Paul McCartney - Flaming Pie (1997) [2025 Japanese Edition]

According to Paul McCartney, working on the Beatles Anthology project inspired him to record an album that was stripped-back, immediate, and fun, one less studied and produced than most of his recent work. In many ways, Flaming Pie fulfills those goals. A largely acoustic collection of simple songs, Flaming Pie is direct and unassuming, and at its best, it recalls the homely charm of McCartney and Ram. McCartney still has a tendency to wallow in trite sentiment, and his more ambitious numbers, like the string-drenched epic "Beautiful Night" or the silly Beatlesque psychedelia of "Flaming Pie," fall a little flat. But when he works on a small scale, as on the waltzing "The Song We Were Singing," "Calico Skies," "Great Day," and "Little Willow," he's gently affecting, and the moderately rocking pop of "The World Tonight" and "Young Boy" is more ingratiating than the pair of aimless bluesy jams with Steve Miller. Even with the filler, which should be expected on any McCartney album, Flaming Pie is one of his most successful latter-day efforts, mainly because McCartney is at his best when he doesn't try so hard and lets his effortless melodic gifts rise to the surface.

Tracks:

01. The Song We Were Singing
02. The World Tonight
03. If You Wanna
04. Somedays
05. Young Boy
06. Calico Skies
07. Flaming Pie
08. Heaven on a Sunday
09. Used to Be Bad
10. Souvenir
11. Little Willow
12. Really Love You
13. Beautiful Night
14. Great Day


Paul McCartney - Lead Vocal, Harmony Vocal, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, 12 String Acoustic Guitar, Spanish Guitar, Fender Rhodes, Bass Guitar, Double Bass, Harmonium, Piano, Hammond Organ, Harpsichord, Vibraphone, Mellotron, Wurlitzer Piano, Drums, Percussion, Percussion Effects, Leg Slap
Jeff Lynne - Harmony Vocal, Backing Vocal, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard, Electric Spinette Harpsichord
Steve Miller - Harmony Vocal, Backing Vocal, Lead Vocal, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Rhythm Guitar
James McCartney - Electric Guitar
Linda McCartney - Backing Vocals
Ringo Starr - Drums, Backing Vocals, Additional Percussion
Michael Thompson, Richard Bissill, Richard Watkins, John Pigneguy - French Horns
Kevin Robinson - Trumpet
Chris 'Snake' Davis - Saxophone
Dave Bishop - Baritone Saxophone
All songs composed by Paul McCartney except
Tracks 4 & 13 composed by Paul McCartney, orchestration by George Martin
Track 9 composed by Steve Miller / Paul McCartney
Track 12 composed by Paul McCartney / Richard Starkey