Paul McCartney says label kept him up to speed
Paul McCartney is finally embracing online technology by making his entire catalogue available on iTunes later this month. McCartney's new album, Memory Almost Full, which won't be released until June 5th, is now available for pre-order on iTunes.
Macca spoke to Billboard and touched upon why he left EMI Records his home for 45 years, for the new Starbucks co-owned Hear Music label. He explained that he felt he needed to make the change to keep current in the music world, saying that, "It's a different world now, and you've got to be with people who are in that world and stay up to speed. I've got nothing against record (company) people; they're my family. I think many of them will tell you themselves they've been rather overtaken (by the online revolution)."
Contrary to reports that McCartney's new work would only be sold in Starbucks retail outfits, McCartney and Hear Music plan to get the album out to all the usual markets as well: "We will work with all the normal retail people. I didn't want to knock anyone out of the frame. I'll be considerate of all the normal outlets."
He added that he was amazed by how far-reaching the Starbucks chain is on a global level: "It may seem stupid, but the fact that (Starbucks) had 400 stores in China interested me. I don't know why, but it did. Because it's different, I suppose." McCartney went on to joke: "It doesn't take much to amuse me."
Memory Almost Full features some of Macca's most up-front bass playing since his Wings days. Wings co-founder Denny Laine thought that among McCartney's many musical strengths, his bass work was always inventive: "He was a very tuneful bass player and that's an art in itself. You know, it's even harder to play bass and sing than it is, than playing chords on a guitar and singing, you know?"
Memory Almost Full reunites McCartney with David Kahne who produced his 2001 album Driving Rain. Although McCartney plays most of the instruments on the new set, his touring band pop up on a handful of tracks.
Macca spoke to Billboard and touched upon why he left EMI Records his home for 45 years, for the new Starbucks co-owned Hear Music label. He explained that he felt he needed to make the change to keep current in the music world, saying that, "It's a different world now, and you've got to be with people who are in that world and stay up to speed. I've got nothing against record (company) people; they're my family. I think many of them will tell you themselves they've been rather overtaken (by the online revolution)."
Contrary to reports that McCartney's new work would only be sold in Starbucks retail outfits, McCartney and Hear Music plan to get the album out to all the usual markets as well: "We will work with all the normal retail people. I didn't want to knock anyone out of the frame. I'll be considerate of all the normal outlets."
He added that he was amazed by how far-reaching the Starbucks chain is on a global level: "It may seem stupid, but the fact that (Starbucks) had 400 stores in China interested me. I don't know why, but it did. Because it's different, I suppose." McCartney went on to joke: "It doesn't take much to amuse me."
Memory Almost Full features some of Macca's most up-front bass playing since his Wings days. Wings co-founder Denny Laine thought that among McCartney's many musical strengths, his bass work was always inventive: "He was a very tuneful bass player and that's an art in itself. You know, it's even harder to play bass and sing than it is, than playing chords on a guitar and singing, you know?"
Memory Almost Full reunites McCartney with David Kahne who produced his 2001 album Driving Rain. Although McCartney plays most of the instruments on the new set, his touring band pop up on a handful of tracks.
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