| Return to Pepperland | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by | |
| Released | Unreleased |
| Recorded | 1981–1989 |
| Studio | Hog Hill Studio (UK), Audio International Studios (London),Power Station (New York City) |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 72:59[1] |
| Producer | Phil Ramone |
Return to Pepperland is the name given to an unfinished recording project by English musicianPaul McCartney with Americanrecord producerPhil Ramone. The songs recorded during these sessions have been the basis ofbootleg albums usually titledReturn to Pepperland.[1]
While promoting the release ofPress To Play inNew York City in August 1986, McCartney met withBilly Joel's producer Phil Ramone, who had first worked with him the previous year on the title song of the movie soundtrack forSpies Like Us. Using Joel's backing band players, they recorded two songs, "Beautiful Night" and "Loveliest Thing". Further songs were recorded at McCartney's Hog Hill Studios which included: "Atlantic Ocean", "Big Day", "This One" and "Love Come Tumbling Down". During these sessions, the song "Return To Pepperland" was produced as a tribute to the 20th anniversary of The Beatles' 1967 albumSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as well as themash-up ofLennon–McCartney-written songs "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You".[1][2]
In the end, only two songs from the sessions; "Once Upon a Long Ago" and "Back On My Feet" were released at the time. "Once Upon a Long Ago" and "Beautiful Night" were originally submitted to directorRob Reiner for the 1987 filmThe Princess Bride, but were rejected for being 'too sentimental'.[3][4] In January 1988, McCartney took the remaining songs from the Ramone sessions and compiled a cassette, along with other songs he had been working on since the early 80s; this was the source of many of the bootlegs associated with the Phil Ramone sessions. McCartney continued to work with other producers, the results of which would eventually become the 1989 albumFlowers In The Dirt. "Beautiful Night" would be re-recorded and released on the 1997 albumFlaming Pie. Other songs from his work with Ramone would be released as B-sides and included on hisArchive Collection releases in the following years.[citation needed]
All songs written by Paul McCartney, except where noted.
[check quotation syntax]#*Recorded at Hog Hill Studio June 9, 1988. Released as a B-side to "The World Tonight", 1997, embedded in the longer track "Oobu Joobu (Part 4)".
A studio compilation cassette was made, on 21 January 1988, of songs recorded between 1981 and 1988. Two of these tracks, "Rough Ride" and "Figure of Eight", were from the initial sessions withTrevor Horn andSteve Lipson that were the beginnings ofFlowers In The Dirt. This cassette is one of the sources to the bootlegs ofReturn to Pepperland.[4]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Return To Pepperland" | |
| 2. | "Love Come Tumbling Down" | |
| 3. | "Christian Pop" | |
| 4. | "Atlantic Ocean" | |
| 5. | "Lindiana" | |
| 6. | "I Love This House" | |
| 7. | "We Got Married" | |
| 8. | "Rough Ride" | |
| 9. | "Figure Of Eight" |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Squid" | |
| 2. | "Big Day" | |
| 3. | "Beautiful Night" | |
| 4. | "Loveliest Thing" | |
| 5. | "Love Mix" | |
| 6. | "Peacocks" | |
| 7. | "This One" |
