Back in the World
Encyclopedia
Back in the World is a live album
by Paul McCartney
composed of highlights from his spring 2002 "Driving USA" tour in the United States
in support of McCartney's 2001 release Driving Rain
. It was released internationally in 2003, save for North America
- where Back in the US saw issue four months earlier in 2002 - to commemorate his first set of concerts in almost ten years.
Using most of the musicians that appeared on Driving Rain, McCartney assembled a new live act composed of Rusty Anderson
and Brian Ray
on guitar, Abe Laboriel Jr.
on drums, and keyboardist Paul Wickens
, who had been on McCartney's last two tours in 1989-1990 and 1993.
Although McCartney was promoting Driving Rain, the majority of his shows would be celebrations of his past, with a substantial sampling of McCartney's solo work with and without Wings
, but in particular his Beatles hits. And it was with the release of those particular songs on Back in the US in 2002 that sparked one of McCartney's biggest controversies in ages. Despite keeping the famous Lennon-McCartney
credit intact on Tripping the Live Fantastic
, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
and Paul is Live
, McCartney decided to reverse the credits to "McCartney-Lennon" much to Yoko Ono
's public outcry. Reportedly, McCartney decided to act in response to Ono's recent dropping of his credit from "Give Peace A Chance" on Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon
in 1997. While there continues to be division among critics and fans over McCartney's move, it is worth noting that John Lennon
never publicly objected to the original credit reversal that appeared on 1976's Wings Over America
, four years before Lennon's death. Undeterred by Ono's anger, McCartney swapped the credits again on Back in the World in 2003.
The main difference between Back in the US and Back in the World is that "Vanilla Sky" has been dropped from the latter's first disc, while two of the tracks from the second disc ("C Moon" and the post-9/11 "Freedom") have been replaced with four exclusive songs not found on Back in the US: "Calico Skies", "Michelle", "Let 'Em In
" and "She's Leaving Home
". Another difference is that the version of "Hey Jude" on "Back in the world" comes from a different show than the version on "Back in the US".
Upon its release, Back in the World far outperformed Driving Rain in the UK, reaching #5 and becoming a major hit for McCartney.
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
composed of highlights from his spring 2002 "Driving USA" tour in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in support of McCartney's 2001 release Driving Rain
Driving Rain
Driving Rain is the twelfth studio album by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 2001 it has now sold 2 million copies globally. It is his first studio album since publicly announcing his relationship with former model and anti-land mines activist Heather Mills, whom McCartney would marry in 2002...
. It was released internationally in 2003, save for North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
- where Back in the US saw issue four months earlier in 2002 - to commemorate his first set of concerts in almost ten years.
Using most of the musicians that appeared on Driving Rain, McCartney assembled a new live act composed of Rusty Anderson
Rusty Anderson
Rusty Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Rusty Anderson grew up in La Habra, California...
and Brian Ray
Brian Ray
Brian Thomas Ray is an American session musician, musical director, guitarist and singer–songwriter. He is best known for his work as a guitarist and bassist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Brian Ray grew up...
on guitar, Abe Laboriel Jr.
Abe Laboriel Jr.
Abe Laboriel Jr. is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and brother of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel....
on drums, and keyboardist Paul Wickens
Paul Wickens
Paul "Wix" Wickens is a keyboardist and composer from Essex, United Kingdom. Wickens has worked with musicians such as Paul McCartney, Nik Kershaw, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi and many other artists. Wickens has been a member of McCartney's touring band since 1989.-Career:Wickens began...
, who had been on McCartney's last two tours in 1989-1990 and 1993.
Although McCartney was promoting Driving Rain, the majority of his shows would be celebrations of his past, with a substantial sampling of McCartney's solo work with and without Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
, but in particular his Beatles hits. And it was with the release of those particular songs on Back in the US in 2002 that sparked one of McCartney's biggest controversies in ages. Despite keeping the famous Lennon-McCartney
Lennon/McCartney
The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
credit intact on Tripping the Live Fantastic
Tripping the Live Fantastic
Tripping the Live Fantastic is Paul McCartney's first official live album and his first release of concert material since Wings' 1976 Wings over America live package. It was released in 1990 as triple LP, double cassette and double CD. Tripping the Live Fantastic reached #16 in the UK and #26 in...
, Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
- Personnel :*Paul McCartney: Acoustic guitar, drums, vocals.*Linda McCartney: Piano, Indian harmonium, percussion, vocals.*Hamish Stuart: Acoustic bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals.*Robbie McIntosh: Acoustic guitars, piano, dobro, vocals....
and Paul is Live
Paul Is Live
Paul Is Live is a live album by Paul McCartney, released in 1993 during his New World Tour in support of the album Off the Ground. Its cover is often used as a counter-argument to the Paul is dead conspiracy theory.-Title and cover:...
, McCartney decided to reverse the credits to "McCartney-Lennon" much to Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
's public outcry. Reportedly, McCartney decided to act in response to Ono's recent dropping of his credit from "Give Peace A Chance" on Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon
Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon
Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon is the third official compilation album of John Lennon's solo career, coming after 1975's Shaved Fish and 1982's The John Lennon Collection...
in 1997. While there continues to be division among critics and fans over McCartney's move, it is worth noting that John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
never publicly objected to the original credit reversal that appeared on 1976's Wings Over America
Wings over America
Wings over America is the sixth album by Wings and their only live album. In its initial release, it was a triple album and included a poster of the band.-Recording history:...
, four years before Lennon's death. Undeterred by Ono's anger, McCartney swapped the credits again on Back in the World in 2003.
The main difference between Back in the US and Back in the World is that "Vanilla Sky" has been dropped from the latter's first disc, while two of the tracks from the second disc ("C Moon" and the post-9/11 "Freedom") have been replaced with four exclusive songs not found on Back in the US: "Calico Skies", "Michelle", "Let 'Em In
Let 'em In
"Let 'Em In" is a song by Wings from their 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and reached the top 3 in both the United States and the United Kingdom: It was a #2 hit in the UK, and in the US it was a #3 pop hit and #1 easy listening hit...
" and "She's Leaving Home
She's Leaving Home
"She's Leaving Home" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney and released in 1967 on The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. McCartney wrote and sang the verse and Lennon the chorus...
". Another difference is that the version of "Hey Jude" on "Back in the world" comes from a different show than the version on "Back in the US".
Upon its release, Back in the World far outperformed Driving Rain in the UK, reaching #5 and becoming a major hit for McCartney.
Disc one
- "Hello, Goodbye" – 3:46
- "JetJet (song)"Jet" is a song by Paul McCartney & Wings from their album Band on the Run. The song peaked at number 7 in both the British and American charts on 30 March 1974. Along with "Helen Wheels" and "Junior's Farm", it is another McCartney song where his primary inspiration for composing the song arose in...
" (Paul McCartney/Linda McCartneyLinda McCartneyLinda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
) – 4:02 - "All My LovingAll My Loving"All My Loving" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney , from the 1963 album With The Beatles. Though it was not released as a single in the United Kingdom or the United States, it drew considerable radio airplay, prompting EMI to issue it as the title track of an EP...
" – 2:08 - "Getting BetterGetting Better"Getting Better" is a song written mainly by Paul McCartney, with lyrical contributions from John Lennon . It was recorded by The Beatles for the 1967 album Sgt...
" – 3:10 - "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)Coming Up (song)"Coming Up" was the opening track from Paul McCartney's McCartney II album, written by McCartney and released in 1980. Like the rest of the album, the song had a minimalist synthesized feel to it. It featured lead vocals from McCartney distorted by using vari-speed, and he played all the...
" (Paul McCartney) – 3:26 - "Let Me Roll ItLet Me Roll It"Let Me Roll It" is the last track on side one on the Paul McCartney & Wings album Band on the Run. The song was seen by critics as a pastiche to John Lennon's sound, particularly the riff and the use of tape echo on the vocals. McCartney, however, never claimed the song was intended as a pastiche...
" (Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney) – 4:24 - "Lonely Road" (Paul McCartney) – 3:12
- "Driving RainDriving RainDriving Rain is the twelfth studio album by Paul McCartney, recorded and released in 2001 it has now sold 2 million copies globally. It is his first studio album since publicly announcing his relationship with former model and anti-land mines activist Heather Mills, whom McCartney would marry in 2002...
" (Paul McCartney) – 3:11 - "Your Loving FlameYour Loving Flame"Your Loving Flame" is a love song by Paul McCartney, written for his future fiancée Heather Mills. It appeared on his 2001 album Driving Rain and was also said to have been the LP's lead single. Its status as a single is not clear, however, as Wikipedia omits this song from Paul McCartney's main...
" (Paul McCartney) – 3:28 - "BlackbirdBlackbird (song)"Blackbird" is a Beatles song from the double-disc album The Beatles . Blackbird was written by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Origins:...
" – 2:30 - "Every Night" (Paul McCartney) – 2:51
- "We Can Work It OutWe Can Work It Out"We Can Work It Out" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon. It was released as a "double A-sided" single with "Day Tripper", the first time both sides of a single were so designated in an initial release...
" – 2:29 - "Mother Nature's SonMother Nature's Son"Mother Nature's Son" is a Lennon–McCartney song, written primarily by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on The Beatles . It was inspired by a lecture given by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi while the Beatles were in India. The same lecture inspired Lennon's unreleased song "Child of Nature",...
" – 2:11 - "Carry That WeightCarry That Weight"Carry That Weight" is a song by The Beatles. Released on Abbey Road and part of the long, climactic medley that closes the album, it features vocals from all four Beatles...
" – 3:05- From start to 1:58, the song "You Never Give Me Your Money" is played.
- "The Fool on the HillThe Fool on the Hill"The Fool on the Hill" is a song by The Beatles. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and recorded in 1967...
" – 3:09 - "Here TodayHere Today (Paul McCartney song)"Here Today" is a song by Paul McCartney from his 1982 album Tug of War. McCartney wrote the song about his relationship with and love for John Lennon, who had died less than two years before.The song was produced by The Beatles' producer George Martin...
" (Paul McCartney) – 2:28- McCartney's tribute to John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
- McCartney's tribute to John Lennon
- "SomethingSomething"Something" is a song by The Beatles, written by lead guitarist George Harrison in 1969. It was featured on the album Abbey Road, and was also the first song written by Harrison to appear on the A-side of a Beatles' single...
" (George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
) – 2:33- A tribute cover of George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
's most famous song, played on the ukulele - one of Harrison's favorite instruments
- A tribute cover of George Harrison
Disc two
- "Eleanor RigbyEleanor Rigby"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
" – 2:17 - "Here, There and EverywhereHere, There and Everywhere"Here, There and Everywhere" is a song written primarily by Paul McCartney , recorded for The Beatles 1966 album Revolver. In his biography Many Years From Now, McCartney said the song is one of his favourites. Beatles' producer George Martin has also mentioned it as one of his favourite McCartney...
" – 2:23 - "Calico SkiesCalico SkiesCalico Skies is the sixth song on Paul McCartney's 1997 album, Flaming Pie.While it wreaked havoc in the north-east US, the category-three storm Hurricane Bob that made landfall in August 1991 prompted McCartney to sit with an acoustic guitar and write what he describes as "a gentle love song that...
" (Paul McCartney) – 2:38- Performed at the Osaka DomeOsaka DomeOsaka Dome is a baseball stadium located in Osaka, Japan. Beginning in 1997, the stadium was the home field of the Kintetsu Buffaloes. In 2005, the stadium became one of the homes of the Orix Buffaloes, a result of the merger between the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes. Prior to the Osaka...
, OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- Performed at the Osaka Dome
- "MichelleMichelle (song)"Michelle" is a love ballad by The Beatles, mainly written by Paul McCartney, with the middle eight co-written with John Lennon. It is featured on their Rubber Soul album. The song departs from most of The Beatles' other recordings in that some of the lyrics are in French...
" – 3:15- Performed in Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
- Performed in Mexico City
- "Band on the RunBand on the Run (song)"Band on the Run" is the title song from Paul McCartney & Wings' acclaimed Band on the Run album. The single sold one million copies in 1974 in the United States, where it reached number 1, and it went to number 3 in the United Kingdom...
" (Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney) – 5:00 - "Back in the U.S.S.R." – 2:56
- "Maybe I'm AmazedMaybe I'm Amazed"Maybe I'm Amazed" is a song written by Paul McCartney that was first released on his McCartney album on 17 April 1970. The studio version from the album has never been released as a single. McCartney dedicated the song to his wife, Linda, who had helped him get through the break-up of The Beatles...
" (Paul McCartney) – 4:47 - "Let 'Em InLet 'em In"Let 'Em In" is a song by Wings from their 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and reached the top 3 in both the United States and the United Kingdom: It was a #2 hit in the UK, and in the US it was a #3 pop hit and #1 easy listening hit...
" (Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney) – 5:23- Performed at the Tokyo DomeTokyo DomeTokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
, TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- Performed at the Tokyo Dome
- "My LoveMy Love (Paul McCartney song)“My Love” is a love song by Paul McCartney & Wings, the most successful track from their 1973 album Red Rose Speedway. McCartney wrote it about his feelings for his wife Linda, also in the band....
" (Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney) – 4:04 - "She's Leaving HomeShe's Leaving Home"She's Leaving Home" is a song credited to Lennon–McCartney and released in 1967 on The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. McCartney wrote and sang the verse and Lennon the chorus...
" – 3:52- Performed in Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
- Performed in Mexico City
- "Can't Buy Me LoveCan't Buy Me Love"Can't Buy Me Love" is a song composed by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on the A-side of their sixth British single, "Can't Buy Me Love"/"You Can't Do That".-Interpretation:...
" – 2:11 - "Live and Let DieLive and Let Die (song)"Live and Let Die" is the main theme song of the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die and was performed by Paul McCartney & Wings for the movie soundtrack and appears on the soundtrack album. The song was one of Wings' most successful singles, and the most successful Bond theme to that point...
" (Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney) – 3:05 - "Let It BeLet It Be (song)"Let It Be" is a song by The Beatles, released in March 1970 as a single, and as the title track of their album Let It Be. It was written by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was their final single before McCartney announced his departure from the band...
" – 3:58 - "Hey JudeHey Jude"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
" – 7:35- Performed in Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
; on "Back in the U.S.Back in the U.S.Back in the U.S. is a double live album by Paul McCartney composed of highlights from his spring 2002 Driving USA Tour in the US in support of McCartney's 2001 release Driving Rain...
", the song is performed in New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
- Performed in Mexico City
- "The Long and Winding RoadThe Long and Winding Road"The Long and Winding Road" is a ballad written by Paul McCartney that originally appeared on The Beatles' album Let It Be. It became The Beatles' 20th and last number-one song in the United States on 23 May 1970, and was the last single released by the quartet...
" – 3:30 - "Lady MadonnaLady Madonna"Lady Madonna" is a song by The Beatles, primarily written by Paul McCartney . In March 1968, it was released as a single, backed with "The Inner Light." The song was recorded on 3 and 6 February 1968 before the Beatles left for India...
" – 2:21 - "I Saw Her Standing ThereI Saw Her Standing There"I Saw Her Standing There" is a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and is the opening track on The Beatles' debut album, Please Please Me, released in the United Kingdom by Parlophone on 22 March 1963....
" – 3:08 - "YesterdayYesterday (song)"Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. The song first hit the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 cover versions, one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded...
" – 2:08 - "Sgt. Pepper'sSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a song written by Paul McCartney , and first recorded and released in 1967, on the The Beatles' album of the same name. The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track , and as "Sgt...
"/"The EndThe End (The Beatles song)"The End" is a song by The Beatles composed by Paul McCartney for the album Abbey Road. It was the last song recorded collectively by all four Beatles, and is the final song of the medley that dominates side two of the LP version of the album.-Composition and recording:McCartney said, "I wanted...
" – 4:40
Charts
| Country | Peak position | Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 5 | 13 |
| Denmark | 6 | 11 |
| Sweden | 12 | 7 |
| Finland | 15 | 1 |
| Austria | 17 | 10 |
| France | 23 | 10 |
| Hungary | 31 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 68 | 3 |
| Japan | 196 | 2 |