Update (1/5/00) USA Today's Edna Gunderson named "Run Devil Run" the 8th best album of the year. The story is here.

Update (12/28/99) In Entertainment Weekly's 1999 Year-End Special, writer Chris Willman (in "A Second Opinion" on page 152) rated "Run Devil Run" the 9th best album of the year.

Update (12/27/99) Probably because of the Cavern gig, RDR moved back up the British pop chart four places to No. 41 for the week ending Dec. 21. Source: Music365.com

Update (12/20/99) You'll find the video for "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" and the "Making of Run Devil Run" infomercial in Real Video at German TV station ZDF's homepage at http://www.zdf.de/unterhaltung/wettendass/sendung/33847/index.html. (Thanks to Markus Adler in Sweden.)

Update (11/4/99) Miller's Rexall, which is seen, in altered form, on the cover of "Run Devil Run," has its own website: http://www.millersrexall.com/. The site includes ordering for Run Devil Run bath salts, oils, incense and candles.

Update (10/29/99) RDR took another drop on the charts this week, going from 50 down to 71, cooincidentally, the spot "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" held last week.

And some news from Matt Hurwitz of Good Day Sunshine (thanks, Matt!):

EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets will issue a new Juke-Box single off of Paul's new album, "Run Devil Run." The single will be a double A-side single, with "Try Not to Cry" and "No Other Baby," the first two singles off the album in the U.S. The new disc will bear the old purple Capitol label (like on the "Run Devil Run" CD), and is due for release on November 23, 1999.

PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE OR RE-POST WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR!!

Matt Hurwitz Publisher Good Day Sunshine Magazine

Update (10/22/99) In its second week on the Billboard chart, RDR dropped to number 50.

Update (10/16/99) In a recent interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Paul named three songs that didn't make RDR: a version of Elvis' "There's a Leak (In this Ol' Building), "Rip It Up" and "Ready Teddy." In fact, Paul says, five oldies were recorded that didn't make it. Also, while in Los Angeles, he recorded a version of "Maybe Baby" produced by Jeff Lynne to be used in a movie of that name directed by his friend Ben Elton. (Thanks to Slack Jason.)

Also, from Joseph Travetti, an account of the London RDR party (thanks, Joseph!):

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your web site and tell you this GREAT story that just happened to me. I just got back from London. (I was on my honeymoon...and they said it wouldn't last!) Our first three days we spent walking all over and just sightseeing. (I got goosebumps when I saw the flat where Hendrix died.) On the fourth day we were tired and our legs could barely carry us. So we decided to grab a quick dinner and go back to the hotel. We entered a steak house in Leicester Square. Just as we sat down we heard all this commotion from across the square. I decided to go and find out what was going on. As soon as I left the steak house I saw a Mercedes Benz with the license "900 MPL" pull away from the crowd and park just across from the steak house. McCartney!

As it turns out, he's having a private party to launch the new album. After getting a few photos of the car we go and wait outside the club. (By this time our legs feel fine...we could climb Mt. Everest.) After about a half hour some guy comes up to me and asks if I'd like to go in the club. He gives me two VIP passes and says these will get us upstairs where there is free food and drink.

We find a nice table upstairs on the balcony with open bar and food. After about another half an hour McCartney comes out and talks for about 15 min. then they play the entire album after which he comes back out and answers a few questions then leaves. The album sounded great. What a way to spend a honeymoon!

P.S. Next day the English press report that, among others, Clapton was at the club!! P.P.S. Yesterday, I check some Beatle internet sites and, finding some reports from others who were there, it turns out not only was Clapton there but he was seen sitting in the VIP lounge at the edge of the balcony clapping at some dancers on the floor below...that's where I was sitting! He was just a few feet away from me all night and I didn't know...doh! I didn't even think to look around the VIP lounge for any celebs.

Update (10/15/99) RDR entered the Billboard charts at number 27. More info at the Billboard site. (Thanks to Bill King of Beatlefan.)

Update (10/13/99) Check out the official MPL Communications "Run Devil Run" site. (Thanks to Beatles999.)

Update (10/8/99) From Bill King of Beatlefan (thanks, Bill!):

"Miller (the owner of the drug store on the RDR cover) also says he has been approached by some local McCartney fans about putting a McCartney museum in the upper level of the drug store, but he says he's taking a wait-and-see attitude on that."

Finally, did you catch Paul's little note to Linda on the front cover? L.I.L.Y.

Update (10/7/99) A note from Bill King of Beatlefan (thanks, Bill!):

"A follow-up on the Atlanta guy whose store is pictured on the cover of "Run Devil Run". Seems Richard Miller of Miller's Rexall Drugs didn't realize that the album cover would feature a doctored photo in which the name of the store had been changed to Earl's QuickE Drugs. He had ordered 60 copies to sell at the store and announced a party to celebrate Tuesday night. But when he opened the box of CDs and saw the change on the cover, he didn't feel like celebrating. "I guess they would have had to have paid me if they used our name," he said. "I'm feeling a little used. It's always the little guy that gets treated unfairly in situations like this."

Update (10/6/99) Hopefully, you all have your copies now. Our first impression: We wish Paul had made this album years ago. It's one of the best things he's done in years, full of an energy he hasn't displayed in some time. Our favorite cut so far: "She Said Yeah." But here's a heads up: If you're planning to get your disc at Best Buy for the bonus disc, be aware that a number of people (ourselves included) have reported on RMB and elsewhere that they found the Sam Goody disc as the bonus disc in their first copy of RDR. (Ours, and presumably everyone else's, was packed in the Best Buy interview disc sleeve.) So if you're planning to buy it or send these out to someone who does't have a Best Buy close by, you might want to think twice ... or check 'em in the parking lot. Postscript: It only makes sense that the Musicland-Sam Goody shipment also was messed up and we've seen evidence that it indeed was. So, as we said earlier, check your discs before you leave either Musicland-Sam Goody or Best Buy. And maybe it wouldn't hurt to send a letter to Capitol Records, too.

Update (10/5/99) A press release on a Run Devil Run webcast:

Capitol Records and The MediaX Corporation 'Fire Up' Exclusive Online Listening Bash Which Features First Broadcast of McCartney Radio Interview And Promotional Video

It's been nearly three years since the multi-platinum release of Paul McCartney's 'Flaming Pie', but now the waiting is over and 'Run Devil Run' is here. On Tuesday, October 5th at noon E.S.T. the World Wide Web will play host to the first international airing of the hard-driving, loud new collection of the 'devil's music' from Paul McCartney. As part of the online party produced by Media X and Capitol Records, fans will also be treated to the premiere broadcast of a brand new Paul McCartney interview and the broadcast of a 5-minute behind the scenes, making of 'Run Devil Run' video.

Six tracks, including McCartney's 'Run Devil Run' and 'Try Not To Cry', 'No Other Baby' (Bishop/Watson), Elvis Presley's 'I Got Stung', Chuck Berry's 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' and 'Lonesome Town' (Knight) will be streamed in their entirety at MediaX's www.amuznet.com, Capitol Records' and . The tracks will be available simultaneously for the duration of the promotion, which will last through Monday, October 11th at Midnight. The Eddie Puma produced radio interview will air in daily segments throughout the week with the final installment slated for Sunday, October 10th and the promotional video will begin airing on Wednesday, October 6th.

Users are also invited to register online at either www.amuznet.com or www.hollywoodandvine.com to win a special 'Run Devil Run' prize package that will include authentic Run Devil Run oils, candles, their own copy of 'Run Devil Run', a limited edition D-Pro, which includes songs from 'Run Devil Run', and a 'Run Devil Run' poster. Two winners will be chosen from each web site. In addition a 'Run Devil Run' screensaver, only available at amuznet.com, will be given away to those who log on during the promotion.

'Run Devil Run' hits stores worldwide on Tuesday, October 5th surrounded by massive critical and popular praise. Thousands lined the streets of Los Angeles, New York, Cologne, Germany and London, England the past two weeks just to hear the much-talked about new recording from McCartney. The 15-track recording returns McCartney to the rawness of his roots, reprising the energized spirit and attitude of his earliest days in the music business wrote one journalist. 'It's the most upbeat record of the year,' beamed another.

"I've no (answers) for anything. That's one thing I've learned about life ... I think life is an ongoing flow, and I'm very open to it. The Beatles' van once went off a motorway and we were stuck in a ditch, and one of us said, ''Something will happen.'' It was very Beatles-esque, and it stuck with me. I really believe in that kind of magic. Life takes care of itself."

Reviews of RDR have been mixed. The New York Daily News and Rolling Stone praised it; The Update (10/4/99) A "Run Devil Run" site, courtesy of Robert Fontenot of the About.com Guide to the Beatles (thanks, Robert!): http://perso.magic.fr/rattaire/albums/RunDevilRun/rundevil.htm with an analysis of the songs used on RDR.

Update (10/2/99) This release from Capitol Records:

October 1, 1999 - Capitol Records and The MediaX Corporation "Fire Up" Exclusive Online Listening Bash Which Features First Broadcast of McCartney Radio Interview And Promotional Video

It's been nearly three years since the multi-platinum release of Paul McCartney's "Flaming Pie", but now the waiting is over and "Run Devil Run" is here. On Tuesday, October 5th at noon E.S.T. the World Wide Web will play host to the first international airing of the hard-driving, loud new collection of the "devil's music" from Paul McCartney. As part of the online party produced by Media X and Capitol Records, fans will also be treated to the premiere broadcast of a brand new Paul McCartney interview and the broadcast of a 5-minute behind the scenes, making of "Run Devil Run" video.

Six tracks, including McCartney's "Run Devil Run" and "Try Not To Cry", "No Other Baby" (Bishop/Watson), Elvis Presley's "I Got Stung", Chuck Berry's "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" and "Lonesome Town" (Knight) will be streamed in their entirety at MediaX's site and Capitol Records' site. The tracks will be available simultaneously for the duration of the promotion, which will last through Monday, October 11th at Midnight. The Eddie Puma produced radio interview will air in daily segments throughout the week with the final installment slated for Sunday, October 10th and the promotional video will begin airing on Wednesday, October 6th.

Users are also invited to register online to win a special "Run Devil Run" prize package that will include authentic Run Devil Run oils, candles, their own copy of "Run Devil Run," a limited edition D-Pro, which includes songs from "Run Devil Run", and a "Run Devil Run" poster. Two winners will be chosen from each web site. In addition a "Run Devil Run" screensaver, only available at amuznet.com, will be given away to those who log on during the promotion.

"Run Devil Run" hits stores worldwide on Tuesday, October 5th surrounded by massive critical and popular praise. Thousands lined the streets of Los Angeles, New York, Cologne, Germany and London, England the past two weeks just to hear the much-talked about new recording from McCartney. The 15-track recording returns McCartney to the rawness of his roots, reprising the energized spirit and attitude of his earliest days in the music business, wrote one journalist. "It's the most upbeat record of the year," beamed another.

"Run Devil Run" hits stores worldwide on Tuesday, October 5th surrounded by massive critical and popular praise. Thousands lined the streets of Los Angeles, New York, Cologne, Germany and London, England the past two weeks just to hear the much-talked about new recording from McCartney. The 15-track recording returns McCartney to the rawness of his roots, reprising the energized spirit and attitude of his earliest days in the music business, wrote one journalist. "It's the most upbeat record of the year," beamed another.

http://www.capitolbroadcasts.com
http://www.amuZnet.com/amuzlounge.asp
http://hollywoodandvine.com/paulmccartney

Hi Steve, here's something of interest for you . . .

Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution features an article on the Atlanta drug store that inspired the title song of "Run Devil Run" and is featured, in a slightly altered state, on the cover of the new McCartney album by that name. The paper was first put on to the Atlanta connection when Beatlefan publisher Bill King, who works at the Journal-Constitution, noticed that a shot of the cover on a German EMI Web site featured a slightly different sign than the version on the finished album. In the German shot, the sign clearly said Miller's Rexall Drugs, while it had been changed to Earl's QuickE Drugs in the finished version. Since King knew that the title song had been inspired by a line of products McCartney had seen during a visit with his son James to what he called the "funky" side of Atlanta, King checked local drug store listings and found out that Miller's Rexall was right in downtown Atlanta at 87 Broad Street. King passed this information on to Journal-Constitution reporter Russ DeVault, who confirmed the Atlanta store is the one featured on the album cover. Miller's, located in building that's more than 100 years old, specializes in products designed to ward off Satan and bring the good life. It

Update (9/29/99) Music365 has the first of a two-part interview with Paul. The opening part talks about the making of RDR, while the second part, to be posted later in the week, talks about "that group he was in before Wings." (Thanks very much to Dave Persails.)

Update (9/28/99) A wire report says Paul says recording the album was therapy after Linda's death. Linda had urged him to record it and the process of playing the music that influenced him took him back to earlier and more carefree days of his career. You'll find another report here. (Thanks to Paul Burton.)

Update (9/27/99) At http://www.emimusic.de, search for "Run Devil Run" and you'll find audio samples for all the tracks on the album. (Thanks to Brad Howard of the World Beatles Forum.)

Update (9/26/99) Two bits of news from Matt Hurwitz of Good Day Sunshine (thanks, Matt!):

Hi, all--

Coming hot on the heels of Paul's first single from "Run Devil Run" ("Try Not to Cry"), Capitol has just released a new single to radio - "No Other Baby." The disc was issued on Thursday September 23, though the official Radio Add Date is Tuesday October 5 ("RDR" day!). Features a special radio edit of the song.

Hi, all--

Some cool stuff on its way associated with Paul's upcoming album, "Run Devil Run":

--In Britain, the first run of the CD will be a 2-disc package featuring a 40 
minute bonus disc.  
The disc has a great new interview with Paul, talking about "Run Devil Run."


--In the U.S., Capitol will be producing two "value-added" discs for two 
retailers (i.e. bonus 
discs you get for free if you purchase the album at either of those two 
chains):
  --Best Buy:  The 40-minute interview disc described above.
  --Musicland:  A 4-track disc featuring the original versions of some of the 
songs featured on 
"Run Devil Run"  Includes:
    --"Blue Jean Bop" by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps
    --"Lonesome Town" by Ricky Nelson
    --"Coquette" by Fats Domino
    --"Let's Have a Party" by Wanda Jackson
--Both will be released the same day as "Run Devil Run" (Tuesday October 5)

Matt Hurwitz, Publisher, Good Day Sunshine Magazine

Hi Steve,

The new Beatlefan/EXTRA! previews Paul McCartney's "Run Devil Run" album. Produced by Chris Thomas and McCartney, it's a thoroughly enjoyable collection that rewards repeated playings. The band rocks hard and McCartney is singing great. Some excerpts, quickly running down the tracks:

"Blue Jean Bop" (1:57) — Done in classic rockabilly style.

"She Said Yeah" (2:05) — Full-tilt rock 'n' roll with a bashing beat and a screaming McCartney vocal.

"All Shook Up" (2:04) — Faster and harder rocking than Elvis Presley's version.

"Run Devil Run" (2:35) — The first McCartney original charges ahead at breakneck speed with a rapid-fire lead vocal and backing vocals that sound straight out of Wings. It fits right in with the late '50s sound of the cover versions.

"No Other Baby" (4:17) — Slows the pace for a moody number with a nice singing job by Paul. One of the album's highlights.

"Lonesome Town" (3:29) — Done as McCartney performed it earlier this year at the London tribute to Linda. An impassioned vocal.

"Try Not to Cry" (2:40) — The second McCartney original, already released to radio, benefits from a catchy chorus and an energetic rendering. Again, it's performed/recorded in the late '50s style.

"Movie Magg" (2:11) — A countryfied Carl Perkins tune that's almost a novelty number. You half expect him to yodel at any minute.

"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (2:27) — Done Cajun style, a nice change of pace.

"What It Is" (2:23) — This midtempo rocker is the most overtly McCartneyesque of the three originals, particularly the chorus. But, like the other originals, it fits right in with the covers. The best of the album's originals.

"Coquette" (2:41) — This tune, once done by Fats Domino, is performed here very much in Fats' style.

"I Got Stung" (2:39) — The raucous Elvis cover that was previewed on British radio and the Internet.

"Honey Hush" (2:35) — Another full-speed-ahead rock 'n' roller with an infectious "Hiyo, Hiyo Silver" chorus.

"Shake a Hand" (3:50) — Heavy on the echo in the old Sun Studios style, this has a vintage r&b sound and Macca sings the daylights out of it. Another high point.

"Party" (2:37) — The album winds up with another fast and furious rocker, sung/screamed much in the style of "Long Tall Sally".

Anyone who doesn't subscribe to Beatlefan/EXTRA! and would like a copy of the issue with the full preview can send an SASE to: RDR Preview, Beatlefan/EXTRA!, P.O. Box 33515, Decatur GA 30033. Cheers, Bill

Update (8/25/99) A video for "Try Not To Cry" will also be released to MTV and VH1 on Sept. 13. (Thanks to Beatles999.)

Update (8/20/99) Some news from Bill King of Beatlefan on the first import single (thanks, Bill!):

The title of the single is "No Other Baby." This is available as a 2 CD set, CD #1 is limited to 15,000 copies and contains mono versions of "No Other Baby," "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" and "Fabulous." CD #2 contains stereo versions of the three tracks from the first CD. The release date is 10/24. There is also a limited 7" single.

Update (8/12/99) Some news from Matt Hurwitz of "Good Day Sunshine": There will be no commercial single. The first promo single, "Try Not To Cry," will be shipped starting Aug. 26 and can be added to station playlists beginning Sept. 13. The second single, coming Nov. 8, will be "No Other Baby."

Update (8/9/99) EMI Canada's press release for the new album:

The Devil Runs As Mac Rocks Back

Paul McCartney is ready to rock again. Two and a half years since his last album, Paul is back - with a loud new collection of the devil's music.

Returning to the rawness of his roots, Paul McCartney is reprising the energized spirit and attitude of his earliest days in the music business with a 15-track album of thrash rock & roll.

The new album - Run Devil Run - marks the first time in more than 10 years that Paul has recorded so raucously. Not since his famed 'Russian Album' of 1988 has Mac got back to sing like this.

Run Devil Run is Paul McCartney's anthology of some of his favourite rock & roll, primarily covered by Paul and a hand-picked band at Mach III speed. Alongside classic rockers are three new McCartney originals - including the sweat-making title track.

Mirroring the hectic rate of the songs, "Run Devil Run" was recorded at Abbey Road Studio Two in only one week, just like The Beatles did.

'At the early recording sessions of The Beatles, we worked in a very specific way - recording two songs in the morning and two more after lunch. I have a professional nostalgia for that way of recording and I wanted to see if we could do that with this album' said Paul.

'And we did - there was no time for thinking; thinking was outlawed for the week. With rock & roll you just do it and by the end of five days we'd recorded all these songs. What you hear on this album is what happened in that week'.

With Paul predominantly sticking to lead vocal and his Hofner bass, he's backed on the album by a core band of Dave Gilmour and Mick Green on guitars, Ian Paice on drums and Pete Wingfield on piano. Together they revive the rebel yells of Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins and early Elvis to rock out the century.

Said Paul: 'This album is something I've wanted to do for years. Some people may think I've gone all classical now, maybe this will tell them that's not the case. I still love my rock & roll'.

Run Devil Run is scheduled for an October 5th release.

Tracklisting (with running times):

Blue Jean Bop (Vincent-Levy) 1.57

She Said Yeah (Bono-Jackson) 2.05

All Shook Up (Blackwell-Presley) 2.04

Run Devil Run (McCartney) 2.35

No Other Baby (Bishop-Watson) 4.17

Lonesome Town (Knight) 3.29

Try Not To Cry (McCartney) 2.40

Movie Mag (Perkins) 2.11

Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Berry) 2.27

What It Is (McCartney) 2.23

Coquette (Green-Kahn-Lombardo) 2.41

I Got Stung (Schroeder-Hill) 2.39

Honey Hush (Turner) 3.07

Shake A Hand (Morris 3.50

Party (Robinson) 2.37 (The ICE listing had "Let's Have a Party")

Update (7/21/99) The album finally has a name: It's "Run Devil Run," according to Billboard.com, which lists the release dates as Oct. 4 in the UK and Oct. 5 in the U.S. Billboard.com also reports that "I Got Stung" is posted on the MPL website, but we couldn't find it. The broadcast of "I Got Stung" that premiered on the BBC two weeks ago, not surprisingly, made its rounds on the Internet and was picked up by radio stations in Detroit and Cleveland, according to ABCnews.com. The stations have agreed to stop playing the song.

Update (7/20/99) The new issue of ICE has the complete track list for Paul's still untitled album. Here it is (with the original artist who recorded it): "Bluejean Bop" (Gene Vincent); "She Said Yeah" (the Animals and the Rolling Stones); "All Shook Up" (Elvis Presley); "Run Devil Run" (original); "No Other Baby" (Chad and Jeremy); "Lonesome Town" (Ricky Nelson); "Try Not To Cry" (original); "Movie Magg" (Carl Perkins); "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" (Chuck Berry, also done by Buddy Holly); "What It Is" (original); "Coquette" (Fats Domino); "I Got Stung" (Elvis Presley, aired on Joe Brown's radio show); "Honey Hush" (Joe Turner); "Shake A Hand" (Faye Adams); "Let's Have a Party" (Wanda Jackson). You'll find more info in the new issue and we suggest you pick it up. (Thanks very much to Mark Easter and Chip Madinger.)

Update (7/13/99) Matt Hurwitz of Good Day Sunshine says the release date in the U.S. is now tentatively set for Oct. 8. (Thanks, Matt!).

Update (7/2/99) Simon van der Peet, chairman of the Dutch Paul McCartney Fan Club, says he's been told by EMI Holland the album's been delayed until Oct. 4. (Thanks, Simon!).

Update (6/18/99) In an interview with Clint O'Connor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Paul says the album came about because of Linda's encouragement. "We were talking about it last year. She'd say, 'You've got to do that. C'mon, get to it.' Unfortunately, she didn't live to see it. But it gave me an added impetus to carry on. It's for her.'' He said making the album took him back in time. ''One of the great buzzes about doing the album was sitting down with a cassette _ it would have been an actual 45 in those days _ with a piece of paper and a pencil, and getting the first line of the lyric. Then stopping the cassette, winding it back, getting the next line. And I was just like, 'My God, I have not done this since I was a teenager.' It brought it all back to me," he said. ''It was like when we first started the Beatles. If you wanted to know how a song went, you had to write it out yourself. So it was really cool.'' Playing with Paul on the album are Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Mick Green on guitars; Ian Pace (Deep Purple) on drums, veteran British session man Pete Wingfield on keyboards and Paul on bass and vocals. ''It was just the five of us. We hung out for this week and just wailed, and ended up with 21 songs. Now we're selecting it down and choosing the very best. We're going to finish mixing it (this week, the article said), think of a title, get some artwork and put it out.'' One of those tracks is Larry Williams' "She Said Yeah." ''It was a labor of love," he said.

Update (6/9/99) Matt Hurwitz of Good Day Sunshine tells us the album's been pushed back to later in the summer. He also says it will feature at least two new McCartney songs.

Update (5/24/99) Billboard's Daily Music Update reports that the new album, which will feature two new tracks and 17 rock 'n' roll oldies, will be released in July. The sessions started off as a jam session, never intended for release, but, according to a source quoted by Billboard, "It came out so good that Paul basically said, 'Hell, why not release it?' " Song titles include "Ready Teddy," "Blue Jean Bop" and "Movie Mag." (Thanks to Chip Madinger, Kris Gerhardt and Jeff Smuylan.)

Update (5/1/99) Latest word we have, thanks to Matt Hurwitz of Good Day Sunshine, is that the new album will definitely be released this summer. No title as of yet, Matt says.

Update (4/15/99) Another story at dotmusic.

Update (4/13/99) Sonicnet has a story on the recording session. (Thanks to Dave Persails.)

Update (4/2/99) A story by Terry Ott in the National Post quotes London Beatles Fan Club president Richard Porter, plus Mark Tovay, webmaster of "The Making of "Band on the Run" website, who says the album "is typical McCartney therapy, getting back to musical roots a la 'Get Back,' whenever he needs an anchor." Also, a portion of a report by Ray Kelly made backstage at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame induction about the album:

"I questioned Paul McCartney at the press conference at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on Monday night about what he is now working on. He said he finished work last week on "some rock and roll songs." He did not give a release date."

Update (3/17/99) This from Richard Porter (thanks again, Richard!):

HI all:

I've been reading with interest the rumours about Paul recording rock n' roll classics. I must admit that when I saw Paul at Abbey Road I thought that he was working on 'Working Classical'. However I didn't see too many classical musicians around on those days.

Also Mojo magazine are saying that Paul is recording a second album of rock n roll favourites - the first being the Russian Album. Amongst those involved being Mick Green of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.This should not be discounted as Mojo has close links with the Beatles entourage.

I'll keep you posted if he returns to Abbey Road!

all the best - Richard Porter