Chaos and Creation in the Backyard – 2015
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is the thirteenth solo studio album by Paul McCartney (discounting his Wings-era discography, his classical works and his output as the Fireman), released in 2005. A long time in the making, the set was produced by Radiohead and Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich at George Martin’s suggestion.
McCartney plays almost all of the instruments, similar to his 1970 album McCartney and the 1980 McCartney II album. In addition, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard marks the first time since 1984’s Give My Regards to Broad Street that McCartney was not involved in producing one of his studio albums.
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard was McCartney’s last rock album release for longtime label EMI. He signed a deal with Hear Music, owned by Starbucks, in March 2007. He later returned to his old label Capitol Records in 2016.
Music and lyrics
McCartney said that the song “Friends to Go” is influenced by, and dedicated to George Harrison.
Upon being asked to produce an album with McCartney, Godrich admitted:
“My initial reaction was one of terror, not only because it’s a very important person, but I really wasn’t sure how willing he would be to get his hands dirty.”
The two tentatively began a collaboration, recording the songs “This Never Happened Before” and “Follow Me” which was enough to convince both of them that they could develop an album. Godrich’s participation was active: he inspired McCartney to write the song “At the Mercy”, added piano loops on “How Kind of You” and worked with McCartney to slow the tempo of “Riding to Vanity Fair” which McCartney says “changed the mood completely”. Although initially taken aback, McCartney appreciated Godrich’s tenacity and honesty.
According to McCartney, Godrich was at times blunt in his appraisal of McCartney’s songs-in-progress during the making of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard:
“Nigel… refused to allow me to sing songs that he didn’t like, which was very cheeky of him.”
Recording
Recording sessions for the album were done over a long period of time, with many pauses. First sessions were held at RAK Studios, London in September 2003 by McCartney and his band. After a few takes, Godrich said to McCartney he wanted to work with him alone, not involving the band. After some months’ break, sessions resumed at Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles in April 2004, with more sessions in September. Final recordings took place at AIR Studios, London in April 2005.
The cover for Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is from a photograph of McCartney strumming a guitar in his family’s back yard in Liverpool, taken by brother Mike McCartney (aka Mike McGear) and originally entitled Paul Under Washing, before being retitled Our Kid Through Mum’s Net Curtains.
The first single, the upbeat “Fine Line”, was released in late August 2005, ahead of the release of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, and reached No. 20 in the UK. A second single, “Jenny Wren”, reached No. 22 in the UK that November.
The ‘US’ Tour in 2005 helped to promote the album in the US and Canada.
There was also a promotional concert for the album held at Abbey Road Studios, called Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road.
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.
Musicians
Paul McCartney – Bösendorfer grand piano, Baldwin spinet, Höfner bass guitar, Epiphone Casino electric guitar, Martin D28 acoustic guitar, Ludwig drums, shakers, tambourine, vocals, flugelhorn, guerrero, piano and Epiphone acoustic guitar loops, Epiphone Texan acoustic guitar, Ludwig floor tom, Steinway grand piano, Fender Telecaster electric guitar, cello, mass vibrachimes, B3 organ, tambourine on snare, Höhner melodica, Ludwig bass drum, recorders, tubular bells, Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, Martin 12 string guitar, Schmidt autoharp, maracas, Petersen classical guitar, Crown upright piano, harmonium, Paiste gong, cymbal, triangle, Toy glockenspiel, Wurlitzer electric piano, percussion, block, Yamaha grand piano, Gibson L5 electric guitar, moog
Millennia Ensemble – strings, brass instrument
Joby Talbot – string arrangement, conducting, brass arrangement
Nigel Godrich – piano and Epiphone acoustic guitar loops
Pedro Eustache – duduk
Jason Falkner – electric guitar, classical guitar
James Gadson – drums
Joey Waronker – bass drum, bongos, shaker
The Los Angeles Music Players – strings
David Campbell – string arrangement
Rusty Anderson – acoustic guitar
Brian Ray – acoustic guitar
Abe Laboriel Jr. – percussion, block, tambourine
Production
Nigel Godrich – producer
Dan Grech-Marguerat – production assistant
Darrell Thorp – engineer
Alan Yoshida – mastering
Mike McCartney – cover
Brian Clarke – inlay
Bill Bernstein – back cover
Paul McCartney, Stylorouge London – art direction
Session Information
Personnel per booklet. And this site.
Fine Line
Recorded – Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Bösendorfer Grand Piano, Baldwin Spinet, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Martin D28 Acoustic Guitar, Ludwig Drums, Shakers, Tambourine
Millennia Ensemble – Strings
Joby Talbot – Conducting, Arrangement
How Kind of You
Recorded – Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Martin D28 Acoustic Guitar, Höfner Bass Guitar, Bösendorfer Grand Piano, Flugelhorn, Shaker, Guerrero, Ludwig Drums, Piano and Epiphone Acoustic Guitar Loops
Nigel Godrich – Piano and Epiphone Acoustic Guitar Loops
Jenny Wren
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., October 2004
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Epiphone Texan Acoustic Guitar, Ludwig Floor Tom
Pedro Eustache – Duduk
At the Mercy
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., Spring, 2004, Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005 (Strings)
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Steinway Grand Piano, Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar, Höfner Bass Guitar, Cello, Mass Vibrachimes, Tambourine, B3 Organ
Jason Falkner – Electric Guitar
James Gadson – Drums
Millennia Ensemble – Strings, Brass
Joby Talbot – Conducting, Arrangement
Friends to Go
Recorded – Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Bösendorfer Grand Piano, Martin D28 Acoustic Guitar, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Ludwig Drums, Tambourine on Snare, Flugelhorn, Höfner Melodica, Shakers
English Tea
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005 (Strings)
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Bösendorfer Grand Piano, Höfner Bass Guitar, Ludwig Bass Drum, Recorders, Tubular Bells
Millennia Ensemble – Strings, Brass
Joby Talbot – Conducting, Arrangement
Too Much Rain
Recorded – Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Bösendorfer Grand Piano, Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Martin D28 Acoustic Guitar, Martin 12-String Guitar, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Schmidt Autoharp, Ludwig Drums, Maracas
A Certain Softness
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., Spring, 2004
Paul McCartney – Vocal, Petersen Classical Guitar, Höfner Bass Guitar, Crown Upright Piano, Harmonium, Paiste Gong, Cymbal, Triangle
Jason Falkner – Classical Guitar
Joey Waronker – Bass Drum, Bongo Drums, Shaker
Riding to Vanity Fair
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., Spring, 2004, and Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Martin D28 Acoustic Guitar, Toy Glockenspiel, Wurlitzer Electric Piano
Los Angeles Music Players – Strings
David Campbell – Arrangement
James Gadson – Drums
Follow Me
Recorded – RAK Studios, London, November 2003
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Epiphone Texan Acoustic Guitar, Ludwig Drums, Percussion, Block, Tambourine
Rusty Anderson – Acoustic Guitar
Brian Ray – Acoustic Guitar
Abe Laboriel Jnr – Percussion, Block, Tambourine
Millennia Ensemble – Strings
Joby Talbot – Conducting, Arrangement
Promise to You Girl
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., Late 2004 – April 2005
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Crown Upright Piano, Steinway Grand Piano, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Ludwig Drums, Moog Synthesizer, Tambourine, Triangle, Shaker
This Never Happened Before
Recorded – RAK Studios, London, November 2003
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Yamaha Grand Piano, Höfner Bass Guitar, Epiphone Casino Electric Guitar, Ludwig Drums
Millennia Ensemble – Strings, Brass
Joby Talbot – Conducting, Arrangement
Anyway
Recorded – Ocean Way Recording, L.A., Air Studios, London, Late 2004 – April 2005 (Strings)
Paul McCartney – Vocals, Steinway Grand Piano, Höfner Bass Guitar, Gibson L5 Electric Guitar, Martin D28 Acoustic Guitar, Ludwig Drums, Moog Synthesizer, Harmonium
Millennia Ensemble – Strings, Brass
Joby Talbot – Conducting, Arrangement