Paul McCartney’s new album will provide a glimpse into the standards he grew up listening to as a child.
The as yet untitled release arrives Feb. 7, on the Hear Music/Concord Records label. All but two of the tracks will be cover versions of songs by such American writers as Harold Arlen, Frank Loesser, and others. In some cases, the songs are ones McCartney first heard his father play on the piano at home.
“When I kind of got into songwriting, I realized how well structured these songs were and I think I took a lot of my lessons from them,” McCartney said in announcing the new album on his website. “I always thought artists like Fred Astaire were very cool. Writers like Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, all of those guys – I just thought the songs were magical. “
The songs will have a definite jazzy sound to them, with Diana Krall and her band providing accompaniment. Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder guest respectively on the album’s two original McCartney compositions, “My Valentine” and “Only Our Hearts.” “My Valentine” marks Clapton’s second appearance on a solo McCartney recording. He previously played lead guitar on the 2001 McCartney track, “Freedom”. McCartney performed “My Valentine” solo at his London wedding reception two months ago. Wonder was featured thirty years ago on the McCartney album, “Tug of War.” The result was the U.S. number one hit, “Ebony and Ivory” and the funky track “What’s That You’re Doing.”
The new McCartney album was recorded in 2011 at the famed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, as well as in New York and London. According to the All Music Guide, this is the song lineup :
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
Home (When Shadows Fall)
It’s Only a Paper Moon
More I Cannot Wish You
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive
My Valentine
Always
My Very Good Friend the Milkman
Bye Bye Blackbird
Get Yourself Another Fool
The Inch Worm
Only Our Hearts
Sources:
“Paul Announces Brand New As Yet Untitled Album”, paulmccartney.com, 12/19/11.
“My Valentine” McCartney album track info, All Music.com.