James McCartney’s new music is the result of working on and off in the studio for over two years. He played most of the instruments, including bass, guitars, and piano—and of course, he sings.
Available Light was recorded at Hog Hill Mill Studios in Sussex, Abbey Road Studios in London, and SeeSquared Studios and Avatar Studios in New York.
There were two main phases to the recordings.
Initially, the recordings were done with James playing most of the instruments, with Shawn Pelton on drums and Steven Isserlis on cello.James put a band together partway through those sessions, which included two members of The Dead 60s—Charlie Turner on bass and Bryan Johnson on drums—and Steve Bayley on guitar and keyboards. After much rehearsing and a couple of UK tours, the band went into Abbey Road to re-record some of the tracks, along with several songs that hadn’t been previously recorded.
Available Light was produced by David Kahne and Paul McCartney, and mixed by David Kahne.
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ANGEL
GLISTEN
MY FRIEND
DENIAL
OLD MAN
All songs written by James McCartney (James McCartney Ltd., administered in
the U.S. by MPL Music Publishing, Inc., ASCAP) except “Old Man” written by
Neil Young (Broken Fiddle Music, Inc., c/o Wixen Publishing, ASCAP)
Produced by David Kahne and Paul McCartney
Recorded at Hog Hill Mill Studios, Sussex, Abbey Road Studios, London, SeeSquared Studios, New York, and Avatar Studios, New York
Mixed by David Kahne
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, New York
Instrumentation:
James McCartney—vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano, bass
Divya Kasturi—vocals, vocal harmonies
Steve Bayley—guitar, keyboards, vocal harmonies
Gil Goldstein—accordion
Steven Isserlis—cello
Charlie Turner—bass, vocal harmonies
Bryan Johnson—drums
Shawn Pelton—drums
Thanks:
My family and friends, Dad, David Kahne, John Hammel, Eddie Klein, Keith Smith, Jamie Kirkham, Louis Morris, Shawn Pelton, Divya Kasturi, Steven Isserlis, Nigel Godrich, Nitin Sawney, Steve Bayley, Gil Goldstein, Bryan Johnson, Charlie Turner, Martin Scott, Geoff Emerick, Hog Hill Mill Studios, Abbey Road Studios, SeeSquared Studios, Avatar Studios, Michael Kahne, Andrew Murabito, We Art You, John Eastman, Lee Eastman, all of my inspirations, Adrian Chandler, Neil Young, Les Paul, Fender, Yamaha, Martin & Co., and everybody.
Inner Photography by James McCartney
Art Direction and Design by We Art You
Production Design by David Cloyd and Blake Morgan
(p) © 2010 MaybeNot/Engine Company.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
Angel
James McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A manifestation of them all
Maybe i'm an angel
A manifestation of them all
I have felt some hard times in my life
But i don't want to feel it anymore
I don't know what you're thinking of but it's okay
I just want to hear you say it anyway
Baby you don't understand
Just what i've been going through
Maybe your love will come
And you don't really understand
Anymore than you don't
Maybe i'm an angel
Waiting to start to live my life
Maybe if you can make it
Then that would be great
Let me tell you something that you don't know
My love for you is always going to show
I have felt some hard times in my life
But i don't want to feel it anymore
I don't know just who you are
But i'm really willing to try
Maybe you are not here
But i'm really going to die
And maybe you won't ever
Maybe i'm an angel
Maybe i'm an angel
True love at first sight
Maybe i'm an ange
James McCartney's song "Angel" is a heartfelt and introspective piece that explores the conflicted emotions of a person who has seen their fair share of hardships in life. The opening lines of the song, "Maybe I'm an angel, a manifestation of them all," suggest that the singer sees himself as a reflection of the people around him. He acknowledges that he has faced difficulties in his life but expresses a desire to move past them and find love and happiness.
The repetition of the line "Maybe I'm an angel" throughout the song serves to emphasize the singer's sense of self-doubt and uncertainty. He is unsure of his place in the world and his ability to find what he is looking for. The lines "But I don't want to feel it anymore" and "Maybe if you can make it, then that would be great," suggest that the singer is open to the idea of love but needs someone to help him find it.
The final lines of the song, "True love at first sight, maybe I'm an angel," are particularly poignant. They suggest that the singer is holding on to hope that he will find the love and happiness he seeks, even in the face of uncertainty and doubt.
Overall, "Angel" is a deeply introspective and emotive song that speaks to the experience of many people who have faced hardships and uncertainties in their lives. It is a powerful testament to the human capacity for hope and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe i'm an angel
I could be seen as otherworldly
A manifestation of them all
The culmination of all the best qualities that people possess
I have felt some hard times in my life
I have had struggles and difficulties in my past
But i don't want to feel it anymore
I am ready to move past my hardships
I don't know what you're thinking of but it's okay
It's alright if your thoughts are unclear to me
I just want to hear you say it anyway
But I do want to hear whatever is on your mind
Baby you don't understand
My dear, you may not fully comprehend
Just what i've been going through
All that I have faced and experienced
Maybe your love will come
Perhaps your love will arrive one day
And you don't really understand
You might not be able to comprehend it all
Anymore than you don't
Just as you don't fully understand everything
Maybe i'm an angel
I could be seen as otherworldly
Waiting to start to live my life
Ready and waiting to begin truly living
Maybe if you can make it
If you are able to stick around
Then that would be great
It would be wonderful if you could
Let me tell you something that you don't know
Allow me to share a piece of knowledge with you
My love for you is always going to show
My fond feelings for you will always be evident
I don't know just who you are
I am uncertain of your true identity
But i'm really willing to try
Despite that, I am eager to make an effort
Maybe you are not here
You may not be present or available
But i'm really going to die
Even so, I feel as though I cannot survive without you
And maybe you won't ever
It is possible that you will never come into my life
Maybe i'm an angel
I could be seen as otherworldly
Maybe i'm an angel
I could be seen as otherworldly
True love at first sight
It's possible to experience genuine love upon first meeting someone
Maybe i'm an angel
I could be seen as otherworldly
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.