Chaos and Creation in the Backyard

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Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released 12 September 2005
Recorded Winter 2003 - Spring 2005
Genre Rock
Length 46:53
Label Parlophone, Capitol, EMI
Producer Nigel Godrich
Professional reviews
Paul McCartney chronology
Back in the World
(2003)		 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
(2005)		 Ecce Cor Meum
(2006)
Alternate cover
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.

McCartney plays almost all of the instruments similar to his 1970 album McCartney and the 1980 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 was not involved in producing one of his studio albums.

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard was McCartney's last rock album release for longtime label EMI. He signed a deal with Hear Music, owned by Starbucks, in March 2007.[1]

Contents

[edit] Album Production

Upon being asked to produce an album with McCartney, Godrich admitted:

"My initial reaction was one of terror, not only because it's a very important person, but I really wasn't sure how willing he would be to get his hands dirty."[2]

The two tentatively began a collaboration, recording the songs "This Never Happened Before" and "Follow Me" which was enough to convince both of them that they could develop an album. Godrich's participation was active - he inspired McCartney to write the song "At the Mercy", added piano loops on "How Kind of You" and worked with McCartney to slow the tempo of "Riding to Vanity Fair" which McCartney says "changed the mood completely"[3]. Although initially taken aback, McCartney appreciated Godrich's tenacity and honesty[citation needed].

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:

"Nigel... refused to allow me to sing songs that he didn't like, which was very cheeky of him"[3]

[edit] Reviews

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.[citation needed]. The sudden shift in direction was generally considered an unexpected and welcome surprise, and resulted in three Grammy nominations for the album, including the nomination for Album of the Year.

[edit] Individual tracks

The first single, the upbeat "Fine Line", was released in late August 2005, ahead of the release of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, and reached #20 in the UK. A second single, "Jenny Wren", reached #22 in the UK that November. The album entered the UK charts at #10 and peaked at #6 in the US, McCartney's highest position there since Flaming Pie in 1997. McCartney has also said that the song Friends To Go is influenced by, and dedicated to George Harrison.

[edit] Artwork

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.

[edit] Follow up concerts

The 'US' Tour in fall 2005 helped to promote the album in the States and Canada.

There was also 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.

  1. "Fine Line" – 3:05
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, spinet, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, shakers, tambourine, vocals
    • Millennia Ensemble - Strings
    • Joby Talbot - String arrangement, conducting
  2. "How Kind of You" – 4:47
    • Paul McCartney - Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, piano, flugelhorn, shaker, guerrero, drums, vocals, piano loops, acoustic guitar loops
    • Nigel Godrich - Piano loops, acoustic guitar loops
  3. "Jenny Wren" – 3:47
    • Paul McCartney - Acoustic guitar, floor tom, vocals
    • Pedro Eustache - Duduk
  4. "At the Mercy" – 2:38
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, electric guitar, bass guitar, cello, vibes, tambourine, organ, vocals
    • Jason Falkner - Electric guitar
    • James Gadson - Drums
    • Millennia Ensemble - Strings, brass
    • Joby Talbot - String arrangement, brass arrangement, conducting
  5. "Friends to Go" – 2:43
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, tambourine, flugelhorn, melodica, shakers, vocals
  6. "English Tea" – 2:12
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, bass guitar, bass drum, recorders, tubular bells, vocals
    • Millennia Ensemble - Strings, brass
    • Joby Talbot - String arrangement, brass arrangement, conducting
  7. "Too Much Rain" – 3:24
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, bass guitar, autoharp, drums, maracas, vocals
  8. "A Certain Softness" – 2:42
  9. "Riding to Vanity Fair" – 5:07
    • Paul McCartney - Bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, Wurlitzer electric piano, vocals
    • The Los Angeles Music Players - Strings
    • David Campbell - String arrangement
    • James Gadson - Drums
  10. "Follow Me" – 2:31
    • Paul McCartney - Bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, percussion, block, tambourine, vocals
    • Rusty Anderson - Acoustic guitar
    • Brian Ray - Acoustic guitar
    • Abe Laboriel Jr. - Percussion, block, tambourine
    • Millennia Ensemble - Strings
    • Joby Talbot - String arrangement, conducting
  11. "Promise to You Girl" – 3:10
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, Moog synthesizer, tambourine, triangle, shaker, vocals
  12. "This Never Happened Before" – 3:24
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, bass guitar, electric guitar, drums, vocals
    • Millennia Ensemble - Strings, brass
    • Joby Talbot - String arrangement, brass arrangement, conducting
  13. "Anyway" – 7:22 (actual song ends at 3:50)
    • Contains a hidden track at 4:10: "I've Only Got Two Hands" – 3:12
    • Paul McCartney - Piano, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, Moog synthesizer, harmonium, vocals
    • Millennia Ensemble - Strings, brass
    • Joby Talbot - String arrangement, brass arrangement, conducting

[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..."
  • "Jenny Wren (Live From Abbey Road)"
    • Exclusive download from Paulmccartney.com (powered by 7 Digital)
    • All songs except "She Is So Beautiful" can be purchased on 7 Digital

[edit] Musicians

[edit] Chart positions

Country Charts Sales
Peak position Weeks Certification
France 3 21 91,000
Italy 3 6
Sweden 3 5[1]
Germany 4
Canada 5[2]
Denmark 5 4[3]
United States 6 21 Gold 535,000
Estonia 6 1[4]
Norway 8 4[5]
Switzerland 9 5[6]
United Kingdom 10 3[7] Gold 150,000
Austria 13 4
Belgium 16 1[8]
Japan 19 9[9]
Finland 20 2
Hungary 42 3[10]
  • 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. It has sold 535,000 units in the US as of April 2007.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Starbucks record label signs Paul McCartney". 2007-03-21. http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/070321/1435181.html?.v=1. 
  2. ^ Simon Hilton (Director). (2005). Between Chaos and Creation. [DVD]. London. 
  3. ^ a b Hilton 2005

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Paul McCartney
Studio albums
With Wings
With The Fireman
Live albums
Compilations
Soundtracks
Experimental albums
Classical albums
Tours
Filmography
Related articles
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