Tri-annual Beatle Kick: The McCartney Years

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:40 pm

Seems that two or three times a year I revert to my old Beatle records, books, and accompanying paraphernalia. I pulled out my fake book and played a few tunes this morning then went to Wal•Mart to buy socks and saw "The McCartney Years", a three-disc set with all his videos, some live film footage and tons of extras. Had to have it.

So now I'm watching McCartney videos. Some are really corny but some of it takes me back and I'm awash in nostalgia. A lot of it so far is just montage of pictures and home movies which is not exactly what I expected, but it's serving the mood.

Groupie Joined: Nov 15, 2007 Posts: 76

And what's so wrong about feeling good?...

I once got a box of old VHS tapes from my mom and dad's house, one of which was an Elvis tape. It was nothing more than a bunch of clips and outtakes that were either so incoherant, poor or damaged that they didn't seem to be much good for any use in any more polished documentary product. There isn't any voice-over setting up these things or "host" to bring it all together or anything; Just raw, crappy clips placed end to end. Clearly for the hard-core fan...

It's hard to add more to what has already been said about McCartney, but I can't resist: The word "classic" is thrown around a lot, and it's just out-and-out ABUSED to refer to things aging baby-boomers remember from their younger years (which is, like, 30, 40 years ago? Gimme a break!...). But, the writing of Paul McCartney is classic in the truest sense of the word, and will be talked about for CENTURIES afterward. Just as schoolkids learn about Mozart and Beetoven in the 17th and 18th centuries, schoolkids of the 24th and 25th centuries will be opening thier textbooks and studying about the master songwriter of the 20th century, Paul McCartney. Now THAT'S the kind of "classic" I'M talkin' about!...

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 4:19 pm

Yeah, I'm still blown away by some of the melodies and chord choices in McCartney's music. Pretty sophisticated stuff. Definitely gets me inspired to pick up my guitar.

I'm seeing McCartney videos I've never seen or heard before here. "Waterfalls" and a video of "My Love" I've never seen. Very cool. Something called "C.Moon" - never heard that before. There is a lot of his solo work that I don't know.

The 80's stuff is really cringy - the Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder duets. Ugh!

"Take It Away" has Ringo playing off-beat in the video - George Martin on the piano. John Hurt plays the "important impresario".

I can't believe "Mull of Kintyre" was such a huge hit. Just goes to show you the difference between cultures and what we value.

From Wikipedia: One place where it was not a major hit was the United States, where it only managed to make it to #33 in the Billboard Hot 100, and that was as "Girls School", not Mull Of Kintyre. As a consequence, McCartney has not played "Mull of Kintyre" during his subsequent concert tours of America, only adding it back on forays into Canada. [/i] - you see, here in America we totally get "Girls School" but singing a love song about where you live we just can't understand.

Right now I'm watching videotape of the shooting of the Band On The Run cover - oh, and eating a whole sleeve of Girl Scout "Thin Mints". Yum.

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:08 pm

I love C.Moon! ...haha

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2008 8:23 pm

Best part of this 3 disc set so far, "Rockshow" - concert from the Wings Over America tour.

Awesome. I remember my sister bringing home pictures of that concert back in 1976. I was 12 and jealous as hell that I didn't get to go.

Ok, I just heard an early 90's version of "Be With You" that's quite awesome. Duh, I meant to say "Every Night". "Be with you" is the hook. They also do a version of "That would be something" that's pretty awesome.

I've been watching McCartney for, like, six hours now.

Heading off to the Token later on to see Euphoric Haze with the old lady.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:53 pm

I'd like to have a cup of coffee with Paul sometime ... hehe