It was the studio where The Beatles recorded almost all of the classic songs that changed the face of pop. And on Tuesday, Paul McCartney delighted an intimate gathering of 50 lucky fans by returning to Abbey Road to host an advance listening party for his forthcoming solo album, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, and his new single Home To Us – a duet with Ringo Starr.
The famous old studio was the place where The Beatles had their first audition before signing to EMI Records in 1962, while the group's penultimate album, released in 1969, was named after the converted townhouse in London's St John's Wood.
Dressed in a black zipper jacket, white shirt and black trousers, McCartney, 83, talked fans through the new album, out later this month, occasionally picking up an acoustic guitar to illustrate how certain songs were written and gently lip-synching his way through others.
In keeping with the record's nostalgic theme, a tiny stage was decorated with a vintage armchair, lampshade and wooden bookshelf adorned with vinyl records, black and white photographs and ornaments, including a silver sculpture of a Liver Bird. The audience, which included the singer's son James, were treated to tea and biscuits beforehand.
A Return to Roots
'It's lovely to go back,' said McCartney, before gesturing to the back door of the fabled Studio 2. 'We'd come in over there.' He went on to explain how the album came into being at a meeting with American producer Andrew Watt at Charlie Chaplin's old house in LA. 'We were messing around. I threw a few chords in, and suddenly I was making an album with Andrew,' he said.
His first solo album in over five years, The Boys Of Dungeon Lane reflects on his formative years in post-war Liverpool, focusing on childhood memories and his early adventures with Beatles bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison and Starr.
Duet with Ringo Starr
Home To Us, out as the album's second single on Friday, marks the first time Paul and Ringo have sung a duet together. The track also features Starr on drums and backing vocals from Chrissie Hynde and Sharleen Spiteri. 'This song is done totally with Ringo in mind,' said Paul. 'In writing the song, I'm talking about where we came from. In common with a lot of people, you come from nothing and you build yourself up. Ringo was from The Dingle. He said he used to get mugged coming home, because he worked. Even though it was crazy, it was home to us. I made the song around that idea and sent it to Ringo.'
Inspirations and Stories
Another track, Down South, was inspired by a hitch-hiking trip Paul and George took from Chester to Harlech in Wales. 'We always took our guitars,' explained Paul. 'We were the city slickers from Liverpool. One of the lifts we got was from a milk float. They were the first electric cars. I sat in the front seat, and George sat on the battery and got an electric shock because he had a metal zip.'
The haunting ballad Salesman Saint, meanwhile, draws a parallel between today's global conflicts and the resilience shown by McCartney's parents in World War Two. 'My dad was a fireman who had to put out the fires started by incendiary bombs,' he said. 'My mum was a nurse and midwife, so she had to deal with a lot of injuries. People are going through similar things now, and they just have to carry on.'
Elsewhere, the album features As You Lie There, a song about a teenage crush, and Mountain Top, inspired by McCartney's recent visits to Glastonbury. He told fans that another number, Never Know, features a guitar line inspired by the Laurel Canyon sounds of Joni Mitchell and the Eagles, although the song's Mellotron-like keyboards and flute also nod to British psychedelia.
Love Songs and Reflections
Amid the nostalgia, there are love songs, too. Inspired by his American wife Nancy Shevell, Ripples In A Pond finds McCartney singing 'I must be blessed', while Life Can Be Hard, an upbeat tune despite the downbeat title, was written while the couple were isolating with family in the States during lockdown. 'I'm always messing around on guitar and piano,' said Paul. 'It's my hobby, even if I don't have to do it.'
The Boys Of Dungeon Lane is out on May 29 on MPL/Capitol Records.
