Off the Ground: Paul McCartney in the 1990s

by J.R. Moores

Paul McCartney’s 1990s was an era like no other, perhaps even the most significant decade of his entire career after the 1960s. Following a shakier 1980s, the decade would see McCartney re-emerge with greater energy, momentum and self-belief. JR Moores’ sympathetic but not uncritical new book explores McCartney’s ’90s, with its impressive studio and live albums, colossal tours, unexpected side projects and imaginative collaborations, forays into classical composition, some new Beatles numbers and a whole lot more besides.
Moores reveals how McCartney’s reputation began to be perceived more generously by the public and argues that Macca’s output and activities in the ’90s were to uncover more about the person behind them than any other decade.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published January 16, 2025

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moores’ book covers more than McCartney in the 1990’s. He pretty much highlights The Beatles years through the present and there lies one of the problems I had with this book. It needed a tighter lens focus as Moores scattershots all over the bow and even deep dives into bands like Oasis and Verve and a host of others to provide unwanted perspective when he could have delved deeper into Paul’s tours, songs, albums, etc…
That said when the author does provide info on such great stuff like the Anthology collections he is pretty good about it but I was still expecting more depth, insight, inner workings and detail.

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

While Moores’ book is an in-depth and meticulously researched look at McCartney's life and work in the 1990s, he is excellent in placing all this into context too, including a round-up of contemporary bands, politics, culture, Britpop and even the US music scene. Despite knowing little about this decade and especially its popular scene, I feel well-informed the whole time I am reading; not to mention extremely tickled by Moores' cheeky, humorous writing that clearly gives credit where it's due (i.e., mostly to Paul). I am often laughing, nodding along and thanking him at the same time.

It’s colourful as a tapestry and, as Moores writes in his final chapter, ‘The idea that McCartney might run out of brilliant ideas, or be lured into winding things down, is even less conceivable now than it was some thirty years ago.’ Phew.

Any McCartney fan worth their salt should pick up a copy of this book: in the neverending publications about the Beatles that still keep coming today (not that I'm complaining, you understand), this is one that is genuinely worth reading. It’s appreciative, critical and contextual, somehow making for an unputdownable read - for this Beatles fan anyway.

[William Connelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the author’s own admission, he is guilty of going off topic and meandering and this is the one weakness of an otherwise engaging read. There are mini-essays on Britpop and Paul’s 1980’a output which are worthwhile reading but are separate from the main subject of the book. It still manages to cover Paul in the 1990’s and whilst I can’t agree that it was Paul’s most creative decade since the 1960’s (though I understand why he says it), his argument that the commercial success of Linda and Stella acted as a competitive spur has some merit to it.