Run Devil Run

Infobox Album |
Name = Run Devil Run
Type = Album
Artist = Paul McCartney


Released = 4 October 1999
Recorded = 1 March - 5 May 1999 (Abbey Road studios)
Genre = Rock & Roll
Length = 40:46
Label = Parlophone/EMI (UK), Capitol Records (US)
Producer = Chris Thomas
and Paul McCartney
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2b831v72zzca link]
Last album = "Paul McCartney's Standing Stone"
(1999)
This album = "Run Devil Run"
(1999)
Next album = "Paul McCartney's Working Classical"
(1999)

"Run Devil Run" is a 1999 Paul McCartney album that features covers of both familiar and obscure 1950's rock and roll songs, along with three new McCartney songs written in the same style. As his first project following first wife Linda's death in 1998, McCartney felt the need to get back to his roots and perform some of the music he loved as a teenager. On December 14, 1999, Paul McCartney returned to the Cavern Club stage to play a set publicising the new "Run Devil Run" album.

Recording and structure

Wanting to keep things fresh, a lesson he had learned from his experiences working on The Beatles Anthology project and put to use on "Flaming Pie", McCartney planned to cut the album as quickly as possible in order to capture the excitement of a live-in-the-studio performance, in much the same way The Beatles had recorded many of their early songs. Asking "Back to the Egg" co-producer Chris Thomas to reprise that role, McCartney booked time in Abbey Road Studios in early March to undertake his quest.

Wanting to work with reliable and empathetic musicians, he called up Pink Floyd's David Gilmour to play guitar (having already worked with McCartney as early as the Dark Side of the Moon sessions where McCartney recorded some voice-overs which were not used; Gilmour later worked with McCartney during the "Rockestra", "Give My Regards To Broad Street" and "Flowers in the Dirt" projects). Also recruited were guitarist Mick Green (who previously played on McCartney's "CHOBA B CCCP" album), keyboardists Pete Wingfield and Geraint Watkins, and on drums Deep Purple's Ian Paice and Dave Mattacks. McCartney, naturally, played bass although he did play electric guitar in some instances. The initial sessions were held in early March; after a few more sessions in April and May, the album—featuring three new McCartney songs among the old classics—was complete.

The title "Run Devil Run" was inspired by a herbal medicine shop in Atlanta with products by that very name (the picture modifies the actual Rexall drugs sign). It appealed to McCartney as a great title for a rock and roll song, which he duly composed. The store is located at 87 Broad Street in Atlanta.

Reception

Released in October, "Run Devil Run", a sort of second stab at "CHOBA B CCCP", received rave reviews and performed respectably, reaching #12 in the UK and #27 in the US. A special limited edition of the album, featuring a bonus interview disc, was simultaneously released, as was the double A-Side single "No Other Baby"/"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (including a special mono version) with the exclusive B-Side "Fabulous", which reached #42 in the UK.

Track listing

#"Blue Jean Bop" (Gene Vincent/Morris Levy) – 1:57
#"She Said Yeah" (Larry Williams) – 2:07
#"All Shook Up" (Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley) – 2:06
#"Run Devil Run" (Paul McCartney) – 2:36
#"No Other Baby" (Bishop/Watson) – 4:18
#"Lonesome Town" (Knight) – 3:30
#"Try Not To Cry" (Paul McCartney) – 2:41
#"Movie Magg" (Carl Perkins) – 2:12
#"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (Chuck Berry) – 2:27
#*"Featuring Chris Hall on accordion."
#"What It Is" (Paul McCartney) – 2:23
#"Coquette" (Green/Kahn/Lombardo) – 2:43
#"I Got Stung" (Hill/Schroeder) – 2:40
#"Honey Hush" (Joe Turner) – 2:36
#"Shake a Hand" (Morris) – 3:52
#"Party" (Robinson) – 2:38

Personnel

*Paul McCartney: Hofner Bass guitar, additional guitars, vocals.
*David Gilmour: Fender Esquire on all tracks, Gibson lap steel guitar on "Run Devil Run", backing vocals.
*Mick Green: Fender Stratocaster.
*Pete Wingfield: Keyboards except as noted.
*Geraint Watkins: Piano on "All Shook Up" and "Try Not to Cry".
*Ian Paice: Drums except as noted.
*Dave Mattacks: Drums on "All Shook Up" and "Try Not to Cry".

Chart positions and certifications

External links

* [http://www.jpgr.co.uk/rdr5233042.html JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's "Run Devil Run"]
* [http://www.medicineandcurios.com/ Medicine & Curios website which inspired this record']

References