3 Paul McCartney Chaos And Creation In The Backyard

PARLOPHONE 2005, £11.57

You say: “Nigel Godrich badgers Paul into playing every instrument and vetoes songs he doesn’t like. Result: a gem.” Simon Reid, Twitter

Although Nigel Godrich’s star was in the ascendant due to his growing catalogue with Radiohead, his production work with Beck on Mutations and Sea Change largely informed his collaboration with Macca. It was a point underlined by Beck’s father David Campbell scoring the brooding strings on Riding To Vanity Fair, itself a rare glimpse into McCartney’s quietly seething side as he coolly lambasted a former, unnamed, friend. Throughout, a decluttered, if precise sound allowed air back into a McCartney record and the gorgeous, whispered Jenny Wren was one of his most haunting and affecting songs.