Paul Is Live

Infobox Album | Name = Paul Is Live
Type = Live album
Artist = Paul McCartney


Released = 15 November 1993
Recorded = 22 March - 15 June 1993
Genre = Rock
Length = 77:19
Label = Parlophone/EMI
Producer = Paul McCartney
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:c85g8qbbbtv4 link]
Last album = "Off the Ground"
(1993)
This album = "Paul Is Live"
(1993)
Next album = "Flaming Pie"
(1997) |

"Paul Is Live" is a live album by Paul McCartney released in 1993 during his New World Tour in support of "Off the Ground".

The album's title and cover parody the infamous "Paul Is Dead" rumours that arose in 1969 after the release of The Beatles' last recorded album, "Abbey Road": the infamous "281F" on the cover plate (purportedly saying that Paul would have been 28 had he lived; he was actually 27 at the time) was changed to "51 IS" (indicating his current age). Also featured on the album cover is one of the offspring of Martha, the sheepdog Paul claimed was the subject of the song 'Martha My Dear.' The cover photo is the original "Abbey Road" cover photo, shot by photographer Iain Macmillan. The retouching was done by CGI artist Erwin Keustermans by erasing the Beatles and putting in Paul and the dog, taken from 35 mm pictures by Linda McCartney.

Excerpted from his shows in Australia, as well as from various US cities, "Paul Is Live" followed the 1989-90 Paul McCartney World Tour "Tripping the Live Fantastic" extravaganza by only three years, confounding critics and fans as to its appearance (and even its necessity). As a result, "Paul Is Live" became McCartney's lowest-selling live set of his entire career, peaking at #34 in the UK and a lowly #78 in the US. The band lineup was also the same as on the previous tour, save for Blair Cunningham replacing Chris Witten on drums.

McCartney would take a noticeable break from his solo career, beginning the enormous Beatles Anthology project in early 1994 with George Harrison, Ringo Starr and George Martin, which would take up much of his time for the next two years, before finally returning with "Flaming Pie" in 1997.

Band lineup

*Paul McCartney - lead vocals, bass, piano, guitar
*Hamish Stuart - guitar, bass, backing vocals
*Robbie McIntosh - lead guitar
*Paul 'Wix' Wickens - keyboards
*Blair Cunningham - drums
*Linda McCartney - backing vocals, keyboards

Track listing

All songs by Paul McCartney, except where noted.

#"Drive My Car" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:34
#"Let Me Roll It" – 4:10
#"Looking for Changes" – 2:43
#"Peace in the Neighbourhood" – 4:50
#"All My Loving" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:16
#"Robbie's Bit (Thanks Chet)" (Robbie McIntosh) – 2:00
#* "A solo performance by guitarist Robbie McIntosh and inspired by Chet Atkins, hence the dedication"
#"Good Rocking Tonight" (Roy Brown) – 2:48
#"We Can Work It Out" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:42
#"Hope of Deliverance" – 3:29
#"Michelle" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:56
#"Biker Like an Icon" – 3:40
#"Here, There and Everywhere" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:29
#"My Love" – 4:06
#"Magical Mystery Tour" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 3:15
#"C'mon People" – 5:38
#"Lady Madonna" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:33
#"Paperback Writer" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:39
#"Penny Lane" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:58
#"Live and Let Die" – 3:51
#"Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) – 3:54
#"Welcome to Soundcheck" – 0:41
#"Hotel in Benidorm" – 2:00
#"I Wanna Be Your Man" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 2:36
#"A Fine Day" – 6:18
#* "Tracks 21 - 24 recorded during various soundcheck locations, with tracks 22 and 24 being improvisations"