Paul McCartney Announces New Album Of Covers, Plus 2 New Songs (UPDATED)

What was the music that inspired The Beatles to write their songs?

Though, over the past 50 years, music historians, cultural enthusiasts and mega-fans alike have all proposed their answer to the question, it's Paul McCartney's turn to chime in. A new, as of yet untitled McCartney album to be released on Februrary 7, 2012, will contain the songs he grew up listening to, as well as two new songs.

"In the end it was 'Look, if I don't do it now, I'll never do it," he said in a release. "When I kind of got into songwriting, I realized how well structured these songs were and I think I took a lot of my lessons from them. I always thought artists like Fred Astaire were very cool. Writers like Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, all of those guys - I just thought the songs were magical. And then, as I got to be a songwriter I thought it's beautiful, the way they made those songs'."

It's not just McCartney's personal leanings that these songs expose, however. The album will also have "the songs me and John based quite a few of our things on," according to McCartney.

Two original songs, "My Valentine" and "Only Our Hearts," will feature Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder. And, for premium members of Paul McCartney's website, "My Valentine," will be available to stream free for 24 hours.

To listen to the track, go to www.paulmccartney.com, and click the second box over on the bottom bar where it says "Paul McCartney: Exclusive." Once there, log in or sign up to be a premium member, and the song will be available.

UPDATE: The first single off McCartney's forthcoming album has been released. Listen to "My Valentine" below, featuring Eric Clapton on acoustic guitar:

Comments

[HeadlineZoo]

06:19 PM on 12/22/2011

"I go back so far I'm in front of me"

This guy is just a pure genius. His beatle work might have been better, but no one on the planet has the talent to produce what he's produced since leaving the beatles; it's a heck of a body of work taken as a whole, warts and all.

[leorangerie]

05:42 PM on 12/22/2011

These dudes are good. Who are they?

[dmitrir]

06:29 PM on 12/20/2011

That was a very good song.

This McCartney fellow could have a promising career as a cabaret singer.

[phoenixbc]

02:52 PM on 12/20/2011

Elvis Costello remarked, after collaborating with McCartney, that Paul is unique inasmuch as he shifted into a completely different style of composition after The Beatles, which is unusual for an artist. His work during the 90s was, in some ways, a return to his former style, while this piece and his other recent work, seem to be moving in yet a third style direction.

Like Clapton and Costello, McCartney is one of the few true virtuosos of our time.

[HerzogD]

12:10 PM on 12/20/2011

Wow. Sort of stunned at all the hating on here against Paul. Yah, I get it. His solo stuff and Wings aren't as good as the Beatles. Big deal. What musician can't you say that about? Each Beatle produced amazing solo work (okay, Ringo's work being considered great is questionable), but it's not fair to compare that work to the Beatles. No on can live up to that.

People who want to come on here and say Paul hasn't done anything worthwhile in 40 years need some education. I would recommend you start with Ram and perhaps move onto McCartney, Band on the Run, Red Rose Speedway, Wings at the Speed of Sound, Wildlife, Flowers in the Dirt, Venus and Mars, and Flaming Pie...just to get you started.

[Billk29]

03:40 PM on 12/20/2011

Ram is pure genius and very close to a Beatles album.

[grapost]

09:07 AM on 12/20/2011

More boring music from a over the hill artist. He's only made 4 decent albums in the past 40 years. He knows most of his solo stuff sucks because all he ever plays in concert are Beatles songs.

[HerzogD]

12:05 PM on 12/20/2011

Wow, are you just wrong. Have you been to a Paul concert. He plays a few Beatles songs because the crowd loves it, but most of his songs are solo stuff.

Four good albums? Huh? How about Mcartney I, Band on the Run, Ram, Red Rose Speedway, Wings at the Speed of Sound, Wildlife, Flowers in the Dirt, Venus and Mars, and Flaming Pie. There are eight albums that are a lot more than decent. They're great.

Not really fair to compare any musician to the Beatles. I prefer the Beatles over any of the solo works of the Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr, but that doesn't mean that they didn't each produce amazing work on their own. Quit hating.

[mgmgmg]

09:19 PM on 12/22/2011

Correction: he has started dropping in Wings tunes in the last couple of years, but he came back to touring in the 90s it's still predominantly a Beatles revue (which is fine by me).

And I love McCartney 1 (and 2), and Band On the Run of course. Venus and Mars is ok, Ram has some great stuff on it. But Wildlife and Red Rose Speedway ("My Love" not withstanding) are two abysmal albums, Wildlife especially.

But one solo album that never gets mentioned anymore is Tug of War, that one is fantastic and much overlooked.

You are right though, the great thing is that all four did worthy work post-Beatles, they all had big hits, none of them faded away!

[Stephen Thorpe]

04:44 AM on 12/27/2011

Nice tune off Driving Rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_-2hgVB_dE

[Mike Bermingham]

06:31 AM on 12/20/2011

The same headline could be applied to 1999's Run Devil Run. I'm actually shocked that there was no mention of the earlier album.

[PurpleTomato]

01:09 AM on 12/20/2011

Far out.I look forward to hearing Paul's new songs.

[Steve-o-k]

12:20 AM on 12/20/2011

The guy hasn't done anything meaningful in 40 years, why start now.

[woodsrobp]

11:07 AM on 12/21/2011

what a moronic comment!

[NeoConsAreFinished]

08:02 AM on 12/24/2011

And you have not done anything meaningful in your whole life.

[CSNC]

12:13 AM on 12/20/2011

"Paul McCartney Announces New Album"

Titled... "Why in the heck I got married again" tour.

H

[rongbeech]

11:59 PM on 12/19/2011

What a relief! The one thing I haven't had enough of the last 50 years is Paul McCartney.

[Graham7720]

11:58 PM on 12/19/2011

Help.

[MIKEinNYC]

11:31 PM on 12/19/2011

When McCartney and the Beach Boys state that they'll be coming out with new stuff you know you've had a good week.

[NuffOfTheBeatles]

11:09 PM on 12/19/2011

Its quite comical to see how pop culture figures get propped up time and again, beyond their expiry dates, beyond their bare-laid sophistries and beyond their expended proficiencies only to make a sorry case for their long-over-due retirement.

The band's success, in its heyday and thereafter, can largely be attributed to the mood of the animated times it was a product of.

Channels of distribution were scant.
Channels of promotion were scant.

Unlike now.

Try replicating their success now.

I challenge they wouldn't last a fortnight's airplay.

[Billk29]

01:05 AM on 12/20/2011

Actually it would be the opposite. The only reason some of today's biggest acts became that way is because of the glut of communication methods and marketing avenues out there today.
Would Justin Bieber be famous now without youtube?
Would Lady Gaga be the huge success without paparazzi capturing her every silly outfit in pictures?
The Beatles made music that appealed in a fresh,gut level way that only a few have ever done.
With today's advertising and distribution methods they would be huge.

[eschew obfuscation]

10:34 PM on 12/19/2011

"will you still need me,
will you still feed me,
when I'm sixt .... Uh wait a minute. He'll be 70 next June.

Please Paul, no more goofy "holiday" hits like that idiotic "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time". Or some of those silly "Wings" tracks. You're better than that.