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Memory Almost Full

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Memory Almost Full is an album by Paul McCartney released in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2007 and in the United States a day later. The album is McCartney's first release on Starbucks' Hear Music label. It is also the first release on the newly formed label. The album was produced by David Kahne and recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Henson Recording Studios, AIR Studios, Hog Hill Mill Studios and RAK Studios between October 2003 and February 2007.[1]

In the U.S. the album debuted at #3 with about 161,000 copies sold, making it McCartney's highest-charting album there since 1997's Flaming Pie.[2] The album has sold over one million copies worldwide to date. McCartney is reportedly aiming to sign a long term deal with Starbucks due to the success that Memory Almost Full has enjoyed.[3]

A CD/DVD deluxe edition was released on November 6, 2007.

History

In the web site constructed for the album, McCartney stated: "I actually started this album, Memory Almost Full, before my last album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, released September 2005. (…) When I was just finishing up everything concerned with Chaos and had just got the Grammy nominations (2006) I realized I had this album to go back to and finish off. So I got it out to listen to it again, wondering if I would enjoy it, but actually I really loved it. All I did at first was just listen to a couple of things and then I began to think, 'OK, I like that track – now, what is wrong with it?' And it might be something like a drum sound, so then I would re-drum and see where we would get to. (…) In places it's a very personal record and a lot of it is retrospective, drawing from memory, like memories from being a kid, from Liverpool and from summers gone. The album is evocative, emotional, rocking, but I can't really sum it up in one sentence".[4]

Memory Almost Full is an anagram of "for my soulmate LLM" (the initials of Linda Louise McCartney). When asked if this was intentional, McCartney replied; "Some things are best left a mystery".[5] In an interview with Pitchfork Media, McCartney clarified, "I must say, someone told me [there is an anagram], and I think it's a complete mystery, because it's so complete. There does appear to be an anagram in the title. And it's a mystery. It was not intentional."[6] The album's title was actually inspired by a message that came up on his mobile phone. He thought the phrase summed up modern life.[7]

McCartney revealed in late June 2007 that "See Your Sunshine" "is pretty much an out-and-out love song for Heather. A lot of the album was done before, during and after our separation. I didn't go back and take out any songs to do with her."[8]

Reception

Critics maintained the album had a really Wings-esque sound, as 1997's Flaming Pie was a Beatles-inspired project.[citation needed] There were also comparisons to The Beatles' Abbey Road, as the medley of five songs in the second part of the album resembles the famous song suite.[9]

While it was announced that copies of the album sold in the Starbucks coffee shops in the U.K. would not be counted by the Official UK Charts, because they are not registered in the copies counting system, Memory Almost Full still managed to hit #5 on the UK Album Charts.[10] The album fell out of the top 40 charts in the UK after four weeks.

"Memory Almost Full" premiered on the iTunes Music Store at #2 on its Main Charts, while remaining in the top 10 album list for more than 10 days. Under the "Rock Music" section, It charted considerably well at #2, while remaining in the Top 10 for weeks (it is Currently at #8). The Single Dance Tonight is charting well with the position of #34 in the United States' iTunes Main Charts and #4 in the United Kingdoms' iTunes Main Charts. As for the "Rock Music" sections, it is currently holding the position of #3 in the United States and #2 in the United Kingdom.[11] This album was #22 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[12]

Release details

On May 15, 2007 the album (in both standard and deluxe editions) was made available for pre-order from the iTunes Store, with the single "Ever Present Past" being made available for immediate download.

Country Date Label Format Catalog
Germany June 1, 2007 Mercury Records
United Kingdom June 4, 2007 Mercury Records, MPL, Hear Music CD LP 8 88072 30348 5
Deluxe Limited CD set 8 88072 30358 4
United States June 5, 2007 MPL, Hear Music CD HMCD-30348 / 8 88072 30348 5
Deluxe Limited CD set HMCD-30358 / 8 88072 30358 4
Japan June 6, 2007 Universal Music Group CD UCCO-3001[13]
Deluxe Limited CD set UCCO-9151[14]

Singles

The first United States single, "Ever Present Past", made its radio debut on April 20 2007.[15] Even without a music video, reception was strong, and it became McCartney's first song since 2001's "Freedom" to climb the Billboard charts, debuting at number 10 in the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart the week ending June 6, 2007. [16] The lead single for the rest of the world is "Dance Tonight", released on McCartney's 65th birthday in the United Kingdom, June 18 2007. The music video for the song was directed by Michel Gondry and features Natalie Portman and Mackenzie Crook.[17] The video premiered exclusively on YouTube on May 23 2007. "Dance Tonight" is also featured in an iPod + iTunes commercial with McCartney playing mandolin. As the third single, "Nod Your Head" was released as a free download single on August 28, 2007 via the iTunes Store. It was packaged with a music video for the song.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Paul McCartney.

  1. "Dance Tonight" - 2:54
  2. "Ever Present Past" - 2:57
  3. "See Your Sunshine" - 3:20
  4. "Only Mama Knows" - 4:17
  5. "You Tell Me" - 3:15
  6. "Mr. Bellamy" - 3:39
  7. "Gratitude" - 3:19
  8. "Vintage Clothes" - 2:22
  9. "That Was Me" - 2:38
  10. "Feet in the Clouds" - 3:24
  11. "House of Wax" - 4:59
  12. "End of the End" - 2:57
  13. "Nod Your Head" - 1:58
Bonus disc tracks
  1. "In Private" - 2:08
  2. "Why So Blue" - 3:11
  3. "222" - 3:38
  4. Audio commentary: Paul talks about the music of Memory Almost Full - 26:04
iTunes Store pre-order bonus
  • "Dance Tonight" (video)
Deluxe Edition DVD

On November 6, 2007, the album was re-released in a "deluxe edition" package comprising all 16 tracks from the bonus disc version on one disc and a DVD containing five tracks recorded live at The Electric Ballroom in London, and two videos.[18]

Deluxe CD

  1. "Dance Tonight" - 2:54
  2. "Ever Present Past" - 2:57
  3. "See Your Sunshine" - 3:20
  4. "Only Mama Knows" - 4:17
  5. "You Tell Me" - 3:15
  6. "Mr. Bellamy" - 3:39
  7. "Gratitude" - 3:19
  8. "Vintage Clothes" - 2:22
  9. "That Was Me" - 2:38
  10. "Feet in the Clouds" - 3:24
  11. "House of Wax" - 4:59
  12. "End of the End" - 2:57
  13. "Nod Your Head" - 1:58
  14. "In Private" - 2:08
  15. "Why So Blue" - 3:11
  16. "222" - 3:38

DVD content

  1. "Drive My Car"
  2. "Dance Tonight"
  3. "House of Wax"
  4. "Nod Your Head"
  5. "Only Mama Knows"
  6. "Dance Tonight" (video)
  7. "Ever Present Past" (video)

The Rock Radio website leaked a track listing for the album on April 12 2007.[19] A day later, producer David Kahne stated on the same site that the leaked listing was "bogus."[20]

Personnel

Grammy

Memory Almost Full is nominated in:

Chart positions

Country Weeks Sales Certification
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Worldwide sales (plus a 7,5% not counted on the United World Chart) +1,339,450
United World Chart 3 6 9 15 21 22 31 34 38 1,227,000
 United Kingdom 5 10 13 26 49 76 111 141 183re 42,983
 United States 3 3 5 9 19 26 34 43 55 94 104 118 172 132 166re + 1 000 000 Platinum
 Denmark 2 3 4 6 12 17 26 26 36 6 7 11 22 38 Gold
 Sweden 3 6 7 14 31 36 24 31 44 40 46 54
 Norway 4 9 7 17 32 39re 9,500
 Canada 6 10 20 23 29 45 47 55 91 121 165 Gold
 Netherlands 6 13 13 26 57 70 75 83 87 97
 Italy 8 28 50 49 69
 France 13 19 51 66 83 101 120 125 135 150 154 157 188re 151re
 Japan 17[21] 19 35 69 46 133re 43,563
 Australia 33 39 41
 Austria 17 30 41 75
 Switzerland 20 32 50 57 54
 Ireland 30 36 41 88
 Estonia 9
 Germany 18 32 32 41 85 90
 Hungary 28
 Finland 33 40
 Spain 17 67
 Belgium 25 26
 Czech Republic 29 48 26
 Europe 3 11 14 23 45

-The album entered the Billboard 200 chart on June 23, 2007 at number 3 with sales of 160,832. It remained on the chart for 14 weeks.

References

  1. ^ "Paul McCartney / Meyesight.com". MPL Communications. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  2. ^ Katie Hasty, "T-Pain Soars To No. 1 Ahead Of Rihanna, McCartney", Billboard.com, June 13, 2007.
  3. ^ Gregory, Jason (2007-06-21). "Paul McCartney Plots Second Starbucks Deal". Gigwise. Retrieved 2007-06-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "State".
  5. ^ http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,2082152,00.html
  6. ^ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/42799-interview-sir-paul-mccartney
  7. ^ http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-mccartney3jun03,1,1265126.story?track=rss&ctrack=2&cset=true
  8. ^ Gregory, Jason (2007-06-22). "Paul McCartney Writes Song For Heather Mills". Gigwise. Retrieved 2007-06-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/15/preview-paul-mccartneys-new-album-memory-almost-full/
  10. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/paul-mccartney/28751
  11. ^ Source: iTunes Online Music Store
  12. ^ ROBERT CHRISTGAU, DAVID FRICKE, CHRISTIAN HOARD, ROB SHEFFIELD (December 17, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-20
  13. ^ "Paul McCartney Memory Almost Full Japan CD ALBUM (398868)". espirit / eil.com. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  14. ^ "Paul McCartney Memory Almost Full Japan DOUBLE CD (402962)". espirit / eil.com. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  15. ^ "New Paul McCartney single to air on Friday". The Rock Radio. 2007-04-18. Retrieved 2007-04-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "UKMix.org".
  17. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2007-04-30). "Paul McCartney Confirms New Album Track List". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-04-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2007-10-02). "New Songs, Live DVD Jog McCartney's 'Memory'". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-10-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ "New Paul McCartney album tracklisting leaked". The Rock Radio. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Paul McCartney producer says leaked tracklisting is bogus". The Rock Radio. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ [1]
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