McCartney on Decca Records since 1967

Today’s no-story in the less-than-acquainted-with-Beatles-facts part of the press is the fact that Paul McCartney’s music for the new ballet Ocean’s Kingdom will be released by Decca Records. Here’s Reuter‘s take on it:

LONDON (Reuters) – Decca has teamed up with Paul McCartney to release his upcoming ballet nearly 50 years after the record label famously rejected taking on the Beatles in what has been called one of the music industry’s biggest blunders.

The ballet, “Ocean’s Kingdom,” is the former Beatle’s first foray into the world of dance, and has its world premiere at the New York City Ballet on September 22. There will be four additional performances in September and five more in January.

The Decca recording hits shelves in Britain on October 3.

Decca famously snubbed the Fab Four early in 1962, reportedly saying at the time that “guitar groups are on the way out” and “the Beatles have no future in showbusiness.”

The quartet from Liverpool went on to sign with EMI label Parlophone and became arguably the most successful and influential pop band in history.

“Ocean’s Kingdom,” commissioned by the New York City Ballet, is conducted by John Wilson and performed by the London Classical Orchestra.

When he decided to write a ballet, McCartney visited the Royal Opera House in London and saw “Giselle,” meeting the dancers of the Royal Ballet afterward to discuss the work.

McCartney’s ballet tells of a love story set in an underwater world where people are threatened by humans. The score lasts an hour and is divided into four movements — Ocean’s Kingdom, Hall of Dance, Imprisonment and Moonrise.

In a statement, the 69-year-old singer/songwriter said he was “trying to write something that expressed an emotion — so you have fear, love, anger, sadness to play with, and I found that exciting and challenging.”

McCartney has written classical music before, including the award-winning choral work “Ecce Cor Meum.”

Of course, everyone has (conveniently?) forgotten that Paul McCartney’s very first soundtrack album, “The Family Way” from 1967 (re-released on CD in July this year) was released on Decca Records in the UK and Australia.

3 Responses

  1. DiBoLandsTVAndNewsCenter says:

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  2. Beatlesblogger says:

    Well done on pointing this out. I've been reading the same press and thinking exactly the same thing. Paul has been out on Decca Records ages ago! See: beatlesblogger.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/mccartneys-the-family-way-to-get-proper-cd-release/

  3. DiBoLandsTVAndNewsCenter says:

    Label: Hear Music / MPL / Telarc
    CD and Vinyl

    Decca only un UK

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