Paul McCartney Recorded a Christmas Album, but You Can’t Hear It

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Paul McCartney Recorded a Christmas Album, but You Can’t Hear It
RYAN REED
December 12, 2019


Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Paul McCartney is already king of pop-rock holiday radio with his synth-driven 1979 staple "Wonderful Christmastime." But it turns out he also dominates his home stereo around Yuletide with a full album of Christmas carol instrumentals he recorded "just for the family."

"Years ago, I thought, ‘There's not very good Christmas records,’ so I actually went into my studio over a couple of years and I made one," the former Beatle told BBC Radio 4’s World at One. “It gets brought out each year, I’ve just got a little demo of it, but the kids like it. It’s kind of traditional — it's something they've heard through the years, and now it's the grandkids getting indoctrinated with my carols record.”

While it's not technically an original Christmas album in the traditional sense, McCartney did assemble a goofy, holiday-themed recording as a present for his Beatles bandmates in 1965. Throughout the extremely rare set, which surfaced online in 2017, he impersonates an American DJ and plays cuts from artists like the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones.

More recently, as part of Record Store Day's 2019 Black Friday event, McCartney issued a picture-disc vinyl single of new songs, "Home Tonight" and "In a Hurry," recorded during the sessions for his 2018 LP, Egypt Station. He also recently played bass on Ringo Starr's cover of the John Lennon tune "Grow Old With Me"; the track includes a string section inspired by George Harrison, rounding out the closest possible thing to a Beatles reunion in 2019.

McCartney also announced a Netflix adaptation of his 2005 children’s book, High in the Clouds. He will provide original songs and music to the project, which features direction from Oscar nominee Timothy Reckart and a script by Jon Croker.

www.bbc.com
Paul McCartney unwraps his 'secret' Christmas album
BBC News
12 December 2019


Sir Paul McCartney was interviewed by BBC Radio 4's Sarah Montague

Sir Paul McCartney has revealed he once recorded a secret Christmas album "just for the family" that "gets brought out each year" at the McCartney household.

"Years ago I thought, there's not very good Christmas records," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.

"So I actually went into my studio over a couple of years and I made one."

Sir Paul said he would never release the demo of traditional Christmas carol instrumentals, despite it being popular with his children and grandchildren.

"The kids like it," he told Sarah Montague. "It's something they've heard through the years, you know, and now it's the grandkids getting indoctrinated with my carols record."

The Fab Four member last played at the Glastonbury Festival in 2004
GETTY IMAGES

Sir Paul has five children and eight grandchildren - six boys and two girls.

Earlier this year he revealed he had written a children's book inspired by the "Grandude" nickname one of his grandchildren had given him.

It was confirmed last month the 77-year-old would be headlining at next year's Glastonbury Festival in Somerset.

The former Beatle will top the bill on the Pyramid Stage on 27 June, a week after he celebrates his 78th birthday.

Glastonbury is 'very special'

Sir Paul admitted he might get nervous, but would prepare for his appearance by playing 10 concerts beforehand "to get up to speed".

"You don't get an athlete just coming into the Olympics not having done a few races beforehand," he said.

"The idea is by the time I get to Glastonbury it'll just be just like another gig. But of course it won't be, because it's very special."

He also discussed the 10th anniversary of Meat Free Monday, climate change and Christmas presents during the interview, which will be broadcast on Thursday's World at One on BBC Radio 4 from 13:00 GMT.

On the programme at 13.00, @PaulMcCartney tells @Sarah_Montague about his support for @MeatFreeMonday, young climate activists, and his unreleased record of Christmas carols, made just for his family #bbcwato pic.twitter.com/TzU8fX4sUi

— The World at One (@BBCWorldatOne) December 12, 2019