Figure of Eight (song) explained

Figure of Eight
Cover:Figure of eight uk7.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Paul McCartney
Album:Flowers in the Dirt
B-Side:Où est le Soleil?
Released:13 November 1989
Recorded:9 November 1987
Studio:Hog Hill Mill (Icklesham, UK)
Genre:Rock
Length:3:25 (album version)
5:11 (single version)
Label:Parlophone
Producer:
Prev Title:Où est le Soleil?
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Put It There
Next Year:1990

"Figure of Eight" is a song from Paul McCartney's 1989 album, Flowers in the Dirt.

Single version

After the completion of the album, McCartney recorded a new version for single release, using his newly formed touring band.[1] [2] The new version is unusual in running nearly two minutes longer than the album version, rather than following the typical radio edit pattern of shortening the track for single release. Some versions of the single included an edit of the new version.

Despite this quirk, the single — which was released in seven formats including a 7", a 12", a cassingle, a CD and a 3" CD single — reached number 42 on the UK singles chart[3] [4] and number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]

On various editions the single was labeled "Figure Of Eight" / "Ou Est le Soleil?" making it as double A-side.

Other versions

"Figure of Eight" was the opening song throughout McCartney's 1989–1990 world concert tour. A version recorded in Rotterdam on 10 November 1989 appeared on the live album from the tour, Tripping the Live Fantastic.[6]

Music video

The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan and shows footage from the concert at Hallenstadion, Zurich on October 29, 1989.[7]

Track listings

All tracks written by Paul McCartney except "The Long and Winding Road" written by McCartney / Lennon

7" single
  1. "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
  2. "Où Est le Soleil?" – 4:50
7" promo single
  1. "Figure of Eight" (7" edit) – 3:59
  2. "Où Est le Soleil?" – 3:57
CD, 3" CD single
  1. "Figure of Eight" (7" edit) – 4:04
  2. "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:54
  3. "Loveliest Thing" – 3:59
12" single
  1. "Figure of Eight" – 5:11
  2. "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:51
  3. "Loveliest Thing" – 3:58
12" single
  1. "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
  2. "This One" (Club Lovejoys mix) – 6:10
12" single
  1. "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
  2. "Où Est le Soleil?" (remix by Shep Pettibone) – 7:10
  3. "Où Est le Soleil?" (Tub Dub mix) (remix by Shep Pettibone) – 4:30
Cassette, Limited edition one sided 12" single
  1. "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
  2. "Où Est le Soleil?" – 4:50
3" Special collector's CD single
  1. "Figure of Eight" – 5:13
  2. "Rough Ride" (Extended Version) – 4:54
  3. "Où Est le Soleil?" (7" mix) – 4:50

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the Flowers in the Dirt Archive Collection LP liner notes

Notes and References

  1. Book: Madinger, Chip. Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Mark Easter. 2000 . 44.1 Productions, LP. Chesterfield, MO. 0-615-11724-4. 305.
  2. Book: Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Blaney, J.. 190–191, 194. 2007. Jawbone Press. 978-1-906002-02-2.
  3. Web site: Official Charts: Paul McCartney. The Official UK Charts Company. 2011-10-13.
  4. Web site: UK Singles - 1952-2009 . 12 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100310020924/http://www.polyhex.com/music/chartruns/chartruns.php . March 10, 2010 .
  5. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Singles 1955–1999. Joel Whitburn. 2000. Record Research, Inc.. Menomonee Falls, WI. 0-89820-140-3. 418.
  6. Book: Madinger, Chip. Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Mark Easter. 2000. 44.1 Productions, LP. Chesterfield, MO. 0-615-11724-4. 334.
  7. Web site: mvdbase.com - Paul McCartney - "Figure of eight". Music Video DataBase. Garcia. Alex S. November 1, 2015. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065533/http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=18208. dead.
  8. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know . 2023-06-07 . www.irishcharts.ie.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Figure of Eight (song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.