Paul McCartney (AP file photo)
When Paul McCartney appeared on that first Ed Sullivan show back in 1964, was it obvious to anyone watching he would be as huge a star as he is today? Since Paul and the Beatles said back then they didn't expect to last more than a couple of years, probably not.
But the Beatles are doing very well in the 21st century. And so is Sir Paul McCartney, who probably couldn't have predicted he'd have that title back then, either.
But that's the nice wrap tied around his story. When he released the "McCartney" album, he was scorned for breaking away from the Beatles, even though other Beatles had broken away or wanted to (not counting the solo vanity projects) before that.
Look how far he has come. A wall full of albums from "McCartney" to "Memory Almost Full," not to mention the stunning "Electric Arguments" album by his pseudonym the Fireman that surprised the critics who thought he was long past his prime.
He's been an activist for vegetarians and against animal cruelty, genetically altered foods and most recently, global warming. He headlined one of the first concerts in New York after the World Trade Center attack.
He's invested his money wisely in music publishing, though ironically, he doesn't own the Beatles catalog, the one he'd probably love to have the most.
He performs live regularly with a band that has been proven to be a superb fit for him. His concerts are limited in number, but even jaded reviewers praise his shows as being superb. After initially turning away from the Beatles' catalog in his early solo career, he now embraces it in concert by performing no shortage of Beatle songs and tributes to John Lennon and George Harrison. One critic called McCartney and his band the best Beatle tribute group in the world.
His life since leaving the Beatles hasn't always been perfect. Along with a couple of less than great albums ("Red Rose Speedway," for one), there was the vanity project "Give My Regards to Broad Street" that was so bad it was embarassing. Not to mention his marriage to now ex-wife Heather Mills that put both of them in tabloid headlines almost every day.
But things are definitely getting better all the time. He keeps a fairly low key relationship with his current romantic interest, Nancy Shevell. His tours are doing well critically and financially. And who knows what tomorrow may bring in his music and outside interests?
What we'll try to do here is look at the McCartney of yesterday, today and tomorrow -- his music and his life.
He's still going strong. Could anyone have imagined in 1964 he'd be where he is today? It may have been only a dream then. It's the life of a legend now.
(Yes, Steve's the Paul McCartney Examiner now, too. So any stories about meeting Paul, seeing Paul, being a Paul fan or loving his music, we'd like to hear yours. And maybe we'll feature it here. Email us at beatlesexaminer@gmail.com. And subscribe! PLEASE!!)
- Subscribe to us: Have our Paul McCartney Examiner columns sent to your inbox. Click SUBSCRIBE on the button above this column. It's free.
- Bookmark us: http://www.examiner.com/x-34954-Paul-McCartney-Examiner
- Make us your home page.
- Add us as a Favorite Examiner (see above)
- Check out our Beatles Examiner, Vintage Rock 'n' Roll or TV on DVD Examiner columns.
- A great online Beatles store.
- Write to us: beatlesexaminer@gmail.com
- Become an Examiner (for referral, use #2082)
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Comments
Awesome, Steve!
Nice introduction piece, Steve. I've just subscribed and will look forward to each entry.
Lovely news! Thanks.
Very nice, Steve. It's great to see Macca get this kind of recognition. Looking forward to the future columns.
Steve,
Great idea to have a Paul McCartney column!
IMHO, I don't think that RED ROSE SPEEDWAY is so "bad". [Usually WILD LIFE gets dumped on! What gives?!] The critical "bandwagon" to jump on for decades is to deride Paul's solo albums, but maybe because I bought it when it first came out during the early 1970s heyday of solo Beatles material, I like it? (a great Fab4 solo time period). Typically, critics said that Paul's writing and bass playing was improved on RRS and a hint of things to come with BAND ON THE RUN and "Live And Let Die" just around the corner. Anyway, I still enjoy hearing RRS. It's not a "masterpiece", but I like it.
This may be unusual, but I also don't think that BROADSTREET was such a horrible project. True, the film plodded along with the slimmest of plots ... but the music has taken an unfair beating over the years. (guilt by association?) Have you listened to the CD lately? Nice (then) new versions / re-arrangements of Beatles and solo/Wings songs.
Mike
Mike: I was really referring to the film and not the music. You're right -- the music isn't so bad. And if you think about it, it was a forerunner to all the Beatle songs he's doing in concert now.
Steve - Love your columns and look forward to reading your Macca ones, as well.
Thanks for the update, Steve. I had wondered whatever happened to Paul McCartney.
Great column, can't wait for more.
Aww...poor RRS - I love Big Barn Bed. It rocks. But then again I actually think Mumbo on Wild Life is cool, great guitar "jam" and so is the song Wild Life and I love the first McCartney album. And Ram is just beyond awesome. So I tend to think his pre-Band on the Run stuff gets a big unfairly slagged.
Best of luck on the new column. Must be nice to have all that extra time on your hands.
Chris
Maggie, I'm "with you" on your comments. It's bad enough that Paul's pre-BOTR material has been popularized into being not up to snuff (that Beatles yardstick is a TOUGH one to measure up to) but it certainly doesn't help when Paul himself tends to trivialize that same material. I think it's a shame. I still love the RAM album, WILD LIFE (while not a *great* overall album) has its nice moments, Wings' 3 1972 singles are fun to listen to, and RRS also has good/catchy songs on it. In short, the picture painted by most critics (and Paul himself) regarding his pre-BOTR material doesn't hold up when the material is actually examined song by song ... there's lots of nice music in there, IMHO.
But everyone's mileage varies and it's all subjective: people's definition of "good" and "bad" typically don't match.
Time for me to get down off the soapbox!
Steve -- thanks again for giving Macca his own column!!
Mike
How can anyone dislike "Red Rose Speedway"? It has "Hi Hi Hi" on it!
And I did like "Give My Regards To Broadstreet"-it's basically a collection of music videos tied around a plot.
JK - I agree with you RE: BROADSTREET. How much one enjoys the movie is determined by the expectations going into it. CITIZEN KANE it is not :-) but if you go into it thinking that you'll be seeing some Paul performances around a light plot, then the movie seems OK. (or for some folks, just tolerable)
Not that I am equating BROADSTREET with MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR, but they both took the same type of "abuse" from critics. If you look at them as being music videos with some degree of a "plot", they're OK. (I've always loved MMT.)
Regarding RED ROSE SPEEDWAY: "Hi Hi Hi" is included as a bonus track on the (1993 UK) remastered RRS, but that song was *not* on the original RRS and isn't typically considered to be part of the album.
"Hi Hi Hi" was the 3rd of three 1972 singles I alluded to and it was released in December 1972; the prior 2 were "Give Ireland Back To The Irish", which was Wings' first single, coming out in February 1972; the 2nd single was "Mary Had A Little Lamb".
Count me as one of the people who love Broadstreet.
Red Rose Speedway gets the slag because, like Back To The Egg, it works individually but loses something as a whole. That's not enough to count it a mis-step, though: Pipes Of Peace's overproduction and the boredom one gets from the first Fireman record are more than enough to get hit first.
As for Paul's critics-like response, he mentions in The McCartney Interview (1980) how he is easily swayed by people's opinions, and he's been really hurting for critical recognition since John died and his hits began to wane. The early records have certainly not got the worst of it, though, as Paul's done only 3 cuts in concert dating from 1980-1988 (one only once!), and hasn't touched the stuff from 88-96 since they were performed.
Can't resist a few comments on the comments: "Hi, Hi, Hi"-- a GREAT Wings rocker-- was a bonus track on RRS. I bought RRS when it came out, and I was hoping not only "Hi, Hi, Hi" would be on it, but that there would be more, similar-type rockers, as well. Very disappointed when it came out. Especially the second half of the album, starting with "Loup"-- a horrible waste of time-- and a very tepid medley ("Hands Of Love" is a nice song, but the rest of them are second rate IMHO). As for "Broad Street," my favorite track is the re-make of "For No One," done in a gorgeous, Yesterday-like acoustic guitar/string arrangement. It's almost better than the Beatles version.
Rick G -FOTR says:
Thanks for the update, Steve. I had wondered whatever happened to Paul McCartney.
January 7, 1:04 PM
Making me laugh! Thank you.
Put me down for loving RRS. Since loading Paul's solo work on my Ipod I have remembered how much I loved it. Much better than what the critics said.
and what`s so wrong with Red Rose Speedway.....stop taking liberties Steve - its not fair!!
I prefer Red Rose Speedway to Band on the Run, Pipes, Egg, Press, and Wildlife.
Red Rose Speedway is sheer genius when compared to Off The Ground, Press To Play, Driving Rain, Back To The Egg and Broad Street. C'mon! Still love it.
Hi Steve!
I too have subscribed to your new endeavor. I love the initial entry. Speaking as a relatively new passionate Beatles/solo works fan, I learn so much from reading your columns and most of the comments that your readers leave. I'm also really enjoying listening to MACCA Radio. "Press" just finished playing. I've never heard it before and quite like it. I thank Paul for all the beautiful music he's made and shared with the world, and you Steve for bringing us your extensive knowledge and research. Oh, and I just bought a DVD of "Rockshow" on Ebay. With all the great things I've heard about it, I can't wait for it to arrive. Cheers!
Very excited to see the Macca Examiner! :)
RRS isn't that bad...there are better Macca albums, but it's enjoyable to listen to.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!