After the new album was released to very high praise from the fans and the critics, Paul immediately began his US tour, which was again sponsored by Lexus.
I again got into my car, with my sister, Mary Pontek, back at my side. This time we saw the first show of the new tour, in Miami American Airlines Arena on September 16th.
Two promotional records were released in conjunction with Lexus to promote the artist, tour, record and car brand, MOTOR OF LOVE and NEVER STOP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE.
We stayed downtown for the night and enjoyed authentic Cuban food pre-show. The show was very good as usual, with a pre-show film of his this time. He and his band came out as the film froze on a photo of his legendary bass guitar…
By this time I realized and told my sister that Paul would probably re-tell many of the same stories I had heard before songs, and if he did something he liked or was funny, he would include it on the rest of the tour. Paul was still Paul, but his set list and overall show was feeling a bit familiar to me at this point.
There was a moment where he summoned the piano from below the stage, which was cool. The it would slowly drop out of view when he went back to electric or his hofner bass. The second show, in Tampa, by accident he fell into the huge hole as the piano was dropping down and amazingly and luckily he was not hurt at all. His head came popping up to the delight of the shocked crowd. He chose not to repeat this feat on any shows, other than telling the story at each….
Again, the show was increasingly Beatles heavy, with a few Wings and fewer solo, and only one or two deep cuts.
The tour lasted 37 shows and ended on November 29th in Los Angeles and even ventured into Toronto, Canada for one show. He promoted the new album and tour on Lexus commercials, which used the first single “Fine Line” as the theme of their ads.
He did numerous radio, print and TV appearances to promote the album.
Paul also did his 5th Adopt-a-Minefield Gala charity performance for wife Heather. It consisted of a 12 song soundcheck for the lucky few, followed by a 12 song show for attendees.
Paul also attended the graduation ceremony of the L.I.P.A (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) in July of 2005. Tim Wheeler from Ash, Bee Gee Robin Gibb and lyricist Guy Chambers had honorary degrees conferred on them.
He also released “Jenny Wren”and “This Never Happened Before” as singles, and “Really Love You” and “Rinse The Raindrops” from TWIN FREAKS as well.
None made major impact on the Billboard charts, and the CHAOS releases featured non-album songs.
NON-ALBUM SONGS RELEASED
Comfort Of Love (“Fine Line” CD single) A ticking clock leads into this piano driven song that grows more lush and intense as it builds. Very much in the sound of CHAOS. A nice little tune, but best kept off the album. Rating – 7
Growing Up, Falling Down (“Fine Line” 7” Single)
“Growing Up, Falling Down” was one of the two tracks on “Chaos And Creation In The Backyard” which featured player Pedro Eustache (the other one was “Jenny Wren“). Pedro Eustache played Dijeridu and Duduk on this track.
He commented, “What can I say, it was a once-on-a-lifetime experience… absolutely amazing. What struck me the most was Sir Paul’s genuine, down-to-earth humility, his serious, no-nonsense work ethics, as well as the depth of his musical sensibility.”
A wonderful surprise of a non-album song…. Interesting and odd, and would have been a fine addition to the album. The idea of making mistakes as one “grows up” is dealt with beautifully, in love and maybe in his musical relationships. Wonderful production and arrangement throughout and Eustache’s Dudak gives it a middle eastern feel. Rating- 8.25
“Summer of ’59” (“Jenny Wren” 7” single) An acoustic bopper featuring sweet multitrack vocals and a 50’s style which describes Paul’s impression of that period in his life. Rating – 7.75
“This Loving Game” (“Jenny Wren” Maxi-CD Single) A piano ballad, with an interesting soulful vocal by Paul. Nice chord change in the middle eight, that leads into a rocking it up the rest of the way. Another very nice track left off the album, and a welcome addition to the collection. Rating – 8
“I Want You To Fly” (“Jenny Wren” CD single) Paul uses the electric piano to begin this ballad. It slowly builds up steam. A song of encouragement and support which features a more “breathy” lead vocal and in his upper register. It ends with an odd bit of phrasing….. “Rising and falling like snow in the night….”
Rating – 7.5
“She is So Beautiful” (Japanese album bonus track) A more traditional stripped down piano/acoustic guitar ballad (for Heather?) that Paul is the master of. A tender instrumental break back into the melody ends it leaving you with a smile. Rating – 7.5
Paul appeared on guitars on the Stevie Wonder track “A Time To Love,” from the 2005 album of the same name.
On October 3rd, the book “High In The Clouds” was released. High in the Clouds is a children’s adventure novel written by musician/songwriter Paul McCartney and Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Geoff Dunbar, and published by Faber and Faber.
As writer/producer and animator/director, McCartney and Dunbar had collaborated on the 1984 animated film Rupert and the Frog Song, and High In The Clouds was scripted and sketched for several years by the two of them as another film to be released in 2022. It was announced in 2013, seven or eight songs were written for it in 2015, production by Gaumont was announced in 2017 and it will be shown on Netflix on release. Whew………….
Next up…2006.
A Life Through The Eyes Of A Man 