Off the Ground
Encyclopedia
Off the Ground is the ninth studio album by 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).
, made their appearance on this album. Unlike Flowers in the Dirt, however, Costello would not appear on Off the Ground.
One of the main differences between Flowers in the Dirt and Off the Ground is the leaner, more direct sound. With the musicians sounding less studied than they had on the previous release, Off the Ground has a relaxed, natural feel by comparison. Another change is McCartney's increased interest in social issues, 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").
' Wild Life in 1971. While "Hope of Deliverance" floundered there, it managed to reach #18 in the UK, where "C'Mon People" would become a minor hit as well. The album spent only 6 weeks inside the Top 100 in the UK, eventually reaching #5 there. In Germany, the album was particularly successful and certified platinum with "Hope of Deliverance" reaching #3 on the singles chart and the album spending four weeks at #2.
Some weeks after its release, McCartney launched "The New World Tour
", taking in many successful shows across the globe during the summer months. These gigs were documented on the album Paul Is Live
, which followed at the end of 1993.
Although generally considered a slightly weaker successor to Flowers in the Dirt and now somewhat overlooked, Off the Ground is prized by many McCartney followers.
The feet on the album cover are actually of McCartney, his wife Linda and his touring band.
, except "Mistress and Maid" and "The Lovers That Never Were" co-written by Declan MacManus.
Interestingly, even though the album is called the "complete works," it is missing two b-sides and three promo remixes. Those tracks are "Deliverance" and "Deliverance (Dub Mix)", dance-oriented reworkings of the song "Hope of Deliverance", released as b-sides of the C'mon People CD single #1, and the three promo remixes of "Off the Ground" released to American radio, namely the Bob Clearmountain remix, the Keith Cohen remix, and the Keith Cohen AC remix.
Also, when the iTunes store added his catalog of music in 2007, they included "I Can't Imagine" as an exclusive bonus track on the album.
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...
, released in 1993. As his first studio album of the 1990s, it is also the follow-up to the acclaimed Flowers in the Dirt
Flowers in the Dirt
-Additional tracks:-Special Package :Following tracks are included on bonus disc.#"Message" - 0:28#* A environmental message from Paul to the Japanese fans.#"The Long and Winding Road" - 3:51...
(1989).
Recording and structure
When the sessions for the album began in the autumn of 1991, McCartney decided to use his current touring band as session musicians, most of whom had already appeared on Flowers in the Dirt. In addition, "Mistress and Maid" and "The Lovers That Never Were", which emerged from his songwriting collaboration with Elvis CostelloElvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, made their appearance on this album. Unlike Flowers in the Dirt, however, Costello would not appear on Off the Ground.
One of the main differences between Flowers in the Dirt and Off the Ground is the leaner, more direct sound. With the musicians sounding less studied than they had on the previous release, Off the Ground has a relaxed, natural feel by comparison. Another change is McCartney's increased interest in social issues, be it the scathing anti-animal cruelty rocker "Looking for Changes" (McCartney and his wife Linda
Linda McCartney
Linda 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....
long-time vegetarians by this time) or paeans for a better world ("Hope of Deliverance" and "C'Mon People").
Release
The lead single, "Hope of Deliverance", was released in the last week of December 1992 and the album followed in February 1993. While Off the Ground hit #5 in the UK and reached #17 in the US, where it eventually went gold, it was the first Paul McCartney album to not contain a sizeable US hit single since WingsWings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
' Wild Life in 1971. While "Hope of Deliverance" floundered there, it managed to reach #18 in the UK, where "C'Mon People" would become a minor hit as well. The album spent only 6 weeks inside the Top 100 in the UK, eventually reaching #5 there. In Germany, the album was particularly successful and certified platinum with "Hope of Deliverance" reaching #3 on the singles chart and the album spending four weeks at #2.
Some weeks after its release, McCartney launched "The New World Tour
The New World Tour
In 1993, Paul McCartney and his band embarked upon The New World Tour, spanning almost the entire year and almost the entire globe. The tour was intended to promote McCartney's album Off the Ground...
", taking in many successful shows across the globe during the summer months. These gigs were documented on the album 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:...
, which followed at the end of 1993.
Although generally considered a slightly weaker successor to Flowers in the Dirt and now somewhat overlooked, Off the Ground is prized by many McCartney followers.
The feet on the album cover are actually of McCartney, his wife Linda and his touring band.
Track listing
All songs composed and written by Paul McCartneyPaul 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...
, except "Mistress and Maid" and "The Lovers That Never Were" co-written by Declan MacManus.
- "Off the GroundOff the Ground (song)"Off the Ground" is a song by Paul McCartney and is from the album from the same name. The video can be seen on the DVD collection, The McCartney Years. The video was shot by Industrial Light & Magic. Some behind the scenes footage can be seen on the out of print VHS, Movin' On...
" – 3:40 - "Looking for Changes" – 2:47
- "Hope of DeliveranceHope of Deliverance"Hope of Deliverance" is a hit song by Paul McCartney, featured on his 1993 album Off the Ground. It became a hit in his native UK, reaching #18. It did not fare well on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #83, but did better on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, hitting #9. It is part of Paul...
" – 3:22 - "Mistress and Maid" – 3:00
- "I Owe It All to You" – 4:51
- "Biker Like an IconBiker Like an Icon"Biker Like an Icon" is a song by Paul McCartney from his 1993 album Off the Ground. It was released as a 12" single.-Track listing:12" single# "Biker Like an Icon"# "Midnight Special"# "Things We Said Today"# "Biker Like an Icon"...
" – 3:26 - "Peace in the Neighbourhood" – 5:06
- "Golden Earth Girl" – 3:45
- "The Lovers That Never Were" – 3:43
- "Get Out of My Way" – 3:32
- "Winedark Open Sea" – 5:27
- "C'Mon PeopleC'Mon People"C'Mon People" is a single from Paul McCartney's 1993 album, Off the Ground. The song reached number 41 on the UK singles chart.McCartney recorded the song for UK music programme Top Of The Pops....
" – 7:42- Followed by a hidden excerpt of an unlisted song called "Cosmically Conscious", originally written by McCartney in 1968 during The Beatles' stay in Rishikesh.
Off the Ground: The Complete Works
Off the Ground: The Complete Works is a two-disc set released in Japan and the Netherlands. This edition included McCartney's rare use of swear words in the song "Big Boys Bickering", a protest song. Other notable songs on this edition are "Long Leather Coat" and "I Can't Imagine".Track listing of CD2
- "Long Leather Coat" (McCartney/McCartney)
- "Keep Coming Back to Love" (McCartney/Stuart)
- "Sweet Sweet Memories"
- "Things We Said TodayThings We Said Today"Things We Said Today" is a song by The Beatles written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was composed for the film A Hard Day's Night and appears on the soundtrack album...
" (Lennon/McCartney) - "Midnight SpecialMidnight Special (song)"Midnight Special" is a traditional folk song thought to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The title comes from the refrain which refers to the Midnight Special and its "ever-loving light" ....
" (Arranged by "Lead Belly" Ledbetter/Alan LomaxAlan LomaxAlan Lomax was an American folklorist and ethnomusicologist. He was one of the great field collectors of folk music of the 20th century, recording thousands of songs in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Italy, and Spain.In his later career, Lomax advanced his theories of...
) - "Style Style"
- "I Can't Imagine"
- "Cosmically Conscious" - 4:39
- "Kicked Around No More"
- "Big Boys Bickering"
- "Down to the River"
- "Soggy Noodle"
Interestingly, even though the album is called the "complete works," it is missing two b-sides and three promo remixes. Those tracks are "Deliverance" and "Deliverance (Dub Mix)", dance-oriented reworkings of the song "Hope of Deliverance", released as b-sides of the C'mon People CD single #1, and the three promo remixes of "Off the Ground" released to American radio, namely the Bob Clearmountain remix, the Keith Cohen remix, and the Keith Cohen AC remix.
Also, when the iTunes store added his catalog of music in 2007, they included "I Can't Imagine" as an exclusive bonus track on the album.
Chart positions
| Chart (1993) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
8 |
| Austrian Albums Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
4 |
| Canadian RPM Albums Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
22 |
| Dutch Mega Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
5 |
| French SNEP Albums Chart | 13 |
| German Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... Media Control Albums Chart |
2 |
| Hungarian Albums Chart Mahasz Mahasz is the Hungarian music industry association, founded in 1992. Mahasz hands out the Hungarian Music Awards and maintains the music charts for Hungary.... |
21 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 5 |
| Japanese Oricon Weekly Albums Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
5 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 4 |
| Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
2 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
10 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
5 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
5 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
17 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1993) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums Chart | 23 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 34 |