1989 – Planting Flowers

1989 started by beginning the mixing of tracks on all the completed songs. Paul completed 10 tracks from the next album this month.

Paul met with Alan Parsons in Alan’s home studio for a few days but nothing came out of this time.

Paul rounded out his recording and newest touring band by having Paul “Wix” Wickens join the band. This turned out to be one of the best moves of Paul’s career.

“When Paul was recording Flowers In The Dirt, my name came up from two friends who were working with him… Robbie McIntosh and Chris Whitten and I was asked down for an informal jam to “see how things go”. That was in February 1989, so I guess things went ok.” – Wix

Wickens has also worked with musicians such as Nik Kershaw, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi and many other artists. Wickens

As of then, he has appeared on many of McCartney’s albums and DVDs, and has become the musical director for many of McCartney’s tours. He continues to tour with McCartney (as his keyboardist, occasional guitarist and backing vocalist), and of all of the musicians that have walked the Earth, Wix has worked with Paul the longest by a considerable margin.

The album was basically finished by April of 1989, so the promotional wheels began rolling around this time.

A video for “Put It There” was shot on April 26th-28th.

Starting in May he appeared on TV shows broadcast in the U.K., France, Germany and Belgium.

On June 5th, his latest solo album was released worldwide. It was called “FLOWERS IN THE DIRT.”

It was an exciting time, and it was purchased on its release day. The first single released was a song he had written with Costello, called “My Brave Face.” It also featured an interesting music video about a Japanese man trying to own rare McCartney and Beatles memorabilia.

I was dating a wonderful woman at the time and I bought only the CD this time.

We heard rumors about a proposed tour and I quickly got two tickets for us to travel to Los Angeles by party bus to see him at The Forum that fall.

I had purchased a limited edition promotional CD a few months before called ROCKS.
It featured songs from previous Paul albums (with and without Wings).

The cover was the first time I saw Paul hair was beginning to turn white, like his brother’s (who even being younger had a full head of white hair).

I guess Paul saw this also, as he began from this point on till probably 2019 the dyeing of his always full head of hair.

ROCKS also featured songs I had never heard before (we’ll review these as part of songs of 1989 that weren’t part of the album.

I was visiting my parents in Florida when the new single was released.

I bought the cassette single to listen in my parents car as they drove me to the airport. Besides “My Brave Face” it also had a new song that wasn’t part of the album, and two tracks from CHOBBA B CCCP, which wasn’t available in the states.

I was so excited.

So after FLOWERS was released I arrived home with the CD and sat down to listen.

Next, reviewing FLOWERS IN THE DIRT.