- UK release date:
- Feb 02, 1993
- US release date:
- Feb 09, 1993
- Publisher:
- Parlophone/EMI
Timeline
More from year 1993
Related sessions
This album has been recorded during the following studio sessions
December 1991 - July 1992
Overdubs for "Golden Earth Girl"
May 18, 1992
Jun 30, 1992
Overdubs for "Hope Of Deliverance"
Jul 17, 1992
September - October 1992
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Hide track details
Track list
Disc 1
1.
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
2.
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
3.
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
4.
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
5.
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
6.
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
7.
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
8.
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
9.
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
10.
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
11.
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
12.
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
13.
And remember to be ...
1.
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
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. […]
Last updated on November 19, 2016
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