Run Devil Run (album)

Run Devil Run is the eleventh solo studio album by the English musician Paul McCartney, released in 1999. It features mostly covers of both familiar and obscure 1950s rock and roll songs, along with three original McCartney compositions written in the same style, making it his second covers album after CHOBA B CCCP. As his first project following first wife Linda's death in 1998, McCartney felt the need to get back to his roots and perform some of the music he loved as a teenager. On 14 December 1999, McCartney returned to the Cavern Club where he used to play in the early days with the Beatles, to perform the album almost in its entirety.

Following the death of his wife Linda McCartney in April 1998, Paul McCartney had a year of mourning. Wanting to keep things fresh, a lesson he had learned from his experiences working on The Beatles Anthology project and put to use on Flaming Pie, McCartney planned to cut the album as quickly as possible, much in the way the Beatles had recorded in their early years. Asking Chris Thomas to help produce, McCartney booked time at Abbey Road Studios to undertake his quest.

The album consists of 12 cover versions of rock and roll songs and three McCartney originals.

Of the covers, "Blue Jean Bop" was written and recorded by Gene Vincent in 1956. "She Said Yeah" had been recorded by Larry Williams. "All Shook Up", "I Got Stung" and "Party" had been recorded by Elvis Presley. "No Other Baby" was written by Dickie Bishop and Bob Watson, and was originally recorded in 1958 by skiffle group the Vipers and released as a single. Despite never owning a copy of the song, it had made a big enough imprint on McCartney for him to record it 40 years on. "Lonesome Town" had been recorded by Ricky Nelson. "Movie Magg" had been recorded by Carl Perkins. Chuck Berry's composition "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" had been recorded by him and by Buddy Holly whose version McCartney liked. "Shake a Hand" was written by Joe Morris and recorded by Little Richard in 1956. "Coquette" had been recorded by Fats Domino. "Honey Hush" had been first recorded by Joe Turner, though the liner notes state that McCartney was more familiar with the version by Johnny Burnette.

Of the originals "Run Devil Run" is a song in the Chuck Berry style, "Try Not to Cry" was recounting a widower's suffering, and "What It Is" had been started a few months prior to Linda's death.

He wasn't thinking it was going to be the next big record. He was just free to enjoy himself.

Wanting to work with reliable and empathetic musicians, McCartney called up Pink Floyd's David Gilmour to play guitar. Also recruited were guitarist Mick Green, keyboardists Pete Wingfield and Geraint Watkins, and on drums Deep Purple's Ian Paice and Dave Mattacks. McCartney played bass, and overdubbed electric or acoustic guitar or percussion on some songs.

McCartney wanted the sessions to be laid back, with no post-production. McCartney had brought a list of material that he wished to play, the songs being early rock and roll songs from his childhood and a few originals he had written in a similar style.