Paul McCartney "Electric Arguments" album, which he's holding here during a recent personal appearance, is one of his choices from his Celebrity Playlist on iTunes. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
Paul McCartney has a new 11-track playlist of songs personally chosen by him just up on iTunes. Each track includes written comments. It includes songs by artists who influenced him early on -- Gene Vincent, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, the Beach Boys, Fred Astaire, Ray Charles and Little Richard. Plus, there are more modern names, such as Radiohead, the Sex Pistols and the Killers. There's even one of his own tracks, "Two Magpies" from the Fireman "Electric Arguments" album. He doesn't mention it in his commentary, but that song includes a guest appearance by daughter Beatrice. Here's how to find the playlist: Search for Paul McCartney, then click on the first mention of Paul (it says Paul McCartney -- Rock) under Artists and More. Then, at the right, you'll see Celebrity Playlist. (Thanks to my former Mercury News colleague Brad Kava, who's SF Radio Examiner here, for this tip. Brad and I used to sit in neighboring cubicles. Now we're under the same roof again, so to speak. Funny how that works. I'll never forget the day I had to listen to him talk to Paul McCartney on the phone. No, he didn't pass the call to me. But was I sure tempted to interrupt!)
The New York Times has an excellent article by Allan Kozinn with an update on the ever-frustrating Beatles iTunes-reissues issue. Unfortunately, there's not much to update. Kozinn recalls the recent mentions of "Carnival of Light" aren't the first time Paul McCartney has teased fans with this track. It also isn't the last time fans will be teased with the possible issue of unreleased tracks, either, if past history holds true. He also mentions that some fans aren't waiting around for Apple to act. Bootleg compilations, like the truth, are out there. (And yes, they're illegal.)
Director Martin Scorsese has scouting around Liverpool for information for his upcoming documentary on George Harrison, the Liverpool Daily Post reports. The research turned up an interesting find: George's parents asked for him to be exempt from religious education while attending Dovedale Junior School. We all know how deeply religious Harrison became, so the motives for this early move -- and what changed later -- are a question mark.
BBC Radio 4 has a 15-minute program up for a few more days called "Lennon's Private Passion: Cape Wrath," which talks about John Lennon's early Scottish roots.
Beatlefan magazine, which, if you're a Beatle fan you love seeing in your mailbox, is mailing out its 30th anniversary issue this weekend. Congratulations to editor Bill King.
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