Editing Driving Rain

{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{About|the Paul McCartney album|the song by Slash|Living the Dream (Slash album) {{!}} ''Living the Dream'' (Slash album)}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Driving Rain
| type         = Album
| artist       = [[Paul McCartney]]
| cover        = DrivingRain.jpg
| border       = yes
| alt          = 
| released     = 12 November 2001
| recorded     = 16 February – June 2001
| studio       = [[Henson Recording Studios|Henson]], Hollywood, California
| genre        = [[Rock music|Rock]] 
| length       = 67:21
| label        = [[Parlophone]]
| producer     = [[David Kahne]]
| prev_title   = [[Wingspan: Hits and History]]
| prev_year    = 2001
| next_title   = [[Back in the U.S.]]
| next_year    = 2002
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Driving Rain
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[From a Lover to a Friend]]
 | single1date = 29 October 2001
 | single2     = [[Freedom (Paul McCartney song)|Freedom]]
 | single2date = 5 November 2001
 | single3     = [[Your Loving Flame]]
 | single3date = 2002 (promo only)
 | single4     = Lonely Road
 | single4date = 2002 (promo only)
}}
}}
'''''Driving Rain''''' is the twelfth solo studio album by English musician [[Paul McCartney]], released on 12 November 2001 as a double LP, a single cassette, and single CD.

==Background==
Following the example of ''[[Run Devil Run (album)|Run Devil Run]]''{{'s}} brisk production schedule, ''Driving Rain'' – except for two songs – was cut with [[David Kahne]] producing in two weeks, starting in February 2001. McCartney used musicians who were scheduled to back him on tour.

==Album cover==
The cover of the album features a photograph taken with a [[Casio]] wristwatch containing a built-in camera.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/1209paulnewalbum.html |title=Paul McCartney 'Driving Rain' news |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115045815/http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/1209paulnewalbum.html |archive-date=15 January 2012 }}</ref>

==Music and lyrics==
"Back in the Sunshine Again" was co-written by McCartney and his son [[James McCartney|James]].<ref name=Clayson252>{{cite book|last=Clayson |first=Alan |title=Paul McCartney |year=2003 |publisher=Sanctuary |location=London |isbn=9781860744822 |page=252}}</ref> On 11 September 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City when the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|terrorist attacks]] occurred, and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "[[Freedom (Paul McCartney song)|Freedom]]" and helped organise [[The Concert for New York City]], a large all-star show at [[Madison Square Garden]] on 20 October.

The songs "About You"  and "Heather" were written for his then-wife, [[Heather Mills]], as thanks for helping McCartney grieve the death of his first wife, [[Linda McCartney|Linda]].<ref>Vincent Perez Benitez, ''The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years''  2010, p. 158: "''Your Way'' hearkens back to the sound of McCartney's first two albums of the 1970s … He composed ''About You'' for Heather Mills, thanking her for helping him get over his grief regarding the death of his first wife, Linda Eastman."</ref>

==Release and reception==
{{Album reviews
| MC = 75/100<ref name="mc_review">{{cite web|title=Critic reviews for ''Driving Rain''|url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/driving-rain/critic-reviews|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=15 July 2013}}</ref>
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Erlewine/AM">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/driving-rain-mw0000591223|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2Score = (mixed)<ref>{{cite web|last=Phipps|first=Keith|url=http://www.theonionavclub.com/reviews/music/music_d/drivingrain01.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20020306063220/http://www.theonionavclub.com/reviews/music/music_d/drivingrain01.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-03-06|title=Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=February 2002|access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>Du Noyer, Paul (December 2001/January 2002). "Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''". ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''. p. 119.</ref>
| rev4      = [[Dotmusic]]
| rev4score = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite web|last=Heath|first=Chris|url=http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/November2001/reviews22809.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020420134238/http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/November2001/reviews22809.asp|title=Paul McCartney – 'Driving Rain' (Parlophone)|publisher=[[Dotmusic]]|access-date=20 May 2013|date=14 November 2001|archive-date=20 April 2002 }}</ref>
|rev5 = ''[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
|rev5Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|author=Larkin, Colin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' (4th edn)'' |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, NY |year=2006 |isbn=0-19-531373-9 |page=1257}}</ref>
| rev6 = [[entertainment.ie]]
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[http://www.entertainment.ie/reviews/review.asp?ID=1724&subcat=CD ]{{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev7Score = B<ref name="EW_review">{{cite magazine|author=Willman, Chris |title=Mini Capsule Review: ''Driving Rain'' (2001) |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/11/16/driving-rain/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331190315/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C183909%2C00.html |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=12 November 2001 |archive-date=31 March 2007 |access-date=18 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev8score = 6/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/paul-mccartney/5866 |last=Segal |first=Victoria|title=Paul McCartney: Driving Rain |work=[[NME]] |date=20 November 2001 |access-date=9 September 2011}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8550907&style=music&fulldesc=T |title=Paul McCartney – Driving Rain CD Album |publisher=[[CD Universe]]/[[Muze]] |access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Greg|last= Kot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420055810/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulmccartney/albums/album/165011/review/5944918/driving_rain|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulmccartney/albums/album/165011/review/5944918/driving_rain|archive-date=20 April 2008 |date=30 October 2001|access-date=20 April 2008|title=Album Reviews: Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain'' |url-status=dead|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>
| rev11 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev11score = 7/10<ref name="Moon/Spin">{{cite web|last=Moon|first=Tom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wXGw14ml_M4C&q=McCartney&pg=PA108 |title=Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain'' |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date=January 2002|page=108 |access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref>
| rev12 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev12score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="MacDonald/Uncut">{{cite magazine|last=MacDonald|first=Ian|title=Paul McCartney: ''Driving Rain'' (Parlophone) |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |date=January 2002 }} Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/paul-mccartney-driving-rain-parlophone Rock's Backpages] (''subscription required'').</ref>
}}
In November 2001, ''Driving Rain'' was released to generally strong reviews but stunned many{{cn|date=March 2021}} with its very low sales. The album sold 66,000 copies in its first week in the US.<ref name=Band157>{{cite book|last=McGee|first=Garry|title=Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings|year=2003|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|location=Lanham, MD|isbn=9780878333042|page=157}}</ref> ''Driving Rain'' peaked at number 46 in the UK,<ref name="JPGR">{{cite web|title=Driving Rain|publisher=JPGR|url=http://www.jpgr.co.uk/p5355102.html|year=2001|access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> and became McCartney's lowest-selling album in his homeland. The US reaction was a little stronger, with the album peaking at number 26 and being certified Gold by the [[RIAA]].

McCartney halted the pressing of ''Driving Rain'' so that "Freedom" could appear as a [[hidden track]] (since the artwork had already been printed). The just-released "From a Lover to a Friend" (which only reached number 45 in the UK) was repackaged with "Freedom", although the single failed to re-chart.

Reviewing the album for ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' magazine, [[Ian MacDonald]] commented on McCartney's spontaneous approach to its recording, saying that "In parts (for example, the lengthy closer 'Rinse The Raindrops'), the results are almost ferocious, coming as close to a McCartney-esque [[Tin Machine]] as one could reasonably imagine." MacDonald considered the more "polished and produced" tracks to be "the most successful", however, and concluded: "Possibly a grower, this album is certainly better than anything Macca's done for some while, if not the late masterpiece some of us have been hoping for."<ref name="MacDonald/Uncut" /> [[Fox News]] commentator [[Roger Friedman]] remarked that the chorus of the song "Tiny Bubble" is "remarkably" similar to "[[Piggies]]", written by [[George Harrison]] and released on the Beatles' 1968 [[The Beatles (album)|self-titled double album]] (also known as the "White Album").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/mccartney-sounds-like-harrison-in-new-tune|title=McCartney Sounds Like Harrison in New Tune|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=25 March 2015}}</ref>

McCartney opened his tour in support of the album in April 2002. Titled the [[Driving World Tour|Driving USA tour]], it was a commercial success, with extensions being added to the itinerary around the world. Four of the album's sixteen songs were performed: "Lonely Road", "Your Loving Flame", "Freedom" and the title track. "From a Lover to a Friend" was also performed at the Concert for New York City on October 20, 2001.

==Track listing==
All songs by [[Paul McCartney]], except "Spinning on an Axis" and "Back in the Sunshine Again" co-written by [[James McCartney]].

#"Lonely Road" – 3:16
#"[[From a Lover to a Friend]]" – 3:48
#"She's Given Up Talking" – 4:57
#"Driving Rain" – 3:26
#"I Do" – 2:56
#"Tiny Bubble" – 4:21
#"Magic" – 3:59
#"Your Way" – 2:55
#"Spinning on an Axis" – 5:16
#"About You" – 2:54
#"Heather" – 3:26
#"Back in the Sunshine Again" – 4:21
#"[[Your Loving Flame]]" – 3:43
#"Riding into Jaipur" – 4:08
#"Rinse the Raindrops" – 10:08
#"[[Freedom (Paul McCartney song)|Freedom]]" (studio mix) – 3:34
#* ''Recorded live during [[The Concert for New York City]] with later studio overdubs. Due to the last minute addition of "Freedom", it was not listed in the track list and thus appears as a hidden track on CD and cassette editions. Vinyl editions and CDs with a hype sticker, an outer sleeve or an obi strip (in Japan) acknowledge "Freedom" as an official track.''

'''iTunes exclusive track'''
#<li value=17>"[[From a Lover to a Friend]]" {{small|(David Kahne remix 2)}} – 5:26</li>
#:* ''In 2007, upon adding McCartney's catalogue of music, the iTunes Store added one of David Kahne's two remixes of the song "From a Lover to a Friend" as an exclusive bonus track. This remix is the version released on CD-singles for this song and "[[Freedom (Paul McCartney song)|Freedom]]"''.

==Personnel==
Personnel per booklet.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Driving Rain |others=[[Paul McCartney]] |orig-year=2001|year=2011 |type=Booklet |publisher=[[MPL Communications]] / [[Hear Music]] |id=088807321779}}</ref>
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'''Musicians'''
* [[Paul McCartney]] – [[bass guitar]], [[acoustic guitar]], [[electric guitar]], [[classical guitar]], [[vocals]], [[Ludwig Drums]], [[Fender Rhodes]] electric piano, knee slaps, [[percussion]], [[piano]]
* [[Abe Laboriel Jr.]] – drums, [[tambourine]], [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] electronic percussion, Ludwig drums, [[DW drums]], [[electronic drum]]s, [[backing vocals]], [[African drums|African drum]] [[Sample (music)|samples]], [[accordion]]
* [[Rusty Anderson]] – electric guitar, [[pedal steel guitar]], acoustic guitar, [[12-string]] electric guitar, [[Vox Bass Guitar]], backing vocals, percussion, [[Tanpura (instrument)|tampura]]
* [[Gabe Dixon]] – [[Wurlitzer electric piano]], piano, [[Hammond organ]], Fender Rhodes, backing vocals
* [[David Kahne]] – Roland [[organ (music)|organ]], electric guitar, [[synthesizer|synths]], [[orchestra]]l samples, Wurlitzer, sampled [[strings (music)|strings]]
* [[James McCartney]] – percussion, electric guitar
* Ralph Morrison – [[violin]]
* String quartet:
** [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]] – [[viola]]
** Matt Funes – viola
** Joel Derouin – violin
** Larry Corbett – [[cello]]
* [[Eric Clapton]] – guitar on track 16

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'''Production'''
* [[David Leonard (record producer)|David Leonard]] – [[Mixing engineer|mixing]]
* David Kahne – [[Producer (music)|producer]]
* Paul McCartney – executive producer
* Mark Dearnley – [[Engineering (music)|engineer]]
* Jaime Sickora – assistant engineer
* Kevin Mills – 2nd assistant engineer
* [[Geoff Emerick]], [[Paul Hicks (musician)|Paul Hicks]] – additional engineers
* Mark Dearnley, David Kahne – mixing
* Stephen Marcussen – [[Mastering engineer|mastering]]
* Stewart Whitmore – [[digital editing]]
* Norman Hathaway with Micha Weidmann, Donat Raetzo – design
* Paul McCartney, Heather Mills – photos
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==Charts and certifications==
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===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Chart (2001)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|[[Austrian Albums Chart]]<ref name="atchart">{{cite web|title=Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' – austriancharts.at |url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106055127/http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul%2BMcCartney&titel=Driving%2BRain&cat=a |archive-date=6 November 2012 }}</ref>
|31
|-
!scope="row"|[[Canadian Albums Chart]]<ref name="Cachart">{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/McCartney_Paul/2002/01/30/pf-747565.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140306070147/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/McCartney_Paul/2002/01/30/pf-747565.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=6 March 2014|title=CANOE -- JAM! – Paul McCartney set to tour this spring|publisher=JAM! Showbiz|work=canoe.ca|date=30 January 2002|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
|33
|-
!scope="row"|Danish Albums Chart<ref name="dkchart">{{cite web|title=danishcharts.dk Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' |publisher=danishcharts.dk |url=https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a |access-date=9 May 2013 }}</ref>
|17
|-
!scope="row"|[[MegaCharts|Dutch Mega Albums Chart]]<ref name="nlchart">{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025184628/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul%2BMcCartney&titel=Driving%2BRain&cat=a |archive-date=25 October 2012 }}</ref>
|76
|-
!scope="row"|[[SNEP|French SNEP Albums Chart]]<ref name="frenchchart">{{cite web|title=lescharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''|publisher=lescharts.com|url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
|33
|-
!scope="row"|[[GfK Entertainment charts|German Media Control Albums Chart]]<ref name="dechart">{{cite web
| url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Paul+McCartney&title=Driving+Rain&cat=a&country=de| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724173112/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Paul+McCartney&title=Driving+Rain&cat=a&country=de| url-status=dead| archive-date=24 July 2014| title=Album Search: Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''| format=ASP|language=de| publisher=Media Control|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>
|23
|-
!scope="row"|[[Italian Albums Chart]]<ref name="italianchart">{{cite web|title=italiancharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' |publisher=italiancharts.com |url=http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021213047/http://italiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul%2BMcCartney&titel=Driving%2BRain&cat=a |archive-date=21 October 2012 }}</ref>
|17
|-
!scope="row"|[[Oricon|Japanese Oricon Albums Chart]]<ref name="Jachart">{{cite web| url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/455525/1/| title= Highest position and charting weeks of ''Driving Rain'' by Paul McCartney ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック| language=ja| publisher=oricon.co.jp| access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
|27
|-
!scope="row"|[[VG-lista|Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart]]<ref name="nochart">{{cite web|title=norwegiancharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017052311/http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul%2BMcCartney&titel=Driving%2BRain&cat=a |archive-date=17 October 2012 }}</ref>
|18
|-
!scope="row"|[[Sverigetopplistan|Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref name="sechart">{{cite web|title=swedishcharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''|publisher=[[Sverigetopplistan]]|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
|19
|-
!scope="row"|[[Swiss Music Charts|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref name="chchart">{{cite web|title=Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' – hitparade.ch |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney&titel=Driving+Rain&cat=a |access-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112161034/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul%2BMcCartney&titel=Driving%2BRain&cat=a |archive-date=12 November 2012 }}</ref>
|62
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="Ukchart">{{cite web| url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/Paul%20McCartney| title=Paul McCartney > Artists > Official Charts| publisher=[[UK Albums Chart]]|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>
|46
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|26|artist=Paul McCartney|rowheader=true|access-date=13 November 2024|refname=USchart1}}
|}
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===Certifications and sales===
{{certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada ([[Nielsen SoundScan]])|nocert=yes|salesamount=20,000|salesref=<ref name="Cachart"/>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan (Oricon Charts)|nocert=yes|salesamount=17,560|salesref=<ref name="JPCB">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=[[Roppongi]], Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref>}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Driving Rain|artist=Paul McCartney|type=album|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|id=1958-3435-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Driving Rain|artist=Paul McCartney|type=album|region=United States|award=Gold|salesamount=399,000|salesref=<ref name="billboardbiz">{{cite web|url= http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003583983&imw=Y |title=Paul McCartney's new album "Memory Almost Full" will be released June 5 in North America|work=[[billboard magazine|Billboard]]|access-date=16 June 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926234412/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003583983&imw=Y |archive-date = 26 September 2007}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=yes|salesamount=650,000|salesref=<ref name="billboardbiz" />}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|40018|name=Driving Rain}}
*[http://www.jpgr.co.uk/p5355102.html JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's ''Driving Rain'']

{{Paul McCartney}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 albums]]
[[Category:Paul McCartney albums]]
[[Category:Parlophone albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by David Kahne]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios]]