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On Thursday, Paul McCartney announced a new project called McCartney III-Imagined, an aptly titled collection of covers, reworkings, and remixes of his last studio album, McCartney III. It's due for digital release on April 16, with CD configurations and an array of 2-LP vinyl pressings set to arrive on July 23. The collection was curated by Macca and features contributions from Beck (who's featured on a reworking of "Find My Way"), Anderson .Paak (offering a remix of "When Winter Comes"), Phoebe Bridgers (featured on "Seize the Day"), Josh Homme (covering "Lavatory Lil"), and many more of today's brightest talents. McCartney also released a preview track, "The Kiss of Venus," as covered by Dominic Fike. You can check it out below.
Watch: Dominic Fike, "The Kiss of Venus (III-Imagined)"
Admittedly, this release has left many of McCartney's fans - who may still be in a daze from McCartney III fatigue - with questions. Is an elder statesman simply showing respect to a new generation of performers by inviting them to reinterpret his newest work? Have these artists truly found the means to already reinvigorate Paul's new material? Whatever the reason, there will no doubt be some interesting interpretations to enjoy for fans who enjoy a broad spectrum of music: St. Vincent's "Women and Wives" remix, Khruangbin's reinterpretation of "Pretty Boys," and Damon Albarn's remix of "Long Tailed Winter Bird" all sound especially promising.
Now, if you're a vinyl collector who still can't get enough color variants after the prior onslaught, we have good news for you. McCartney III-Imagined is due for release in seven new colorways from different outlets, alongside the standard black vinyl and CD releases. These include a red vinyl edition for Newbury Comics, a gold vinyl issue for other independent record shops, a splatter vinyl pressing exclusive to McCartney's online store, a Barnes and Noble edition on translucent deep blue vinyl, "Spotify" green colored vinyl from Music Vaultz and Paul's shop, a pink vinyl pressing at Paul's shop, and a silver vinyl pressing available exclusively at Target (with alternate art insert). A Target-exclusive CD with the alternate album art insert will also be available.
Factoring in the staggering 49 different physical configurations of the original McCartney III, one might wonder at what point the market will be oversaturated with these collectible curios. Apparently not any time soon! No matter which physical edition of McCartney III-Imagined you choose, you'll get a physical release-exclusive remix of "Long Tailed Winter Bird," reworked by actor and DJ Idris Elba. This track will not be available to download or stream.
McCartney III-Imagined is available now for pre-order. Digital editions will arrive on April 16, with physical configurations due July 23. Keep scrolling for order links and a complete track listing. What's your take on it? Sound off below!
Various Artists, McCartney III-Imagined (Capitol/MPL, 2021)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop
CD with alternate art insert: Target
2-LP black vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop
2-LP red vinyl: Newbury Comics
2-LP gold vinyl: Your Local Record Store
2-LP splatter vinyl: Paul McCartney Online Store (limited to 3500 copies in the US)
2-LP "Spotify" green vinyl: Paul McCartney Online Store US / Paul McCartney Online Store UK / Music Vaultz
2-LP pink vinyl: Paul McCartney Online Store US
2-LP silver vinyl with alternate art insert: Target
2-LP translucent deep blue vinyl: Barnes and Noble
Track Listing:
* denotes track not included on digital release
Side A:
1. Find My Way (feat. Beck) - 4:53
2. The Kiss of Venus (Dominic Fike) - 2:23
3. Pretty Boys (feat. Khruangbin) - 5:48
Side B:
1. Women And Wives (St. Vincent Remix) - 3:00
2. Deep Down (Blood Orange Remix) - 4:24
3. Seize The Day (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) - 3:29
Side C:
1. Slidin' (EOB Remix) - 2:39
2. Long Tailed Winter Bird (Damon Albarn Remix) - 4:10
3. Lavatory Lil (Josh Homme) - 2:53
4. When Winter Comes (Anderson .Paak Remix) - 2:21
Side D:
1. Deep Deep Feeling (3D RDN Remix) - 11:23
2. Long Tailed Winter Bird (Idris Elba Remix) * - 2:44
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I’m down with this. I still love his songwriting but even he knows his voice isn’t what it used to be. This gives an opportunity for his songs to come to life in a different way. Beyond that it shows a slightly different path a song could go in with a new interpretation, it will be a nice bookend to his version.
Mark Lanegan has ventured into this territory with remix/reinterpretation releases for Phantom Radio and Somebody’s Knocking to outstanding results. This release from Paul sounds great!
I hope this is better than the awful 'reimaginings' of songs from Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', done by modern artists.
Huh? What album is that? I don't recall a GYBR "reimagined" release. I remember the REVAMP album from 2018, but those were songs from Elton and Bernie, not specifically GYBR.
The 40th anniversary edition had the nine-song "GYBR Revisited" as part of its offerings. Artists included Ed Sheeran, John Grant, Fall Out Boy, The Band Perry, The Zac Brown Band, Imelda May, and others:
https://theseconddisc.com/2014/01/30/goodbye-yellow-brick-road-40/
Ohhhhh, OK. Thanks Joe!
this is useless release. its not even a good cd. i soooo sick of mccartney his glory days are far behind him,
Oh no can't stand the scrawny old got.
I enjoyed McCartney III so much that I am excited to see how this turns out. I am definitely in.
Yes I agree why doesn't he retire. Sick of him his screwed up ugly face he's well past his sell date. He was the worst singer in the Beatles group.
Curious if this will attract younger listeners . But I doubt it . As Paul once said long ago when asked if The Beatles would reunite his reply was , " You don't reheat a souffle " .
An interesting release. Look forward to it.
Macca is a legend who could stay home and count his money. Instead, he keeps making decent music and with this release is looking to attract a younger audience. Good for him.