Driving Rain

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title: "Driving Rain" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2001-albums", "paul-mccartney-albums", "parlophone-albums", "albums-produced-by-david-kahne", "albums-recorded-at-a&m-studios"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_Rain" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameDriving Rain
typeAlbum
artistPaul McCartney
coverDrivingRain.jpg
borderyes
released11 November 2001
recorded16 February – June 2001
studioHenson, Hollywood, California
genreRock
length67:08
labelParlophone
producerDavid Kahne
prev_titleWingspan: Hits and History
prev_year2001
next_titleBack in the U.S.
next_year2002
misc{{Singles
nameDriving Rain
typestudio
single1From a Lover to a Friend
single1date29 October 2001
single2Freedom
single2date5 November 2001
::

::callout[type=note] the Paul McCartney album ::

| name = Driving Rain | type = Album | artist = Paul McCartney | cover = DrivingRain.jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = 11 November 2001 | recorded = 16 February – June 2001 | studio = Henson, Hollywood, California | genre = Rock | length = 67:08 | 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 | single2date = 5 November 2001 Driving Rain is the twelfth solo studio album by English musician Paul McCartney, released on 11 November 2001 as a double LP, a single cassette, and single CD.

Background

Following the example of Run Devil Run 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.

Music and lyrics

"Back in the Sunshine Again" was co-written by McCartney and his son James. On 11 September 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City when the terrorist attacks occurred, and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "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.

Release and reception

| MC = 75/100 | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = | rev2 = Blender | rev2score = | rev3 = Dotmusic | rev3score = | rev4 = Drowned in Sound | rev4score = 7/10 | rev5 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | rev5Score = | rev6 = Entertainment Weekly | rev6Score = B | rev7 = Mojo | rev7score = | rev8 = NME | rev8score = 6/10 | rev9 = Rolling Stone | rev9score = | rev10 = Spin | rev10score = 7/10 In November 2001, Driving Rain was released to generally strong reviews but stunned many with its very low sales. The album sold 66,000 copies in its first week in the US. Driving Rain peaked at number 46 in the UK, 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, 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." 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 self-titled double album (also known as the "White Album").

McCartney opened his tour in support of the album in April 2002. Titled the 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

| headline = Driving Rain track listing | all_writing = Paul McCartney, except "Spinning on an Axis" and "Back in the Sunshine Again" co-written by James McCartney | title1 = Lonely Road | length1 = 3:16 | title2 = From a Lover to a Friend | length2 = 3:48 | title3 = She's Given Up Talking | length3 = 4:57 | title4 = Driving Rain | length4 = 3:26 | title5 = I Do | length5 = 2:56 | title6 = Tiny Bubble | length6 = 4:21 | title7 = Magic | length7 = 3:59 | title8 = Your Way | length8 = 2:55 | title9 = Spinning on an Axis | length9 = 5:16 | title10 = About You | length10 = 2:54 | title11 = Heather | length11 = 3:26 | title12 = Back in the Sunshine Again | length12 = 4:21 | title13 = Your Loving Flame | length13 = 3:43 | title14 = Riding into Jaipur | length14 = 4:08 | title15 = Rinse the Raindrops | length15 = 10:08 | title16 = Freedom | note16 = unlisted on the album sleeve on initial pressings | length16 = 3:34 | total_length = 67:08

Personnel

Personnel per booklet. Musicians

Production

  • David Leonard – mixing
  • David Kahne – producer
  • Paul McCartney – executive producer
  • Mark Dearnley – engineer
  • Jaime Sickora – assistant engineer
  • Kevin Mills – 2nd assistant engineer
  • Geoff Emerick, Paul Hicks – additional engineers
  • Mark Dearnley, David Kahne – mixing
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Stewart Whitmore – digital editing
  • Norman Hathaway with Micha Weidmann, Donat Raetzo – design
  • Paul McCartney, Heather Mills – photos

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (2001) | Peak position | Austrian Albums Chart | Canadian Albums Chart | Danish Albums Chart | Dutch Mega Albums Chart | French SNEP Albums Chart | German Media Control Albums Chart{{cite web | Italian Albums Chart | Japanese Oricon Albums Chart | Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart | Swedish Albums Chart | Swiss Albums Chart | UK Albums Chart | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 76 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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}} | 23 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 62 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 46 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Certifications and sales

References

References

  1. "Paul McCartney 'Driving Rain' news".
  2. Clayson, Alan. (2003). "Paul McCartney". Sanctuary.
  3. 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."
  4. "Critic reviews for ''Driving Rain''". [[Metacritic]].
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''". [[AllMusic]].
  6. Du Noyer, Paul (December 2001/January 2002). "Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''". ''[[Blender (magazine). Blender]]''. p. 119.
  7. Heath, Chris. (14 November 2001). "Paul McCartney – 'Driving Rain' (Parlophone)". [[Dotmusic]].
  8. Westfox, James. (December 30, 2001). "Paul McCartney - Driving Rain".
  9. Larkin, Colin. (2006). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' (4th edn)''". Oxford University Press.
  10. Willman, Chris. (12 November 2001). "Mini Capsule Review: ''Driving Rain'' (2001)".
  11. A satisfying, and often very moving, body of work. [Dec 2001, p.100]
  12. Segal, Victoria. (20 November 2001). "Paul McCartney: Driving Rain". [[NME]].
  13. Kot, Greg. (30 October 2001). "Album Reviews: Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''".
  14. Moon, Tom. (January 2002). "Paul McCartney ''Driving Rain''". [[Spin (magazine).
  15. McGee, Garry. (2003). "Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings". Rowman & Littlefield.
  16. (2001). "Driving Rain". JPGR.
  17. "How Paul McCartney began building his next era on 'Driving Rain'".
  18. MacDonald, Ian. (January 2002). "Paul McCartney: ''Driving Rain'' (Parlophone)".
  19. (25 March 2015). "McCartney Sounds Like Harrison in New Tune". [[Fox News]].
  20. (2011). "Driving Rain". [[MPL Communications]] / [[Hear Music]].
  21. "Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' – austriancharts.at".
  22. (30 January 2002). "CANOE -- JAM! – Paul McCartney set to tour this spring". JAM! Showbiz.
  23. "danishcharts.dk Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''". danishcharts.dk.
  24. "dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''". dutchcharts.nl.
  25. "lescharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''". lescharts.com.
  26. "italiancharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''". italiancharts.com.
  27. "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". oricon.co.jp.
  28. "norwegiancharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''".
  29. "swedishcharts.com Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain''". [[Sverigetopplistan]].
  30. "Paul McCartney – ''Driving Rain'' – hitparade.ch".
  31. "Paul McCartney > Artists > Official Charts". [[UK Albums Chart]].
  32. (2006). "Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005". Oricon Entertainment.
  33. "Paul McCartney's new album "Memory Almost Full" will be released June 5 in North America". [[billboard magazine.

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2001-albumspaul-mccartney-albumsparlophone-albumsalbums-produced-by-david-kahnealbums-recorded-at-a&m-studios