Press to Play cover art

  Studio Album · No. 12

Press to Play Songwriting Credits by Paul McCartney

1986 Parlophone 10 tracks 45 min

Produced by Hugh Padgham, James Paul McCartney  ·  Engineered by Hugh Padgham, Haydn Bendall, Tony Clark, Jon Kelly

Parlophone RockPop rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Paul McCartney carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Paul McCartney 0 tracksoutside writers
Paul McCartney's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
2
Lyricists
2
Producers
1986
Released
Data Insight

Press to Play was built largely around a new writing partnership with Eric Stewart of 10cc, who co-wrote eight of the thirteen tracks with Paul McCartney, including the single Press. McCartney wrote the remaining songs alone, among them Good Times Coming, Talk More Talk and Only Love Remains. Hugh Padgham co-produced most of the record with McCartney, giving it a polished mid-1980s production sound.

Press to Play is the thirteenth studio album by Paul McCartney, released in August 1986 and produced by Hugh Padgham. It was McCartney's most critically underwhelming commercial effort to that point, though it did produce the hit single 'Press.' McCartney wrote or co-wrote all original tracks.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Stranglehold
James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
2
Good Times Coming / Feel the Sun
James Paul McCartney James Paul McCartney Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
3
Talk More Talk
James Paul McCartney James Paul McCartney Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
4
Footprints
James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
5
Only Love Remains #34
James Paul McCartney James Paul McCartney Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
6
Press #21
James Paul McCartney James Paul McCartney Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
7
Pretty Little Head #76
James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
8
Move Over Busker
James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
9
Angry
James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)
10
However Absurd
James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart James Paul McCartneyEric Stewart Hugh PadghamJames Paul McCartney Paul McCartney (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 4 contributors

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Frequently Asked Questions Press to Play

Who did Paul McCartney co-write Press to Play with?
Paul McCartney co-wrote eight of the album's thirteen songs with Eric Stewart, formerly of 10cc. The rest of the album was written by McCartney alone.
Who produced Paul McCartney's Press to Play?
The album was produced by Paul McCartney and Hugh Padgham across most tracks. It was released in August 1986 on Parlophone and Capitol.
What was the lead single from Press to Play?
The lead single was Press, released in July 1986. It reached number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.
Did the single Press chart well for Paul McCartney?
Press peaked at number 25 in the UK and number 21 in the US. It was the first lead single from a McCartney album since 1979 to miss the top 20 in both countries.
Which songs on Press to Play did Eric Stewart co-write?
Eric Stewart co-wrote eight of the thirteen tracks with Paul McCartney, including the single Press. The collaboration came from Stewart's earlier session work with McCartney.
Was Press to Play certified by the BPI?
Yes, Press to Play was certified Gold by the BPI in the United Kingdom. The album reached number 8 on the UK Albums Chart.

Sources