Sir Paul McCartney surprised fans with a return to Abbey Road studios, playing his new album and sharing memories.

The Beatles legend returned to Abbey Road to launch his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane.

A few dozen lucky fans were led into Studio Two to hear the album.

Sir Paul emerged and said, "Hello and welcome. This is a listening party. I'm going to play the album and then try to find something to say about it!"

Paul McCartney made a historic return to Abbey Road Studios.

Paul found plenty of words to accompany the 14 tracks and shared anecdotes.

He said some strings and woodwind parts were recorded at Abbey Road, recalling the Beatles days.

"We used the tradesman's entrance, up the stairs is the posh entrance for people like George Martin!"

Paul referenced Liverpool and growing up in the city, meeting John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison.

After playing the single Days We Left Behind, Paul said, "It is a little emotional because I'm talking about John and George and Ringo."

"It is a story about memories, various bits and pieces from my childhood. The great thing about memory songs is you get to relive the memory."

"You are lucky if you get songs like this one, they spill out of you. My missus Nancy loves this song."

The Mirror was given VIP access to listen to Paul discuss how his formative years shaped the songs.

One story that didn't make the song Days We Left Behind was when Paul's watch was stolen while bird watching.

Paul recalled, "But I called the police and they found them so I got my watch back!"

Instead of trying new hobbies, Paul grew close to John, George, and Ringo and toured the world.

New album track Down South refers to when Paul would hitchhike with George to places like Wales.

Paul laughed describing when they once got a very slow lift from a milk float.

"I got the passenger seat and George was sitting on the battery, all of a sudden he jumped up screaming."

The album contains 14 tracks, including a duet with Ringo and a love song written about his wife Nancy.

The duet with Ringo, called 'Home To Us', talks about when they "lived on a housing estate".

Ringo recorded vocals for the whole song, and the finished recording has them singing a line each.

After the song finished, an emotional Paul punched the air as the crowd applauded.

The album was produced by Andrew Watt, who has also made hit albums with the Rolling Stones and Ozzy Osbourne.

For the love song Ripples In A Pond, Paul asked Andrew Watt to make it "sound like Justin Bieber".

Paul, 83, has written songs about his parents for the first time, including Salesman Saint.

He said, "Quite a few of the songs go back in time, I have never really written about my mum and dad."

"I was born in the war. My dad was a fireman and he had to put out the bombs."

"People in places like Gaza are going through these terrible times now, but they are just having to carry on."

Apart from the strings and orchestration, Paul played all the instruments on the album.

The album is likely to draw comparisons with his 1970 solo debut album, McCartney.

US music industry magazine Billboard called the LP "delightfully Beatle-esque in parts".

Because of the nostalgic nature of the album and his age, it might suggest to some people that this could be the last album Paul releases.

Referring to First Star Of The Night, Paul told how the song was first recorded on his iPhone.

He added, "I put it down on my phone. It's terrible though cos you put lots of things down but you never finish it."

"My phone has thousands of little ideas, one of Steve's jobs is going through my phone to see if there is anything good or if it is a load of you know what."

He later added, "I don't work, I play, it's my hobby. I do it anyway."

Returning to Abbey Road would be a real trip down memory lane for Sir Paul.

The Beatles named their 11th album Abbey Road after the studios there.

Paul McCartney's new LP cover.

As You Lie There.

Lost Horizon.

Days We Left Behind.

Ripples in a Pond.

Mountain Top.

Down South.

We Two.

Come Inside.

Never Know.

Home to Us.

Life Can Be Hard.

First Star of the Night.

Sailsman Saint.

Momma Gets By.

* The Boys of Dungeon Lane is released on May 29 via MPL/Capitol Records.

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