Order Paul's "Back in the U.S." CD or Back in the U.S. Region 1 DVD from Amazon.com.

Steve,

As per usual , my wife always gives me a list of items she'd like for Christmas. This year that list included the Rolling Stones CD "40 Licks".

So in one of my buying trips I picked up the Rolling Stones CD for her. It had a red sticker on the shrink, but being a Beatles collector, I never bothered to even look at the sticker. When she opened her present and looked at the CD she said "What's Paul's sticker doing on this Rolling Stones CD ?".

Sure enough, the red sticker on the Stones "40 Licks" CD was the same red factory sticker on Paul's "Back In The US" CD.

I knew Paul is, as we speak, the most important figure in Rock and Roll to date, but how did he "sneak" his factory sticker onto a Stones CD ? Paul, you're amazing !!

Seriously, I can only speculate that both the Stones CD and Paul's CD were shrink wrapped by the same company and said company put the wrong sticker on the shrink. Anybody else notice this error ??

Update (12/17/02) E! Online quotes McCartney publicist Paul Freundlich as saying, ""This wasn't done with any malice or what have you ... He's not taking John's name off the credit, he just doesn't think his name should be first. ... Merely switching a credit on a song doesn't seem to misrepresent who wrote the song in any way shape or form ... It's pretty much public knowledge, I would say, as to which songs were authored mainly by Paul and which songs mainly by John...All he's done is switch the names. It's not meant to be divisive."

And Roger Friedman of Fox News gives a curious little explanation for the credit switch that we hadn't heard before. But, Friedman says, Yoko ends up a winner -- because she, not Michael Jackson, has the copyright on John's songs because John has passed away. This doesn't make any sense, but then, a lot of laws don't.

Update (12/16/02)

In the meantime, Chip Madinger, author of "Eight Arms to Hold You," sent us this:

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but Yoko isn't above a revising history a little herself. The new Mind Games Re-mix/Re-master now bears the songwriting credit John Lennon - Yoko Ono for the 'Nutopian International Anthem.' As the great philosopher Nigel Tufnel once said "...that's nitpicking isn't it?".

And, on top of all that, the BITUS cd is still at the top of the Billboard Internet charts.

Update (12/8/02)

Update (12/5/02)

Regarding Yoko's mulling over legal options - I noticed that immediately. It seemed to me that the credits intentionally are not in the standard form of Lennon-McCartney in parentheses. I had the impression that it was intentionally done in the manner of *giving authorship information* as opposed to a *legal credit listing*. Would the distinction stand up in court? I don't know. As the last surviving "front-man" of the Beatles, there is always the chance of Paul revising history, as some already accuse him of doing. With all the money Y.O. stands to make off of sales of BITUS, it seems poor form to consider suing.

Update (12/4/02)

Billboard, in their listings of top chart positions from many countries around the world, lists Back In The U.S. as being at #1 in Japan after debuting at #20 in its first week of release. It was released there on November 11th, the day of the first Tokyo show, so its big jump in the second week indicates that people must have really loved seeing the Tokyo and Osaka shows and ended up buying the CD after seeing the shows in person, instead of in anticipation of the show they were going to see.

Update (12/3/02)

In Canada you can get the bonus Matchbox dvd single with the McCartney Back in the U.S. cd at Future Shop outlets. In Vancouver it sells for $17.99 CDN (about $13 U.S.).

Update (11/30/02)

I don't know if this is on the site or not yet, but Back in US is ranked #1 at amazon.com.

Update (11/29/02)

At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I have to say that Paul has finally released a live album and film that I have absolutely no interest in.

To take the CD first, it only includes nine songs that have never been performed live before--all of Disc 2 is "old material". Do we really need to hear a fourth live version of "Yesterday", particularly when Paul has played it the same way ever since 1976? I know McCartney wants to please the people who come to see him and who want to hear "Hey Jude", "I Saw Her Standing There" and the like, but for a live album, it starts to sound a lot like it did All Those Years Ago. I think Paul should try some different songs. I personally suggest "Rocky Raccoon" as a prime choice next time around. Plus, if he's going to include the entire show, make it the ENTIRE show--don't cut out the chat if there's room for it on the discs (which there is, apparently).

As far as the DVD goes, I probably would have bought it if it had been a straight concert film of the entire show. But no. We get a bunch of backstage material, plus not one single complete performance in an abbreviated set. Sorry, Paul, but I guess I'll hope for your next studio album, instead. (To redeem myself a bit: I do love BRAINWASHED!)

Update (11/28/02)

Re. the "Back In The U.S." double CD. When are Paul and his people going to wise up and check with some knowledgeable Beatlepeople (we, and they know who they are) during the test pressing stages for these releases, for overlooked suggestions, to improve the product quality? Everyone appreciates the thrill of a new release like this.., but a true fan would have undoubtedly had the following to suggest if given the opportunity: There is almost 40 minutes of available disc space which could've been used for intros, for "Mull of Kintyre-Let 'Em In-She's Leaving Home-Michelle" (instead of having to hunt down the inevitable sale influenced UK-European CD singles from the main issue, offering these tunes.), and borrowing from "Paul Is Live", the inclusion of some soundcheck material.., as BONUS cuts at the disc's end, instead of interwoven through the main body of the tracks.

I know, nitpicking, but I'm sure more than a few fans would agree! I'm sure they would also heartily agree with Bill "Beatlefan" King's suggestion in his Publishers Notes in issue #138 where he suggested that a "Encore Series" of soundboard-source CD's of ALL of Paul's shows should be considered for sale, for charity purposes, similar in nature to what The Who has offered recently through Pete Townsend's web site. A GREAT idea Bill!

Update II (11/26/02)

Update (11/26/02)

Update (11/25/02) From Manuel Borja of the La Caverna radio show in Mexico:

Hi Steve,

Manuel Borja from La Caverna Radioshow in Mexico, Just to let you know that the 2CD & DVD Back in the US are already for sale here in Monterrey Mexico. CD is approx. $17 USD and DVD is $26 USD. Both are Capitol made in USA.

And another "strange" fact about the Japanese edition, it was released under Capitol-EMI-Toshiba. Usually Japanese CDs are only EMI-Toshiba.

Update (11/23/02) From Manuel Borja from La Caverna radio show in Mexico:

Hi Steve, Just to let you know my quick review of the Japanese edition of "Paul's Back in the US" double CD:

The Facts:
1.- There are NOT musical or spoken intros or outros for the songs except for:
a)A very little guitar/drum intro for HELLO GOODBYE for the time the Band is in their positios but Paul is behind the screen with the bass guitar up.
b) A very little piano false start in Hey Jude
c) spoken intro for I SAW HER STANDING THERE in which a guitar player says a word and Paul replies him "sing it now, one , two, three, four"

2.- Total Running Times
CD 1: 54:32
CD 2: 60:36

3.- CD 1 Track 15 is credited as "Carry That Weight" only.
4.- The screams of the audience is evident in all the songs. Listen carefully to SOMETHING, (I hate that mixing: personal opinion, who cares)

5.-ARTWORK
a) Most of the pictures are already in the Official Collectors Tour Program (Back in the US LEG, not Driving US leg)
b) The Band Memories are exactly the same shown in the Official Collectors Tour Program (Back in the US LEG, not Driving US leg)
c) However some nice photos were added.
d) Japanese edition add comments and lyrics of every song in the usual thin paper, 2 sheets, one for each CD)
e) Japanese jewel box is thicker than the usual in order to handle with the big booklet and Japanese info)

I understand that this CD is intended for the global market and not only for the lucky people who saw the USA tour this year. However, in my opinion I really missed the funny stories between songs. (Please, next time someone talk with Producer David Kahne tell him that a single CD can handle up to 80 minutes)

Best regards and keep up this amazing web page.

Thoughts on Paul's CD - I don't really mind the missing comments as I can get them on bootleg. I think I will prefer just the songs. I loved the comments though as he seemed more comfortable this tour than ever before. I went to four shows and each one had comments that were slightly different. I think he is used to getting slammed for his onstage banter (and just about everything else) and he just left it off the CD. Too many people were saying "he says the same stuff each show". Well so do others as far as I know. So he leaves it off the CD and now people are whining about the lack of between song banter - he can't win. I think sometimes he is everyone's favorite whipping boy. I am in the camp of what ever they want to release is OK with me.

Update (11/22/02) We've previewed the CD. We'll agree that the lack of between song patter was a mistake. It's most noticeable on the tribute songs "Here Today" and "Something," which begin on the CD with no intro. The sound is quite good otherwise, however. The booklet contains statements by each member of the band and quotes from newspaper reviews (which were used without asking the principals, at least in one instance). They only serve to make the disc less timeless than it should be.

Update (11/20/02) From John Sosebee Jr.:

Hi Steve,

Whatever source that Plastic Mac is quoting is trying another lame excuse to pacify what they obviously think are stupid fans...ANYBODY who has heard ANY cds or cdr's from the various live shows off of the tour knows that ALL of the Music and ALL of the between song chatter WILL fit on 2 -80 minutes cd's...Another lame excuse for a lack of forethought into trying to put together another live project. I and alot of other fans were hoping that maybe this would finally be a decent live album with all of his comments, especially since this tour he seemed to go out of the way to tell stories and tidbits rather than holler a few Woo-Woo's for a change. Thank goodness for bootlegs to preserve the memories!

I have checked in MVC stores and the Back in the US CD is definately being released in the UK on 25th November. Also check out www.mvc.co.uk

Update II (11/19/02) From Ole Olsen:

Some frustrations regarding the "Back In The U.S." CD (and DVD, I guess). Use some of this on your site if you like - I can't remember having seen anything there about the European release, which may be why this came as such a surprise to me as it did.

I have been expecting and waiting for the album (primarily) to appear on various Norwegian "web order record shops" for weeks. Yesterday I checked again. Nothing, with only a week till the release date.

So I decided to check amazon.co.uk as well, to see what THEY could tell me about it. Surprise surprise - it's seemingly scheduled for release (in the U.K., obviously, and probably the rest of Europe as well) on the 10th of March NEXT YEAR!

It may be that Paul and/or his management and/or record company are planning to tie the release in to a European tour. Nevertheless, I think that Paul's support of the U.S.A. is starting to get out of control by now... :-) Four months more waiting time!

(Just a joke. Yeah, I know that the Japanese got it first of all. :-)

In the end, I pre-ordered it from amazon.com (not co.uk). From my experience with land-based mail from Amazon and others in the U.S., it will probably reach me around Christmas. Nevertheless, it's sooner than March... Ole

P.S. Amazon.co.uk uses the title "Driving USA" for the album, though their cover picture is the same "Back In The U.S." pic featured on your site. It may be a misunderstanding on their part. They don't list the DVD at all, as far as I can see.

Update (11/19/02) From Matt Hurwitz:

Hi, Steve--

Regarding Plastic Mac's post regarding more tracks, Geoff Baker told me recently that they're planning on providing more music and video footage from the "Back in the U.S." leg of the tour on Paul's website. According to Geoff, it will hopefully be available through a link on the new DVD.

Matt Hurwitz

Plastic Mac calling back. According to my source - I mean, THE SOURCE - the speeches were not included because they sounded a bit of tiring after a few listens. Paul also realised that they were so much to cut and paste'em while editing the CD's tracks - picked from several sources (different gigs). There wouldn't be enough space on the album, according to the source.

Update (11/18/02)

Update II (11/16/02)

Plastic Mac heard from a firm source that more LIVE material from Paul's tour is in the works. Nothing that was included on the known releases...great tracks, according to him.

Hello,

Thought folks might be interested--and surprised??--to know that BACK IN THE U.S. has hit #1 on the amazon.com chart as of 8pm eastern Friday (the chart is updated hourly).

Update (11/16/02) From Bill King of Beatlefan:

Hi Steve,

Got "Back in the U.S." and my reaction to it is mixed. The music, for the most part, sounds great. The acoustic section has particular "presence." But a few tracks sound sweetened and I get the feeling the reason no cities were provided for the tracks is that some (if not most) of these are composites put together with digital editing.

The most disappointing aspect of it, however, is the decision to edit out all of Paul's intros and stories, despite the fact that the entire show would easily have fit on two discs with all of the talking intact (as anyone who's picked up a CDR set from the tour can attest). This is particularly disappointing in the lack of intros for the tribute songs, "Here Today" and "Something". They also cut off the reprise at the end of "Something" where Paul shows how George would have done it. Both discs fall far short of capacity, and the stories were an integral part of the show this time around (as opposed to the "Woo Woo!" nature of past tours' stage patter).

Just as they messed up the '90 tour album by including soundcheck material in the midst of the show and the '93 album was incomplete, they've once again botched the chance to present a complete Paul McCartney show properly on disc. A shame.

The 32-page booklet is full of color shots (including some of the audience) and has tour "memories" from all the band members, a nice touch. Wix makes a point of noting how he missed his old keyboard partner on this tour.

Bill

Update (11/15/02)

Hi Steve,

I ordered the Japanese copy of the Back in the U.S. via the Net, and it arrived two days ago. I played disc one on the way to work today, and heard 13 of the 18 tracks from that side.

So far, sounds great! The acoustic set is a definite early highlight, with Blackbird a real standout don't know about overdubs. A very minor disappointment so far is that there hasn't been any intro's from Paul leading into the songs. I know stories like the New Orleans massage info wouldn't get in, but I'd have liked to have heard the usual, "How are you doing" type stuff before a few of the tracks.

As for the booklet, there's lots of tour photos, and Paul and the band each get a page to reminisce about the tour's first leg. These are the same reflections that were used in the tour's second leg program. For example,Brian Ray mentions how his dad was raised in Oakland, so there was a special meaning to that show (and of course being opening night).

As someone mentioned, no cities and locations are given for where each song was recorded. This Japanese pressing also has the lyrics for each song in English and Japanese. A red white and blue colored Obi is with the CD case. There's no bonus tracks or DVD (like the Best Buy Matchbox footage) with the set. But all in all, so far it's a very nice release.

I'll be listening to more on the way home tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing and buying the DVD on the 26th. I'll be buying the Brainwashed limited edition set next week, too!

Again, thanks for the best Beatles related set on the Net.

We asked Marshall to confirm the crediting of the songs to McCartney-Lennon. His reply:

Yes, the Beatles tracks are credited as "Composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon" on the back of the CD booklet. Also listed in are composing credits for Paul and Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. I forgot to mention that like the Japanese "Beatles 1" release, the jewel box for this two CD set seems a bit bigger than the U.S. double CD cases.

Update (11/14/02) From John Ellis:

Steve,

Actually, the first time that Beatle songs were credited as "McCartney/Lennon" was 1963. Take a look at the credits on the "Please Please Me" album.

Hey All, Our store just got in some promo goodies for Macca and Harrison's latest. For McCartney: 10 x 10 window cling with the familiar logo from the show of Paul's back. 12 x 12 2 sided flats side one is the same as the cling, side 2 is concert shots and logos advertising the cd and dvd. Poster 24 x 36 One of my favorites I've seen of Macca. He is on stage in a suit coat playing the Hofner.

From Alan Dean:

Hey Steve-

Juat happened to jump on paulmccartney.com tonite and a window pops up that says "Restricted Area" - when you click on it it takes you to another screen and tells you about the secret access site- cool thing though is that it also gives you 3 clips from the DVD- C Moon from the concert, a 24 second outtake of Macca signing someones Meet The Beatles LP and then the Lonely Road music video. Pretty cool. This is gonna be a bummer for anyone that doesnt have a dvd player in their computer - which I don't.

Update (11/13/02) From Carlos 'Putxe' Prieto:

Hi, Steve! Congratulations from Spain ragarding your wonderful daily job with Beatles information.

I'm just writing to make you realise that 'Back in the U.S.' is not the first McCartney album that gives credit to 'McCartney/Lennon' instead of 'Lennon/McCartney'. That first occured in 1976 with 'Wings over America'.

Update (11/12/02)

Steve,
Just read at McCartney board that "Back In The USA" was just released today (11/11) exclusively in Japan, due to Paul's show in Tokyo. The cities and venues where the songs were performed are not listed on the booklet, according to the CD buyers. Claudio

This is Manuel Borja from La Caverna Radio Show. Just to let you know that yestarday (Nov/11th, Japan time) was the first concert of Paul in Japan. All the Japanese that went to the show had the opportunity to buy the 2CD "Back in the US" that was released yesterday only in Japan. A friend of mine that is now in Japan in a business trip told me that the 2CD is on sale now for approx. 35 USD.

Update (11/11/02) From Jody Denberg:

The Beatles' songs on Paul's "Back In The U.S." CD (except "Something") are listed as "Composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon".

Update (11/9/02) We've heard reports that the CD is beginning to get airplay on some stations. (Thanks to Dave J. and thatsfine.)

Update (11/2/02) With first copies of the live CD, Best Buy will include a bonus DVD of "Matchbox." (Thanks to Grappa6771)
(9/27/02) Thanks to J.D., we have the track listing for the forthcoming two CD set "Back in the U.S." Info about promotional specials and advertising is after the track list. To promo the disc release, Paul will appear on a Rockline radio show and do a two-hour radio special. The CD will be heavily advertised in magazines, newspapers and via billboards. :

2-cd track listing: 
[CD 1] 01 Hello Goodbye 
02 Jet 
03 All My Loving 
04 Getting Better 
05 Coming Up 
06 Let Me Roll It 
07 Lonely Road 
08 Driving Rain 
09 Your Loving Flame 
10 Blackbird 
11 Every Night 
12 We Can Work It Out 
13 Mother Nature's Son 
14 Vanilla Sky 
15 Carry That Weight 
16 The Fool On The Hill 
17 Here Today 
18 Something 

[CD 2] 

01 Eleanor Rigby 
02 Here, There And Everywhere 
03 Band On The Run 
04 Back In The USSR 
05 Maybe I'm Amazed 
06 C Moon 
07 My Love 
08 Can't Buy Me Love 
09 Freedom 
10 Live And Let Die 
11 Let It Be 

12 Hey Jude 
13 The Long And Winding Road 
14 Lady Madonna 
15 I Saw Her Standing There 
16 Yesterday 
17 Sgt. Pepper/The End 

PAUL MCCARTNEY BACK IN THE U.S. LIVE 2002
IN STORES NOVEMBER 26, 2002 (ORDER DUE DATE 11/1/02)
DVD: C9DT-77989
CD: C2YM:-42318 *2-CD SET $19.98 sugg list
CS: C42Q-42318

BUY! HERE'S WHY! :

DOUBLE LIVE CD includes 35 classic songs (almost 2 hours of music) from his sold out US tour CD PACKAGING includes 2 CDs in a slim-line jewel box and a 32-page four-color annotated collectors booklet featuring never before seen photographs from the tour DVD includes almost three hours of both concert and behind-the-scenes footage all heard in 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound 2-HOUR PRIMETIME ABC TV SPECIAL - 'Back in the U.S.' is an unprecedented concert film of Paul McCartney's sold out 2002 concert tour. It is about the man who created the most popular and loved songs of the 20th century and the phenomenon that surrounds him. Narrated by Paul himself, this personal diary of sorts takes a raw candid look inside a magical musical journey. 2-HOUR CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO SPECIAL on over 250-radio stations weekend before release 1-HOUR ROCKLINE RADIO SPECIAL to air week of release SPECIAL "WIN-IT-BEFORE-YOU-CAN-BUY-IT" RADIO PROMOTIONS for rock, classic rock, news, and talk radio in top 150 markets MASSIVE NATIONAL TV ADVERTISING will start one month before street date and will include several thousand direct response and broadcast spots OVER 100 OUTDOOR BILLBOARDS MULTIPLE NATIONAL MAGAZINE COVER FEATURES and national print advertising in top publications.