Album: Off the Ground by Paul McCartney (1993)
Genre: Rock | Style: Rock/Pop | Mood: Philosophical
Record Label: Parlophone
Format: Album

Description: Off the Ground is the ninth solo studio album by former Beatles member Paul McCartney, released in 1993. As his first studio album of the 1990s, it is also the follow-up to the acclaimed Flowers in the Dirt (1989).
Buoyed by the critical success of his 1989 album Flowers in the Dirt and the subsequent Paul McCartney World Tour in 1989 and 1990, it seemed a natural extension to record his next album with his existing touring band. Only one change was made to the line-up, with Blair Cunningham joining on drums to replace Chris Whitten. To add to the band's success in the live arena, McCartney decided to record the album "live in the studio", meaning that the band would rehearse the entire song together and then record the song together in one take, instead of recording each vocal track and instrumental track separately. This approach gave a new, raw and direct feel to the work, but was not overly liked by critics. The compositions also seemed less complex than on Flowers in the Dirt, with some of them having been out-takes from the earlier album. "Mistress and Maid" and "The Lovers That Never Were", which emerged from McCartney's songwriting collaboration with Elvis Costello, made their appearance on this album. Unlike Flowers in the Dirt, however, Costello did not appear on Off the Ground.
McCartney's increased interest in social issues came to prominence on this album, be it the scathing anti-animal cruelty rocker "Looking for Changes" (McCartney and his wife Linda long-time vegetarians by this time) or paeans for a better world ("Hope of Deliverance" and "C'Mon People"). The B-side Big Boys Bickering lambasted politicians, with the phrase "Big boys bickering, f***ing it up for everyone" showing a more aggressive side to McCartney.

Artist Background: Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM (born 18 June 1942) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles and with Lennon formed one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. Following the band's break-up, he began a solo career and later formed the group Wings with his first wife Linda Eastman and singer-songwriter Denny Laine. McCartney has been de... Part of the Liverpool, England music scene. Emerged in the classic era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Related Artists: Wings, John Lennon, The Beatles, Ringo Starr

Music Scene: Part of the Liverpool, England music scene. Emerged in the classic era. Associated with Rock movement. Known for Rock/Pop style.

Tags: Rock, Rock/Pop, Philosophical, 1990s, Album, Parlophone

Additional Context: Sales figures: 1400000. Rating score: 6. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Off the Ground is the ninth solo studio album by former Beatles member Paul McCartney, released in 1993. As his first studio album of the 1990s, it is also the follow-up to the acclaimed Flowers in the Dirt (1989).
Buoyed by the critical success of his 1989 album Flowers in the Dirt and the subsequent Paul McCartney World Tour in 1989 and 1990, it seemed a natural extension to record his next album with his existing touring band. Only one change was made to the line-up, with Blair Cunningham joining on drums to replace Chris Whitten. To add to the band's success in the live arena, McCartney decided to record the album "live in the studio", meaning that the band would rehearse the entire song together and then record the song together in one take, instead of recording each vocal track and instrumental track separately. This approach gave a new, raw and direct feel to the work, but was not overly liked by critics. The compositions also seemed less complex than on Flowers in the Dirt, with some of them having been out-takes from the earlier album. "Mistress and Maid" and "The Lovers That Never Were", which emerged from McCartney's songwriting collaboration with Elvis Costello, made their appearance on this album. Unlike Flowers in the Dirt, however, Costello did not appear on Off the Ground.
McCartney's increased interest in social issues came to prominence on this album, be it the scathing anti-animal cruelty rocker "Looking for Changes" (McCartney and his wife Linda long-time vegetarians by this time) or paeans for a better world ("Hope of Deliverance" and "C'Mon People"). The B-side Big Boys Bickering lambasted politicians, with the phrase "Big boys bickering, f***ing it up for everyone" showing a more aggressive side to McCartney.

Off the Ground

Paul McCartney

Track List

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