McCartney

Paul McCartney


McCartney - Front Cover	McCartney - Rear Cover

McCartney - Gatefold Inner

Label

Apple

Catalogue No.

PCS 7102

Release date

17th April 1970

Total time

34:14

U.K. Album Chart Detail :

Entry Date :	2nd May 1970
Highest Position :	2
Weeks in Chart :	32

Detail :

Paul's first solo album release.
This truly was a solo album as Paul wrote all the songs, played all the instruments, and sung most of the vocal parts with some assistance from Linda.
He recorded and produced the album in the 4 months before the release date of April 1970.
This planned date proved to be upsetting to the other three Beatles as "Let It Be" was scheduled for April 1970, and Paul was asked to delay his release.
He refused, and "Let It Be" was re-scheduled.

"McCartney" had 19,000 advance orders in the U.K. which meant it entered the L.P. chart in the top ten, and
once people heard how good it was, it soon rose to number 2 the following week.
It was kept off the top spot by the top-selling album of the year (also one of the all-time top selling albums)
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" which was number one for 41 weeks, and charted for a total of 307 weeks !
This first solo release still performed very well for Paul worldwide, selling over two million copies.

Paul used three venues for his recording sessions, his home where he had just installed a new Studer 4-track recorder,
Morgan Studios in Willesden, London and also in Abbey Road's No.2 studio ! ...
When Paul had the Studer installed at home he didn't have a mixing desk nor even a VU meter ... he had to guess the recording levels !

The sleeve photography was by Linda with everybody's favourite picture of Paul on the rear.
The same picture was also used on the cover of her 1976 book Linda's Pictures.
Another point of interest; one picture from the inner gatefold was then used as the front cover of Paul's 1997 Standing Stone.
Artwork and design were also assisted by the artist Gordon House and graphic designer Roger Huggett.

A D.J. promo edition of "McCartney" was sent out to the press before release, which included an extra question and answer sheet.
The questions were prepared by Peter Brown at Apple, and it was on this sheet in his answer to question 28,
that Paul dropped the bombshell, that he was no longer a part of the Beatles.
This edition with the sheet is worth considerably more than the standard release....
Especially as being a press release sheet of paper, most were just thrown away anyway !

Side 1

Track	Composer	Recording Information	Time
The Lovely Linda	McCartney	The recording Paul first used to test his new home recording set-up.	0:43
That Would Be Something	McCartney	Paul plays acoustic guitar, tom tom, cymbal and bass on this song he wrote in Scotland.	2:37
Valentine Day	McCartney	Paul plays guitars (acoustic and electric), drums, and bass on this ad-libbed song.	1:40
Every Night	McCartney	Paul plays acoustic guitar, drums and bass, on this song he wrote while on holiday in Greece.	2:29
Hot As Sun	McCartney	Paul plays guitars, drums, organ, percussion, and bass. He is quoted as saying he wrote this in the late 50's, but left this until 1970 to record at Morgan Studios.	1:28
Glasses	McCartney	Paul manages to play multi-tracked "wine glasses" on this piece which includes one of those wonderful uncompleted pieces that Paul does so well. Called "Suicide", Paul recently has said he wrote this with Sinatra in mind ! (The full almost 3 minute song did appear on the 2011 Archive Collection - McCartney)	0:48
Junk	McCartney	This track was first started with the Beatles in India, and completed in London during the "White Album" sessions as can be heard on Anthology 3. This solo version was recorded by Paul at his home, using acoustic guitars and bass, with overdubs of percussion and xylophone at Morgan Studios.	1:53
Man We Was Lonely	McCartney	Paul plays guitar, drum, and bass, with the steel guitar sound actually being a Telecaster being played with a drum peg.	2:55

Side 2

Track	Composer	Recording Information	Time
Oo You	McCartney	Paul plays electric guitar, tambourine, cowbell and "Aerosol spray" ! ... on this tune recorded at Morgan Studios.	2:47
Momma Miss America	McCartney	Paul plays guitars, piano and drums on another ad-libbed piece recorded at home.	4:03
Teddy Boy	McCartney	Like "Junk" this is another track we are all familiar with as being started with the Beatles in India, and recorded during the "Let It Be" 1969 sessions ... as a multitude of bootlegs testify. Paul completed this version at Morgan Studios playing guitar and bass.	2:22
Singalong Junk	McCartney	This is the original take for "Junk" on which Paul plays guitar, piano and bass. He overdubbed more instruments plus a Mellotron at Morgan Studios.	2:34
Maybe I'm Amazed	McCartney	The tour-de-force of the album recorded at Abbey Road, Paul plays guitars, piano and drums. Although not released as a single, Paul made a promotional film for this track which was broadcast on ITV on 19th April 1970. Produced by David Putnam, it features still photographs of Paul, Linda and Heather. Rod Stewart, another of my favourite artists (who I have seen many many times) recorded this, and made it part of his stage show, performing a great live version.	3:47
Kreen - Akrore	McCartney	This final song was inspired by a T.V. production about a Brazilian native tribe. The first take included just the drum track. Paul added guitars, piano, organ and some heavy breathing. This was tracked at Morgan Studios where sound effects were added, including a bow and arrow sound.	4:08

Further Issues of "McCartney"

A cassette version came out the same day (TC-PCS 7102), plus
There was also a reel-to-reel tape version released (TA/TD-PCS 7102) available in mono or stereo. The mono version being particularly rare (of course) and worth up to Ł100 now.
May 1975 - According to records, the original L.P. release was deleted.
2nd April 1984, the L.P. was re-issued on the budget "Fame" label catalogue number FA 413100-1 (+cassette FA 413100-4) ... both were deleted in 1988.
27th April 1987, the first C.D. release occured, oddly using an international catalogue number, CDP 7 46611 2
27th April 1990, the L.P. had a 20th anniversary re-issue PCS 7102
April 1993, there was a "re-mastered" C.D. re-released on catalogue number CDPMCOL 1 (and cassette TCPMCOL 1),
(international number CDP 7 89239 2).
Plus my Music Master catalogue is also showing an issue of the L.P. on Parlophone with a catalogue number of ATAK 152 (+ TCTAK 152)
13th June 2011 - McCartney - The Paul McCartney Archive Collection is released (2 CD/1 DVD + book)
17th November 2017 - Red Vinyl version (578 3676) - Nothing new, no bonus tracks.