Driving Rain

Driving Rain
Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released	12 November 2001
Recorded	16 February 2001 – June 2001, at Henson Recording Studio, Los Angeles
Genre	Rock
Length	67:17
Label	Parlophone
Producer	David Kahne
Paul McCartney chronology
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) Driving Rain (2001) Back in the U.S. (2002)
Singles from Driving Rain
"From a Lover to a Friend" Released: 29 October 2001 "Freedom" Released: 5 November 2001

Driving Rain is the twelfth solo studio album by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 2001. The cover of the album featured a photograph taken with a Game Boy Camera and printer.

Background

Clearly determined to follow the example of Run Devil Run's brisk making, Driving Rain—except for two songs—was cut with David Kahne co-producing in two weeks, starting in February 2001 and with a set of new musicians whom McCartney intended on backing him on tour.

Music and lyrics

Driving Rain features many songs inspired by and written for Heather.^{[citation needed]} "Back in the Sunshine Again" was co-written by McCartney and his son, James.^[1] On 11 September 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City when the terrorist attacks occurred and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "Freedom" and helped organise (alongside Harvey Weinstein) The Concert for New York City, a massive all star show at Madison Square Garden on 20 October where "Freedom" was performed to a very receptive audience.

The song "About You" was written for Heather Mills, as thanks for helping McCartney grieving the death of his first wife, Linda McCartney.^[2]

Release

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
BBC	Favorable[4]
Entertainment.ie	[5]
Entertainment Weekly	[6]
NME	[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]

In November 2001, Driving Rain was released to generally strong reviews but stunned many with its very low sales. The album sold 66,000 copies in its first week in the US.^[9] Perhaps due to the lack of a hit single to support it, Driving Rain peaked at number 46 in the UK,^[10] and became McCartney's lowest selling album in his homeland. The US reaction was a little stronger, though still underwhelming, with the album making number 26 and reaching Gold status.

Impulsively, McCartney halted the pressing of Driving Rain so that "Freedom" could appear as a hidden track (since the artwork had already been printed). The just released "From a Lover to a Friend" (which only reached No. 45 in the UK) was repackaged with "Freedom", though the single failed to re-chart.

Beginning in April 2002, the Driving USA tour—a massive success which would lead to worldwide tour extensions—was launched.

In May 2007, McCartney said there are those who ascribe "militant" connotations to "Freedom" and, because of this, his decision to remove the performing of it from his 2007 setlist, although suggesting it could possibly return when he next mounted a US tour. About the song, McCartney added "I thought it was a great sentiment, and immediately post 9/11, I thought it was the right sentiment. But it got hijacked. And it got a bit of a militaristic meaning attached itself to it, and you found Mr. Bush using that kind of idea rather a lot, in a way I felt altered the meaning of the song."^[11]

Track listing

All songs by Paul McCartney, except "Spinning on an Axis" and "Back in the Sunshine Again" co-written by James McCartney.

1. "Lonely Road" – 3:16
2. "From a Lover to a Friend" – 3:48
3. "She's Given Up Talking" – 4:57
4. "Driving Rain" – 3:26
5. "I Do" – 2:56
6. "Tiny Bubble" – 4:21
7. "Magic" – 3:59
8. "Your Way" – 2:55
9. "Spinning on an Axis" – 5:16
10. "About You" – 2:54
11. "Heather" – 3:26
12. "Back in the Sunshine Again" – 4:21
13. "Your Loving Flame" – 3:43
14. "Riding into Jaipur" – 4:08
15. "Rinse the Raindrops" – 10:08
16. "Freedom" (studio mix) – 3:34
    • Due to the last minute addition of "Freedom" to Driving Rain, it was not listed in the track list and thus appears as a hidden track. "Freedom" was recorded live during The Concert for New York City with later studio overdubs. There are some copies of the CD that were issued with an outerbox and a different cover and the tracklistings featured "Freedom" as an official track.

iTunes exclusive track

17. "From a Lover to a Friend" (David Kahne remix 2) – 5:26

    • In 2007, upon adding McCartney's catalogue of music, the iTunes Store added one of David Kahne's two remixes of the song "From a Lover to a Friend" as an exclusive bonus track. This remix is the version released on CD-singles for this song and "Freedom".

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.^[12]

Charts and certifications

References

External links

• JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's Driving Rain