I once heard someone in a record store say “Yeah, Paul McCartney used to be in a band before Wings.” As someone who bought The Beatles’ Twist and Shout LP as his first record ever, this comment offended me. Now that vinyl is making a comeback, I hope it’s permissible to use “LP” in a review. Yes, Paul McCartney was a member of The Beatles, maybe the most important rock group of all time. In 1970 he released a solo album, recorded simply, at home, at Abbey Road and at a studio in Glasgow, with only himself playing the instruments and a bit of vocal assistance from his wife Linda.
Simply called McCartney, it competed with The Fab Four’s own Let It Be, and caused hard feelings all ‘round. There was a fake interview with Paul included (in press copies) which made it clear that he did not miss his old friends. And in general the album did not satisfy too many people. I always liked it, it had a couple of fine songs which have stood the test of time, and some acoustic guitar stuff which showed that he knew his way around more than just the bass. “Every Night,” “Junk,” and the hit “Maybe I’m Amazed” were standout tracks but the whole record was a relaxing listen. Even “Kreen Akrore,” the drum workout that concludes the album had its moments. Now here it is, in a new special edition, all re-mastered, with a second disc of bonus tracks from the same time period.
McCartney was quoted in the biography Many Years From Now, (written by Barry Miles and published in 1997), “I was going through a hard period, I exhibited all the classic symptoms of the unemployed, the redundant man. First you don’t shave, and it’s not to grow a groovy beard, it’s because you cannot be fucking bothered. Anger, deep, deep anger sets in, with everything, with yourself number one and with everything in the world number two. And justifiably so because I was being screwed by my mates.”
The remastered McCartney sounds wonderful. Pristine. And the songs have a simplicity and relaxed feel about them that show a man finding himself, after being stressed with difficult business decisions, a traumatic break from a ten year partnership. He takes his destiny into his own hands here. I still enjoy this album, and have listened to it regularly for … wow! Forty Years!
McCartney disc two, offers bonus tracks like “Suicide” a line of which found it’s way onto the original album (you’ll recall “eye-ey nothin’ doin’…) well, that’s the most memorable bit from this piano based bit of doggerel. Live versions of “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Every Night,” “Hot as Sun,” appear from the 1979 Live in Glasgow recording and are useful to hear the songs played by a band. “Maybe I’m Amazed” also shows up with what sounds like a Henry McCullough guitar solo from “One Hand Clapping”. The second disc also includes the out-take “Don’t Cry Baby” (essentially an instrumental version of “Oo You”) and a demo called “Women Kind” (best left off). Instructive but unnecessary.
McCartney II came along much later, ten years in fact, after eight albums with Wings (in all their formats). It was a different kettle of fish entirely. Still is.
Both these albums were heavily criticised upon release for weak song-writing, careless playing, and a kind of slapdash approach to recording. The years have shown though, that there was more to McCartney than met the eye. These days people use the McCartney album as a model for self production. The acoustic guitars, the simple drums, overdubbed vocal harmonies, all done at home, it could be any of a thousand new folk musicians. And Sir Paul has always had a way with melody! McCartney II showed Sir Paul trying electronic sounds, repetitive synthesizers and experimentation.
“Coming Up” makes its first appearance (he continues to keep this song in his live repertoire to this day). On this one the horns are played by McCartney on kazoo. This is followed by “Temporary Secretary” a race on an electronic keyboard and a lyric that is a sort of followup to his first solo single “Another Day”. “On the Way” is a bluesy guitar piece with echoey vocals and loose drumming. “Waterfalls” is one of those classic Macca ballads, one if his most gorgeous melodies. “Nobody Knows” just sounds like fun, “Front Parlour” is a bit of a goof, “Summer’s Day Song” is a forgettable ballad. “Frozen Jap” is an electronic instrumental with some sideways oriental music. “Bogey Music” was inspired by Raymond Briggs’ marvellous Fungus the Bogeyman. Briggs deserved better than this, but it’s weird. “Darkroom” features Paul’s voice mixed with some Linda on an invitation to print some photos, or whatever else they might have done in that dark room. The album ends with another ballad, “One of These Days”, which shows McCartney’s mastery over melody.
The bonus tracks on McCartney II begin with “Blue Sway” (with orchestration by Richard Niles) a song that sounds like movie music, except Sir Paul sings “blue sway…all day” overtop of the orchestra from time to time. It’s interesting and definitely melodic. It doesn’t rock though. Next up is the live in Glasgow version of “Coming Up” from 1979. This was included in the original vinyl version of the album as a bonus 45. I have never understood McCartney’s affection for this song. Still don’t. But here it is again. “Check My Machine” is included in an edited version, a B-side to a single it is what it claims to be, McCartney trying out his new tape recorder. “Bogey Wobble” is synthesized noodling. “Secret Friend” might have a song inside it somewhere; “Mr H Atom/You Know I’ll Get You Baby” features Linda and Paul on vocals. That leaves “Wonderful Christmastime” and ten minutes of “All You Horse Riders/Blue Sway”. They are all toss offs, McCartney understands melody and harmony, but he toys with the audience who loves him. I once saw him interviewed and challenged to write a song on the spot. He picked up his guitar, played C-F-G and sang about being interviewed and asked to write a song. It was…cute if not inspired. Trouble is…he has a tendency to then release this stuff. Of course, long-time fans have a tendency to rush to the store to buy it. So, here’s more of it! And there’s more to come. Venus and Mars, Wings at the Speed of Sound, Wings Over America, and Ram are all listed as “coming soon” in archive editions.
There you have it. These are Archive selections 2 and 3 following last year’s release of Band On The Run. They also come in deluxe editions with hardcover books and DVDs. I will continue to rush to the record shop to pickup future editions of the special editions (not the deluxe) because these packages contain the music, expanded booklets, lyrics, recording notes and photos. I grew up listening to Sir Paul McCartney, and whether I like each and every note he ever played or not, I will grow old listening to him. And I think that’s who these releases are made for.
(Concord Music Group, 2011)
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