Driving Rain


Driving Rain is the twelfth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 11 November 2001 as a double LP, a single cassette, and single CD.

Background

Following the example of Run Devil Run 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

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. The just-released "From a Lover to a Friend" 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, 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." Available at . 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.
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. Four of the album's sixteen songs were performed: "Lonely Road", "Your Loving Flame", "Freedom" and the title track. "From a Lover to a Friend" was also performed at the Concert for New York City on October 20, 2001.

Track listing

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.
Musicians
Production
  • David Leonard – mixing
  • David Kahne – producer
  • Paul McCartney – executive producer
  • Mark Dearnley – engineer
  • Jaime Sickora – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Mills – 2nd assistant engineer
  • Geoff Emerick, Paul Hicks – additional engineers
  • Mark Dearnley, David Kahne – mixing
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Stewart Whitmore – digital editing
  • Norman Hathaway with Micha Weidmann, Donat Raetzo – design
  • Paul McCartney, Heather Mills – photos

    Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Certifications and sales