I don’t want no other baby but you; Paul after Linda
June 29, 2022 6:36 AM Subscribe
Glastonbury reminded the world of the power of Paul McCartney, but in 1999 Paul McCartney had to remind himself. And he used Rock 'n' Roll. Following the death of Linda McCartney in early 1998 saw Paul McCartney take time away from music to grieve. His return was the late 1999 release “Run Devil Run”, a quickly recorded collection of covers from the 50s with a few friends… Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Johnny Kidd & the Pirates’ Mick Green. and Deep Purple’s Ian Paice on drums. McCartney mostly stuck to bass, just as in the early Beatles days.
Following the album release, McCartney and the (worth the tag) supergroup of mates took to the stage in The Cavern Club to run through the whole album (SLYT).
For me this is my go to McCartney album, it stands apart in his portfolio for so many reasons, not least the emotional power of a widower going back to his youth to both soothe and to work through his emotions. It’s also the simplicity of the recordings. Nothing complicated, nothing with huge artistic revelations, just some mates reminiscing with music that holds memories. Number 12 in the UK and number 27 in the US didn't set the world alight, but it certainly bridges two different worlds in his life.
Album Liner Notes:
"The week before, Ian asked co-producer Chris Thomas “Any idea what songs we’re going to do, just so I can do a bit of homework?” I said no: “No homework on this project. I really wanted this to be fresh – like it was at the Cavern.” “I had a big manilla envelope with all the lyrics, and I’d flick through them on a Monday morning…Rick Nelson, mmm…Searchin’…and then I’d think that’s it, that’s the spirit I want, and I’d pull it out.
"I’d say to the guys, “Anybody know She Said Yeah?” They’d say no, because they were slightly obscure choices, I’d say okay, this is how it goes. We’d take five or 10 minutes – and that’s how we did it in The Beatles – because how many times can you go through a song without everyone getting bored?”
“We’d spend 15, 20 minutes top whack, and everyone’d go yeah, got it. Then we’d go to our instruments, I’d go to bass and singing, and we’d just try it. It’s a bit ropey at first: second take it gets better. We’d do a couple of takes and say okay, that’s it. Then we’d leave it, not even listen to it. Yeah, right; next song…and I’d go back to my envelope. “Anyone know No Other Baby?” No, right, here’s how it goes…and as we were doing it, I thought God, I haven’t done this since I was 14. And I got the same feeling back.”"
Something Else review
Run Devil Run served as a timely reminder of McCartney’s particular genius and, ultimately, a springboard for his next chapter. This was the music of his youth, of many people’s, but sung through the prism of adulthood — with all of its many losses. Yet, for all of his obvious pain, we know now that Paul McCartney was in the beginning stages of an still-on going creative resurgence. A look back apparently helped him go forward.
Classic Rock And Culture
they were songs that McCartney loved, but wasn’t practiced at playing. In many cases, the band members had never heard the original versions of the tunes, requiring Paul to quickly demo them for the other musicians in the studio. Then, the guys would record the songs on instinct. McCartney later said that the mantra for the sessions was “no thinking.” That idea prevented Paul, or anyone else, from getting too precious with any performance, resulting in bashed-out versions of "Honey Hush" and "I Got Stung" (on which a hollering McCartney makes Elvis Presley’s version sound like it was sung by Perry Como)
Rolling Stone review
Run Devil Run — produced by McCartney with Chris Thomas and featuring backing by, among others, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice — is simultaneously heartbreaking and life affirming. It’s a hint that the upbeat optimism that has caused this man to so often be critically undervalued is tied to the same strength that is seeing him through. As for the rest of us, we get a great, unpretentious rock & roll record into the bargain.
Following the album release, McCartney and the (worth the tag) supergroup of mates took to the stage in The Cavern Club to run through the whole album (SLYT).
For me this is my go to McCartney album, it stands apart in his portfolio for so many reasons, not least the emotional power of a widower going back to his youth to both soothe and to work through his emotions. It’s also the simplicity of the recordings. Nothing complicated, nothing with huge artistic revelations, just some mates reminiscing with music that holds memories. Number 12 in the UK and number 27 in the US didn't set the world alight, but it certainly bridges two different worlds in his life.
Album Liner Notes:
"The week before, Ian asked co-producer Chris Thomas “Any idea what songs we’re going to do, just so I can do a bit of homework?” I said no: “No homework on this project. I really wanted this to be fresh – like it was at the Cavern.” “I had a big manilla envelope with all the lyrics, and I’d flick through them on a Monday morning…Rick Nelson, mmm…Searchin’…and then I’d think that’s it, that’s the spirit I want, and I’d pull it out.
"I’d say to the guys, “Anybody know She Said Yeah?” They’d say no, because they were slightly obscure choices, I’d say okay, this is how it goes. We’d take five or 10 minutes – and that’s how we did it in The Beatles – because how many times can you go through a song without everyone getting bored?”
“We’d spend 15, 20 minutes top whack, and everyone’d go yeah, got it. Then we’d go to our instruments, I’d go to bass and singing, and we’d just try it. It’s a bit ropey at first: second take it gets better. We’d do a couple of takes and say okay, that’s it. Then we’d leave it, not even listen to it. Yeah, right; next song…and I’d go back to my envelope. “Anyone know No Other Baby?” No, right, here’s how it goes…and as we were doing it, I thought God, I haven’t done this since I was 14. And I got the same feeling back.”"
Something Else review
Run Devil Run served as a timely reminder of McCartney’s particular genius and, ultimately, a springboard for his next chapter. This was the music of his youth, of many people’s, but sung through the prism of adulthood — with all of its many losses. Yet, for all of his obvious pain, we know now that Paul McCartney was in the beginning stages of an still-on going creative resurgence. A look back apparently helped him go forward.
Classic Rock And Culture
they were songs that McCartney loved, but wasn’t practiced at playing. In many cases, the band members had never heard the original versions of the tunes, requiring Paul to quickly demo them for the other musicians in the studio. Then, the guys would record the songs on instinct. McCartney later said that the mantra for the sessions was “no thinking.” That idea prevented Paul, or anyone else, from getting too precious with any performance, resulting in bashed-out versions of "Honey Hush" and "I Got Stung" (on which a hollering McCartney makes Elvis Presley’s version sound like it was sung by Perry Como)
Rolling Stone review
Run Devil Run — produced by McCartney with Chris Thomas and featuring backing by, among others, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour and Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice — is simultaneously heartbreaking and life affirming. It’s a hint that the upbeat optimism that has caused this man to so often be critically undervalued is tied to the same strength that is seeing him through. As for the rest of us, we get a great, unpretentious rock & roll record into the bargain.
I love Paul.
I caught his performance of Band on the Run w/ Dave Grohl at Glastonbury earlier this week and it is such an earworm. Still in my head. Like many of his songs, he is master of the earworm.
One of the first songs I learnt with hybrid picking is Blackbird. I learnt this 30 years ago, since I have my les paul all set up to record it's no problem to share a few bars with you. I have been working on Michelle but I'm stubborn about capos and made it difficult for myself. Learning how to play like Paul gives you a real insight into his genius and only makes me admire him more.
That reminds me of a Paul story. He was on Colbert (I think) and was asked where his talent came from. He described growing up in a musical family and sing-alongs with drunk aunties. Then he added as an afterthought - 'and I'm a genius'. The audience applauded with agreement. The only other person I've heard call themselves a genius with any justification is Stephen Hawking. Fair enough. Without naming names, that's something you have to earn, otherwise you sound like a conceited prick.
I highly recommend the Get Back documentary. The restoration is so good, it seems like it was recorded yesterday.
Can't believe he's 80yo. Long live Paul.
posted by adept256 at 11:09 AM on June 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
I caught his performance of Band on the Run w/ Dave Grohl at Glastonbury earlier this week and it is such an earworm. Still in my head. Like many of his songs, he is master of the earworm.
One of the first songs I learnt with hybrid picking is Blackbird. I learnt this 30 years ago, since I have my les paul all set up to record it's no problem to share a few bars with you. I have been working on Michelle but I'm stubborn about capos and made it difficult for myself. Learning how to play like Paul gives you a real insight into his genius and only makes me admire him more.
That reminds me of a Paul story. He was on Colbert (I think) and was asked where his talent came from. He described growing up in a musical family and sing-alongs with drunk aunties. Then he added as an afterthought - 'and I'm a genius'. The audience applauded with agreement. The only other person I've heard call themselves a genius with any justification is Stephen Hawking. Fair enough. Without naming names, that's something you have to earn, otherwise you sound like a conceited prick.
I highly recommend the Get Back documentary. The restoration is so good, it seems like it was recorded yesterday.
Can't believe he's 80yo. Long live Paul.
posted by adept256 at 11:09 AM on June 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
A great album, and one which deserves to be far better known than it is. Good to see Macca choosing Mick Green for the gig too - he's the perfect guitarist for a no-nonsense tear-the-roof-off set like this.
posted by Paul Slade at 12:06 PM on June 29, 2022
posted by Paul Slade at 12:06 PM on June 29, 2022
Paul's always been interesting with his album releases. McCartney was his entirely solo (playing everything himself) effort after The Beatles broke up. McCartney II was an echo of that after Wings ended. McCartney III was his pandemic album. Right there, that's an impressive trio of albums, recorded across generations, which form a very personal trilogy from one human's life.
He's done so much other else. I hadn't heard this story about this album before (I don't really keep track of Macca's career), but it feels really appropriate to how he seems to work.
posted by hippybear at 1:08 PM on June 29, 2022
He's done so much other else. I hadn't heard this story about this album before (I don't really keep track of Macca's career), but it feels really appropriate to how he seems to work.
posted by hippybear at 1:08 PM on June 29, 2022
(Haven't read the links yet.) I've really wanted to know if Paul ever went back to performing "My Brave Face" after becoming a widower, or for that matter, a divorcé.
posted by kimota at 1:44 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kimota at 1:44 PM on June 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
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