Paul McCartney Shares Intimate Details of New Album 'The Boys Of Dungeon Lane' at Abbey Road Listening Event

Paul McCartney guided approximately 50 fans through his forthcoming album, ‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’, during an intimate listening event at Abbey Road Studios yesterday. He shared captivating stories about the songs that comprise the record.

After a phone lock-up, the fans entered the legendary Studio Two, where The Beatles famously recorded. Before McCartney appeared, echoes of his voice emanated from the control room, creating anticipation. He descended into the studio, settling into a living room-like setup adorned with records, photos, and a street sign bearing the album's title.

"Hello, welcome to Abbey Road," McCartney greeted the crowd. "I’m going to play the new album for you and try and think of stuff to say about it.” The next 90 minutes were filled with his memories of growing up in Liverpool and his early days with The Beatles.

He described the album as containing numerous songs that “go back in time,” reflecting on his tendency to write about the past. “It occurred to me that that’s where your big bank of information is,” he explained, referencing Charles Dickens and the rich vein of personal history.
Paul McCartney

One such “memory song,” ‘Down South’, recounts hitchhiking adventures with George Harrison early in their friendship. McCartney recalled suggesting these trips to John Lennon and Harrison, humorously imitating his Liverpool accent. He shared a specific anecdote about Harrison getting a burn from a milk float battery due to his jeans zip.

“Memories are a weird thing,” he mused, recounting a conversation with Olivia Harrison about the milk float incident.

‘Days We Left Behind’, the album's lead single, references Lennon, about whom McCartney admits he still gets “emotional talking about.” The upbeat ‘Home To Us’ revisits their Liverpool upbringing. He reminisced about growing up in working-class neighborhoods with Harrison and Ringo Starr, joking about how these areas might sound to American ears.

The track ‘Home To Us’ features Starr on drums and vocals. McCartney explained that initial confusion arose when Starr recorded a drum track in producer Andrew Watt’s LA studio but didn't hear back about it. McCartney retrieved the track, calling it “really good – very Ringo,” and decided to complete it, creating the foundation for their duet.

Paul McCartney

Initially, Starr only provided vocals for the chorus, leading McCartney to believe he disliked the song. However, after clarifying things, they created their first official “Paul-Ringo duet.”

‘The Boys Of Dungeon Lane’ also includes McCartney’s first song about his parents, ‘Salesman Saint’, a tribute to perseverance. Other tracks include ‘Mountaintop’, inspired by the Glastonbury vibe, and ‘Ripples In A Pond’, a love song for his wife Nancy.

Throughout the playback, McCartney engaged with the music, mouthing lyrics, playing air guitar and drums, and occasionally demonstrating parts on an acoustic guitar. He even played the guitar sequence from ‘Life Can Be Hard’. After hitting a wrong note, he quipped, “I haven’t been practising. You’d think if you knew you were doing this, then you’d have practised.” He then added, “But I don’t care!”

'The Boys Of Dungeon Lane' is set for release on May 29, produced by Watt in both LA and East Sussex.

Following the listening event, McCartney was revealed as a guest on The Rolling Stones’ upcoming album, ‘Foreign Tongues’, following his contribution to their previous record, ‘Hackney Diamonds’.

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