As controversial as the Paul McCartney Archive Collection's approach to Flowers in the Dirt has been, the official release of demos from McCartney's fruitful writing sessions with Elvis Costello has made for some excitement around Second Disc HQ. Some of those fateful "McCartney/McManus" demos are now slated for an exclusive Record Store Day piece, it was announced yesterday.
Three unheard cassette demos, part of the much-maligned download-only portion of the deluxe box set (which will also feature previously released B-sides and remixes, instead of this content on a physical disc), have been announced as a cassette for the 10th annual Record Store Day celebration on April 22. Those demos are "I Don't Want to Confess," "Shallow Grave" and "Mistress and Maid"--for the first time "available in the same form as when Paul and Elvis first cut them directly to tape."
In a statement, Paul said of these demos:
The demos are red hot off the skillet and that's why we wanted to include them on this boxed set. What's great about these songs is that they've just been written. So there's nothing more hot off the skillet as I say. So that was the kind of great instant thing about them. I hadn't listened to them in ages but when I did I knew we had to put them out. We made a little tape of them and sent them to Elvis, who loved them too. We said we should put out an EP or something and now the moment's finally arrived.
Snippets of the demos can be heard in the video below.
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Can you even get hold of a cassette player nowadays?
McCartney has totally lost touch !! A CASSETTE ???
I still have a cassette player but this release is totally ridiculous........why not on a vinyl 45?
I can only shake my head at his recent decisions regarding the "Flowers In The Dirt" deluxe reissue......
It's not so far-fetched: the consumers of today are into throwback gimmicks so tapes (though not 8-tracks... yet) have made a small resurgence.
Ultimately, it's about creating a feeling of exclusivity. Those who get the tape will feel special. Those who don't will feel like they've missed out.
And when it's re-released in a more accessible format, they'll rush to get it. Because have no fear: it WILL eventually be available in other formats.
It's just a matter of time.
The tracks are already on the Archive Edition of Flowers In The Dirt — they're the last three tracks on download-only disc five.
Paul's also not the first to issue a cassette for RSD: last year, another band did it, so there is precedence.
And a cassette version of the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack was produced, which oddly makes sense if you've seen the film.
But I agree with everyone about how lousy it is Paul's made the tracks otherwise download only and no CD for those McCartney/McManus tracks.
Then again, I think it's also lousy that RSD caters to vinyl buyers every year and nothing for CD people.
I was stunned to see a new, albeit small, cassette selection in my local record store recently.
I'm so mad at Paul at this point that the cassette addtiion doesn't matter. He has truly stuck his thumb in our eye by not including the B-sides and 12 inch versions on a proper CD. Per his manager, he wants to force his fans into the "future" by giving only a download for the b-sides and 12 inches. So even even though the fans want a CD, "Paul knows best" so he's ignoring our pleas here. I will not buy the deluxe "Flowers" and implore other fans to do the same.
I agree with Keith. I want a *physical copy* of stuff... downloads are nice but they just don't cut it for me. Heck, I'm still not happy that when the time comes to update my Mac, Apple refuses to make their computers with a built-in CD drive any more.
(Rant over... LOL)
I don't know....I've seen at least one 8 track release in recent years as well. Gimmick? Yes. But memorable if only for pure promotion.
I guess VHS tapes will be making a comeback too.
No, beta tapes...and mini bops and the Playtape Music Machine.
Though cassettes are outdated, It's exciting to get these on cassettes.