- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: PAUL MCCARTNEY GIVES INTERVIEW
- Date: 25th April 1997
- Summary: SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 25, 1997 ) (RTV - AVAILABLE ALL) MCCARTNEY (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING "IT WAS REALLY JOYOUS TO WORK ON IT, WE JUST ENJOYED IT, GEORGE PUT A GREAT SOLO ON THAT JUST FINISHED IT OFF AND IT WAS FANTASTIC FOR ME HAVING JOHN IN THE HEADPHONES, IT WAS LIKE HE WAS HERE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE WORKING HE WOULD BE IN A BOOTH OVER THERE AND YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING AT HIM HE'S HERE IN THE HEADPHONES
- Embargoed: 10th May 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SUSSEX, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVACI4A8GLEBJZHW7F84K0JGSBKT
- Story Text: Paul McCartney returns to his Beatle roots in his new album, his first in four years, which features his wife, son and Ringo Starr.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters Television before the May 5th release of "Flaming Pie", McCartney spoke of his grief after John Lennon was murdered by a crazed fan in New York 17 years ago.
"I loved him," he said at his recording studio in southeastern England.
McCartney said that he and Lennon, one of the most successful songwriting teams this century, could produce chart-topping tunes in three hours and they rarely came away from a session without a new song.
"The memories are really great.It's terrible what happened to him." McCartney and the other surviving Beatles had a hit in 1995 with "Free As A Bird", the first single from the Anthology, which was recorded by Lennon in 1977.Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, gave permission for the song to be released and McCartney once more had the experience of hearing John's voice in the recording studio as the finishing touches were put the track.
"It was really joyous to work on it.We just enjoyed it, George put a great solo on that just finished it off, and it was fantastic for me having John in the headphones, it was like he was here", McCartney said.
McCartney wrote most of 14 songs featured on "Flaming Pie", which was inspired by The Beatles Anthology.It's a family affair which includes McCartney's wife Linda, who has been battling against breast cancer, his 19-year-old son James, as well as a guest appearance by Starr.
The singer, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth this year, paid tribute to Linda, who has rarely been seen in public since she was diagnosed with cancer almost two years ago.Their marriage is one of the most successful in the entertainment business.
"I went for her in a big way," he said about their first meeting.We've never looked back." Making The Beatle Anthology brought back memories of how much he enjoyed the group's early days and convinced him to release what he describes as his "home-made" album.
He realised, "I'd like to make an album of songs...all decent songs and then go and record them them without too much fuss and enjoy it without too much pressure and not get too desperate and that's what I did." The catchy, toe-tapping tunes are a deliberate return to the Beatles' early sound.After the group broke up McCartney said he consciously tried to develop a different style.
"I turned my back on it," he said."But then I started to miss it.I started to think it's a style I like so why not get back to it." The album, "Flaming Pie," will be released in the UK on May 5. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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