Paul McCartney
Flaming Pie: Paul McCartney Archive Collection
MPL/Universal Music
Flaming Pie was originally released in 1997, and was McCartneyβs 10th solo album. It was also his first album following The Beatles Anthology, and he was quite clear that working on that monolithic project impacted him. In many ways, revisiting The Beatles influenced him.Β McCartney even went so far as to employ George Martin to help him with the record. He also got Jeff Lynne, fresh from producing The Beatles βFree As A Birdβ and βReal Loveβ, to help out with production and McCartney himself produced some tracks.Β He also made the decision to work with other musicians other than his backing band at the time, including Lynne, Steve Miller, and Ringo Starr.
Flaming Pie turned out to be not only a commercial success but also a critical one as well. Many critics at the time saw it as a return to form for McCartney. In fact it was a continuation of everything McCartney was working on at the time.
From the opening chords of βThe Song We Were Singingβ until the very end of the last song, βGreat Dayβ, the album is an incredible mix of all of his influences, and it works on so many levels. McCartney himself, during the album, admits that the shadow of The Beatles was prominent throughout. Listen to βThe World Tonightβ. βI go back so far, Iβm in front of me.β Very honest and that theme carries on throughout the album.
This is a deeply personal album featuring songs written for Ringo Starrβs children following the death of their mother (βLittle Willowβ), songs to Linda (βSomedaysβ, βCalico Skiesβ) and songs about Lennon (βThe Song We Were Singingβ). It is also a family affair, featuring his son James on guitar and Linda on vocals. Musically, he pulls out all stops. Rock, classical, folk, The Beatles, and blues all get rolled up and placed in the pot.
This new Archive Collection (the 13th in the series) includes many outtakes, demos, home recordings, B-sides and even a song he recorded with Phillip Glass and Allen Ginsberg (βThe Ballad Of The Skeltonsβ). The set comes in many configurations and collectors may want to check out one of the two box sets being offered. As usual McCartney has taken a great deal of care in packaging the set and for those who take the plunge into the box sets, the DVDs contain an excellent documentary as well as promo videos. As a set it is more of an art piece than a collection. It is simply beautifully packaged.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – FLAMING PIE: PAUL MCCARTNEY ARCHIVE COLLECTION
Aaron Badgley