Chaos And Creation In The Backyard

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is an album by Paul McCartney released in 2005. A long time in the making, the set was produced by Radiohead and Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich at George Martin’s suggestion.
McCartney plays almost all of the instruments similar to his 1970 album McCartney and the 1980 McCartney II. In addition, Chaos And Creation In The Backyard marks the first time since 1984’s Give My Regards to Broad Street that McCartney was not involved in producing one of his studio albums.

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard was McCartney’s last rock album release for longtime label EMI. He signed a deal with Hear Music, owned by Starbucks, in March 2007.[1]Upon being asked to produce an album with McCartney, Godrich admitted:
“My initial reaction was one of terror, not only because it’s a very important person, but I really wasn’t sure how willing he would be to get his hands dirty.”[2]
The two tentatively began a collaboration, recording the songs “This Never Happened Before” and “Follow Me” which was enough to convince both of them that they could develop an album. Godrich’s participation was active: he inspired McCartney to write the song “At the Mercy”, added piano loops on “How Kind of You” and worked with McCartney to slow the tempo of “Riding to Vanity Fair” which McCartney says “changed the mood completely”.[3] Although initially taken aback, McCartney appreciated Godrich’s tenacity and honesty.
According to McCartney, Godrich was at times blunt in his appraisal of McCartney’s songs-in-progress during the making of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard: