When Paul McCartney originally unveiled Flaming Pie, much was made of the record- his 10th solo set- and its positioning in the former Beatle’s discography.  It was Macca’s first album of new material- some whose origins dated back two decades- following his involvement in assembling The Beatles’ Anthology compilations and films.  Naturally, the hope of most every fan- and a symmetry acknowledged by McCartney, himself- was that his revisiting the Beatle years would play a positive, inspirational, and consequential role in crafting the new repertoire.  It did.

Initially released in 1997, Flaming Pie was and remains rather notable for its guests:  Beatle producer George Martin (and his orchestral majesty); ELO’s visionary Jeff Lynne; classic rock icon Steve Miller; and most intriguingly, his old Beatle mate, drummer Ringo Starr.  It’s largely a strong record- McCartney’s best in the ‘90s- restoring him to a songwriter and musician that could deliver a loose, good-time rock song with teeth or a ballad that still draws tears.  In this case, the album had several, with the title track and “Calico Skies” owning high slots, respectively.

Now, 23 years later, this Deluxe Edition- the 13th in the McCartney Archive series highlighting his catalog- arrives with an everything-and-then-some box set salute.  Firstly, the proper album, remastered at Abbey Road with input from the legendary musician, never sounded better.  The 14 tracks are presented warmly and balanced, with punch and clarity, and none of the excessive sheen or volume that plagued many artists’ early CD reissues.

The box, beautifully designed in navy blue trim and retaining the simplicity of the original’s cover art, is positively loaded, if occasionally redundant, with information, ephemera, and fan premiums.  Musically, there are 32 bonus tracks across three discs: a plethora of home demos, alternative takes, rough mixes, and B-sides showing, by virtue, the estimable value of production during the process.  Additionally, there are two DVDs, including an In The World Tonight documentary, that feature videos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content.  Plus, there’s an abundant 128-page book of images and interviews detailing the stories behind the record, as well as facsimiles of a fan newsletter, handwritten lyrics, studio notes, and photos that clear out any and every corner of the attic. 

This is everything that quite possibly could be heard, seen, and/or known about Flaming Pie.  For McCartney fanatics and completists, it’s another treasure chest and certainly worth owning, given the sheer breadth of content and attention to detail.  For those simply who have Flaming Pie on a list of favorites, this Deluxe Edition only adds to the love.