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Driving Rain
Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released	12 November 2001
Recorded	16 February – June 2001
Studio	Henson, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock
Length	67:21
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 "Your Loving Flame" Released: 2002 (promo only) "Lonely Road" Released: 2002 (promo only)

Driving Rain is the twelfth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 12 November 2001 as a double LP, a single cassette, and single CD.

Background

Following the example of Run Devil Run's brisk production schedule, Driving Rain – except for two songs – was cut with David Kahne producing in two weeks, starting in February 2001. McCartney used musicians who were scheduled to back him on tour.

Album cover

The cover of the album features a photograph taken with a Casio wristwatch containing a built-in camera.

Music and lyrics

"Back in the Sunshine Again" was co-written by McCartney and his son James. 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 The Concert for New York City, a large all-star show at Madison Square Garden on 20 October.

The songs "About You" and "Heather" were written for his then wife Heather Mills, as thanks for helping McCartney grieve the death of his first wife, Linda.

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	75/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The A.V. Club	(mixed)
Blender
Dotmusic	3.5/5
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
entertainment.ie
Entertainment Weekly	B
NME	6/10
Q
Rolling Stone
Spin	7/10
Uncut

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. Driving Rain peaked at number 46 in the UK, and became McCartney's lowest-selling album in his homeland. The US reaction was a little stronger, with the album peaking at number 26 and being certified Gold by the RIAA.

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 number 45 in the UK) was repackaged with "Freedom", although the single failed to re-chart.

Reviewing the album for Uncut magazine, Ian MacDonald commented on McCartney's spontaneous approach to its recording, saying that "In parts (for example, the lengthy closer 'Rinse The Raindrops'), the results are almost ferocious, coming as close to a McCartney-esque Tin Machine as one could reasonably imagine." MacDonald considered the more "polished and produced" tracks to be "the most successful", however, and concluded: "Possibly a grower, this album is certainly better than anything Macca's done for some while, if not the late masterpiece some of us have been hoping for." Fox News commentator Roger Friedman remarked that the chorus of the song "Tiny Bubble" is "remarkably" similar to "Piggies", written by George Harrison and released on the Beatles' 1968 self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album").

McCartney opened his tour in support of the album in April 2002. Titled the Driving USA tour, it was a commercial success, with extensions being added to the itinerary around the world.

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
    • Recorded live during The Concert for New York City with later studio overdubs. Due to the last minute addition of "Freedom", it was not listed in the track list and thus appears as a hidden track on CD and cassette editions. Vinyl editions and CDs with a hype sticker, an outer sleeve or an obi strip (in Japan) acknowledge "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.

Charts and certifications

References

1. "Paul McCartney 'Driving Rain' news". Archived from the original on 15 January 2012.
2. Clayson, Alan (2003). Paul McCartney. London: Sanctuary. p. 252. ISBN 9781860744822.
3. Vincent Perez Benitez, The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years 2010, p. 158: "Your Way hearkens back to the sound of McCartney's first two albums of the 1970s … He composed About You for Heather Mills, thanking her for helping him get over his grief regarding the death of his first wife, Linda Eastman."
4. "Critic reviews for Driving Rain". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Paul McCartney Driving Rain". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
6. Phipps, Keith (February 2002). "Paul McCartney Driving Rain". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 6 March 2002. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
7. Du Noyer, Paul (December 2001/January 2002). "Paul McCartney Driving Rain". Blender. p. 119.
8. Heath, Chris (14 November 2001). "Paul McCartney – 'Driving Rain' (Parlophone)". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 20 April 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
9. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th edn). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 1257. ISBN 0-19-531373-9.
11. Willman, Chris (12 November 2001). "Mini Capsule Review: Driving Rain (2001)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 31 March 2007. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
12. Segal, Victoria (20 November 2001). "Paul McCartney: Driving Rain". NME. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
13. "Paul McCartney – Driving Rain CD Album". CD Universe/Muze. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
14. Kot, Greg (30 October 2001). "Album Reviews: Paul McCartney Driving Rain". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
15. Moon, Tom (January 2002). "Paul McCartney Driving Rain". Spin. p. 108. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
16. ^ MacDonald, Ian (January 2002). "Paul McCartney: Driving Rain (Parlophone)". Uncut. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
17. McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 157. ISBN 9780878333042.
18. "Driving Rain". JPGR. 2001. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
19. "McCartney Sounds Like Harrison in New Tune". Fox News. 25 March 2015.
20. Driving Rain (Booklet). Paul McCartney. MPL Communications / Hear Music. 2011 . 088807321779.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
21. "Paul McCartney – Driving Rain – austriancharts.at". Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
22. ^ "CANOE -- JAM! – Paul McCartney set to tour this spring". canoe.ca. JAM! Showbiz. 30 January 2002. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
23. "danishcharts.dk Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
24. "dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
25. "lescharts.com Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". lescharts.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
26. "Album Search: Paul McCartney – Driving Rain" (in German). Media Control. Archived from the original (ASP) on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
27. "italiancharts.com Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". italiancharts.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
28. "Highest position and charting weeks of Driving Rain by Paul McCartney ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
29. "norwegiancharts.com Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
30. "swedishcharts.com Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
31. "Paul McCartney – Driving Rain – hitparade.ch". Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
32. "Paul McCartney > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
33. "Paul McCartney Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
34. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
35. "British album certifications – Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". British Phonographic Industry.
36. ^ "Paul McCartney's new album "Memory Almost Full" will be released June 5 in North America". Billboard. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
37. "American album certifications – Paul McCartney – Driving Rain". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Driving Rain at Discogs (list of releases)
• JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's Driving Rain

• 2001 albums
• Paul McCartney albums
• Parlophone albums
• Albums produced by David Kahne
• Albums recorded at A&M Studios