If released, this album would follow the success of McCartney III, which debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and earned a score of 81/100 on Metacritic. That album, recorded during the pandemic, reflected a stripped-back, introspective approach with McCartney playing nearly all the instruments himself. During promotion, he told DJ Zane Lowe that much of the process stemmed from having time on his hands, using music as “the greatest therapy” by retreating to a quiet space with his guitar to “tell his troubles to it.”

The potential 2025 album, however, comes after a period of live performances and could reflect the energy from shows across North and South America, Australia and Europe. The ‘Got Back’ tour, which began in 2022, saw McCartney revisiting Beatles classics and solo hits, often accompanied by poignant moments such as performing his Christmas classic ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ in Manchester and sharing the stage with Ringo Starr in London. It’s likely that some of the new material was inspired or developed during this tour.

One question on fans’ minds is whether McCartney will continue the DIY ethos of McCartney III or collaborate with other artists, as he did extensively on 2018’s Egypt Station. While McCartney III resonated deeply with audiences for its authenticity, a collaborative effort could open new creative doors, allowing McCartney to engage with younger musicians or experiment with new sounds.

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Fans have taken to social media to speculate on what the new album might bring. One fan expressed hope that McCartney would embrace the warmth of his ageing voice, crafting simple, heartfelt songs rather than chasing trends and chart positions. McCartney’s ability to adapt without losing his core identity has been a hallmark of his career, from pioneering electronic music on McCartney II to influencing heavy metal with ‘Helter Skelter.’

While the album’s themes remain a mystery, it will not be a covers or greatest hits collection, according to McCartney’s comments. Instead, it promises fresh material, created in his traditional style of composing with a guitar or piano. Despite his opposition to AI-generated music, McCartney has embraced technology to assist with projects, such as extracting John Lennon’s vocals for the release of ‘Now and Then.’ McCartney gave ‘Now and Then’ it’s live debut back in October, playing it to fans in Uruguay.

A 2025 release would coincide with the 50th anniversary of Venus and Mars by Paul McCartney and Wings, though that album has already been reissued through McCartney’s Archive Collection. 

Regardless of timing, a new album would further cement McCartney’s legacy as one of music’s most enduring and innovative artists. At 82, McCartney remains full of surprises, and his next chapter is eagerly anticipated by fans of all ages.

‘McCartney III,’ the album, totalling of 11 tracks ranging from 3 to 8 minutes long, was recorded entirely by Paul McCartney with the help of a small team at his studio in the rural Sussex countryside has all of the idyllic charm of the area in possession of some of the finest natural beauty in all of England. The album shows an impressive mastery of a whole variety of instruments which include the standard drums, bass and guitar played with a definite folksy edge, especially on the mostly instrumental opening track ‘Long Tailed Winter Bird,’ which sums up the ambient state of limbo that many of us found us in at the beginning of March 2020 as the country was plunged into lockdown.

The success of Sir Paul McCartney’s album at Christmas time is an endorsement of a British hero and a national treasure and surely a message to the government that the British music industry is still one of our strongest exports and rightly a source of pride, fame and success for those involved in it, as well as anyone who lives in this country. If there is something that we should be proud of as a nation it is surely our music, and The Beatles, arguably the most famous musical and successful British musicians of all time, are our finest achievement.

While the vibe of ‘McCartney III,’ is undoubtedly very inspired by folk music and as a result features largely acoustic instrumentation and a low dynamic throughout most of the tracks, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, the raucous ‘Lavatory Lil,’ is a groovy blues rock number which wouldn’t sound out of place on a ZZ Top record, with a catchy guitar riff reminiscent of the band’s hits ‘Cheap Sunglasses,’ or ‘Sharp Dressed Man.’ Tracks like this are solid proof that, despite well over 50 years in the industry, Paul McCartney is still the same soul that sang ‘Love Me Do,’ in 1963.

While the majority of public attention yesterday was focussed on the singles chart, the number 1 slot of which saw an intense battle eventually won by last years incumbents Ladbaby, the public eye was missing a true success for British music, not only an album recorded by one of UK Pops greatest institutions, but one which features himself playing every instrument. It is an album crafted from top to bottom with great care given to every single detail and not a single moment is outsourced.

The release of this digitally remastered video comes just a few short weeks before the hotly anticipated ‘McCartney III,’ which is due to be released on the 11th of December this year, just in time for Christmas. McCartney has spoken about the making of the album during lockdown in his recent interview in Rolling Stone with American star Taylor Swift and has expressed his good fortune in living near to his own studio in Sussex where he was able to craft the new album almost entirely by himself.

‘Coming Up,’ differs quite strongly from his work with The Beatles, and even from his earlier solo work. While The Beatles were firmly rooted in the 60s sound inspired by early Rock and Roll like Chuck Berry and the Rhythm and Blues records which were crossing the Atlantic and arriving in Liverpool at the time that The Fab Four were crafting their musical sound, and of course the undeniable influence of Skiffle. Furthermore, while McCartneys solo sound may be known more for slow piano based ballads like his bond theme ‘Live and Let Die,’ or ‘Maybe I’m Amazed,’ from his debut, ‘Coming Up,’ has a funky, danceable feel which is clearly inspired by the emerging funk sound in the late 1970s which would go on to influence the 1980s sounds so heavily.

With the UK still in a strict lockdown until early December, with the hope of any easing only beginning to show a glimmer of hope,  fans of McCartney will likely be finding his music a comfort during this difficult winter. While live music is still a no no at this time, it will be of comfort to many to lay eyes on this video which for many of a younger generation this HD remaster may be the first version that they have ever seen.

If fans of The Beatles are unsure about whether they might like Paul McCartney’s solo work, this is a great place to start. ‘Coming Up,’ is a cheery, uplifting and undeniably warm feeling song which lifts one’s spirits so effortlessly, something which is surely needed across the country right now. With no chance to go out and enjoy ourselves with live music or even meeting friends in the pub, for many of us watching the latest content from our favourite artists on social media platforms like YouTube and others has become a real spirit lifter.

According to Rolling Stone, McCartney recorded the album while isolated at home in the U.K. during lockdown, stating that ‘Like his first solo album, in 1970, he played nearly all of the instruments himself, resulting in some of his most wildly ambitious songs in a long time.’ McCartney considers himself lucky to have been isolated in the English countryside, with a studio within easy reach and ‘two other guys that could come in and we’d be very careful and distanced and everything: my engineer Steve, and then my equipment guy Keith.’ The album, he claims, was made during this time, with just these three people.

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With fifty years now having passed since the break up of The Beatles, Paul McCartney has shown a real sense of self-sufficiency and a DIY ethos in his approach to the making of this album. In fact he plays almost every instrument recorded for the album at his ‘Rockdown,’ studio in Sussex. Instruments which make their way into McCartney’s hands for this album include a Fender Telecaster from 1954, a five piece Ludwig drum kit featuring a Black Beauty snare, DW piccolo snare and Zildjian cymbols, as well as a ‘Kay M1 upright bass previously owned by Bill Black of Elvis Presley’s original trio.’

Paul McCartney is of course much more fortunate than many musicians for having access to a large studio and a variety of expensive and high quality equipment to create the album which he wanted, whereas those in earlier stages of their career have often found themselves with only their bedroom set ups to work with through a long and difficult lockdown. None-the-less this hasn’t stopped many bands and artists from making the must of their newly found spare time and cracking on with some recording.

Fans may be asking themselves, where can I get hold of the new album as soon as possible when it is released? The answer is simple, the album can either be pre-saved on Spotify or other streaming services, so that it shows up in your library as soon as the release day arrives, or pre-orders can be make with local record stores for a Vinyl or CD copy to be delivered or available to collect when December the 18th finally comes around, just in time for Christmas.

Unfortunately there are currently no gigs planned for Paul McCartney to play in support of his new album at this time, no doubt due at least in part to the ongoing coronavirus crisis in the UK and the fact that McCartney, being a veteran and national treasure of British music is certainly at risk and must be protected.