Paul will keep playing as long as we let him

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In new interview, Paul McCartney says: ‘I didn’t expect to be singing and playing at the level I am now’

Posted by Something Else! ReviewsJanuary 21, 2012

Paul McCartney met with the world media this week to talk about his new album Kisses On The Bottom. Here are some highlights from that webstream, including his thoughts on playing with Stevie Wonder again, on returning to the songs of his youth, and on becoming one of rock’s elder statesmen.

Kisses on the Bottom, due in early February from Concord/Hear Music, is McCartney’s 15th solo album and first record since 2007. The project is helmed by Grammy Award-winning producer Tommy LiPuma, and will feature Diana Krall and her band as well as a guest appearance from Eric Clapton.

HERE’S PAUL McCARTNEY …

ON THE INSPIRATION FOR ‘KISSES ON THE BOTTOM’: Tradition in Liverpool family was the singsongs. I always loved these songs. Dad was a piano player. I wanted to do them, but I never got around to it. We were writing Sgt. Pepper, The White Album and new stuff… every time I came to this album someone else would do it. I kept saying, “well I can’t do it now, it’ll look like I’m jumping on the bandwagon.” But then I realized, I’d just do it and not worry about the market.

ON HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM ‘KISSES’: I think probably “My Valentine” because it’s kind of the newest for me. I really had a lot of fun with Eric doing the solo on it. Again, he just came up with the solo. (whistles tune) I like that. Of the old songs I also love “Bye Bye Blackbird” because normally you get (begins singing) but Tommy’s idea was to slow it right down, which I was a bit dubious about at first, but I think it works. It was very similar to how The Beatles worked. Bring it in, kick it around, and record it. The fact I was working with great jazz musicians, it’s really cool to just say to the guys, ‘let’s just go from the bass,” and the guy’s an unbelievable player, so he knows exactly what to play, which really worked.

ON RECORDING WITH STEVIE WONDER: We had this song, “Only Our Hearts” which is very ‘30s-’40s genre, that I’d written on purpose to be in that style. The producer said, “What about Stevie” and I was like “Wow.” It was a bit in left field. He agreed to come along, I met him after recording all those years ago, I’ve seen him off and on, but to record with him, we hadn’t done it in a while. But he’s such a genius. That’s one of the great things about this album. Everyone is such a great musician.

ON THE INFLUENCE OF FRED ASTAIRE: Yeah, I think Fred Astaire was just this fantastic character from that era. I remember in the ’60s when we were making Sgt. Pepper, I used to ask if they could make my jackets like Fred Astaire, he had very slick sleeves, and I wanted one. Musically, his vocal style is very interesting. Everybody thought he was lazy except the songwriters. He had this voice I wanted to try to get near. It’s like a little voice. I tried that. That became a big part of the signature of this album. Some of the stylistic things came from the people of that era. Have you seen the new film The Artist? Yes, great film, that’s the era I love. An era for style, music. An era I love.

ON BECOMING ONE OF ROCK’S ELDER STATESMEN: That’s the perspective of youth, you know? We thought 30 was really old. Now I think it’s amazingly young. The guys who came out of college at 24, we felt sorry for them. But they’re so young. I must admit, I didn’t expect to be singing and playing at the level I am now. It keeps things interesting. We were in South America last year and the crowds were amazing, the best. You come out to that, and it’s hard to say no to that… even though I am over 30. I always say at the end of all my concerts, “See ya next time.” And I mean it. I’ll do it as long as they’ll let me.