Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt

Paul McCartney came out swinging on Flowers In The Dirt, a 1989 comeback presented here on 180 gram vinyl.

After the lukewarm reception of Press to Play, McCartney spent around eighteen months on this record, working with a rotating cast of producers including Trevor Horn, Mitchell Froom and Neil Dorfsman. The most talked-about partnership was with Elvis Costello, who co-wrote four songs and nudged McCartney toward sharper, wordier writing. The album went to number one in the UK and arrived alongside his first world tour since the Wings days.

Opener "My Brave Face" is a Costello co-write with a Beatlesque bounce and that unmistakable melodic bass, while "This One" glows with gentle, slightly psychedelic warmth. "Figure of Eight" brings Horn's big, glossy punch, and "We Got Married" features David Gilmour on guitar, adding a moody edge to a song about the work of staying together.

Elsewhere, "Put It There" is a tender acoustic nod to his father's favourite saying, framed by orchestration from George Martin, and the record moves easily between crisp pop, folk and lush arrangements. Costello's voice even joins his on one duet, trading lines with a playful snap.

It is the sound of a songwriter rediscovering his appetite, and a reminder that his solo catalogue holds treasures well beyond the greatest hits.