Cover

Musicians

Paul McCartney : vocals, bass, guitars, piano

Rusty Anderson : guitars, backing vocals

Abe Laboriel Jr. : drums, percussion, backing vocals

Paul “Wix” Wickens : keyboards, backing vocals

Brian Ray : guitar, bass, backing vocals

 

Disc one : 52’40”
Disc two : 68’41”

Website

Style

www.paulmccartney.com

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The Beatles

Review by : John 'Bobo' Bollenberg

Practically in every recordstore the new 2CD live set by Paul McCartney and his band lies back to back with the “Back in the US concert film” DVD. Both releases sporting virtually the same cover, after a quick glance you would think you get the same material but only as audio on the CD whilst you get extra visuals on the DVD. This however is not the case as both releases do indeed contain different material. Obviously most of the songs are the same but they are to be found in a different order alltogether. The DVD exclusively contains ‘Matchbox’, ‘Freedom’ and ‘You never give me your money’. On the other hand the 2CD set contains no less than six songs you will not find on the DVD. These are ‘Lonely road’, ‘Mother nature’s son’, ‘Calico skies’, ‘Michelle’, ‘Let em in’ and ‘She’s leaving home’.

As on the DVD this new double CD contains a wonderful selection from the Beatles, Wings and solo days spread over four decades which again will please different generations. ‘Old’ Beatles classics will be sung by very young children whereas material from Paul’s recent solo offering “Driving rain” will be embraced by those who are getting near or even well over Paul’s own age. We all know that the recording circumstances for “Driving rain” were rather different in that Sir Paul got together with some new, young musicians who were introduced to him by producer David Kahne. It was Kahne who brought in Rusty Anderson and Abe Laboriel Jr. Both musicians are now part of Paul’s current backing band to which he has added another newcomer in the form of Brian Ray next to the wellknown face of Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens on keyboards. ‘The last time I was on tour with Paul, I had an extra keyboardplayer helping me out’, said ‘Wix’. That extra pair of hands of course was the late Linda McCartney. Yet throughout this album Wickens adds the right touches time after time which together with the more guitar oriented approach is rock’n roll the way we all love and like it.

We should stress the fact that this “Back in the world live” album is indeed different to it’s US version. On the European version ‘C Moon’, ‘Vanilla sky’ and ‘Freedom’ are not to be found whilst they are on the US version. Apparently the main reason for having two different CD sets is that they should match the live set he does on tour. However rumours have it he now has also slotted in the track ‘Birthday’ to the set which makes any version of “Back in the world live” incomplete ! Also this brandnew European edition apparently holds a different version of ‘Hey Jude’ as well, this time recorded somewhere in Mexico. The big difference however is that you only get to hear the music and nothing but the music on this album unlike the DVD where you also get the announcements from the bandmembers. On the DVD you know Paul dedicates ‘Your loving flame’ to his new wife Heather. On the CD you don’t. On the DVD you know Paul dedicates ‘My love’ to the late Linda McCartney. On the CD you don’t. So I think you have to see both releases as true companions. However the 2CD set will be everyone’s ideal companion in the car as well as at home as it covers such a large period of time containing no less than 36 songs known throughout the universe by every living soul. “Back in the world live” is a greatest hits package in which Paul has been wise enough to include three tracks from his latest studio album “Driving rain”, a true rarity these days. The endresult is a fun package which will please both young and old and will bring many a tear to the eye as it’s such a powerful and emotional experience.

Tracklist

Disc one :

1. Hello goodbye (4’02”)

2. Jet (4’03”)

3. All my loving (2’09”)

4. Getting better (3’10”)

5. Coming up (3’26”)

6. Let me roll it (4’24”)

7. Lonely road (3’12”)

8. Driving rain (3’11”)

9. Your loving flame (3’29”)

10. Blackbird (2’30”)

11. Every night (2’51”)

12. We can work it out (2’30”)

13. Mother nature’s son (2’11”)

14. Carry that weight (3’06”)

15. The fool on the hill (3’09”)

16. Here today (2’28”)

17. Something (2’33”)

Disc two :

1. Eleanor Rigby (2’17”)

2. Here, there and everywhere (2’26”)

3. Calico skies (2’38”)

4. Michelle (3’16”)

5. Band on the run (5’)

6. Back in the USSR (2’56”)

7. Maybe I’m amazed (4’49”)

8. Let’ em in (5’23”)

9. My love (4’03”)

10. She’s leaving home (3’53”)

11. Can’t buy me love (2’09”)

12. Live and let die (3’05”)

13. Let it be (3’58”)

14. Hey Jude (7’01”)

15. The long and winding road (3’31”)

16. Lady Madonna (2’21”)

17. I saw her standing there (3’08”)

18. Yesterday (2’08”)

19. Sgt. Peppers – The end (4’40”)