Fran Healy asks Paul McCartney to play bass on Wreckorder

Travis front man Fran Healy is due to release his debut solo album next week. The Singer songwriter originally from Scotland is currently promoting his album which remains true to his alternative rock style. Interviewed on BBC breakfast this morning, when asked what his fellow band mates thought of the album he said that he sent it to them last week but so far they have not commented on it.

Healy confirmed that he would be working as a solo artist for the next 12 months, and continuing to write songs for Travis.
The sample tracks reveal a polished studio performance with some very catchy songs, particularly 'As it Comes', which features Paul McCartney on Bass, and 'Buttercups' which has a simple four beat acoustic guitar rhythm and gentle drum beat with lyrics conveying the story of a man looking back through life as far as his childhood at former romances. 'Buttercups' will be the first single to be released from the album but it is a bit cheesy but does immediately convey the spirit of the song. 'Fly in the Ointment' reveals Healy's vocals can dip out of the haunting sounds vocal range and be a little raucous. Perhaps raucous is an exaggeration, but everything is relative and 'Fly in the Ointment' does sound a bit rockier than his usual high pitched lingering tones.

Fran Healy is said to have influenced bands like Coldplay and he has received high praise for his song writing from Elton John, Noel Gallagher and Paul McCartney, which perhaps explains why he was happy to perform on this album (which incidentally is obvious once you know to listen for Sir Paul's bass guitar).  Healy and his family have turned vegetarian as a thank you to him for agreeing to do the song.

And in case you thought these old timers had retired you may be interested to know that  Paul McCartney and Elton John are both releasing new albums this autumn which are availble to pre-order by clicking on the links to the artists.

Fran Healy will release Wreckorder on October 4th 2010 in the UK and although he has done some live appearances recently in the UK, the next few announced tour dates are in the United States with Keane where he will be performing some of his compositions from Wreckorder as well as songs he wrote for the Travis albums. 

The album can be pre -ordered through many of our retailers after checking our price comparison services.