UK release date:
Feb 02, 1993
US release date:
Feb 09, 1993
Publisher:
Parlophone/EMI

Master release


Related sessions

This album has been recorded during the following studio sessions



"Off The Ground" sessions #1

December 1991 - July 1992





Off The Ground sessions #2

September - October 1992

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Track list

Disc 1


1.

Off The Ground

Written by Paul McCartney

3:40 • Studio versionA

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


2.

Looking For Changes

Written by Paul McCartney

2:46 • Studio versionA

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


3.

Hope Of Deliverance

Written by Paul McCartney

3:22 • Studio versionA

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


4.

Mistress And Maid

Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello

2:59 • Studio versionA

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


5.

I Owe It All To You

Written by Paul McCartney

4:51 • Studio versionA

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


6.

Biker Like An Icon

Written by Paul McCartney

3:26 • Studio versionA

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


7.

Peace In The Neighbourhood

Written by Paul McCartney

5:06 • Studio versionA

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


8.

Golden Earth Girl

Written by Paul McCartney

3:45 • Studio versionA

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


9.

The Lovers That Never Were

Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello

3:43 • Studio versionA

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


10.

Get Out Of My Way

Written by Paul McCartney

3:32 • Studio versionA

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


11.

Winedark Open Sea

Written by Paul McCartney

5:27 • Studio versionA

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


12.

C'mon People

Written by Paul McCartney

5:48 • Studio versionA

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


13.

And remember to be ...


1.

Cosmically Conscious

Written by Paul McCartney

1:58 • Studio versionA1

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

About

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

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

Last updated on November 19, 2016

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