of the song "From a Lover to a Friend" as an exclusive bonus track. This remix is the version released on CD-singles for this song and "FreedomFreedom (Paul McCartney song)"Freedom" is a song written and recorded by Paul McCartney in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001. McCartney was in New York City at the time of the attacks, and actually witnessed the destruction while sitting in a plane, which was parked on the tarmac at New York's John F...
".
- In 2007, upon adding McCartney's catalog of music, the iTunes Store added one of David Kahne's two remixes of the song "From a Lover to a Friend" as an exclusive bonus track. This remix is the version released on CD-singles for this song and "Freedom
Musicians
- Paul McCartney - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Piano, Drums, Spanish Guitar, Fender Rhodes, Percussion, Tambourine, Knee Slaps
- Eric ClaptonEric ClaptonEric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
- Guitar (appears only on "Freedom") - Rusty AndersonRusty AndersonRusty Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Rusty Anderson grew up in La Habra, California...
- Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Backing Vocals, Pedal Steel Guitar, Bass, Tampura, Percussion - David Campbell - ViolaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Larry Corbett - CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
- Joel Derouin - ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Gabe Dixon - Organ, Piano, WurlitzerWurlitzerThe Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
, Backing Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Percussion - Matt Funes - Viola
- David Kahne - Synth, Samples, Electric Guitar, Organ, Wurlitzer
- Abe Laboriel Jr.Abe Laboriel Jr.Abe Laboriel Jr. is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and brother of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel....
- Drums, Percussion, Tambourine, Backing Vocals, Accordion - James McCartneyJames McCartneyJames Louis McCartney is a British musician and songwriter living in London. He is the only son of songwriter and former Beatle Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney...
- Electric Guitar, Percussion - Ralph Morrison - Violin
Production
- Producer: David Kahne
- Executive Producer: Paul McCartney
- Engineer: Mark Sickora
- Recorded at Henson Recording Studio, L.A.
- Mixing: Mark Dearnley, David Kahne, David Leonard
- Mastering: Stephen Marcussen
- Digitally edited by Stewart Whitmore
- Design: Norman Hathaway, Micha Weidmann, Donat Raetzo
- Photography: Paul McCartney
Chart positions
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| Danish Albums Chart | 17 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 17 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
18 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
19 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
26 |
| Japanese Oricon Albums Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
27 |
| Austrian Albums Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
31 |
| French SNEP Albums Chart | 33 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
46 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
62 |
| Dutch Mega Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
76 |