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- Timeline See what happened in 1989
- UK release date:
- Jun 05, 1989
- US release date:
- Jun 05, 1989
- Sessions This album has been recorded during the following sessions
- Sessions with David Foster (September - October 1984)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #1 (December 21st-24th, 1987)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #2 (January 2nd-21st, 1988)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #3 (January - March 1988)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #4 (April - July 1988)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #5 (September - November 1988)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #6 (January 1989)
- "Flowers In The Dirt" session #7 (Sept - Oct 1988, then Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989)
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Track list
Disc 1
1.
Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello
3:19 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Producer, Tambourine
- Robbie McIntosh:
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Hamish Stuart:
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Harmonies
- Dave Bishop:
- Saxophone
- Chris Whitten:
- Drums
- Mitchell Froom:
- Keyboards, Producer
- David Rhodes:
- Ebow guitar
- Chris Davis:
- Saxophone
- Chris White:
- Saxophone
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Engineer, Producer
- Noel Harris:
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- October 1988
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 28, 1989
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
2.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:44 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Drum overdubs, Guitar, Lead vocal, Percussion, Producer, Synth
- Linda McCartney:
- Harmonies
- Steve Lipson:
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Engineer, Guitar, Producer
- Trevor Horn:
- Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes:
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- Oct 05, 1987
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 06, 1987
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
3.
Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello
3:13 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- 12-string acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Robbie McIntosh:
- Guitar
- Hamish Stuart:
- Guitars, Harmonies
- Elvis Costello:
- Intro keyboards, Producer, Second vocal
- Mitchell Froom:
- Keyboards, Producer
- Chris Davis:
- Saxophone
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Engineer, Producer
- Chris Witten:
- Drums, Percussion
- Robert Niles:
- End orchestration
- Richard Niles:
- End orchestration
- Noel Harris:
- Assistant mixing engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1988
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 16, 1989
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
4.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:41 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Bass, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Percussion, Producer, Solo guitar
- Linda McCartney:
- Harmonies
- Hamish Stuart:
- Acoustic guitar, Harmonies
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Mixing
- Chris Witten:
- Drums, Percusson
- Clare Fischer:
- Orchestration
- Arne Frager:
- Engineer
- Matt Butler:
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- April - July 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- Nov 01, 1988
- Studio:
- Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989 ?
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK ?
5.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:57 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Bass, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Mexican guitar, Percussion, Producer, Tom overdub
- Robbie McIntosh:
- Acoustic guitar
- Hamish Stuart:
- Harmonies
- David Gilmour:
- Guitar
- Dave Mattacks:
- Drums
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Additional production
- Chris Witten:
- Additional percussion
- Jon Jacobs:
- Engineer
- David Foster:
- Keyboards, Producer
- Guy Barker:
- Trumpet
- Jon Kelly:
- Engineer
- Session Recording:
- September - October 1984
- Studio:
- Location unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- June - July 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- September - November 1988
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios & AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sept - Oct 1988 or Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
6.
Written by Paul McCartney
2:10 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Harmonies, Lead vocal, Orchestra lead, Orchestration, Percussion, Producer
- Hamish Stuart:
- Bass, Percussion
- George Martin:
- Orchestra lead, Orchestration
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Additional production
- Chris Witten:
- Hi hat, Percussion
- Peter Henderson:
- Computer programming, Engineer
- Lance Phillips:
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- April - July 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sept - Oct 1988 or Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
7.
Written by Paul McCartney
3:25 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Celeste, Electric guitar, Handclaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Handclaps, Mini moog
- Chris Whitten:
- Drums, Handclaps
- Eddie Klein:
- Assistant engineer
- Steve Lipson:
- Computer programming, Electric guitar, Engineer, Producer
- Trevor Horn:
- Handclaps, Keyboards, Producer
- Session Recording:
- December 21st-24th, 1987
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989 ?
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
8.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:10 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Glasses, Harmonium, Keyboards, Producer, Sitar, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Robbie McIntosh:
- Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Hamish Stuart:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Vocals
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Chris Whitten:
- Drums, Percussion
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Mixing
- Matt Butler:
- Assistant engineer
- Lance Phillips:
- Assistant engineer, Glasses
- Judd Lander:
- Harmonica
- Tessa Niles:
- Backing vocals (?)
- Session Recording:
- April - July 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- September - November 1988
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Sept - Oct 1988 or Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
9.
Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello
3:19 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Finger snaps, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Hamish Stuart:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Tambourine
- Chris Whitten:
- Backing vocals, Drums
- Elvis Costello:
- Backing vocals, Keyboards, Producer
- Mitchell Froom:
- Keyboards, Producer
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Additional production
- Peter Henderson:
- Engineer
- Richard Moakes:
- Assistant engineer
- Tchad Blake:
- Engineer
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- September 1988
- Studio:
- Unknown location
- Session Overdubs:
- October 28th-29th, 1988
- Studio:
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Sept - Oct 1988 or Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
10.
Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello
4:20 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Robbie McIntosh:
- Electric guitar
- Hamish Stuart:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten:
- Drums, Tambourine
- Elvis Costello:
- Backing vocals, Producer
- Mitchell Froom:
- Keyboards, Producer
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Engineer, Producer
- Peter Henderson:
- Engineer
- Nicky Hopkins:
- Piano
- John Taylor:
- Horn
- Tony Goddard:
- Horn
- Ian Peters:
- Euphonium
- Ian Harper:
- Trumpet
- Richard Moakes:
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- January - February 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- September - November 1988
- Studio:
- Olympic Sound Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Sept - Oct 1988 or Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
11.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:15 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Flugelhorn, Mellotron, Piano, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Hamish Stuart:
- Vocals
- Chris Whitten:
- Backing vocals, Cymbals, Drums synth
- Neil Dorfsman:
- Additional production
- Steve Lipson:
- Drum programming, Electric guitar, Engineer, Producer
- Trevor Horn:
- Backing vocals, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes:
- Assistant engineer
- Jab Bunny:
- Percussion
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Sept - Oct 1988 or Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
12.
Written by Paul McCartney
6:25 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Vocals
- Hamish Stuart:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Greg Hawkes:
- Keyboards
- Chris Hughes:
- Computer programming, Drums, Producer
- Ross Cullum:
- Engineer, Producer
- Session Recording:
- January 1989
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 30th - Feb 4th 1989 ?
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, or AIR Studios, or Metropolis Studios, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) on Amazon
13.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:54 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Bongos, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Violin keyboard, Vocals, Woodsaw
- Hamish Stuart:
- Electric guitar
- Chris Whitten:
- Tom-toms
- Eddie Klein:
- Computer programming
- Steve Lipson:
- Bass, Computer and drum programming, Engineer, Keyboards, Producer
- Trevor Horn:
- Computered drums, Keyboards, Producer
- Heff Moraes:
- Assistant engineer
- Session Recording:
- January 2nd-21st, 1988
- Studio:
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 10, 1988
- Studio:
- Sarm West Studios, London, UK
About
From Wikipedia:
Flowers in the Dirt is the eighth studio solo album by Paul McCartney, it was released in 1989 on Parlophone. Upon release, It was considered a major return to form for McCartney because he was embarking on his first world tour since the Wings Over the World tour in 1975–76. Flowers in the Dirt was also celebrated due to its musical quality, which earned McCartney some of his best reviews in years. The album gained number 1 status in the United Kingdom and Norway
The album was successful, and produced several hit singles (particularly the debut single “My Brave Face“).
Background and recording
After the meagre sales that greeted Press to Play, McCartney realised that he needed to work much harder on his follow-up. Thus, he not only teamed up with several different producers, but also spent the better part of 18 months perfecting Flowers in the Dirt. A highlight of the sessions was McCartney’s productive alliance with Elvis Costello, with whom he composed many new songs. McCartney greatly enjoyed the new partnership, even finding that Costello mirrored John Lennon in certain aspects of his personality. Costello would also appear on the album, even co-singing “You Want Her Too” with McCartney. Another celebrity guest included was his friend David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, who plays the guitar on “We Got Married“. On “Put It There“, McCartney used an old Buddy Holly trick, the knee-percussion, that McCartney recorded on the same day as the backing track.
Release
Knowing full well he intended to launch the biggest tour of his career thus far, McCartney also put together a regular band to take out on the road, and who would appear in various forms on Flowers in the Dirt. Hamish Stuart was best known for his tenure in Average White Band, while Robbie McIntosh had been a member of the Pretenders. Filling out the sound would be Chris Whitten on drums and Paul “Wix” Wickens joining McCartney’s wife Linda McCartney on keyboards.
Finally, early in 1989, the project was ready for release. In May, the Beatlesque “My Brave Face” was released as a single and promptly gave McCartney a US hit, reaching number 25, while reaching number 18 in the UK. In June, Flowers in the Dirt was released to high anticipation and immediately entered the UK charts at number 1, garnering very positive reviews from all around. In the US, the reaction was better than Press to Play, with the album reaching number 21, staying on the charts for a year and going gold, though it still sold beneath expectations. The second single, “This One“, also reached number 18 in the UK. The follow-ups “Figure of Eight“/”Où est le Soleil?” and “Put It There” would all be minor UK hits.
The Paul McCartney World Tour opened on 26 September 1989 and featured concerts in North America, Europe, Japan and Brazil until the following July.
The album cover artwork was photographed by Linda McCartney. The background canvas was painted by the British artist Brian Clarke, who was also responsible for designing stage backdrops for the world tour.
A limited-edition “World Tour Pack” of Flowers in the Dirt, sold in a facsimile trunk, was issued in Britain in October 1989, and America (with British catalogue numbers) in January 1990. The set included a bonus single of “Party Party” (mixed by Bruce Forest and released on a one-sided 7″ single in vinyl editions of the “World Tour Pack” and a 3″ CD-single in compact disc editions of the “World Tour Pack“). In March 1990, another limited edition of the album that featured a bonus disc was released exclusively in Japan and re-entered the country’s chart. A remastered CD was released in 1993.
Another reissue has been announced for release, as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.
Critical reception
Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote of the album: “Paul McCartney must not only have been conscious of his slipping commercial fortunes, he must have realized that his records hadn’t been treated seriously for years, so he decided to make a full-fledged comeback effort with Flowers in the Dirt.”
Writing for Chicago Tribune, David Silverman wrote that the album was “a welcome, if not wholly fantastic, return from the fabbest of the Fab Four“. […]
Paul at a promotional shoot for the album ‘Flowers In The Dirt’, 1989. Photo by Peter Mountain
Last updated on March 18, 2017
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