selections from Paul McCartney’s Kisses on the Bottom, 2012

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Kisses on the Bottom, released 6 February 2012 in the UK and 7 February in the US, is an album by Paul McCartney consisting primarily of covers of traditional pop songs.

From Wikipedia, excerpts:

The album’s title comes from the lead track “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”, originally a hit for Fats Waller in 1935.^[1] Said McCartney in the liner notes, “I worked with Diana Krall, and great jazz musicians like John Clayton. This is an album very tender, very intimate. This is an album you listen to at home after work, with a glass of wine or a cup of tea.”^[4] The disc was helmed by jazz producer Tommy LiPuma who has previously worked with Miles Davis and Barbra Streisand, among others.^[5]^[6]

McCartney said, “For years I’ve been wanting to do some of the old songs that my parents’ generation used to sing at New Year…But we tried to work out a slightly different approach, and used a selection of songs that wouldn’t be the obvious ones…that everyone tends to cover.” McCartney also said working with LiPuma reminded him of his Beatles days with former producer, George Martin, in that both were knowledgeable and influential veterans in the music industry.

McCartney plays acoustic guitar on “Get Yourself Another Fool” and “The Inch Worm”, but otherwise contributes only vocals.^[9]

Release and Promotion

A stream free live performance was hosted by iTunes on 9 February 2012. McCartney performed live from Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, where much of the album was recorded. People tuned into the show by accessing iTunes on their PCs or Macintosh computers.^[25]

My selection:

1. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter (m. Fred Ahlert, w. Joe Young) 1935
4. More I Cannot Wish You (Frank Loesser) from Guys and Dolls, 1950
11. Bye Bye Blackbird (m. Ray Henderson, w. Mort Dixon) 1926
13. The Inch Worm (Frank Loesser) aka Inchworm – introduced by Danny Kaye and chorus of children in the film Hans Christian Anderson (1952)
16. My One and Only Love (m. Guy Wood, w. Robert Mellin) 1952

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Interview: Paul McCartney and producer Tommy LiPuma talk about the genesis and recording of the album.