Global Listening Event

On June 5, Starbucks will make history by hosting an unprecedented Global Listening Event to celebrate the release of Paul McCartney’s Memory Almost Full, the first album ever released by Hear Music. More than 10,000 Starbucks stores in 29 countries and territories worldwide will participate in the event by playing the album in stores, all day, across all time zones. Beginning with New Zealand’s 47 stores, the Global Listening Event will roll-out in every Company-operated Starbucks in the world allowing an estimated six million people to discover the new album in a single day.

Be sure to go into your Starbucks location that day and celebrate the release of this amazing album.

On that same day, 20 stores will be hosting in-store radio promotions that will include Limited Edition Starbucks Card giveaways and album giveaways. If you live in one of the following areas, be sure to stop in during the time specified.

Atlanta
7th & Peachtree
867 Peachtree Street,
Atlanta, GA 30308
3pm – 5pm

Atlanta
Web Gin House
1245 Scenic Highway,
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
3pm – 5pm

Boston
Newton Train Station
70 Union Street,
Newton, MA 02159
3pm – 5pm

Chicago
Piper’s Alley
210 W North Ave,
Chicago, IL 60610
6pm – 8pm

Dallas
Spring Creek & 75
1121 E. Spring Creek Pwkwy #100
Plano, TX 75074
7am – 9am

Denver
Wadsworth and Bowles
8246-C West Bowles Ave
Littleton, CO
5pm – 7pm

Detroit
12/Mound
29215 Mound Rd.
Warren, MI 48092
TBD

Houston
Buffalo Speedway and West Park
5115 Buffalo Speedway, Ste 100
Houston, Texas 77005
Noon – 2pm

Las Vegas
Durango and Charleston
950 S. Durango Drive
Las Vegas, NV
11am – 1pm

Los Angeles
Ventura & Allott
13535 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Noon – 2pm

Los Angeles
Huntington Beach – Main Street
221 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Noon – 2pm

Los Angeles
Katella & Main
1627 W. Katella Avenue
Orange, CA 92867
4pm – 6 pm

Miami
Hear Music Coffeehouse
601 Lincoln Rd.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
11am – 1pm

New York
Long Beach
101 West Park Ave.
Long Beach, NY 11561
Noon – 2pm

New York
Chappaqua
2 South Greeley Avenue,
Chappaqua, NY 10514
11am – 1pm

Philadelphia
16th & Arch
1600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
11am – 1pm

Phoenix
Greenfield & Inverness
Mesa, Arizona
6am – 9am

Portland
Pioneer Courthouse Square
720 SW Roadway
Portland, OR 97205
Noon – 2pm

Sacramento
9th and I
980 9th Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
3:30pm – 5:30pm

San Diego
Carlsbad Company Stores
5620 Paseo Del Norte, suite 124
Carlsbad, CA 92008
4:00 PM

San Francisco
Third & Market store
Third and Market
7 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
11am – 1pm

Seattle
Hear Music Coffeehouse
545 Bellevue Way
Bellevue, WA 98004
5pm – 7pm

Tampa
Howard and Moody
711 South Howard St.
Tampa, FL 33606
10am – Noon

Washington D.C.
Pike 7
8381-8383 Leesburg Pike
Vienna, VA 22182
7am – 9am

The Big Issue / NME

As part of the UK promo of Memory Almost Full you can find Paul on the front cover of The Big Issue this week and he is also featured in NME tomorrow (Wednesday 30th May).

30-Min TV Special in Honor of Release of Memory Almost Full

Multichannel Retailer HSN Teams With Hear Music to Create 30-Minute Television Special in Honor of New Paul McCartney Release of Memory Almost Full
Limited Edition DVD/CD Set Available For Pre-Order During Special Paul McCartney Listening Party May 30 Leading Up to June 5 Official Release
By PR Newswire
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Multichannel retailing powerhouse HSN today announced that it is teaming with Hear Music to produce a Paul McCartney Listening Party television special to celebrate the upcoming release of Paul McCartney's latest album, Memory Almost Full. Scheduled to air May 30 at 8 p.m. and May 31 at 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., the special 30-minute program will feature cuts from the new CD, lively discussions with McCartney fans and video segments from Paul McCartney as he shares the inspiration behind his latest work.

The first new studio album from McCartney in nearly two years, Memory Almost Full is also the inaugural CD release from Hear Music, the record label formed between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group. Memory Almost Full will be available for order during the listening party on HSN and HSN.com as part of a limited edition DVD/CD set ($24,98) that includes three bonus tracks, behind-the-scenes footage of McCartney in the recording studio and a special audio commentary.

For more information about the Paul McCartney Listening Party on HSN, or to purchase the Paul McCartney Memory Almost Full Limited Edition DVD/CD set, log on to http://www.hsn.com as of May 30.

McCartney paternity claim dismissed

German prosecutors said Friday they dropped an investigation into a woman's claim that ex-Beatle Paul McCartney is her father.
Berlin's state prosecutor's office ended Bettina Huebers' latest attempt to prove McCartney was her father, after determining the statute of limitations on her claim expired, E! News reported.

Huebers has claimed for years that she was the result of an affair McCartney allegedly had with her mother in Hamburg, Germany, from 1959 to 1962. Her first paternity suit, filed in the 1980s, was dismissed after the singer submitted to a blood test that came back negative.

In her recent suit, Huebers accused McCartney of fraud, alleging he sent a double to the blood test to ensure the results would be negative. As proof, she claimed the signature on the documents was signed by a right-handed person, while McCartney is left-handed.

"An examination of the complaint filed and an evaluation of the civil action to determine paternity in 1984 found any criminal act alleged by the woman filing the complaint -- even if it happened -- has passed the statute of limitations," prosecutor's office spokesman Michael Grunwald said in a statement.

New "Dance Tonight" Video

The official video for Paul McCartney's UK single 'Dance Tonight', taken from the album 'Memory Almost Full'.

McCartney won't mark 'Sgt. Pepper' anniversary

Paul McCartney has reportedly decided not to mark the fortieth anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with any particular significance.A source close to the singer believes the former Beatle is just too busy to contemplate an event to celebrate the occasion, which sees what is arguably the Beatles' most famous record ever hit a landmark date. Most of his McCarteny's time in the foreseeable future will be taken up promoting his new album Memory Almost Full.A host of bands, including Oasis and the Kaiser Chiefs, have entered the studio recently to record their own versions of songs from the album."While it would have been nice to see Paul and Ringo Starr do something to mark the occasion this time around, Sir Paul is simply going to be too busy promoting his new album to make a big deal out of it,” the source told the Daily Express. "While he is obviously extremely proud of Sgt Pepper's, it's more rewarding for him to be concentrating on making sure his new album's a commercial success."

Starbucks to heavily promote new Paul McCartney album

Global coffee conglomerate Starbucks is organising a special global listening event on June 5 for Sir Paul McCartney's new album Memory Almost Full. More than 10,000 locations in 29 countries around the world will play the album in full throughout the day.
Starbucks has estimated that globally, more than six million people will hear at least part of the album on that day.
Memory Almost Full will also be positioned prominently in its stores at the point of sale and other areas.
A limited edition Paul McCartney Starbucks card will also be offered. The first time Starbucks has done anything like this was for the late Ray Cahrles album Genius Loves Company.
The album will also be supported with in-store signage and satellite radio play via Starbucks' XM channel and a special dedicated McCartney channel. Special tie-ins with in-store Wi-Fi partner T-Mobile will also be held.
Memory Almost Full will also be available for digital download via online retailers, with Starbucks planning to provide prime positioning to the album via its area in Apple's iTunes store.
Elsewhere, the album will be marketed by hand-picked teams within Universal Music Group International companies.

Ecce Cor Meum wins Album of the Year

EMI Classics artists enjoyed a highly successful evening at the Classical Brit Awards on Thursday 3rd May at the Royal Albert Hall winning a whole host of prestigious awards.The Winners:NS&I Album of the Year was awarded to Sir Paul McCartney for his powerful work for orchestra and voices, Ecce Cor Meum.Classical Recording of the Year award went to Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for their spellbinding account of Holst's The Planets.Instrumentalist of the Year was awarded for the second year running to Leif Ove Andsnes for his album Horizons.Soundtrack of the Year was awarded to composer George Fenton for BBC TV's Planet EarthDr Vernon Handley CBE was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement award.The audience was also treated to live performances by the stunning soprano Natasha Marsh, tenor Alfie Boe and cellist Natalie Clein who performed a movement from the Elgar Cello Concerto conducted by Lifetime Achievement winner Vernon Handley. Myleene Klass, the newest addition to the EMI Classics roster joined Natasha, Alfie and Natalie at the star-studded event, showing her support to new label-mates.Many congratulations to all of our artists - performers nominations and winners - for a wonderful evening!The Classical Brit Awards 2007 will be televised on ITV1 at 11pm, Sunday 13th May and also 20th May on ITV3. Don't miss it!

McCartney's music goes mobile in Japan

Japan is set to be the first territory in which Paul McCartney`s music will be available via mobile phone, says Universal Music Japan.
UMJ will release a master ringtone version of the single "Dance Tonight" on May 10. All the other tracks from McCartney`s new album, 'Memory Almost Full,' will be released as master ringtones and mobile-based full-song downloads (including "Dance Tonight") on June 6, the same day as the physical CD`s release.
The album will be available as PC-based digital downloads on June 4.
'Memory Almost Full' is the first album to be released by the former Beatle under his recently-signed deal with the Hear Music label set up by Starbucks Entertainment and the Concord Music Group. Universal Music Group International has a distribution deal with Hear Music.

Memory Almost Full Title

Paul mentions during a streaming audio interview on http://www.bbc.co.uk

that the title for his 21st album came from a message he got on his cell phone telling him he needed to delete some stuff off the phone, because, "MEMORY ALMOST FULL"

The mp3 can be heard by downloading this link: http://www.yourfilelink.com/get.php?fid=328217

A special thanks to Evie for posting the link on the Maccaspan forum!

Paul McCartney's new album in deluxe edition

The deluxe limited edition of Paul McCartney's upcoming album, Memory Almost Full, will feature three bonus tracks. The expanded version of the album is available for presale through amazon.com. According to unofficial reports posted on the McCartney fan website maccareport.com, the three tracks are called "Why So Blue," "222," and "In Private." The album will also be released without the bonus tracks, at both Starbucks chains and other regular outlets, and will be McCartney's first album to be released digitally.McCartney band member Brian Ray told maccareport.com that during the early part of the album's sessions, McCartney and the group recorded at London's legendary Abbey Road studio where the Beatles recorded the majority of their work together, with the "Fabs'" longtime engineer Geoff Emerick. Ray, who began working with McCartney in 2002, recalled McCartney taking him aside during the sessions and telling him, "Brian, I want you to play bass on the tracking sessions but I'm sorry to say, I will probably end up overdubbing my own bass on the songs... I feel bad, because you play great!'" Ray went on to tell him, "Paul, if I went out to buy the new Paul McCartney CD and someone else was playing bass, I'd be angry! I completely understand."A homemade videoclip to the song "Mr. Bellamy" from the new album can be accessed through McCartney's website myeyesight.com. Memory Almost Full will be released on June 5th.

Paul McCartney Gives Starbucks a Hit

By Roger Friedman
Paul McCartney. You know, he's 64 years old. On June 1, he celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' landmark album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
Four days later he will release his newest album "Memory Almost Full." This is a landmark of sorts, too. It's his first album release on Starbucks' Hear Music label. McCartney, the most successful pop performer/singer/writer in history, has left the mainstream music business.
The good news is that "Memory Almost Full" is excellent, just as good as his Grammy-nominated "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard."
But McCartney, sources say, felt that Capitol Records did nothing to promote "Chaos" despite its four nominations. The album, like most of Capitol's releases, went nowhere. So the pop star is gone, and his departure is a blow to a record company on the ropes.McCartney took his entire back catalogue with him when he left, too. This includes all his solo albums, and Wings releases, everything from McCartney to "Ram" to "Band on the Run" and "Chaos."
It's not like CDs still really sell or that many people are busy looking for "Red Rose Speedway" or "Flowers in the Dirt," but still: McCartney as a solo artist is one of the great success stories in the now nearly dead music business.
Whether taking "Memory Almost Full" to Starbucks is a smart move remains to be seen. The coffee chain has had a lot of hits with other company's releases, but also some duds. Can you say Antigone Rising?
And, of course, Starbucks also sells CDs at high prices. I have personally resisted James Morrison's album while waiting for cappuccino because it's $14.99. I could download it for $5 less.
On the other hand, outside of Amazon.com, Starbucks is one of the few places people my age will buy a CD at all. The remaining "record" stores are multitask disasters with thunderous hip-hop music making the visit very unpleasant.
Like most everything else in the music business, the era of contemplative record hunting through bins is over.
Even so, buying "Memory Almost Over" in Starbucks should prove to be a rewarding experience. McCartney is true to form on this CD, offering lush ballads and jangling rockers with as much gusto and unembarrassed gushing as ever. From the opening track, a mandolin-powered ebullient "Dance Tonight," to the closing power surge of "Nod Your Head," he's still got it.
Of course, nowadays, you listen to a Paul McCartney record more closely than ever for the lyrics. Is "Dance Tonight" some kind of comment on his gold-digging ex-wife's stint on "Dancing with the Stars"? Is the beautifully wistful "You Tell Me" sung to his late, beloved wife, Linda? What about "Ever Present Past" and "Vintage Clothes"? Aren't they nostalgic reminisces of that first, now much-missed marriage? It would seem so.
My favorite track, "That Was Me," a rockabilly shuffle, is disarmingly reflective for McCartney. For years, until his excellent "Flaming Pie" album, he eschewed real emotion for a veneer of flashed peace signs.
"That Was Me," as it is, inaugurates a five-song medley that finishes off "Memory." "Feet in the Clouds," "House of Wax" and "The End of the End" comprise the bulk of the medley. Some of the publicity compares this to the suite on "Abbey Road." Not really.
The medley really reminded me of a similar one on "Red Rose Speedway" and on some of the other solo albums. Paul McCartney loves a medley, you know. He loves stringing together short bits with different melodies.
Luckily, he's good at it. His medleys usually contain at least one gem. Back on "Red Rose," it was "Hands of Love." On this album, it's "Feet in the Clouds," a tour de force where McCartney — who has absolutely improved 100 percent as a lyricist — insists he has his "head on the ground" in a Beatle-esque counterpoint that even John Lennon would admire.
What will happen when "Memory" joins the ventis and the grandes and the chocolate-covered graham crackers on the Starbucks shelves?
Already, McCartney says he has made a video for "Dance Tonight" with director Michel Gondry. Natalie Portman is featured in it. But neither MTV nor VH1 plays many videos, and none by rock stars who will turn 65 three weeks after his album is released.
But no one writes or sings like Paul McCartney. After a roller coaster career of tremendous highs and curious lows, he has acquitted himself brilliantly on "Memory Almost Full."

Beatles To Release New Single?

The surviving members of THE BEATLES are to release a new single compiled from archive recordings.The track, called Now And Then, is based on a John Lennon recording given to McCartney by the late musician's widow Yoko Ono. Archive tracks from George Harrison will also be woven into the new song, along with vocals from Sir Paul McCartney and drumming from Ringo Starr, reports British newspaper the Sunday Express.ELO musician Jeff Lynne, who produced the track's original sessions, says, "The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we really didn't finish."It was sort of a bluesy sort of ballad, I suppose, in A minor. It was a very sweet song; I liked it a lot, and I wish we could have finished it."

Maccaspan Is Under Construction

Just doing a bit of fine tuning of the FLASH part of the site. Some sections may not be available. (Should only be for a day or so)

Paul McCartney in nostalgic mood

A reflective Paul McCartney, currently embroiled in a bitter divorce battle, retreats to a simpler time of childhood games and early Beatles gigs on his new album, "Memory Almost Full."
The album, his first since 2005's Grammy-nominated "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," is due for worldwide release in the week beginning June 4; he turns 65 on June 18.

"In places it's a very personal record, and a lot of it is retrospective, drawing from memory, like memories from being a kid, from Liverpool and from summers gone," McCartney said in a statement. "The album is evocative, emotional, rocking, but I can't really sum it up in one sentence."
McCartney pondered the past in such Beatles tunes as "Penny Lane" and "Eleanor Rigby," and returns to similar territory in such new songs as "That Was Me," in which he recalls "playing conkers at the bus stop" and "Merseybeatin' with the band."
But tunes such as "My Ever Present Past" and "Vintage Clothes" warn against spending too much time looking back.
Fans looking for commentary on McCartney's highly publicised and increasingly nasty divorce from Heather Mills might find a conciliatory line in the song "Gratitude," in which he sings, "I should stop loving you, think what you put me through, but I don't want to lock my heart away."
A spokesman said he did not know if this lyric was directed at Mills, who separated from McCartney last year and has been portrayed in Britain's tabloid newspapers as gold-digger seeking to cash in on the beloved former Beatle's fortune.
In his statement, McCartney noted, "I know people are going to look at some of the songs and interpret them in different ways, but this has always been the case."
"Memory Almost Full" marks his first release for coffee retailer Starbucks Corp.'s nascent Hear Music label, following a career spent mostly at EMI Group Plc.
Reuters/Nielsen