Driving Rain - Background

Background

Driving Rain features many songs inspired by and written for Heather. Clearly determined to follow the example of Run Devil Run's brisk making, Driving Rain—except for two songs—was cut with David Kahne co-producing in two weeks, starting in February 2001 and with a set of new musicians whom McCartney intended on backing him on tour.

On 11 September 2001, McCartney was sitting on a plane in New York City when the terrorist attacks occurred and was able to witness the events from his seat. Incensed at the tragedy and determined to respond, he composed "Freedom" and helped organise (alongside Harvey Weinstein) The Concert for New York City, a massive all star show at Madison Square Garden on 20 October where "Freedom" was performed to a very receptive audience. Impulsively, McCartney halted the pressing of Driving Rain so that "Freedom" could appear as a hidden track (since the artwork had already been printed). The just released, and somewhat daringly uncommercial "From a Lover to a Friend" (which only reached #45 in the UK) was repackaged with "Freedom", though the single failed to re-chart.

In May 2007, McCartney said there are those who ascribe "militant" connotations to "Freedom" and, because of this, his decision to remove the performing of it from his 2007 setlist, although suggesting it could possibly return when he next mounted a US tour. About the song, McCartney added "I thought it was a great sentiment, and immediately post 9/11, I thought it was the right sentiment. But it got hijacked. And it got a bit of a militaristic meaning attached itself to it, and you found Mr. Bush using that kind of idea rather a lot, in a way I felt altered the meaning of the song."

In November 2001, Driving Rain was released to generally strong reviews but stunned many with its very low sales, especially considering that McCartney's previous studio album of original material, Flaming Pie, was a Top 2 hit in both the US and the UK. Maybe due to the lack of a hit single to support it, Driving Rain peaked at #46 in the UK, and became McCartney's lowest selling album in his homeland. The US reaction was a little stronger, though still underwhelming, with the album making #26 and going gold. Once again, there were no major US singles for McCartney and his new album.

Beginning in April 2002, the "Driving USA" tour—a massive success which would lead to worldwide tour extensions—was launched. After a nearly ten-year break and a difficult period in between after losing Linda, McCartney was back on the road and enjoying himself again.