Flowers in the Dirt

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Flowers in the Dirt
Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released 5 June 1989
Recorded September 1987 - February 1989
Genre Rock
Length 53:42
Label Parlophone/EMI
Producer Paul McCartney, Mitchell Froom, Neil Dorfsman, Elvis Costello, Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson, Chris Hughes, Ross Cullum, David Foster (and Phil Ramone on CD reissue tracks)
Paul McCartney chronology
Снова в СССР
(1988)		 Flowers in the Dirt
(1989)		 Tripping the Live Fantastic
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[1]
Chicago Tribune (Favourable)[2]
Deseret News (Very favourable)[3]
Los Angeles Times 4/5 stars[4]
The New York Times (Favourable)[5]
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars[6]
Time (Favourable)[7]
Wiki letter w.svg This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Flowers in the Dirt is the eighth solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in 1989. It was considered a major return upon release for McCartney because he was embarking on his first world tour since the Wings Over the World jaunt back in 1975/1976. Flowers in the Dirt was also celebrated due to its musical quality, which earned McCartney his best reviews in years.

Contents

[edit] History

After the meagre sales that greeted Press to Play, McCartney realized that he needed to work much harder on his follow-up. Thus, he not only teamed up with several different producers, but also spent the better part of 18 months perfecting Flowers in the Dirt. A highlight of the sessions was McCartney's productive alliance with Elvis Costello, with whom he composed many new songs. McCartney greatly enjoyed the partnership, even finding that Costello mirrored John Lennon in certain aspects of his personality. Costello would also appear on the album, even co-singing "You Want Her Too" with Paul. Another celebrity guest included was friend David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, who plays guitar on "We Got Married".

Knowing full well he intended to launch the biggest tour of his career thus far, McCartney also put together a regular band to take out on the road, and who would appear in various forms on Flowers in the Dirt. Hamish Stuart was best known for his tenure in Average White Band, while Robbie McIntosh had been a member of the Pretenders. Filling out the sound would be Chris Whitten on drums and Paul "Wix" Wickens joining McCartney's wife Linda McCartney on keyboards.

Finally, early in 1989, the project was ready. In May, the Beatlesque "My Brave Face" was released as a single and promptly gave McCartney a US hit, reaching #25, while reaching #18 in the UK. In June, Flowers in the Dirt was released to high anticipation and immediately entered the UK charts at #1, garnering very receptive reviews from all around. In the US, the reaction was better than Press to Play, with the album reaching #21, staying on the charts for a year and going gold, though it still sold beneath expectations. The second single, "This One" reached #18 in the UK, as did "My Brave Face". The follow-ups "Figure of Eight"/"Où est le Soleil?" and "Put It There" would all be minor UK hits.

The Paul McCartney World Tour opened on 26 September 1989 and travelled the globe (including Japan) until the following July, becoming one of the highest grossing and best reviewed tours of all time.

The album cover artwork was photographed by Linda McCartney. The background canvas was painted by the British artist Brian Clarke, who was also responsible for designing stage backdrops for the world tour.

A limited-edition "World Tour Pack" of Flowers in the Dirt, sold in a facsimile trunk, was issued in Britain in October 1989, and America (with British catalogue numbers) in January 1990. The set included a bonus single of "Party Party" (Mixed by Bruce Forest and released on a one-sided 7" single in vinyl editions of the "World Tour Pack" and a 3" CD-single in compact disc editions of the "World Tour Pack"). In March 1990, another limited edition of the album that featured a bonus disc was released exclusively in Japan and re-entered the country's chart. A remastered CD was released in 1993.

[edit] Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "My Brave Face"   Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus McCartney, Froom, Dorfsman 3:18
2. "Rough Ride"   McCartney Horn, McCartney, Lipson 4:43
3. "You Want Her Too" (with Elvis Costello) McCartney, MacManus McCartney, Dorfsman, Froom, Costello 3:11
4. "Distractions"   McCartney McCartney 4:38
5. "We Got Married"   McCartney McCartney, Foster 4:57
6. "Put It There"   McCartney McCartney 2:07
7. "Figure of Eight"   McCartney Horn, McCartney, Lipson 3:25
8. "This One"   McCartney McCartney 4:10
9. "Don't Be Careless Love"   McCartney, MacManus McCartney, Costello, Froom 3:18
10. "That Day Is Done"   McCartney, MacManus McCartney, Costello, Dorfsman, Froom 4:19
11. "How Many People"   McCartney Horn, McCartney, Lipson 4:14
12. "Motor of Love"   McCartney Hughes, McCartney, Cullum 6:18

[edit] Additional tracks

Bonus track appeared on CD and cassette version
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
13. "Où est le Soleil ?"   McCartney Horn, McCartney, Lipson 4:45
The Paul McCartney Collection's 1993 reissue bonus tracks
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
14. "Back on My Feet"   McCartney, MacManus Ramone 4:24
15. "Flying to My Home"   McCartney McCartney 4:15
16. "Loveliest Thing"   McCartney Ramone 3:58
iTunes exclusive track
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
17. "This One (Club Lovejoys mix)" (Remixed by Matt Butler) McCartney   6:12

[edit] Special Package (1990 Japanese tour edition)

Following tracks are included on bonus disc.

  1. "Message" - 0:28
    • A environmental message from Paul to the Japanese fans.
  2. "The Long and Winding Road" (Lennon–McCartney) - 3:51
    • From the video "Put It There".
  3. "Loveliest Thing" - 3:59
  4. "Rough Ride" - 4:53
  5. "Ou est le Soleil (7" Mix)" - 4:50
  6. "Mama's Little Girl" - 3:41
    • an outtake from the 1972 "Red Rose Speedway" sessions.
  7. "Same Time Next Year" - 3:06
  8. "Party, Party" (McCartney/Linda McCartney/Robbie McIntosh/Hamish Stuart/Chris Whitten/Paul "Wix" Wickens) - 5:35 (Remixed by Bruce Forest)
  9. "P.S. Love Me Do" (McCartney/Lennon) - 3:40
    • The studio version of the combination of two of The Beatles songs owned by MPL Communications. The live version is found on the "Birthday" CD single.

[edit] Personnel

  • Paul McCartney - vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, Mexican guitar, piano, synth, drums, tambourine, percussion, celeste, sitar, wine glasses, harmonium, background vocal, hand claps, finger snaps, mellotron, flugel horn, bongos, violin, keyboard, woodsaw
  • Linda McCartney - mini-moog, background vocals, hand claps
  • Robbie McIntosh - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Hamish Stuart - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, percussion, background vocal
  • Chris Whitten - drums, percussion, hand claps, synth drums
  • Paul "Wix" Wickens - keyboards
  • Elvis Costello - vocal, keyboards, background vocals
  • David Gilmour - guitar
  • David Foster - keyboards
  • Dave Mattacks - drums
  • Guy Barker - trumpet
  • Steve Lipson - bass, computer & drum programming, electric guitar, keyboards
  • Peter Henderson - computer programming
  • Trevor Horn - keyboards, hand claps
  • Nicky Hopkins - piano
  • Mitchell Froom - keyboards
  • David Rhodes - e-bow guitar
  • Judd Lander - harmonica
  • Chris Davis - saxophone
  • Chris White - saxophone
  • Dave Bishop - saxophone
  • John Taylor - cornet
  • Tony Goddard - cornet
  • Ian Peters - euphonium
  • Ian Harper - tenor horn
  • Jab Bunny - tongue styley
  • Eddie Klien - additional computer programming

[edit] Accolades

[edit] Grammy Awards

Year Nominated work Award Result
1990 Flowers in the Dirt Best Engineered Non-classical Album[8] Nominated

[edit] Charts

[edit] Chart positions

Chart (1989/90) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[9] 18
Austrian Albums Chart[10] 18
French SNEP Albums Chart [11] 8
German Media Control Albums Chart [12] 9
Italian Albums Chart[13] 3
Japanese Oricon Weekly Albums Chart[14][A] 9
Dutch Mega Albums[15] 15
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[16] 1
Swedish Albums Chart[17] 2
Swiss Albums Chart[18] 13
UK Albums Chart[19] 1
United States Billboard 200[20][21] 21

[edit] Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Canadian Albums Chart[22] 84
Italian Albums Chart[13] 19
UK Albums Chart[23] 71

[edit] Certifications and sales

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Gold 50,000^
France (SNEP)[25] Gold 162,000[26]
Germany (BVMI)[27] Gold 250,000^
Japan (Oricon Charts) 86,000[B][28][29]
Sweden (GLF)[30] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[31] Gold 25,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[33] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Notes

  • A^ Aside from standard version, Double-CD deluxe edition subtitled Special Package released in Japan. In 1990, it peaked at #27 on the chart and entered there for 4 weeks.[34]
  • B^ Combined sales of standard edition and its expanded reissue.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Flowers in the Dirt at Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
  2. ^ Silverman, David (1989-06-11). "Paul Is Back - Well, Almost". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-06-11/features/8902080837_1_paul-mccartney-george-and-ringo-beatle. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
  3. ^ Boren, Ray (1989-06-18). "BATTERED EX-BEATLE DELIVERS VALIANT EFFORT IN `FLOWERS IN THE DIRT'". deseretnews.com. Deseret News. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/54789/BATTERED-EX-BEATLE-DELIVERS-VALIANT-EFFORT-IN-FLOWERS-IN-THE-DIRT.html. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  4. ^ Hilburn, Robert (1989-06-04). "McCartney Generation Nears Middle Age : PAUL McCARTNEY "Flowers in the Dirt."". articles.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1989-06-04/entertainment/ca-2319_1_mccartney-dirt-moments. Retrieved 2011-09-18. 
  5. ^ Kozinn, Allan (1989-06-18). "RECORDINGS; 'Flowers in the Dirt': Love on the Rocks". nytimes.com. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/18/arts/recordings-flowers-in-the-dirt-love-on-the-rocks.html?. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  6. ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (1982-06-29). "Music Reviews : Flowers in the Dirt by Paul McCartney". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2011-08-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20080420055815/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulmccartney/albums/album/232103/review/5946692/flowers_in_the_dirt. Retrieved 2008-04-20 
  7. ^ "Critics' Choice: Jul. 3, 1989". time.com. Time. 1989-07-03. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958057,00.html. Retrieved 2011-10-22. 
  8. ^ "HERE'S LIST OF NOMINEES FROM ALL 77 CATEGORIES". deseretnews.com. Deseret News. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/81603/HERES-LIST-OF-NOMINEES-FROM-ALL-77-CATEGORIES.html?pg=6. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  9. ^ "australian-charts.com Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Flowers+In+The+Dirt&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  10. ^ "Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt - austriancharts.at". http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Flowers+In+The+Dirt&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  11. ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste". infodisc.fr. http://infodisc.fr/Album_M.php. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  12. ^ "Album Search: Paul McCartney" (in German). Media Control. http://www.charts.de/search.asp?search=Paul+McCartney&x=0&y=0&cat=a&country=de. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  13. ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia - Gli album più venduti del 1989" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/hp_yenda/lpe1989.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  14. ^ "Paul McCartney Japanese Album Chart listings". http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_paul_albumchartaction_japan.htm/. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  15. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney - Flowers in the Dirt". dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Flowers+In+The+Dirt&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  16. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt". http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Flowers+In+The+Dirt&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  17. ^ "swedishcharts.com Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt". Sverigetopplistan. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Flowers+In+The+Dirt&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  18. ^ "Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt - hitparade.ch". http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Flowers+In+The+Dirt&cat=a. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  19. ^ "Chart Stats Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt". The Official Charts Company. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=8721. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  20. ^ "allmusic ((( Flowers in the Dirt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/flowers-in-the-dirt-r12659/charts-awards. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  21. ^ "Paul McCartney - Chart trajectories on the US Billboard 200". October 2006. http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_paul_albumchartaction_usa.htm/. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  22. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1989". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6625&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
  23. ^ "UK best albums 1997". http://uktop40.republika.pl/najlep%20sprzalbumy%20uk%201989.html. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  24. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Paul McCartney – Flowers in the Dirt". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Flowers+in+the+Dirt&sa=Paul+McCartney&smt=0. 
  25. ^ "French album certifications – Paul McCartney – Flowers in the Dirt" (in French). InfoDisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Certif_Album.php.  Select PAUL MCCARTNEY and click OK
  26. ^ "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. SNEP. http://www.infodisc.fr/CDCertif_O.php?debut=1850. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  27. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Paul McCartney; 'Flowers in the Dirt')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Flowers+in+the+Dirt&strInterpret=Paul+McCartney&strTtArt=alben&strAwards=checked. 
  28. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4871310779. 
  29. ^ a-ビートルズ "- Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) - Albums Chart Daijiten - The Beatles" (in Japanese). 30 December 2007. http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/album/al_beatles.html a-ビートルズ. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
  30. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (in Swedish) (PDF). IFPI Sweden. http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf. 
  31. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Paul McCartney; 'Flowers in the Dirt')". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Paul+McCartney+Flowers+in+the+Dirt. 
  32. ^ "British album certifications – Paul McCartney – Flowers in the Dirt". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter Flowers in the Dirt in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  33. ^ "American album certifications – Paul McCartney – Flowers in the Dirt". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Flowers+in+the+Dirt%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  34. ^ ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of Flowers in the Dirt: Special Package by Paul McCartney" (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/263461/1/ ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Ten Good Reasons by Jason Donovan		 UK number one album
June 24, 1989 – June 30, 1989		 Succeeded by
Batman soundtrack by Prince
Preceded by
Look Sharp! by Roxette		 Norwegian VG-lista number one album
25/1989 - 28/1989		 Succeeded by
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Smokie
Paul McCartney
Studio albums
With Linda McCartney
With Wings
With The Fireman
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Compilations
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