Spinning On An Axis

‘Spinning On An Axis’ is the ninth song on Paul McCartney’s 2001 album Driving Rain.

Along with ‘Back In The Sunshine Again’, it was one of two songs on the album co-written by McCartney and his son James.

I was sitting in New Hampshire, visiting American relatives. The sun was going down and me and James, my son, were talking about how the sun actually isn’t going down, we’re turning around away from it. We had a little keyboard thing there and James was playing a little riff on it and I was doing a parody rap thing, just goofing off with no real melody, on those thoughts of spinning on an axis. I had my little cassette with me and I happened to tape that as a little reminder.

‘Spinning On An Axis’ was recorded at Henson Studios in Los Angeles in February 2001, during a three-week block of sessions.

Recorded 21st February 2001 onto 16-track analogue tape then loaded into Logic Audio for overdubs. Paul played Rickenbacker bass then overdubbed Martin acoustic, Epiphone electric guitar, percussion and the vocal. Abe played his drum kit and Roland Handsonic then overdubbed percussion. Rusty played Danelectro electric guitar then overdubbed Martin acoustic guitar and percussion. Gabe overdubbed percussion. James overdubbed percussion. David overdubbed Wurlitzer.

McCartney never performed ‘Spinning On An Axis’ live in concert.