Paul McCartney Discusses "Kisses On The Bottom" and New Tour Plans.

Paul McCartney's latest album, the standards collection Kisses on the Bottom, was just released last Tuesday but the revered artist already is on his way to putting together his next record.

"I do have quite a bit of stuff, actually…quite a lot of songs I've been writing over the past year or so," he told Billboard in a recent phone interview.  "I am in the process now of starting to think about making a record of those songs."

While he didn't elaborate to Billboard about what the new material might sound like, McCartney revealed to Rolling Stone last May that he was planning to issue a hard-rocking set of tunes following his standards album.

As for his feelings about Kisses on the Bottom, the former Beatle told Billboard that "something really nice happens" when he listens to it.

"I imagine people coming home, cracking open a bottle of wine or whatever's your tipple, putting the album on, kicking back and relaxing," he explained.  "I hope people find it musical, relaxing and something that means a lot to them."

McCartney performed some of the Kisses material at several recent Los Angeles events in conjunction with Grammy Week -- including the awards ceremony itself -- but he told Billboard that he hadn't decided yet whether he would schedule more events to promote the new release.  He added that he's about to discuss with his concert promoter plans for new live performances this year.  "I hear [they] have some nice, interesting ideas for me," he said.  So far, he has booked three dates in March -- in Holland, Switzerland and Belgium -- as part of a new installment of his On the Run tour.

Wait... Kisses on the WHAT?!?!   --Rody