Driving Rain is the thirteenth solo studio album by the 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 called on 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.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."

Release and reception

In November 2001, Driving Rain was released to generally strong reviews but poor 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." Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required). 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. 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

Note: "Freedom" is unlisted on the album sleeve.

Personnel Personnel per booklet.

Musicians Paul McCartney – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, vocals, Ludwig Drums, Fender Rhodes electric piano, knee slaps, percussion, piano Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums, tambourine, Roland electronic percussion, Ludwig drums, DW drums, electronic drums, backing vocals, African drum samples, accordion Rusty Anderson – electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string electric guitar, Vox Bass Guitar, backing vocals, percussion, tampura Gabe Dixon – Wurlitzer electric piano, piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, backing vocals David Kahne – Roland organ, electric guitar, synths, orchestral samples, Wurlitzer, sampled strings James McCartney – percussion, electric guitar Ralph Morrison – violin String quartet: David Campbell – viola Matt Funes – viola Joel Derouin – violin Larry Corbett – cello Eric Clapton – guitar on track 16

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 Chart (2001)PeakpositionAustrian Albums Chart31Canadian Albums Chart33Danish Albums Chart17Dutch Mega Albums Chart76French SNEP Albums Chart33German Media Control Albums Chart23Italian Albums Chart17Japanese Oricon Albums Chart27Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart18Swedish Albums Chart19Swiss Albums Chart62UK Albums Chart46

Certifications and sales

References

External links

JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's Driving Rain