Sound Decisions

26' R &R May 2, 1997 SOUND DECISIONS 33. `The World Tonight' has more of an STEVE WONSIEWICZ edge and is something you can hear Rock radio playing. That's important, especially because with the last few albums, we didn't get much reaction from Rock radio. McCartney's 'World' Takes Wieg At Radio - Bill Porricelli Capitol leads with grittier `The World Tonight' in the U.S. The choice of a first single: It's often a delicate issue Perfect Timing generating phones. "It's working as Working The Demos and one that Capitol is releasing receives due attention from labels. But when the single at well as we expected. It has a great an time at On the left coast, Hot AC the decision involves the first new music in years from a opportune radio. Alterna- edge to it. It's perfect for a main- tive is embracing softer, adult-lean- KFMB /San Diego PD Tracy former Beatle, well ... let's just say I would have loved to stream Rock station like KLOS ing tracks. Those hits are crossing Johnson is just as bullish. "I'm have been a fly on the wall during those discussions. and is appealing across demos. excited about the song because to CHR/Pop, Hot AC, and even AC. And the staff really digs it." "World" also fits perfectly at the I'm a huge McCartney fan. I know there is a lot That set -up aside, Capitol offi- great about this album is that growing number of Alternative ACs. Built -In Beatle Base of interest about him as an artist. cially started going for adds at all there's something for everyone. It "You're seeing a lot of success It's the best thing he's At Alternative rock formats this past Tuesday (4/ crosses the board with all formats, with bands like the Counting WNNX (99X)/ done in a long, long time. This is Atlanta, PD Leslie 28) on "The Crows and the Fram says the as good a shot he's had in recent World Tonight," Wallflowers," Beatles legacy remains as rock -sol- times to put a comeback together id Paul McCart- Costello points as ever. "I'll be the first to ad- and be a viable pop artist again. I mit I'm a huge Beatles fan. I col- ney's first new out. "Tom Petty hope it works, that everybody gets lected just about everything imag- single in four can put out a excited about it, and that it turns years. The label massive single inable, and Paul was my favorite. into something. There's always been hand -serviced and see run its this aura sur- "Our plan is to give it a shot and it rounding the single to course through the Beatles, and there see what happens. The key is to will always be most other pop Rock and onto a certain respect for play on the older end of our audi- that they did. And with so many formats.The the adult and pop of ence that knows who he is: Pro- the format's bands "Flaming Pie" formats. Timing being influ- mote it to them, get them excited, enced by the Beatles, why not play and then sell album a 14- always plays a it to the younger au- - one of the originals? song disc that Phil Costello Scott Shannon Tracy Johnson Leslie Fram big part in any dience that has heard of him but "It's a great song, and the guitar features collabo- project, but I doesn't really care. But it needs work is fantastic. It's a great rein- rations with Ringo Starr, Jeff which is something we believe we thought that now's the time to take to take off and work quickly if it's troduction of Paul McCartney. This Lynne, Steve Miller. George can do." some chances and seize the oppor- going to happen." song shows Martin, and his wife Linda, as tunity." some diversity. It's Johnson does offer Capitol one `Magic, And Balls' much better than having one of his well as the recording debut of Mc- Spark, As for cynics who might say re- bit of advice: "I'm very interest- sappier love songs, which we prob- in Cartney's 19- year -old son, James After hearing a tape that also in- cording "The World Tonight" is a ed hearing the final mix, be- ably can't play." - hits retail on May 20. cluded "Young Boy" and "Some - cause they could probably tight- What's interesting about the re- days," Capitol Sr. VP/Promotion Fram had 99X take a low -key en it up quite a bit. If they don't, lease - besides the fact that it's Phil Costello started lobbying for 33 approach to debuting the single. we probably will because it slows McCartney is that the rest of the "The World Tonight" in the States. "We played it one morning and down and gets a little repetitive - didn't world is being serviced with anoth- After repeated listens, as Costello It's the Paul say who it was. Immediate- about two -thirds of the way er single, the poppier "Young Boy." explains, it became clear to him ly we got five calls from people through" McCartney I've been between 20 -30 years old asking, MPL Communications VP /Pro- that "World" needed to be the lead Huge Promo Push motion & New Product Develop- single. "Eventually, the McCart- waiting 15 years `Was that McCartney ?' Everybody thought it was To support promotion and mar- ment Bill Porricelli agrees that ini- ney camp heard about the enthu- to hear. It's not like pretty cool. Some tially "the intent was not to go siasm coming from Capitol for this said that if anybody was going to keting efforts, Porricelli has been working with" two separate songs. "The song. Paul, I was told by second he's obsessed with play the song, it was going to be overtime on a variety of projects. For great thing is that Paul has been parties, was enthused about our 99X. There weren't any `Why are instance, there's an sounding like the in- the -round terrific and listening to everybody's reaction and agreed we should go you playing this ?' calls. It was all performance being McCartney of old. televised opinion to make sure we do the with it." positive. worldwide May 17 on right thing In fact, Costello had to go to the The style is very "No matter what age you are, VH1. Later that night, McCart- ney will participate a "In Europe, the managing direc- mat for the single. "Let's just say there always is this introduction to on live In- current, but it still ternet chat (details tors unanimously flipped for there were some people who felt the Beatles, so it's not like only the are still being sounds like worked out). There's also a VH1 'Young Boy,' which is something it was better not to rock the boat Paul. 35 -45- year -olds are going to appre- documentary on the making of that's more identified with McCart- - to go with `Young Boy' and live It's a compelling and ciate this. There are going to be a the album airing May 16. And ney over there. 'The World To- or die by the results. I wasn't one lot of 18 -24 -year -olds interested." intense piece of music. MJI will offer a two -hour syndi- night' has more of an edge is of those. And as always, when In the pop world, Hot AC and Scott Shannon cated special over these things happen. everyone will - WPLJ/New York PD Scott Shan- Memorial Day something you can hear Rock ra- weekend. dio playing. That's important, take credit, and that's OK with me. non observes. "I can't speak for es- Yet one thing that Porricelli pecially because with the last few "I believe the song will help the rest of America because I'm takes great pride in is landing albums, we didn't get McCartney in a number of ways. such a big fan, but I love hearing it much reac- "Young Boy" and "The World tion from Rock radio. Yet what's From a musicianship point of on the radio. It's a great record. It's calculated move to win back rock Tonight" in the Ivan Reitman view, the song has magic: it's the Paul got audiences, Porricelli responds, McCartney I've been wait- film "Father's Day," starring spark and balls to it. Don't get me ing 15 to "That wasn't the intention at all. years hear. Robin Williams and Billy Crys- wrong 'Young Boy' is a great so - Paul simply wanted to make a "Like many people, I'm a tal (it opens on May 9). song and the second single in the huge record that he enjoyed" Beatles fan. When they "I played it for [music super- The song has magic; U.S., but it's not the first flavor of What McCartney's done, accord- broke up, I'd wait for the next visor] Peter Afterman, and he Paul McCartney that I want to re- it's got spark and balls ing to a quartet of leading program- John Lennon or McCartney al- said, 'This is our movie. Then introduce to radio." to it. Don't get me mers, is craft a single that has the hum. Other than a few songs. I he played it for Reitman, who Costello doesn't see any down- potential to react well with young- wasn't too fond of [McCartney's] said the same thing.

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