Figure of Eight (song)
"Figure of Eight" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Paul McCartney | ||||
from the album Flowers in the Dirt | ||||
B-side | "Où est le Soleil?" | |||
Released | 13 November 1989 | |||
Recorded | 9 November 1987 | |||
Studio | Hog Hill Mill (Icklesham, UK) | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 3:25 (album version) 5:11 (single version) | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
|
"Figure of Eight" is a song from Paul McCartney's 1989 album, Flowers in the Dirt.
Single version
After the completion of the album, McCartney recorded a new version for single release, using his newly formed touring band.[1][2] The new version is unusual in running nearly two minutes longer than the album version, rather than following the typical radio edit pattern of shortening the track for single release. Some versions of the single included an edit of the new version.
Despite this quirk, the single — which was released in seven formats including a 7", a 12", a cassingle, a CD and a 3" CD single — reached number 42 on the UK singles chart[3][4] and number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]
On various editions the single was labeled "Figure Of Eight" / "Ou Est le Soleil?" making it as double A-side.
Other versions
"Figure of Eight" was the opening song throughout McCartney's 1989–1990 world concert tour. A version recorded in Rotterdam on 10 November 1989 appeared on the live album from the tour, Tripping the Live Fantastic.[6]
Music video
The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan and shows footage from the concert at Hallenstadion, Zurich on October 29, 1989.[7]
Track listings
All tracks written by Paul McCartney except "The Long and Winding Road" written by McCartney / Lennon
- 7" single
- "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
- "Où Est le Soleil?" – 4:50
- 7" promo single
- "Figure of Eight" (7" edit) – 3:59
- "Où Est le Soleil?" – 3:57
- CD, 3" CD single
- "Figure of Eight" (7" edit) – 4:04
- "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:54
- "Loveliest Thing" – 3:59
- 12" single
- "Figure of Eight" – 5:11
- "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:51
- "Loveliest Thing" – 3:58
- 12" single
- "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
- "This One" (Club Lovejoys mix) – 6:10
- 12" single
- "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
- "Où Est le Soleil?" (remix by Shep Pettibone) – 7:10
- "Où Est le Soleil?" (Tub Dub mix) (remix by Shep Pettibone) – 4:30
- Cassette, Limited edition one sided 12" single
- "Figure of Eight" – 5:16
- "Où Est le Soleil?" – 4:50
- 3" Special collector's CD single
- "Figure of Eight" – 5:13
- "Rough Ride" (Extended Version) – 4:54
- "Où Est le Soleil?" (7" mix) – 4:50
Personnel
Personnel are taken from the Flowers in the Dirt Archive Collection LP liner notes[8]
- Paul McCartney – lead vocals, harmony vocals, bass, celesta, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, tambourine, handclaps
- Linda McCartney – synthesizer, handclaps
- Chris Whitten – drums, handclaps
- Trevor Horn – keyboards, handclaps
- Stephen Lipson – guitar
Charts
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland[9] | 25 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 42 |
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 42 |
US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 92 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[13] | 47 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14] | 8 |
References
- ^ Madinger, Chip; Mark Easter (2000). Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions, LP. p. 305. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 190–191, 194. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "UK Singles - 1952-2009". Archived from the original on 10 March 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955–1999. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc. p. 418. ISBN 0-89820-140-3.
- ^ Madinger, Chip; Mark Easter (2000). Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions, LP. p. 334. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ Garcia, Alex S. "mvdbase.com - Paul McCartney - "Figure of eight"". Music Video DataBase. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Paul McCartney - Flowers In The Dirt, 2017, retrieved 13 November 2023
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Paul McCartney" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Paul McCartney Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Paul McCartney Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Paul McCartney Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- v
- t
- e
- "Another Day" / "Oh Woman, Oh Why" (with Linda McCartney)
- "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" / "Too Many People" (with Linda McCartney)
- "The Back Seat of My Car" / "Heart of the Country" (with Linda McCartney)
- "Eat at Home" / "Smile Away" (with Linda McCartney)
- "Wonderful Christmastime"
- "Coming Up"
- "Waterfalls"
- "Temporary Secretary"
- "Ebony and Ivory" (with Stevie Wonder)
- "Take It Away"
- "Tug of War"
- "The Girl Is Mine" (with Michael Jackson)
- "Say Say Say" (with Michael Jackson)
- "Pipes of Peace"/""So Bad"
- "No More Lonely Nights"
- "We All Stand Together"
- "Spies Like Us"
- "Press"
- "Pretty Little Head"
- "Stranglehold"
- "Only Love Remains"
- "Once Upon a Long Ago"
- "Ferry Cross the Mersey"
- "My Brave Face" / "Flying to My Home"
- "This One"
- "Figure of Eight"
- "Put It There" / "Mama's Little Girl" (with Wings)
- "Birthday" (live) / "Good Day Sunshine" (live)
- "All My Trials" (live)
- "Hope of Deliverance"
- "C'Mon People"
- "Off the Ground"
- "Biker Like an Icon" / "Things We Said Today"
- "A Leaf" (with Anya Alexeyev)
- "Come Together" (The Smokin' Mojo Filters)
- "Young Boy"
- "The World Tonight"
- "Beautiful Night"
- "No Other Baby" / "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
- "Run Devil Run" (promo)
- "From a Lover to a Friend"
- "Freedom" / "From a Lover to a Friend"
- "Hello Goodbye" (promo)
- "Tropic Island Hum" / "We All Stand Together"
- "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (with U2)
- "Fine Line"
- "Jenny Wren"
- "Really Love You" (Twin Freaks)
- "This Never Happened Before" (promo)
- "Dance Tonight" / "Nod Your Head"
- "Ever Present Past"
- "Heal the Pain" (with George Michael)
- "Walk with You" (with Ringo Starr)
- "(I Want to) Come Home"
- "My Valentine"
- "Only Our Hearts"
- Christmas Kisses: "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" / "Wonderful Christmastime"
- "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (The Justice Collective)
- "New"
- "Queenie Eye"
- "Only One" (with Kanye West)
- "FourFiveSeconds" (with Rihanna & Kanye West)
- "All Day" (with Kanye West)
- "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" (with Timo Maas & James Teej)
- "I Don't Know" / "Come On to Me"
- "Fuh You"
- "Who Cares"
- "Back in Brazil"
- "Get Enough"
- "Home Tonight / In a Hurry"
- "Find My Way"
- "The Kiss of Venus (Dominic Fike remix)"
- Category
This article about a song by one or more members of the Beatles is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e