UK Release date : Tuesday, February 2, 1993
Off The Ground
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Studio albums”
Last updated on November 19, 2016
UK Release date : Tuesday, February 2, 1993
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Studio albums”
Last updated on November 19, 2016
Previous album Oct 05, 1992 • "Selections from Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
TV show Jan 23, 1993 • Wetten das...?
Radio show Feb 01, 1993 • Simon Bates show
Album Feb 02, 1993 • "Off The Ground" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
Rehearsal Feb 05, 1993 • New World Tour - Rehearsal Concert
Album Feb 09, 1993 • "Off The Ground" by Paul McCartney released in the US
This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Written by Paul McCartney
3:40 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Robbie McIntosh : Electric guitar, Percussion Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Percussion Paul Wickens : Backing vocals, Computer programming, Keyboards, Piano, Synth-bass Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
2:46 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar Paul Wickens : Backing vocals, Clavinet Blair Cunningham : Backing vocals, Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
3:22 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer, Spanish guitar, Vocals Linda McCartney : Autoharp, Backing vocals Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Spanish guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals Paul Wickens : Backing vocals, Drums programming, Lynn drum, Percussion, Piano Blair Cunningham : Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Davide Giovanni : Percussion Dave Pattman : Percussion Maurizio Ravalico : Percussion
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: Jul 17, 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello
2:59 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals Linda McCartney : Tambourine Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Paul Wickens : Keyboards Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Gordon Hunt : Oboe Susan Milan : Flute Frank Lloyd : Horn Colin Sheen : Trombone Paul Stringsbald : Trumpet Richard Martin : Trumpet Stephen Wick : Tuba Belinda Bunt : Violin Jonathan Evans-Jones : Violin Roger Garland : Violin Roy Gillard : Violin David Juritz : Violin Pauline Lowbury : Violin Brendan O'Reilly : Violin Maciej Rakowski : Violin Carl Davis : Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
4:51 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Mellotron, Producer, Tambourine, Vocal percussion, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Celeste, Clavinet Robbie McIntosh : Electric slide guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Percussion, Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums, Percussion Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
3:26 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Percussion, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Keyboards Robbie McIntosh : Slide guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Keyboards, Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: Nov 25, 1991 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
5:06 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Congas, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Backing vocals, Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums, Percussion Eddie Klein : Conversation Keith Smith : Conversation Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: November 25th - December 6th 1991 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
3:45 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Keyboards, Percussion Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Gordon Hunt : Oboe Susan Milan : Flute Carl Davis : Arrangement, Orchestra conductor
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: May 18, 1992 • Studio The Hit Factory - Whitfield Street Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello
3:43 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocal, Bass, Lead vocal, Percussion, Producer Linda McCartney : Backing vocal, Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Mandolin, Percussion Hamish Stuart : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocal, Percussion Paul Wickens : Grand piano, Hammond organ, Percussion Blair Cunningham : Drums, Percussion Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
3:32 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Harmonium, Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Electric guitar Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Frank Mead : Alto sax Nick Payn : Baritone sax Andy Hamilton : Tenore sax Nick Pentelow : Tenore sax Martin Drover : Trumpet
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
5:27 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Electric piano, Producer, Vocals Linda McCartney : Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Paul Wickens : Bass synth, Percussion Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
5:48 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Celeste, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Vocals, Whistle Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Moog Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Congas, Synthesizer Blair Cunningham : Congas, Drums George Martin : Arrangement, Orchestra conductor Guy Barker : Trumpet John Underwood : Viola Derek Watkins : Trumpet Donald Weekes : Violin Tristan Fry : Percussion Galina Solodchin : Violin Michael Rennie : Violin Ken Essex : Viola David Ogden : Violin Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer Frank Lloyd : Horn Roger Garland : Violin Roy Gillard : Violin Pauline Lowbury : Violin Irvina Arditti : Violin Alan Brind : Violin Benedict Cruft : Violin Miranda Fulleylove : Violin Rita Manning : Violin Bernard Partridge : Violin Jonathan Rees : Violin Celia Sheen : Violin Barry Wilde : Violin Jeremy Williams : Violin David Woodcock : Violin Roger Chase : Viola Andrew Parker : Viola George Robertson : Viola Graeme Scott : Viola Robert Bailey : Cello Paul Kegg : Cello Ben Kennard : Cello Anthony Pleeth : Cello Roger Smith : Cello Jonathan Williams : Cello Paul Cullington : Bass Chris Laurence : Bass Skaila Kanga : Harp Nicholas Busch : Horn Josephine Lively : Oboe Richard Morgan : Oboe Martin Parry : Flute Jane Pickles : Flute Terence Emery : Percussion
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Overdubs: Jun 30, 1992 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
And remember to be ...
Written by Paul McCartney
1:58 • Studio version • A1
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Ocarina, Producer, Sitar, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Harmonium Robbie McIntosh : Mandolin Hamish Stuart : Backing vocals, Bass Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Julian Mendelsohn : Producer Bob Kraushaar : Recording engineer
Session Recording: December 1991 - July 1992 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Session Mixing: September - October 1992 • 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
From Wikipedia:
Off the Ground is the ninth solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in 1993. As his first studio album of the 1990s, it is also the follow-up to the well-received Flowers in the Dirt (1989).
Recording and structure
After planning another world tour simply entitled The New World Tour in 1993 to promote the album, McCartney opted to record Off the Ground with his touring band. Blair Cunningham joined on drums to replace Chris Whitten, who departed to join Dire Straits. McCartney decided to record the album “live in the studio”, meaning that the band would rehearse an entire song then record it in one take, instead of recording each vocal track and instrumental track separately. This approach gave a new, raw and direct feel to the work, but was not overly liked by critics. The compositions also seemed less complex than on Flowers in the Dirt, with some of them having been out-takes from the earlier album. “Mistress and Maid” and “The Lovers That Never Were“, which emerged from McCartney’s songwriting collaboration with Elvis Costello, made their appearance on this album. Unlike Flowers in the Dirt, however, Costello did not appear on Off the Ground. The first two song taped were Biker Like an Icon and Peace in the Neighbourhood, both derived from some album rehearsals in November 1991. McCartney’s increased interest in social issues came to prominence on this album, with the anti-animal cruelty rocker “Looking for Changes” (McCartney and his wife Linda, both being long-time vegetarians by this time) or paeans for a better world (“Hope of Deliverance” and “C’Mon People“). The B-side “Big Boys Bickering” lambasted politicians, with the phrase “Big boys bickering, fucking it up for everyone” showing a more aggressive side to McCartney.
Release and reception
The lead single, “Hope of Deliverance“, was released in the last week of December 1992 and the album followed on 2 February 1993. Off the Ground was the first Paul McCartney album to not contain a sizeable US hit single since Wings’ Wild Life in 1971. The album’s first single barely reached number 18 in the UK, where “C’Mon People” became a minor hit as well. In the US, the album’s title track also entered Adult Contemporary chart at number 27. Singles from Off the Ground floundered on the US and the UK charts. However, “Hope of Deliverance” achieved commercial success elsewhere. It became McCartney’s first international hit single since “Say, Say, Say” with Michael Jackson in 1983, cracking the top 5 on the charts in over five European territories except his homeland and selling over 250,000 copies just in Germany.
In the United Kingdom, the album itself debuted at number 5 and quickly fell off the chart, spending only 6 weeks inside the top 100. In the United States, it peaked at the number 17 on the Billboard 200 with the first-week sales of only 53,000 copies, managing to receive Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Although it met with mixed reviews from critics and suffered from lackluster sales in the UK and North America, the album fared better in other key markets such as Spain. In some countries like France and Japan, it was able to surpass its predecessor Flowers in the Dirt in cumulative sales. In Germany, Off the Ground has been McCartney’s best-selling album there, spending 20 weeks on the top-ten and eventually achieving Platinum for shipments of over half a million copies.
Some weeks after its release, McCartney launched “The New World Tour“, taking in many successful shows across the globe during the summer months. These gigs were documented on the album Paul Is Live, which followed at the end of 1993.
The feet on the album cover are of McCartney, his wife Linda and his touring band. […]
A laid back shot of Paul and Linda McCartney and his touring band on the cover of Off The Ground sitting with their trousers rolled up and their feet dangling off the edge of a railing
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