Paul McCartney: 'Covers LP a passion project'

Paul McCartney has said that he has waited decades to record an album of pop standards.

The 'Jet' singer announced last month that he has undertaken the project as a tribute to his late father James.

McCartney revealed that the LP will feature a mix of well-known popular hits of the World War II era and several newly-written tracks.

"I've wanted to do this kind of album for years, [but] I never wanted to look like I was jumping on the bandwagon," he told USA Today. "I'm trying to put a different spin on it."

McCartney added: "A lot of the songs I've just discovered in researching the project. Some are big favourites from family singalongs as a kid. Great memories for me, that. And I've written a few tunes in the genre. We're going all sorts of ways, and I'm having a ball."

Jazz pianist Diana Krall will guest on the as-yet-untitled record, which is expected to be released in 2012.

McCartney recently suggested that he would like to collaborate with Gorillaz in the future.

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Watch Paul McCartney's 1987 television performance of the pop standard 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' below: