For anyone who wants to see what it was really like when Paul McCartney surprised the audience during Billy Joel's "Last Play at Shea" shows, "Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium," which premieres March 7 as part of PBS' "Great Performances" series, does the job very nicely.
There's no backstage footage, how it came about or even a clue about what's about to take place (though Joel gets in a little of "A Hard Day's Night" early in the show).
Then it happens. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome .... Sir Paul McCartney," Joel says calmly. You can feel the stadium rock in your living room from the crowd reaction.
McCartney performs "I Saw Her Standing There" and the show's final number, "Let It Be," the last song ever sung at Shea in the special. It's all McCartney and Joel on stage and the quality is superb.
Oh, there are other guest stars, too. Tony Bennett, who looks like he's always having a ball, singing "New York State of Mind," and Garth Brooks (on "Shameless") are also seen.
But clearly, it's the McCartney moment that makes the show. For those who weren't there, it was fun watching it on YouTube that night.
"Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium" goes one better -- the camera views are superb and the sound is excellent. It's a historic moment that was meant to be captured -- and the fact that it was makes this a show Beatles fans won't want to miss.
The show will be released on DVD next week and on Blu-ray in April.
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