Off The Ground - Release and Reception

Release and Reception

The lead single, "Hope of Deliverance", was released in the last week of December 1992 and the album followed in February 1993. While Off the Ground hit number 5 in the UK and reached number 17 in the US, where it eventually went gold, it was the first Paul McCartney album to not contain a sizeable US hit single since Wings' Wild Life in 1971. While "Hope of Deliverance" floundered there, it managed to reach number 18 in the UK, where "C'Mon People" became a minor hit as well. The album spent only six weeks inside the Top 100 in the UK, eventually reaching number 5 there. In Germany, the album was particularly successful and certified platinum with "Hope of Deliverance" reaching number 3 on the singles chart and the album spending four weeks at number 2. "Off the Ground" reached number 27 in the US Adult Contemporary chart.

Some weeks after its release, McCartney launched "The New World Tour", taking in many successful shows across the globe during the summer months. These gigs were documented on the album Paul Is Live, which followed at the end of 1993.

Although generally considered a slightly weaker successor to Flowers in the Dirt and now somewhat overlooked, Off the Ground is prized by many McCartney followers.

The feet on the album cover are of McCartney, his wife Linda and his touring band.