Run Devil Run

1	Blue Jean Bop 1:57
2	She Said Yeah 2:05
3	All Shook Up 2:04
4	Run Devil Run 2:35
5	No Other Baby 4:17
6	Lonesome Town 3:29
7	Try Not to Cry 2:40
8	Movie Magg 2:11
9	Brown Eyed Handsome Man 2:27
10	What It Is 2:23
11	Coquette 2:41
12	I Got Stung 2:39
13	Honey Hush 3:07
14	Shake a Hand 3:50
15	Party 2:37

Barnes & Noble

At last, Sir Paul has emerged from the classical sanctum that produced albums like 1995's CELLO SUBMARINE with a symphony for the devil: a raw, live-in-the-studio album that hails the old-time rock 'n' roll of the Beatles' halcyon early years. Paul schooled the youngsters with a few oldies on MTV back in '91 (available as the import-only UNPLUGGED: LIVE), but RUN DEVIL RUN perfects the gettin'-back ideal. The set catches McCartney in a raucous mood, belting out a refreshingly obscure assortment of Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Fats Domino B-sides, as well as three original tunes that could almost pass for early rockers themselves (see "Run Devil Run," an archetypal Chuck Berry-styled number in the vein of "Run Run Rudolph"). A quickly assembled "supergroup" featuring Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Deep Purple's Ian Paice gives the outing a more contemporary classic-rock sheen without detracting from its youthful spontaneity. Inevitably, pundits will compare this performance with the shredding vocals and edgy vulnerability of Lennon's 1975 album ROCK 'N' ROLL. But let's not forget that Mac can also deliver a sharp kick in the pants -- especially on Little Richard's "Shake a Hand" and Johnny Burnette's "Honey Hush." And, as ever, his 40-karat, near perfect voice is elegantly haunting, especially on ballads like Ricky Nelson's plaintive "Lonesome Town" and Carl Perkins's country twanger, "Movie Magg." Welcome back to the inferno, Sir Paul. Steph Paynes

All Music Guide

When Paul McCartney returned to the studio a year after his wife Linda's death, he wanted to cut loose and have a good time. He gathered a bunch of friends, most notably guitarist David Gilmour, with the intention of cutting a collection of rock & roll oldies with minimal rehearsal and a handful of takes. On the surface, that makes Run Devil Run like Choba B CCCP, but there are subtle differences that make Devil a far superior effort. This time around, there's a real freshness to the performances. Gilmour, in particular, amazes, turning in some of his finest playing in years. Similarly, McCartney is invigorated, leaving behind his vocal schtick, laying back and rocking out with a set of fairly unfamiliar oldies. Only three songs -- "All Shook Up," "Lonesome Town," and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" -- are radio staples; and while "I Got Stung," "Blue Jean Bop," "She Said Yeah," "Honey Hush," and "Movie Magg" are known by aficionados, they're not ubiquitous standards. This leaves room for a few more obscure numbers, such as Little Richard's "Shake a Hand," the Vipers' "No Other Baby," and the Fats Domino B-side "Coquette," plus three terrific new songs from McCartney: "Run Devil Run," a fantastic Chuck Berry-styled narrative; "Try Not to Cry," a strong bluesy pop number; and "What It Is," a catchy up-tempo shuffle. Best of all, McCartney and co-producer Chris Thomas create an appealingly out-of-time production -- heavily compressed sound, yes, but cleaner than '50s recordings and livelier, grittier than most '90s albums. It all adds up to a dynamic, loose, carefree, and utterly infectious record, one of his best solo albums. Stephen Thomas Erlewine