Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
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| Chaos and Creation in the Backyard | ||
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| Studio album by Paul McCartney | ||
| Released | 12 September 2005 | |
| Recorded | Fall 2003 - Spring 2005 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 46:53 | |
| Label | Parlophone, Capitol, EMI | |
| Producer(s) | Nigel Godrich | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Paul McCartney chronology | ||
| Back in the World (2003) |
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005) |
Ecce Cor Meum (2006) |
| Alternate cover | ||
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| Special Edition paper sleeve (CD with DVD). It features an ambigram of McCartney's name | ||
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is an album by Paul McCartney released in 2005. A long time in the making, the set was produced by Radiohead and Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich — at George Martin's suggestion — and is McCartney's most recent pop release.
The album showcases McCartney's gifts for inventive melodies and well-crafted arrangements. McCartney plays almost all the instruments, making the album something of a throwback to 1970's McCartney and its sequel, 1980's McCartney II. In addition, Chaos And Creation In The Backyard marks the first time since 1984's Give My Regards to Broad Street that McCartney is not involved in producing one of his studio albums.
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is also his last rock studio release for longtime label EMI, as he signed a deal with Hear Music on March 21, 2007. [1]
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[edit] Details
According to McCartney, Godrich was at times blunt in his appraisal of McCartney's songs-in-progress during the making of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, challenging McCartney to get the best out of the music. Although initially taken aback, McCartney appreciated Godrich's tenacity and honesty and respected him all the more for it.
Advance reviews for Chaos and Creation in the Backyard were very strong and signified that after delivering Flaming Pie, Run Devil Run, Driving Rain and this album - all in uninterrupted succession - McCartney is in a late-career creative peak. Many critics and longtime listeners also acknowledged that the album was unusually reflective and intimate-sounding for McCartney. The sudden shift in direction was generally considered an unexpected and welcome surprise, and resulted in three Grammy nominations for the album, including the coveted award for 'Album of the Year'.
The first single, the upbeat "Fine Line", was released in late August, ahead of the release of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, and reached #20 in the UK. The album entered the UK charts at #10 and peaked at #6 in the US, McCartney's highest position there since 1997's Flaming Pie. A second single, "Jenny Wren", reached #22 in the UK that November.
The cover for Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is from a photograph of McCartney strumming a guitar in his family's back yard in Liverpool, taken by brother Mike McCartney (aka Mike McGear) and originally entitled Paul Under Washing, before being retitled Our Kid Through Mum's Net Curtains.
There was a promotional concert for the album held at Abbey Road Studios, called Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Paul McCartney.
- "Fine Line" – 3:05
- "How Kind of You" – 4:47
- "Jenny Wren" – 3:47
- "At the Mercy" – 2:38
- "Friends to Go" – 2:43
- "English Tea" – 2:12
- "Too Much Rain" – 3:24
- "A Certain Softness" – 2:42
- "Riding to Vanity Fair" – 5:07
- "Follow Me" – 2:31
- "Promise to You Girl" – 3:10
- "This Never Happened Before" – 3:24
- "Anyway" – 7:22 (actual song ends at 3:50)
- Contains a hidden track at 4:10: "I've Only Got Two Hands" – 3:12
[edit] Special Edition DVD
- "Between Chaos And Creation" - Documentary (30 mins)
- "Fine Line" - Studio Performance Video (4 mins)
- "Line Art" - 12 Minute Animated Film - drawings by Brian Clarke. Animation by Momoco. (Includes 3 instrumental tracks: "Riding To Vanity Fair", "At the Mercy" and "Anyway").
- "How Kind of You" - DVD Menu (5 mins)
Executive Producer: Paul McCartney. Director & Editor: Simon Hilton. Producer: James Chads. Production Company: Maguffin. DVD Mastering: Abbey Road Interactive
[edit] Bonus tracks
In addition to the above tracks, the Japanese release of the CD included the song "She Is So Beautiful". The song was also offered as a free download in Windows Media Audio format to US customers who purchased the CD at Target stores. Other bonus downloadable songs were made available to people who bought the CD at certain other stores, such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Also, "Fine Line" and "Jenny Wren" appeared on singles with their running time shortened.
There are six songs which were recorded for Chaos not released on the album but were released as B-Sides and on imports:
- "Comfort of Love" - 3:12
- "Growing Up Falling Down" - 3:27
- Both available on "Fine Line" CD single
- "Summer of '59" - 2:11
- Available on vinyl "Jenny Wren" single
- "This Loving Game" - 3:15
- "I Want You to Fly" - 5:03
- Both available on "Jenny Wren" CD single
- "She Is So Beautiful" 3:01
- On Japanese version of "Chaos..."
- All songs except "She Is So Beautiful" can be purchased on Paul McCartney's official website
[edit] Charts
| Country | Charts | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | Certification | ||
| United World Chart | 3 | 5 | ||
| France | 3 | 21 | ||
| Sweden | 3 | 5[2] | ||
| United States | 6 | 21 | Gold | |
| Switzerland | 9 | 5[3] | ||
| United Kingdom | 10 | 10[4] | Gold | |
| Austria | 13 | 4 | ||
| Japan | 19 | 9[5] | ||
| Finland | 20 | 2 | ||
- The album debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart on October 1, 2005 at number 6, with first week sales of 91,544 copies. It spent 21 weeks on the chart. It was awarded a gold record by the RIAA on October 25, 2005.
[edit] External links
- Chaos and Creation in the Backyard at Graham Calkin's Beatles Pages.
- phttp://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mccartneypaul/chaosandcreationinthebackyard?q=Chaos%20and%20Creation%20in%20the%20Backyard Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005): Reviews] at Metacritic.
