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Egypt Station

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"Nothing for Free" redirects here. For the Pendulum song, see Pendulum discography.

Egypt Station
Studio album by
Paul McCartney
Released7 September 2018 (2018-09-07)
RecordedJanuary 2016 – February 2018
StudioHenson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Patriot Studios, Los Angeles
Uno Mas, Brentwood
Abbey Road Studios, London
Hog Hill Mill, Icklesham
KLB Studios, Sao Paulo
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length57:30
LabelCapitol
Producer
Paul McCartney chronology
Pure McCartney
(2016) 		Egypt Station
(2018) 		Wings 1971–73
(2018)
Singles from Egypt Station
  1. "I Don't Know / Come On to Me"
    Released: 20 June 2018
  2. "Fuh You"
    Released: 15 August 2018
  3. "Who Cares"
    Released: 17 December 2018
  4. "Nothing for Free"
    Released: July 1, 2019

Egypt Station is the 17th solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, released on 7 September 2018 through Capitol Records.[1]

Egypt Station was produced by Greg Kurstin and co-produced by McCartney, with the exception of one track produced by Ryan Tedder.[1] The album is McCartney's first studio release since 2013's New. The album's lead single, a double A-side consisting of the songs "I Don't Know" and "Come On to Me", was released on 20 June 2018.[2][3]

The name "Egypt Station" is shared by one of McCartney's paintings from 1988, from which the cover art is derived.[1][4] It became his first number one album in the United States since 1982's Tug of War and his first to debut atop the Billboard 200.

Recording

[edit]

Egypt Station was recorded in studios in Los Angeles, London, São Paulo, and Sussex.[1] McCartney began working with producer Greg Kurstin some time after the release of his 2013 album New and mentioned their working together several times leading up to the 20 June 2018 announcement of Egypt Station's release.[5]

McCartney also wrote and recorded three songs with Ryan Tedder.[6] Two of the songs, "Fuh You" and "Nothing for Free", were released on the album. The song "Get Enough" was also recorded with Tedder for the album, but was instead released New Year's Day 2019 as a non-album single.

The song "Back in Brazil" was recorded at KLB Studios in the city of São Paulo.[7]

Composition

[edit]

Egypt Station contains 16 tracks, including opening and penultimate ambient pieces entitled "Opening Station" and "Station II", respectively. Tracks include the singles "I Don't Know" and "Come On to Me". "Happy with You" is described as "acoustic meditation on present day contentedness," "People Want Peace" is called a "timeless anthem that would fit on virtually any album of any McCartney era", and "Despite Repeated Warnings" is called "an epic multi-movement closer".[1]

On the inspiration for the album's title and theme, McCartney said:

"I liked the words 'Egypt Station'. It reminded me of the 'album' albums we used to make. ... 'Egypt Station' starts off at the station on the first song, and then each song is like a different station. So it gave us some idea to base all the songs around that. I think of it as a dream location that the music emanates from."[1]

In the promotional event "Casual Conversation", McCartney further clarified his creative process behind recording Egypt Station and described it as a loose concept album.

Promotion

[edit]
Main article: Freshen Up (tour)

On 10 June 2018, all content was removed from McCartney's Instagram page. That day, all of McCartney's social media pages began posting cryptic photos of symbols and McCartney playing various instruments, fueling speculation of an impending announcement.[8] The title Egypt Station was first announced on 18 June 2018, McCartney's 76th birthday. One day later, McCartney officially announced the release of the album's first (double A-side) single, consisting of the two songs "I Don't Know" and "Come On to Me". The two songs were released on 20 June 2018. The same day, McCartney's website officially announced the title and release date of Egypt Station, also providing information on the album's recording and creative process.[1]

McCartney agreed to film a "Carpool Karaoke" segment for The Late Late Show with James Corden in Liverpool on 9 June 2018. As part of the segment, McCartney played a small gig at Liverpool's Philharmonic Dining Rooms, where he performed "Come On to Me" live for the first time. The segment was broadcast the week of 17 June 2018 in conjunction with the release of the album's first single.[9] An extended version of the segment, titled "When Corden Met McCartney (Live from Liverpool)", was broadcast by CBS on 20 August 2018.[10]

On 3 July 2018, the Freshen Up tour was announced through the official McCartney website. The tour started on 17 September 2018 in Quebec City, Canada.

On 19 July 2018, McCartney posted an image on his Instagram asking fans, "Why do you think you should attend a secret event in London with Paul next week"? Fans were asked to "post a short video using the hashtag #UnderTheStaircase". The winners of the contest were treated to a secret concert at Abbey Road Studios with a number of other celebrity guests in attendance. The set list included four songs from the upcoming album, including "Come On to Me" and the live debuts of "Confidante", "Fuh You", and a song that had been previously unmentioned, called "Who Cares". Later the same week, McCartney played a surprise concert at The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

On 25 July 2018, McCartney held a talk titled "Casual Conversation" at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). Moderated by Jarvis Cocker, the event was live-streamed on Facebook, and he answered questions from LIPA students as well as viewers online.[11]

On 15 August 2018, McCartney released "Fuh You" as the second single from the album. On 3 September 2018, McCartney's YouTube channel released a series of videos titled "Egypt Station – Words Between the Tracks". The videos feature McCartney briefly describing the composition and inspiration of each track from the standard edition album.

On 7 September 2018, to celebrate the launch of the album, McCartney performed a "secret" concert at Grand Central Terminal that was live-streamed on YouTube. Music only videos of each performance were later uploaded to his YouTube channel.

During the lead-up promotion to the album's release date, lyric videos were released on YouTube for the first singles "Come On To Me", "I Don't Know", and "Fuh You". Since Egypt Station's release, official music videos were released for "Fuh You", "Back In Brazil" and "Come On To Me". The music videos are a creative departure from many of McCartney's previous music videos in that they each focus on the lives of ordinary people with McCartney only appearing briefly (on stage) in the conclusion of "Back In Brazil".

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Consequence of SoundB−[14]
The Guardian[15]
NME[16]
The Observer[17]
Pitchfork5.8/10[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Slant Magazine[20]

Egypt Station has been well received by music critics. On Metacritic, the album has an overall score of 74 out of 100 compiled from the scores of 25 music critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[12]

In the review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine opined that "all the slower songs are peppered with haunting images of darkness creeping at the edges, while McCartney revives the carnality that marked 'Press' – not just on the straightforward 'Fuh You,' but 'Come on to Me,' a considerably better song than the Tedder exercise. Such twists are welcome, but what's satisfying about Egypt Station is what's always satisfying about a McCartney record: the hooks and imagination that are so rampant they seem effortless."[13] Dan Stubbs from NME gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, saying, "McCartney’s always been about inclusivity and openness, but this latest glimpse into his life feels like a particularly enlightening one."[16] Reviewing the album for The Observer, Kitty Empire also gave the album 4 out of 5 stars. In the review she states that "the finest songs here land immediately and hum with urgency."[17]

Writing a four-star review in Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield claimed, "Make a list of all the songwriters who were composing great tunes in 1958. Now make an overlapping list of the ones who are still writing brilliant songs in 2018. Your list reads: Paul McCartney."[19] Chris Willman at Variety stated, "If it doesn't make for McCartney's most coherent collection, it's endearing how enthusiastically he strives, at 76, to avoid doing just one thing when he can do a dozen. Bitch, he's Macca."[21]

In 2019, Egypt Station was nominated for the Fryderyk Music Award (in Poland) for the best foreign album of 2018, but did not win, losing the award to Anthem of the Peaceful Army by Greta Van Fleet.[22]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Egypt Station debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 in the issue dated 22 September 2018, earning 153,000 album equivalent units (of which 147,000 were pure album sales).[23] It is McCartney's first US number one album since Tug of War in 1982, as well as his eighth number one album overall and his first to debut atop the chart.[23] The album dropped to number eight in its second week, earning an additional 37,000 album-equivalent units in the United States.[24]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks produced by Greg Kurstin and McCartney, except "Fuh You" by Ryan Tedder and McCartney, "Nothing for Free" and "Get Enough" by Ryan Tedder, Zach Skelton and McCartney.[25]

All tracks are written by Paul McCartney, except where noted

Egypt Station track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Opening Station" 0:42
2."I Don't Know" 4:27
3."Come On to Me" 4:11
4."Happy with You" 3:34
5."Who Cares" 3:13
6."Fuh You"McCartney, Ryan Tedder3:23
7."Confidante" 3:04
8."People Want Peace" 2:59
9."Hand in Hand" 2:35
10."Dominoes" 5:02
11."Back in Brazil" 3:21
12."Do It Now" 3:17
13."Caesar Rock" 3:29
14."Despite Repeated Warnings" 6:58
15."Station II" 0:46
16."Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link" 6:22
Total length:57:30
Egypt Station – Target edition / Japanese edition / European edition bonus tracks[26]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
17."Get Started" 3:41
18."Nothing for Free" (feat. Ryan Tedder)McCartney, Tedder3:15
Total length:64:26
Egypt Station II — "Traveller's Edition" / "Explorer's Edition" (Disc 2)[27][28]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Get Started" 3:41
2."Nothing for Free" (feat. Ryan Tedder)McCartney, Tedder3:15
3."Frank Sinatra's Party" 2:44
4."Sixty Second Street" 3:57
5."Who Cares" (full length) 5:33
6."Get Enough"McCartney, Tedder, Zach Skelton2:58
7."Come On to Me" (live at Abbey Road Studios) 4:19
8."Fuh You" (live at The Cavern Club) 3:35
9."Confidante" (live at LIPA) 3:16
10."Who Cares" (live at Grand Central Station) 3:02
Total length:36:20

Personnel

[edit]
  • Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals (2–14, 16), acoustic guitar (2–5, 7–14, 16), keyboards (2–4, 6–14, 16), bass guitar (2, 4–8, 10–14, 16), percussion (2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16), drums (2, 8, 10, 12–14, 16), electric guitar (3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16), harmonica (3), tape loops (10), co-production[29]

with

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Egypt Station
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[68] Gold 50,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "New Album 'Egypt Station' Arriving September 7th". PaulMcCartney.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Paul To Release All-New Double A Side Single". PaulMcCartney.com. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Paul McCartney Releases New Singles". Stereogum.
  4. ^ "Egypt Station". McCartney Art. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  5. ^ "McCartney New Album 2018 Tease". bestclassicbands.com.
  6. ^ "Paul McCartney on New Album 'Egypt Station' and Collaborating with the Next Generation: "I feel lucky that these people are interested in working with me"". Diymag.com.
  7. ^ ""Back In Brazil" recording (2017 ?)". The-apulmccartney-project.com. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. ^ "McCartney Teases Beatles White Album". Bestclassicbands.com.
  9. ^ "McCartney Carpool Karaoke". Liverpool Echo.
  10. ^ "Monday's TV highlights: 'Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney'". LA Times.
  11. ^ "Watch Paul in Casual Conversation with Jarvis Cocker". PaulMcCartney.com.
  12. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Egypt Station". Metacritic. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  13. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Egypt Station – Paul McCartney". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  14. ^ Clark, Tyler (4 September 2019). "Paul McCartney Remains Full of Vigor on Egypt Station". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  15. ^ Empire, Kitty (9 September 2018). "Paul McCartney – 'Egypt Station'". Guardian. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  16. ^ a b Nicolson, Barry (7 September 2018). "Paul McCartney – 'Egypt Station'". NME. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  17. ^ a b Empire, Kitty (9 September 2018). "Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". The Observer. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  18. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (11 September 2018). "Paul McCartney: Egypt Station Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  19. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (5 September 2018). "Paul McCartney, Egypt Station". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Slant review". Slantmagazine.com.
  21. ^ Willman, Chris (6 September 2018). "Paul McCartney's Gets Saucy, and Slightly Serious, on 'Egypt Station'". Variety. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Nominees and winners 2019". zpav.pl. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  23. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (16 September 2018). "Paul McCartney Earns First No. 1 Album in Over 36 Years on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Egypt Station'". Billboard. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  24. ^ Caulfield, Keith (23 September 2018). "Carrie Underwood Makes Country History on the Billboard 200 Chart As 'Cry Pretty' Debuts at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  25. ^ "The Next Service To Egypt Station Will Be Calling At..." PaulMcCartney.com.
  26. ^ "Egypt Station With Exclusive Tracks". Target.com.
  27. ^ McCartney, Paul (14 February 2019). "paulmccartney.com / 'Egypt Station - Traveller's Edition' New Box Set". Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  28. ^ McCartney, Paul (24 April 2019). "paulmccartney.com / Paul Announces 'Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition' - Arriving May 17th!". Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Egypt Station". Egypt-Station.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  31. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Ultratop.be – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  33. ^ "Ultratop.be – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  34. ^ "Paul McCartney Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  35. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 37.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  36. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  38. ^ "Paul McCartney: Egypt Station" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  39. ^ "Lescharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  40. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  41. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 39. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  42. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Paul McCartney". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  43. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  44. ^ "Egypt Station on Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  45. ^ September 2018/ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 17 September 2018" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  46. ^ "Oricon Top 50 International Albums: 2018-10-15" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  47. ^ "Charts.nz – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  48. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  49. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  50. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  51. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  52. ^ "Top 100 Slovak Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  53. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  54. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  55. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  56. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  57. ^ "Paul McCartney Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  58. ^ "Paul McCartney Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  59. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  60. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  61. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2018" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  62. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2018" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  63. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  64. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2018 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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  66. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  67. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  68. ^ "French album certifications – Paul McCartney – Egypt Station" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
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