Prolific McCartney scholar Luca Perasi has just released the next book in his series on the recorded output of the performer – Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas – The Stories Behind the Songs (Volume 2) 1990-2012.

We reviewed Volume 1 last year and can vouch for the level of research, knowledge and insight Perasi brings to the task. As an author he has credibility. Perasi one of the two official Italian translators of Paul McCartney’s The Lyrics, and in 2022 he collaborated with MPL on the label copy for the massive The 7” Singles Box.

“Keeping in with the structure of the previous volume, this is the second part of the ‘musical biography’ of one of the most important song composers ever,” says the author. This latest volume covers the next 23 years (and 250 songs) in the McCartney catalogue.

The book consists of individual song entries across the period 1990-2012. It includes songs written by other composers as well as 26 unreleased tracks – each providing detailed information of musicians and recording dates, anecdotes and contemporary interviews, together with many exclusive interviews with key personnel by the author.

Paul’s classical works are also explored in detail. “I am very proud of the interview I did with Maestro Carl Davis a long time ago, there are some incredible insights into the process of the Liverpool Oratorio,” adds the author.

This book is enriched with almost 1,000 footnotes, with illustrations and QR codes for an even broader multimedia experience. Albums, tours and other events provide further background to the stories behind the songs.

As we said in our previous review, it all adds up to an intriguing mix of information that truly demonstrates that music is about ideas, and that the prolific Paul McCartney is never short of them.

Music Is Ideas – The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol.2) 1990-2012 is guaranteed to inform, stimulate, and lead to further exploration of the music.

Again, a Highly Recommended.

Where to get it? Check here.