This article was originally published on beingtheremag.com, an independent music and film magazine that ran from 2004 to 2007. It is presented here as part of the Being There Magazine archive.
By Adam Anklewicz | Being There Magazine, March/April 2006
Who He Is:
Paul McCartney is one of the most important figures in rock ‘n’ roll history. On June 15, 1956, McCartney went to see a band called The Quarry Men perform. John Lennon was the frontman of this outfit and he asked McCartney to join the band. McCartney agreed, and with the addition of George Harrison, that band ultimately became The Beatles. Eventually, McCartney would move from guitar to bass when Stuart Sutcliffe left the band and in 1962, Ringo Starr joined, completing the Fab Four, as history would know them. John, Paul, George and Ringo would go on to change music forever and it was the songwriting partnership of Lennon & McCartney that would create some of the most loved songs of all time. Among the albums to The Beatles’ credits are such classics as A Hard Day’s Night, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the famous self-titled album with a simple white cover, and many others.
After The Beatles broke up in 1970, McCartney began a solo career and formed the band Wings. Wings were a revolving door of musicians with McCartney, wife Linda and multi-instrumentalist Denny Laine as the only constant participants. Wings was mostly a McCartney solo venture, but it wasn’t until 1980 that McCartney truly started a solo career.
How To Spot Him:
Paul McCartney made the Hofner violin-shaped bass famous. McCartney continues to use the “Beatle Bass” on tour and in the studio. Its hollow body and small form create a distinctive sound and the violin shape of the instrument’s body makes it one of the most visually distinctive basses. The 63-year-old man still looks like the 20-year-old musician who was dubbed “the cute Beatle” by the media, though today he has more wrinkles and greyer hair.
Vital Fact:
McCartney’s classic ballad “Yesterday” is the most-covered song of all time. Rumours say that the song has been covered over 3000 times. Too bad he doesn’t own the publishing rights.
Not So Vital Fact:
Heather McCartney is Paul’s late wife Linda’s daughter from a previous marriage. Heather Mills-McCartney is Sir Paul’s current wife. That’s weird.
Where To Start:
McCartney (1970) – “Maybe you’re the only woman who could ever help me”
Paul McCartney used the opportunity of the Beatles’ break-up to announce his new album, simply called McCartney. McCartney played and sang everything you hear on these thirteen songs except for some harmony vocals provided by his wife Linda. The songs are short and sweet, many of them instrumentals, showcasing his abilities as more than just a bass player. Opening with a little love-ditty “The Lovely Linda,” McCartney is a laidback album throughout, and a short glimpse into the personal life of the McCartneys. The album is best known for including the hit song “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Perhaps the liveliest of the entire album, it may now be known more as the song with the vegetarian recipe recited backwards. That recipe only appeared in a version played at the end of an episode of The Simpsons that featured McCartney. The song would go on to be a template for Wings and of McCartney’s future hits. “Oo You” and “Momma Miss America” really get things going for the second side of the record before losing steam on “Teddy Boy,” a song rejected by The Beatles for good reason. Key cuts: “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Momma Miss America,” “Oo You” and “Kreen-Akrore.”
Ram (1971) – “So I sat in the attic, a piano at my nose, and the wind played a dreadful cantata”
McCartney’s second album was credited to Paul and Linda McCartney. Also along for the ride are Hugh McCracken, Dave Spinoza and future Wings drummer Denny Seiwell. The songs here are perhaps McCartney’s most impressive, and the album is arguably his best. Its single, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey,” is perhaps the worst song on the record. Lesser-known songs like “Smile Away,” “Monkberry Moon Delight” and “3 Legs” make this album memorable. Its innate quirkiness is the very essence of what makes this a great McCartney record. Nonsensical lyrics and music caught up in the moment rather than deliberate and calculated create something that is easily approachable and a record that will beckon repeat listening. Key cuts: “Too Many People,” “Smile Away,” “Monkberry Moon Delight” and “Dear Boy.”
Band On The Run (1973) – “Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more”
Considered by most to be McCartney’s best, Band On The Run found the McCartneys joined by Denny Laine. The three went to Lagos, Nigeria and recorded this album, a masterpiece. While Ram was great because it was caught up in the moment, Band On The Run is a very calculated album. Free form was not an option as just two people, Sir Paul and Denny Laine, performed most of the album. Among the killer rock tracks are “Jet” and “Let Me Roll It,” but the album also contains one of McCartney’s finest, “Picasso’s Last Words.” It’s a beautiful lament for “the grand old painter” that’s sad, but joyous as the song captures the artist’s optimistic dying words. Key cuts: “Picasso’s Last Words (Drink To Me),” “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five,” “No Words” and “Mamunia.”
Venus & Mars (1975) – “Starship 21ZNA9”
No matter how good Wings’ fourth album was, it would never live up to the expectations of the world. Listening to Band On The Run and Venus & Mars back-to-back it’s easy to see that Venus & Mars pales in comparison. Opening on a mellow note with the title song, and breaking into one of McCartney’s best arena-rock songs, “Rock Show,” the album gets off to a fantastic start. It’s very similar to The Beatles’ white album in that there doesn’t seem to be a limitation in style or genre. But while The Beatles’ effort somehow turned into one of the greatest collections of songs, Venus & Mars has very little holding each song to the next. McCartney is definitely in his “silly-mode” on this record, and songs like “You Gave Me The Answer” and “Magneto And Titanium Man” are perfect examples of this. I include this in “Where To Start” because I feel that this album is the best of a type of McCartney albums that continues and the songs on this album are fantastic, even if they are silly. Key cuts: “Magneto and Titanium Man,” “Treat Her Gently (Lonely People),” “Venus And Mars/Rock Show” and “You Gave Me The Answer.”
Flaming Pie (1997) – “Stick my tongue out and lick my nose”
This album from 1997 was often called McCartney’s best album since Band On The Run. But Flaming Pie even gives Band On The Run a run for its money. It’s simply a fabulous album. McCartney says his inspiration for the album came as he was reminded of the quality of The Beatles’ work during the Anthology project. It takes everything McCartney does well and does it as best as he can. “Somedays,” “Souvenir” and “Little Willow” are perfect in their beauty, while “Flaming Pie” and “The World Tonight” are great rock songs. This album deserves an honoured place in McCartney’s catalogue, and easily makes you forget his mistakes of the 80s. Key cuts: “The World Tonight,” “Calico Skies,” “Flaming Pie” and “Souvenir.”
Where To Go From There:
Wild Life (1971) – McCartney’s screeching voice fills the title track of Wild Life in his plea for conservation and respect for man’s fellow creatures. On McCartney’s first record with his new band Wings, he fills the album with throwaway tracks such as “Mumbo” and “Bip Bop,” but though they have no deep meaning, these songs are still a lot of fun. The album also features the hit song “Tomorrow.”
Red Rose Speedway (1973) – Starting off with the silly but fun “Big Barn Bed,” Wings’ second album is most famous for McCartney’s ode to Linda, “My Love.” There are some great love songs on this record including “One More Kiss” and “Get On The Right Thing.” There is also the sweet “Little Lamb Dragonfly” and the silly “Loup.”
Rushes (by The Fireman) (1998) – This is probably one of the strangest entries in the canon of McCartney’s music. He’s done orchestral work (Standing Stone, Liverpool Oratorio), lounge (Thrillington), soundtrack (The Family Way) and his standard of pop music. Rushes is not his first foray into techno music, but his best. Collaborating with Youth, the two create a sound canvas that links themes through each song without getting repetitive. The songs are strong, particularly the bass-heavy “Bison” which just blasts through to the listener.
What To Avoid:
Give My Regards To Broadstreet (1984) – Why, oh why does this exist? Do we need an album of McCartney and Beatles hits re-recorded for the soundtrack of one of the worst films ever made? I thought not.
Working Classical by Paul McCartney (1999) – Much like Give My Regards To Broadstreet, do we need re-recordings of McCartney hits as chamber music? This album was created as practice pieces before McCartney got up to writing his symphony Standing Stone. While Standing Stone is not great, this album makes it look fantastic.
Tripping The Live Fantastic, Paul Is Live, Back In The U.S. & Back In The World by Paul McCartney (1990, 1993, 2002, 2003) – These are good live albums, but McCartney performs his records almost note for note. These make great souvenirs for the fans who attended these shows, but go nowhere at helping the art-form of live albums.
Everything Else You Need To Know:
Plugged: The Unofficial Paul McCartney Homepage
http://www.mcbeatle.de/macca/index.shtml
Paul McCartney’s official website
http://www.paulmccartney.com
Is Paul dead?
http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Obituary/paul.html
Macca-Central
http://www.macca-central.com
Great site for setlists, if you can avoid the ads.