Figure Of Eight    b/w    Ou Est Le Soleil ?

Paul McCartney
 
Figure Of Eight - 7inch Front Figure Of Eight - 7inch Rear
Figure Of Eight - 7inch Front Figure Of Eight - 7inch Rear
Figure Of Eight - First 12inch Cover Figure Of Eight - First 12inch Rear
Figure Of Eight - First 12inch Cover Figure Of Eight - First 12inch Rear
Figure Of Eight - Second 12inch Cover Figure Of Eight - Second 12inch Rear
Figure Of Eight - Second 12inch Cover Figure Of Eight - Second 12inch Rear
Label Parlophone
Catalogue No. R 6235
12 R 6235 (12")
CD R 6235 (CD)
TC R 6235 (Cassette single)
Country of Origin England
Release Date 13th November 1989 (and various formats throughout November !)
U.K. Chart Detail : 
Entry Date :19th November 1989
Highest Position :42
Weeks in Chart :3 Weeks
Detail : Paul's forty-third single.
Credited to "Paul McCartney".

Here is where Paul really went to town, and I'm sure there was a certain mischievous bit of fun being had by Paul here at the fans expense ! ... a plethora of versions and "remixes" !!
"Figure of Eight" had appeared on "Flowers In The Dirt" five months earlier,
but that version was the only one NOT to come out on these versions !
The initial 7" had a different version of the song (not just remixed) which was over 5 minutes long and re-recorded by Paul on 1st September 1989.
The B-side "Ou Est Le Soleil ?" was unreleased on vinyl from December 1987 although this released version was marked as mixed by top DJ remixer, Shep Pettibone.

The same day a CD single was released, this was an edited version of the A-side, and did NOT carry "Ou Est Le Soliel ?", instead coupling ....
"Loveliest Thing" an unreleased track from June 1987, and the version of "Long And Winding Road" identified on Paul's previous release, "This One".
There were even two versions of this CD release on the same day, one having a gatefold sleeve and numbered CDRS 6235.

Also the same day a 12" with the same "Figure Of Eight" A-side, but a b-side of the "Club Lovejoys Mix" of "This One" running to over 6 minutes.
Which was from the initial This One promo. This first 12" is the cover you can see at the top, above.
Next, one week later a 12" with the standard "Figure OF Eight", and the same original 7" mix of "Ou". This was numbered 12 RS 6235.

A further week on, and this time a 3" CD release, containing the usual two tracks, but this time adding "Rough Ride",
which once again is a different version to that found on the album.

And finally one final 12" ... standard "Figure OF Eight", but an even longer Pettibone remix of "Ou" running at over 7 minutes,
plus a "Tub Dub" mix of it at 4 and a half minutes (The other 12" pictured above).

Paul did produce a video clip for "Ou Est Le Soleil?" on July 14th 1989, but I don't recall there ever being a video for the A-side.

The single was released in a picture sleeve.

I also have an American Import version of "Ou Est Le Soleil", which only contains three mixes of that track, without any "Figure Of Eight".
The mixes are the 7 minute Pettibone mix, the "Tub Dub" mix, and an instrumental mix. This is pictured below.

19th November 1989 - "Figure Of Eight" enters the UK charts at number 50.
It will peak the following week at a lowly number 42.

                                          Chart progression:   50 - 42 - 70 .... out

 

Figure Of Eight - Import 12inch Cover Figure Of Eight - Import 12inch Rear
Figure Of Eight - Import 12inch Cover Figure Of Eight - Import 12inch Rear

Paul's Single Releases

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