Run Devil Run (Paul McCartney, 1999)

Paul McCartney had a lot on his mind around 1999. His wife Linda has succumbed to breast cancer and it was clear that there was not going to be any kind of Beatles reunion, in spite of the success of the Anthology project a few years earlier. While he could have "quit music" or coughed up some sad music, he chose a back-to-basics therapy, bashing out classic rock and roll standards (plus a few stealthy originals) with a completely over-the-top crack band of veteran musicians with minimal takes or studio trickery.

Run Devil Run is totally stacked with talent. It's the only album I know of that combines members of Pink Floyd (David Gilmour), Deep Purple (Ian Paice), and the Beatles (you know who). The other guys were no slouches either: Mick Green, Pete Wakefield, and Dave Mattacks, most all of which make their only McCartney album appearance ever. And while I'm sure McCartney has nothing but the greatest reverence for the music being played, the band just blows things out of the water. Their take on "All Shook Up" doesn't even compute with the original, and I mean this in a good way. "Honey Hush" and "I Got Stung" also benefit from explosive new interpretations. Meanwhile songs like "No Other Baby" and "Party" are pulling from the back alleys of Paul's mind and given fresh, exciting run-throughs. In addition to the originals, which include a scorching title track, Paul gets a little of his trademark sound here and there, such as the accordion bit on "Brown Eyed Handsome Man".

I picked this album up right away when it came out. It was irresistible to hear members of all of my favorite bands coming together and jamming hard. I was a little disappointed when Driving Rain was released a couple years later with a different supporting band and different approach, but I've come to realize this isn't the kind of music that needs to go on album after album and it was probably for the best to go out on top. There is an accompanying DVD where the band plays many of these songs at the Cavern Club. While the music is still very good, the camera work is awful, with too many quick-cut takes.