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Recorded in 1995

Cello In The Ruins

Written by Paul McCartneyUnreleased song

Last updated on September 20, 2020


Timeline This song was recorded in 1995

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1995, when Paul McCartney was 53 years old)

Master album

Other unreleased songs from "Flaming Pie" sessions

Cello In The Ruins” is song recorded by Paul McCartney during the Flaming Pie sessions, which is still unreleased (officially and unofficially).

One song recorded during the Flaming Pie sessions that went unissued was apparently almost issued as a one-off single for ‘War child,’ the charity that assisted in assembling the Help album in 1995. Other than the title, Cello In The Ruins, precious little additional information exists regarding the track save for its copyright registration date of October 23, 1995.

From Eight Arms To Hold You – The Solo Beatles Compendium, Chip Madinger and Mark Easter October

In the book included in the 2020 “Flaming Pie Archive Collection“, it is mentioned:

Before the first Flaming Pie sessions, McCartney and [Jeff] Lynne actually worked together on a song, ‘Cello In The Ruins’, at some point intended for the 1995 War Child charity album. […]

It does ring a bell,” says McCartney now, reminded of the song’s title, “but god knows where the bell is.” […]

That’s what happens when you write a lot of stuff. On some of the albums, there are tracks, I’ve no idea how they go.

From the Flaming Pie Archive Collection, 2020

Cello in the Ruins, was planned at one stage as a single for War Child’s The Help Album in 1995, but shelved.

From Jeff Lynne: Electric Light Orchestra – Before and After, by John Van der Kiste


Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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Jan 21, 2025

Jesse

What an excellent website this is! Thanks! I just finished reading Brian Eno's diary entitled A Year With Swollen Appendices and came across some passages related to Cello In The Ruins you could add to the site:

25th September 1995: 'Paul McCartney called Anthea (Eno's wife) to speak to me'

28th September 1995: 'Then McCartney called: talked for half an hour, then said he had a demo of a song he'd written for War Child ('may be a bit cornball') he wants me to listen to. Really nice bloke.'

9th October 1995: 'Long conversation with Paul McCartney re his War Child song 'Cello in the Ruins.' Said I'd try an edit.'

2nd November 1995: 'Paul McCartney rang about my fax re the Q awards. He said they hadn't planned to play there anyway. I said I wanted him to know that I wasn't trying to browbeat him. He said thanks, but now he'd like to browbeat me - into getting his song done'

Note that Brian Eno compiled the Help album and was heavily involved in War Child.


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