| Press | |
| Cover: | Paul McCartney - Press (front cover).jpeg |
| Border: | yes |
| Caption: | single cover |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Paul McCartney |
| Album: | Press to Play |
| Recorded: | April–May 1985 |
| Studio: | Hog Hill Mill (Icklesham, UK) |
| Genre: | Synth-pop |
| Length: | 4:43 (Album version) 3:55 (Single version) |
| Label: | |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Spies Like Us |
| Prev Year: | 1985 |
| Next Title: | Pretty Little Head |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
"Press" is a song by the English rock musician Paul McCartney. It was released as the lead single from his sixth studio solo album, Press to Play (1986), being McCartney's 37th single. The single has "It's Not True" as its B-side, which was only included on CD releases of Press to Play.
Released on 14 July 1986, "Press" peaked at number 25 on the UK Singles Chart[1] and number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it spent eight weeks in the top 40.[2] This marked the beginning of a downturn in McCartney's fortunes on the singles charts, since it was the first time since Back to the Egg in 1979 that a lead single from a McCartney album had failed to reach the top 20 in the US or the UK.
Various issues in the UK include two 7-inch singles ("Press" and "Press-video edit"), a 10-inch single in a special fold-out sleeve, and two 12-inch singles.
The 1986 music video for "Press" was shot entirely in the London Underground. McCartney sings the song as he takes the Tube from South Kensington to Piccadilly Circus. As he takes the escalator to the platform and boards a Tube train, he begins singing the track. The video continues with scenes from around the Underground. These include shots of various commuters and buskers, featuring an accordionist and a violinist. McCartney interacts with members of the general public aboard the train and in the station, signing autographs, accepting a kiss from a female fan and leaving a tip for the violinist. In the final shot, he is seen riding the escalator up out of the Underground. The video edit was also included on The 7" Singles Box in 2022.[3]
AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes "Press" as "a terrific mid-'80s drum machine-driven slice of synth-pop, utterly featherweight in the best possible way".[4] In his contemporary review for the Los Angeles Times, Terry Atkinson stated that the track was "a sprightly, sunny delight – one of the most playful, positive pop songs ever written about the joy of sex and its link with love".[5] Cash Box said that "The master of the pop song form is back with yet another instantly accessible cut," calling the song "a sure-fire, pleasing and lighthearted track that should collect big numbers at radio."[6] Billboard reviewed the song calling it "do-it-yourself double entendre with whimsical bounce."[7]
All songs written by Paul McCartney except where noted.
| Chart (1986) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium Ultratop | 17 | |
| UK Singles Chart | 25 | |
| Irish Singles Chart[8] | 15 | |
| Billboard Hot 100 | 21 | |
| Polish Music Charts | 34 | |
| Canadian RPM | 43 | |
| German Media Control Charts | 53 | |
| Australian ARIA Charts | 47 | |
| Federation of the Italian Music Industry | 90 |