Paul McCartney To Reissue ‘McCartney’ As 2020 Record Store Day Exclusive
Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Linda McCartney
On June 20, Paul McCartney will reissue a half-speed version of his first solo album McCartney as 2020 Record Store Day exclusive.
The reissue will also mark the 50th anniversary of Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles solo debut.
A radical departure from the recording practices of the day, Paul would play each and every instrument on the album, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano, organ, percussion, wineglasses, mellotron, xylophone.
(Linda McCartney would provide backing harmonies.)
“It’s less of a hassle playing with yourself than it is really playing with anyone else,” Paul McCartney shared with Rolling Stone in 1970.
The album was also famous for containing a press release within which was taken by many to confirm that the Beatles had broken up.
The transcript read as follows.
Q: “Are you planning a new album or single with the Beatles?”
PAUL: “No.”
Q: “Is this album a rest away from the Beatles or the start of a solo career?”
PAUL: “Time will tell. Being a solo album means it’s ‘the start of a solo career…’ and not being done with the Beatles means it’s just a rest. So it’s both.”
Q: “Is your break with the Beatles temporary or permanent, due to personal differences or musical ones?”
PAUL: “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don’t really know.”
Q: “Do you foresee a time when Lennon-McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?”
PAUL: “No.”
The Record Store Day exclusive will be repressed from a half-speed cut of album’s original masters and pressed in a limited run of 7,000 copies.
A full list of 2020 Record Store Day releases here.
Paul McCartney 2020 Tour Dates
05/23 – Lille, FR @ Pierre Mauroy Stadium
05/26 – Paris, FR @ Paris La Défense Arena
05/29 – Nijmegen, NL @ Goffert Park
05/31 – Bordeaux, FR @ Stadium Matmut
06/04 – Hannover, DE @ HDI Arena
06/07 – Lyon, FR @ Groupama Stadium
06/10 – Naples, IT @ Piazza Plebiscito
06/13 – Lucca, IT @ Mura Storiche
06/17 – Barcelona, ES @ Olympic Stadium
06/21- Werchter, BE @ TW Classic Festival
06/27 – Pilton, UK @ Glastonbury Festival
