Working Classical

Working Classical
Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released	1 November 1999
Recorded	Mid 1999
Genre	Classical
Length	61:35
Label	EMI Classics
Producer	John Fraser
Paul McCartney chronology
Run Devil Run (1999) Working Classical (1999) Liverpool Sound Collage (2000)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Working Classical is Paul McCartney's third full-length release of original classical music and was issued one month after Run Devil Run's release in 1999.

Background and recording

Following up on 1997's Standing Stone, the concept behind Working Classical was to place pre-existing (and in some cases, very well known) McCartney songs into an orchestral context. Specially for this project, McCartney also unveiled some new pieces, namely "Haymakers", "Midwife", "Spiral" and "Tuesday". A different performance of "A Leaf" was originally released on 21 April 1995 on a CD single, and is presented here in a new recording.

Performing the new arrangements are the London Symphony Orchestra and the Loma Mar Quartet, with special orchestrations arranged by noted musicians Richard Rodney Bennett and Jonathan Tunick.

Album title

The title of this project is a pun on the phrase "working class", in the sense that McCartney, despite his elevated stature, still cherishes his Liverpool roots and is proud of them. Mirroring this ideology is his pride in his rock and roll songs and willingness to transfer them into the "elevated" classical music genre.

Release and reception

Paul McCartney's Working Classical was another success in that genre, even though this time it failed to dent the regular US album charts, and was more well received critically than his previous effort, Standing Stone. His subsequent forays into the classical realm are 2006's Ecce Cor Meum and 2011's Ocean's Kingdom.

Track listing

All pieces by Paul McCartney.

1. "Junk" – 2:49
   • Originally introduced on McCartney's 1970 debut solo album McCartney
2. "A Leaf" – 11:08
   • Originally premiered as a CD Single in an alternate performance in 1995
3. "Haymakers" – 3:33
4. "Midwife" – 3:33
5. "Spiral" – 10:02
6. "Warm and Beautiful" – 2:31
   • Originally introduced on Wings' 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound
7. "My Love" – 3:48
   • Originally introduced on Paul McCartney & Wings' 1973 album Red Rose Speedway
8. "Maybe I'm Amazed" – 2:04
   • Originally introduced on McCartney's 1970 debut album McCartney
9. "Calico Skies" – 1:52
   • Originally introduced on McCartney's 1997 album Flaming Pie
10. "Golden Earth Girl" – 1:57
    • Originally introduced on McCartney's 1993 album Off the Ground
11. "Somedays" – 3:05
    • Originally introduced on McCartney's 1997 album Flaming Pie
12. "Tuesday" – 12:26
13. "She's My Baby" – 1:47
    • Originally introduced on Wings' 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound
14. "The Lovely Linda" – 0:54
    • Originally introduced on McCartney's 1970 debut album McCartney

References