Paul McCartney announces new introspective solo album, ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’
Paul McCartney announced the upcoming release of The Boys of Dungeon Lane, his first solo studio album in more than five years.
The album is scheduled for release on May 29 through MPL/Capitol Records. Accompanying the announcement, McCartney released a new single, “Days We Left Behind,” which is available now for streaming and digital purchase.
Described as his most introspective work to date, the 18th studio album credited solely to McCartney features songs rooted in his childhood in post-war Liverpool. The tracks explore his early life in the working-class area of Speke and his formative adventures with John Lennon and George Harrison prior to the rise of the Beatles.
“This is very much a memory song for me,” McCartney said of the new single. “I was thinking just that, about the days I left behind, and I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past but then I think how can you write about anything else? It’s just a lot of memories of Liverpool.”
The project began five years ago following a meeting between McCartney and producer Andrew Watt. The opening track, “As You Lie There,” originated from an experimental three-chord sequence developed during their initial session.
In a recording style reminiscent of his 1970 debut solo album, McCartney, the artist performed the majority of the instruments himself. The album was recorded in intermittent sessions between global tour dates over the last five years, with production split between studios in Los Angeles and Sussex.
The title The Boys of Dungeon Lane is derived from a lyric in the lead single. McCartney noted that Dungeon Lane is a location near his former home on Forthlin Road that serves as a personal “symbolic gateway” to his pre-fame life.
The album is expected to feature a broad range of musical styles, including rock elements associated with his band Wings, signature vocal harmonies, and new love songs.
The Boys of Dungeon Lane is currently available for pre-order.
