New Paul McCartney Album Launches Big Week

Paul McCartney's new album arrives in stores today.  With "Kisses on the Bottom" the former Beatle is paying tribute to the music that inspired him as a kid. The project features pre-rock era songs such as "The Inch Worm" and "It's Only A Paper Moon" along with a couple of McCartney originals in that same style.  Paul says it's an album he'd been talking about making for the past 20 years, and explains that he finally realized that if he didn't do it now he probably never would.   Select tracks include contributions from Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder.

The arrival of "Kisses on the Bottom" comes during a special week for McCartney.  On Thursday Paul will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thursday night McCartney will play a special online concert which will stream live on iTunes from Capitol Studios starting at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.  On Friday McCartney will be honored as The Recording Academy's MusiCares Person of the Year with an all-star tribute concert.  The gala is among the Grammy Week events leading up to Sunday's 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will air live on CBS.  McCartney is a nominee, and he's slated to perform during the ceremony.