Flaming Pie Radio Special

To promote “Flaming Pie“, a two-hour radio show named “Flaming Pie Radio Special” was created. The radio show was similar in concept to the Oobu Joobu radio show – mixing songs & interviews – and was produced by the same person – Eddy Pumer. The show contained interviews with Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynne, Steve Miller, Ringo Starr and George Martin.

To coincide with the release of “Flaming Pie” in the UK, the “Flaming Pie Radio Special” was first broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

From Club Sandwich N°82, Summer 1997:

For the first time ever, Paul McCartney is to take radio listeners inside his world on a magical musical tour of his private recording studio.

Following the success of Paul’s radio series Oobu Joobu – in which he hosted his own radio show and played favourite songs from his personal record collection – he’s taking to the airwaves again with The Flaming Pie Radio Show.

In the new show – which will be aired over two hours in the USA – Paul guides the audience around the wonders of his studio where Flaming Pie was recorded and reveals its secrets.

“Over the years Paul has collected many instruments that were played by The Beatles on their seminal albums“, said producer Eddy Pumer, “In this new show he demonstrates those instruments and reveals how he’s played them again for his new album“.

Producer Pumer added: “This radio show is unique. No other rock star has ever taken his audience around his studio like this before. The programme gives the listener an inside ear on the magic of making this album. “Besides talking about his inspiration for the new songs, he lets the listener in on many musical secrets and there are a number of special – and hilarious – moments as Paul impromptuly demonstrates his instrument collection, like the original synthesizer that The Beatles used on ‘Strawberry Fields’“.

The Flaming Pie Radio Show will be syndicated across the USA by the MJI Rock Network and will also be airplayed throughout the world.

Some segments of this radio show also appear on the “In The World Tonight” TV documentary and in the “Oobu Joobu” segments available on the B-Sides of the UK singles for “Flaming Pie“.

Disc 5 of the “Flaming Pie – Archive Collection“, released in 2020, contains the raw interview materials that have been used to create the “Flaming Pie Radio Special“.

Setlist for the concert

1. "Welcome to Paul McCartney radio special - Flaming Pie"

2. Flaming Pie

   Taken from the "Flaming Pie" album

3. In the studio - Paul talking about mellotrons

4. Strawberry Fields Forever Snippet

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Paul playing a few seconds of Strawberry Fields Forever on mellotron

5. Mellotron - noodling

6. Paul explaining "Young Boy"

   With "Young Boy" instrumental backing, in the background

7. Young Boy

   Taken from the "Flaming Pie" album

8. Harpsichord - noodling ("Let Me Hear Your Name Tonight")

9. Paul explaining "Heaven On A Sunday"

   With "Heaven On A Sunday" instrumental backing, in the background

10. Heaving On A Sunday

    Taken from the "Flaming Pie" album

11. Paul & Jeff Lynne explaining Souvenir

    With "Somedays" instrumental backing, in the background - and Paul singing a few lines of "Somedays".

12. Because Snippet

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Brief rendition of "Because" by Paul McCartney using a snippet

13. Paul talking about Bill Black's bass

14. Heartbreak Hotel Snippet

    Written by Elvis Presley, Mae Boren Axton, Thomas Durden

    Paul playing a few seconds using Bill Black's bass

15. Ringo Starr's Introduction

16. Paul explaining "Great Day"

17. Drums - Noodling

18. Paul about Really Love You

    Paul on electric bass, mimicking the jamming session which led to "Really Love You"

19. Ringo Starr about playing with Paul and "Really Love You"

    With "Really Love You" from the "Flaming Pie" album in the background

20. Paul about "The World Tonight"

    With the "The World Tonight" instrumental backing in the background

21. Blackbird Snippet

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    Paul McCartney : Spanish guitar, Vocals

22. Paul talks about the spanish guitar used on "Somedays"

23. Paul talking about "Somedays"

    With "Somedays" instrumental backing in the background

24. George Martin talking about "Somedays"

25. Paul about "If You Wanna"

    With "If You Wanna" instrumental backing in the background

26. Paul about his first guitar

27. Milk Cow Blues Snippet

    Written by Kokomo Arnold

    Few seconds of "Milk Cow Blues" on guitar

28. Paul about his guitars

29. Paperback Writer Snippet

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    A few guitar licks of Paperback Writer

30. Steve Miller's Introduction

31. Mini-moog - noodling

32. Paul about "Used To Be Bad"

    With "Used To Be Bad" instrumental backing in the background

33. Steve Miller about "Used To Be Bad"

    With "Used To Be Bad" instrumental backing in the background

34. Paul talking about old instruments and tubular bells used on Penny Lane

35. Paul talking about the toilet paper at EMI in the early days of the Beatles

36. Paul talking about the vibraphone

37. "Baby, Don't You Do It"

    Improvisation using vibraphone

38. Calico Skies

    From the "Flaming Pie" album

39. Beautiful Night

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Paul McCartney : Piano, Vocals

40. Paul about "Beautiful Night"

41. Ringo Starr about "Beautiful Night"

42. Beautiful Night

    From the "Flaming Pie" album

43. Paul about "Flaming Pie"

44. End of show