Egypt Station
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| Egypt Station | |
|---|---|
| Name | Egypt Station |
| Type | studio |
| Artist | Paul McCartney |
| Released | 7 September 2018 |
| Recorded | 2015–2018 |
| Studio | Hog Hill Mill, Liverpool; RAK, London; Henson, Los Angeles; Avatar, New York |
| Genre | Pop rock, art pop |
| Length | 56:24 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Producer | Paul McCartney, Greg Kurstin, Ryan Tedder, Ethan Johns, Mark Ronson |
Egypt Station is a studio album by Paul McCartney. It was issued on Capitol Records and marked McCartney's first album of largely new original material since New and followed a career spanning The Beatles, Wings, and solo work. The record features collaborations with producers and artists across London, Los Angeles, and New York City and was supported by a global tour and appearances on television programs such as The Late Late Show with James Corden and Saturday Night Live.
Background and recording
Recording sessions began after McCartney's work on projects linked to Kisses on the Bottom and New and involved studios including RAK Studios, Henson Recording Studios, and Abbey Road Studios. Producers credited include Greg Kurstin, known for work with Adele and Sia; Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic; Ethan Johns, associated with Kings of Leon and Ray LaMontagne; and Mark Ronson, who produced for Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars. Musicians appearing on sessions included members connected to Paul McCartney and Wings alumni networks, session players from Nile Rodgers's circles, and collaborators with ties to Jeff Lynne and Ringo Starr. Engineering and mixing personnel had pedigrees at Capitol Studios and Electric Lady Studios, while mastering was overseen by engineers who worked with Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Coldplay. Sessions were punctuated by McCartney's appearances at events like The Proms and recording breaks to tour with the Freshen Up Tour.
Composition and themes
Musically the album spans styles associated with McCartney's history: melodic pop tied to McCartney (1970 album), piano-led balladry reminiscent of McCartney II, and orchestral touches evoking Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band arrangements. Lyrical themes reference travel in the vein of Band on the Run, introspection comparable to Ram, and vignettes echoing storytelling found on Tug of War. Tracks employ instrumentation including upright piano, Fender Rhodes, acoustic guitar, electric bass traditions traceable to The Quarrymen beginnings, and string arrangements akin to those on works by George Martin. Collaborative songwriting credits reflect cross-generational input, with production stylings recalling Mark Ronson's retro-pop sensibilities and Greg Kurstin's contemporary layering.
Release and promotion
The album was announced via a press event and multimedia campaign involving a public installation at Grand Central Terminal and promotional singles serviced to radio formats played on stations linked to BBC Radio 2, SiriusXM, and Capital FM. Lead singles were premiered during interviews and live spots, including performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Marketing included tie-ins with Capitol Records archives and legacy reissue teams associated with catalogs of The Beatles and Wings, and physical formats included vinyl pressings and deluxe editions curated with input from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.
Critical reception
Reviews were mixed to positive across publications such as Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The New York Times, NME, and Pitchfork. Critics compared the album to landmark McCartney-era works including Band on the Run and cited production contributions evocative of Ryan Tedder's pop craftsmanship and Ethan Johns's organic approach. Some commentators highlighted songwriting that recalled McCartney's melodic strengths praised in retrospectives about Revolver and Rubber Soul, while others critiqued perceived unevenness relative to McCartney's classics like McCartney and Flowers in the Dirt. Year-end lists from outlets including Billboard included the record among notable veteran releases.
Commercial performance
Upon release the album charted on national listings such as the Billboard 200, the UK Albums Chart, the ARIA Albums Chart, and the Canadian Albums Chart. It achieved a number-one debut on the Billboard 200, adding to McCartney's history of top-charting albums alongside releases contemporaneous with The Beatles catalog reissues. Sales figures reflected strong physical format demand in markets where vinyl experienced resurgence influenced by industry trends noted by RIAA reporting. The supporting tour, the Freshen Up Tour, boosted catalogue sales in secondary markets tracked by Nielsen SoundScan.
Track listing
1. "Opening Station" – instrumental intro 2. "I Don't Know" – uptempo single produced by Greg Kurstin 3. "Come On to Me" – lead single with horn arrangements recalling Wings era 4. "Happy with You" – ballad featuring piano reminiscent of Ram 5. "Who Cares" – rock tune with guest-harmony elements 6. "Fuh You" – pop production involving Ryan Tedder influences 7. "Dominoes" – melodic rocker with string accents 8. "Back in Brazil" – rhythmic number nodding to international travel themes 9. "Do It Now" – stripped arrangement produced by Ethan Johns 10. "Caesar Rock" – piano-driven vignette 11. "Despite Repeated Warnings" – experimental passage 12. "Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link" – multipart composition closing side A 13. "Hand in Hand" – orchestral outro (Deluxe editions include bonus tracks and alternate mixes overseen by archive curators associated with Capitol Studios and Abbey Road Studios.)
Personnel and production
Primary artist: Paul McCartney — vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, piano. Producers: Paul McCartney, Greg Kurstin, Ryan Tedder, Ethan Johns, Mark Ronson. Featured musicians and contributors include session players who have worked with Jeff Lynne, Ringo Starr, Nile Rodgers, Sting, Dave Grohl, Wynton Marsalis-adjacent ensembles, and string contractors from projects with George Martin collaborators. Engineering and mixing credits include engineers with credits on projects by Adele, Beyoncé, Coldplay, David Bowie, and mastering engineers who worked on releases for Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Label: Capitol Records. Management and legal affairs handled by teams previously representing The Beatles catalog trustees and contemporary artist management firms linked to Live Nation tour operations.