Paul McCartney's Standing Stone

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Paul McCartney's Standing Stone
Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released	29 September 1997
Recorded	30 April - 2 May 1997
Genre	Classical
Length	74:46
Label	EMI Classics
Producer(s)	John Fraser
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Paul McCartney chronology
Flaming Pie (1997)	Paul McCartney's Standing Stone (1997)	Band on the Run: 25th Anniversary Edition (Paul McCartney & Wings) (1999)

Paul McCartney's Standing Stone is Paul McCartney's second full-length release of original classical music and was issued shortly after Flaming Pie's release in 1997. The world premiere performance was held at The Royal Albert Hall on 14 October 1997.

Following up on 1991's Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio, the Standing Stone project was composed out of a long poem McCartney authored and was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Lawrence Foster at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Unlike Liverpool Oratorio, this new project is not an operatic performance of a story, but an instrumental one, though it employs the use of a choir.

The cover for the album is actually one of the many photos taken by Linda McCartney during late 1969/early 1970 that would initially be seen on the inside gatefold cover of Paul's first album McCartney. Incidentally, this project was her husband's last release before Linda succumbed to breast cancer on 17 April 1998, having been diagnosed almost three years earlier.

Released in September 1997, Paul McCartney's Standing Stone - which was well-received - reached #1 on the classical charts, and managed a one week stand at #194 on the US pop album listings.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Movement I - After heavy light years 1.2 Movement II - He awoke startled 1.3 Movement III - Subtle colours merged soft contours 1.4 Movement IV - Strings pluck, horns blow, drums beat

[edit] Track listing

All pieces by Paul McCartney.

[edit] Movement I - After heavy light years

1. "Fire/Rain" Allegro energico – 4:30
2. "Cell Growth" Semplice – 8:30
3. "'Human' Theme" Maestoso – 3:36

[edit] Movement II - He awoke startled

1. "Meditation" Contemplativo – 3:57
2. "Crystal Ship" Con moto scherzando – 2:02
3. "Sea Voyage" Pulsating, with cool jazz feel – 3:39
4. "Lost At Sea" Sognando – 4:37
5. "Release" Allegro con spirito – 1:54

[edit] Movement III - Subtle colours merged soft contours

1. "Safe Haven/Standing Stone" Pastorale con moto – 4:11
2. "Peaceful moment" Andante tranquillo – 2:09
3. "Messenger" Energico – 3:35
4. "Lament" Lamentoso – 2:26
5. "Trance" Misterioso – 5:32
6. "Eclipse" Eroico – 4:57

[edit] Movement IV - Strings pluck, horns blow, drums beat

1. "Glory Tales" Trionfale – 2:40
2. "Fugal Celebration" L'istesso tempo. Fresco – 4:25
3. "Rustic Dance" Rustico – 2:00
4. "Love Duet" Andante intimo – 3:43
5. "Celebration" Andante – 6:15

v • d • e Paul McCartney

Discography Studio albums: McCartney • Ram • McCartney II • Tug of War • Pipes of Peace • Press to Play • Снова в СССР • Flowers in the Dirt • Off the Ground • Flaming Pie • Run Devil Run • Driving Rain • Chaos and Creation in the Backyard With Wings: Wild Life • Red Rose Speedway • Band on the Run • Venus and Mars • Wings at the Speed of Sound • London Town • Back to the Egg • Band on the Run: 25th Anniversary Edition Live albums: Wings Over America • Tripping the Live Fantastic • Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights! • Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) • Paul Is Live • Back in the U.S. • Back in the World DVD albums: Live at the Cavern Club • Back in the U.S. • Live in Red Square • The Space Within US Compilations: Wings Greatest • All the Best! • Wingspan: Hits and History Soundtracks: The Family Way • Give My Regards to Broad Street Experimental albums: Thrillington • Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest • Rushes • Liverpool Sound Collage • Twin Freaks Classical albums: Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio • Paul McCartney's Standing Stone • Paul McCartney's Working Classical • Ecce Cor Meum Related articles Discography • The Beatles • The Fireman • Linda McCartney • Heather Mills • MPL Communications • Paul is dead • Wings tours