UK Release date : Monday, May 5, 1997
Flaming Pie
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Studio albums”
Last updated on March 27, 2020
UK Release date : Monday, May 5, 1997
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Studio albums”
Last updated on March 27, 2020
Previous album Apr 14, 1997 • "Flaming Pie (White-Label Promo LP)" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
Session Apr 30, May 01 & May 02, 1997 • "Standing Stone" recording sessions
Radio show May 05, 1997 • Flaming Pie Radio Special
Album May 05, 1997 • "Flaming Pie" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
Article May 09, 1997 • "Fathers' Day" movie released in the US
Article May 12-17, 1997 • The McCartney Week on VH1
Next album May 17, 1997 • "Oobu Joobu - Ecology" by Paul McCartney released in the US
This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Written by Paul McCartney
3:52 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass guitar, Double bass, Electric guitar, Harmonium, Harmony vocal, Lead vocal, Producer Jeff Lynne : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Harmony vocal, Keyboard, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer Marc Mann : Digital sequencing
Session Recording: Nov 06-10, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs ?: February 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
4.03 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass guitar, Drums, Electric guitar, Harmony vocal, Lead vocal, Percussion, Piano, Producer Jeff Lynne : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Harmony vocal, Keyboard, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: Nov 13-17, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs ?: February 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
4.36 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : 12 string acoustic guitar, Bass guitar, Drums, Electric guitar, Lead vocal, Producer Steve Miller : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Harmony vocal Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: Started May 11, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
4.11 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass guitar, Lead vocal, Producer, Spanish guitar George Martin : Orchestration Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Peter Lale : Viola Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer Gary Kettel : Percussion Rita Manning : Violin Skaila Kanga : Harp Martin Parry : Flute Jackie Hartley : Violin Keith Pascoe : Violin Levine Andrade : Viola Martin Loveday : Cello Peter Manning : Violin Christian Kampen : Cello Andy Findon : Alto flute Michael Cox : Flute Roy Carter : English horn, Oboe
Session Recording: Nov 01-03, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: Jun 10, 1996 • Studio AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
3.54 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass guitar, Drums, Hammond organ, Lead vocal, Producer Steve Miller : Backing vocal, Electric guitar, Rhythm guitar Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer Frank Farrell : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: Started Feb 22, 1995 • Studio Steve Miller's home studio, Sun Valley, Idaho, USA
Session Overdubs: Mar 21-22, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
2.29 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Knee slap, Percussion, Producer, Vocal George Martin : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Session Recording: Sep 03, 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
2.27 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Bass guitar, Drums, Electric guitar, Harmony vocal, Lead vocal, Piano, Producer Jeff Lynne : Electric guitar, Harmony vocal, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: Feb 27, 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
4.26 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Acoustic solo, Backing vocal, Bass guitar, Drums, Electric guitar, Fender rhodes, Harpsichord, Lead vocal, Percussion, Producer, Vibraphone Linda McCartney : Backing vocals James McCartney : Electric guitar solo Jeff Lynne : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer Michael Thompson : French horn Richard Bissill : French horn Richard Watkins : French horn John Pineguy : French horn
Session Recording: Started Sep 16, 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Steve Miller
4.08 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Bass guitar, Drums, Lead vocal, Producer Steve Miller : Electric guitar, Lead vocal Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: May 05, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
3.38 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Bass guitar, Drums, Electric guitar, Harpsichord, Lead vocal, Piano, Producer Jeff Lynne : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Electric guitar, Keyboard, Producer Kevin Robinson : Trumpet Chris 'Snake' Davis : Saxophone Dave Bishop : Baritone saxophone Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: Started Feb 19, 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
2.55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Bass guitar, Electric guitar, Harmonium, Harpsichord, Lead vocal, Mellotron, Percussion effects, Piano, Producer, Spanish guitar Jeff Lynne : Backing vocal, Electric spinette harpsichord, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: Started Nov 21, 1995 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs ?: February 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr
5.14 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocal, Bass guitar, Electric guitar, Lead vocal, Producer, Wurlitzer piano Ringo Starr : Drums Jeff Lynne : Backing vocal, Electric guitar, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Keith Smith : Assistant engineer
Session Recording: May 14, 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Written by Paul McCartney
5:03 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Additional percussion, Backing vocal, Bass guitar, Electric guitar, Hammond organ, Lead vocal, Piano, Producer, Wurlitzer piano Linda McCartney : Backing vocal Ringo Starr : Additional percussion, Backing vocal, Drums Jeff Lynne : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Electric guitar, Producer George Martin : Orchestral arrangement Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer John Barclay : Trumpet Keith Smith : Assistant engineer David Ogden : Violin Susan Milan : Flute Belinda Bunt : Violin Roger Garland : Violin Maciej Rakowski : Violin Rita Manning : Violin Bernard Partridge : Violin Jeremy Williams : Violin David Woodcock : Violin Graeme Scott : Viola Robert Bailey : Cello Anthony Pleeth : Cello Chris Laurence : Double-bass Michael Thompson : Horn Richard Watkins : Horn Andrew Crowley : Trumpet Mark Bennett : Trumpet Nigel Black : Horn Richard Edwards : Trombone Andy Fawbert : Trombone Marcia Crayford : Violin Adrian Levine : Violin Jackie Hartley : Violin Keith Pascoe : Violin Julian Tear : Violin Briony Shaw : Violin Bogustav Kostecki : Violin Jonathan Reeves : Violin Robert Smissen : Viola Stephen Thees : Viola Levine Andrade : Viola Philip Dukes : Viola Ivo Van Der Werff : Viola Stephen Orton : Cello Martin Loveday : Cello Robin McGee : Double-bass David Theodore : Oboe
Session Recording: May 13, 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Recording: May 14, 1996 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: Feb 14, 1997 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
2.06 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Leg slap, Percussion, Producer, Vocal Linda McCartney : Backing vocal George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: Sep 03, 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
From Wikipedia:
Flaming Pie is the 10th solo studio album by Paul McCartney, first released in 1997. His first studio album in over four years, it was mostly recorded following McCartney’s involvement in the highly successful Beatles Anthology project. The album was recorded in several locations over two years, 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. In Flaming Pie’s liner notes, McCartney said: “[The 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 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.
Background
“Calico Skies“, which Paul 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 even before Off the Ground had come out. 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 Beatle 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 Standing Stone in the interim.
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 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. They reconvened a few months afterwards in May at McCartney’s home studio, The Mill, recording – a song described as a “road song” – “If You Wanna” and the jam track “Used to Be Bad” in the process.
The duo also recorded the B-side “Broomstick” and three unreleased tracks: “(Sweet Home) Country Girl”, “Soul Boy”, and an untitled song. Also in May, McCartney, by himself, recorded the unreleased tracks “Stella May Day“, for his daughter Stella McCartney, which would be used playing over loudspeakers at her fashion shows, and “Whole Life” with Dave Stewart. “Somedays“, which was written while McCartney was escorting Linda to Kent for a photo shoot, features an orchestration score by George Martin. “The Song We Were Singing”, which was about the times McCartney and his former-songwriting partner John Lennon were at 20 Forthlin Road, was recorded in 3/4 time. “Little Willow” was written for the children of Starr’s first wife, Maureen Starkey Tigrett, who had recently died of cancer. “Souvenir” features the sound of a 78 rpm record towards the end of the track. The title track, recorded in a four-hour session, is in similar style to The Beatles’ “Lady Madonna“.
In May 1996, Starr and McCartney were working on a track that McCartney had started a decade previously, “Beautiful Night“, which featured vocals from Starr. Lynne showed up the next day and the trio, with McCartney on bass, Starr on drums, and Lynne on guitar, jammed, with the finished results being the track “Really Love You“, the first track credited to McCartney–Starkey. McCartney and Starr also recorded the B-side “Looking for You” and an untitled song. “Heaven on a Sunday“, which was written while McCartney was in the US sailing on holiday, was recorded on 16 September 1996, and features backing vocals by both Linda and James. Martin added orchestration to “Beautiful Night”, on 14 February 1997 at Abbey Road Studios. An unreleased song recorded with Lynne producing, titled “Cello in the Ruins“, had its copyright registered in 1994, despite work on the song only getting started a year later, in May 1995. The track was nearly issued as a single for War Child’s The Help Album in 1995, but ultimately shelved. This album was the last McCartney studio album to feature vocals and participation from Linda, who died of breast cancer in 1998.
Release and reception
Upon its 1997 release, on 5 May in the UK on Parlophone and on 20 May in the US on Capitol, the critical reaction to Flaming Pie was strong, with McCartney achieving his best reviews since 1982’s Tug of War. With fresh credibility, even with young fans who had been introduced to him through the Anthology project, it debuted at number 2 in the UK in May, giving McCartney his best new entry since Flowers in the Dirt eight years before. It was kept off the top spot by the Spice Girls’ album Spice. Flaming Pie was also received positively in the United States, where it became McCartney’s first top 10 album since Tug of War. Flaming Pie debuted at number 2, with 121,000 copies sold in its first week, behind Spice, which sold just 16,500 more copies that week.
In both the UK and the US, Flaming Pie was the most commercially successful new entry, and was certified gold in both countries. It was also certified gold in Norway. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album had sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide up to June 2007. The singles “Young Boy”, “The World Tonight” and “Beautiful Night”, all of which were released as picture discs, became UK hits, all making the top 40 in the sales charts. The only single in the US from the album was “The World Tonight”, released on 17 April 1997, a top 30 entry on the Billboard mainstream rock listing. The album was also released on vinyl. To promote the album, McCartney held an online chat party, and the event entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people in an online chatroom at once.
In the World Tonight, a film about the making of the album, was broadcast in the UK on ITV, and on VH1 in the US, around the release of the album. Also broadcast was an hour-long radio show about the album on 5 May 1997 on BBC Radio 2. It received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, although Bob Dylan won the award with his back-to-form album Time Out of Mind. “Young Boy” and “The World Tonight” appeared in the 1997 Ivan Reitman comedy Fathers’ Day.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.
