After suffering through a devastating personal tragedy, Paul McCartney hunkered down and got back to his music in 1999. Specifically, he turned to the music of his youth for comfort and inspiration. The resulting album, Run Devil Run, was a triumph.
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While many cover songs of rock standards can lack the zest of the originals and come off as routine retreads, McCartney and the backing band he used for the album absolutely sizzled. Let’s look back at how Run Devil Run, Paul’s off-the-cuff project, delivered such lasting impact.
The Devil You Know
On April 17, 1998, Linda McCartney passed away after battling cancer. The McCartney’s marriage had been idyllic, especially by the standards of rock and roll unions where volatility is a given. The pair rarely spent any time apart, even with all the demands of the former Beatle’s career.
Thus, it was understandable when McCartney stepped out of the limelight and spent time to grieve, in the end taking about a year off. Many wondered if his next release would address the feelings of loss he likely was experiencing in the wake of Linda’s passing. But McCartney instead chose something invigorating and mostly joyful.
Long a fan of the early days of rock and roll and R&B, McCartney decided to put out an album that would consist mostly of cover versions of those songs. With a few exceptions, he also tended toward more obscure choices. Because of that, the album sounded a bit fresher for not treading over well-worn paths.
McCartney purposely refused to give members of his band much heads-up about what they’d be recording. He insisted upon quick run-throughs and then live takes without overdubs so the songs would sound as much like live performances as possible. It also helped that he gathered such a sharp bunch of players, highlighted by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd on lead guitar.
In addition to the covers, McCartney sprinkled three originals into the mix, including the title track. As for that title, he found it in a Georgia drug store on a line of products that were sold there. Run Devil Run arrived in October 1999 and was almost universally hailed by critics upon its release.
Listening Again to Run Devil Run
Run Devil Run benefits from fantastic song selection. When McCartney does go the familiar route, he and his cohorts manage to imbue the evergreens with something special. They turbocharge “All Shook Up” and turn it into a dense, rattling rocker. On the Ricky Nelson classic “Lonesome Town,” McCartney goes into his higher vocal register and delivers an achingly sorrowful interpretation, perhaps because the lyrics were really hitting home for him at that time.
When he and the band dive into some of the less-popular tracks, they make a case that those songs are just as grand as the big hits. “I Got Stung” benefits from Gilmour’s crunching chords, while “She Said Yeah” is an exultant romp. McCartney does his best Fats Domino impersonation on “Coquette,” and it’s utterly charming.
Macca’s three originals aren’t quite on a par with some of the rock standards here, but they’re not slouches either. The best of the three is the title track, which rages and rolls with impressive intensity. Considering the band was learning all this material on the fly, their chemistry is nothing short of wondrous.
Run Devil Run features Paul McCartney sounding as loose and inspired as at any time in his career, which, considering his legacy, is saying something. His skills as a bandleader shine through. Who knows if it helped with his grief, but it certainly put smiles on the faces of anyone who heard it.
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