One of the most exemplary musicians of our time, Paul McCartney was far from done when The Beatles called it quits in 1969 and has went on to build one of the most impressive bodies of work in rock and roll history. I have been fortunate enough to see the man in concert three times since 2011 and have never been more impressed at a live show than I was at the first I attended at Wrigley Field.
420 to 30: A Music Retrospective
Here's 7 of my favorites from Paul McCartney.
Week 25: PAUL MCCARTNEY/WINGS
#169/420 - Paul McCartney, “Every Night”
A real gem from McCartney’s solo debut. Like the rest of the album, it is very stripped-down and simple, but also very sweet. It connects a lot with a certain part of my personality and I’ve always appreciated that aspect of Paul McCartney’s music both before and after The Beatles. He was and is very skilled at simple love songs that endure.
It’s also pretty much how I feel right now, and have, and will I’m sure many more times for the rest of my life, which is part of what makes it such a great song.
#170/420 - Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, “Too Many People”
The opening track to my favorite post-Beatles album from Paul McCartney, this was released as a Paul & Linda album, before (Paul McCartney &) Wings was formed and it is really, really great. (Just like my vocabulary with all my "really"s and "great"s.)
This particular track is basically the pre-cursor to diss tracks that became common in rap music in later decades as this song is basically Paul and Linda shitting on John and Yoko. While I don’t much care for the pettiness, it’s a great song nonetheless and avoids the directness of addressing them specifically that would ruin an otherwise good song. It stays vague enough to let you claim its lyrics to another purpose that means more to you. (Of course, lines like “too many reaching for a piece of cake” and “never sleeping late” etc. are not-so-veiled references to John and Yoko’s antics that were more obvious in the moment at the time the song was made than they are decades later.)
Either way, this album and this song really rock, I love the style, I love the silly elements and it’s like everything fantastic that Paul contributed as a member of the Beatles finally releasing forth from a cannon as a distinctly Paul project. Well, and Linda. Underrated couple!
And the first few bars of this song in particular, what a fine album opener.
“Piece of ca-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-ke.”
Indeed.
#171/420 - Paul McCartney, “Another Day”
Another day, another great from Sir Paul. This is a really cool pop song, a detailed account of the monotonous daily routine of a lonely woman. With harmony from Linda, it’s one of their earliest collaborations and remains a highlight of their life and work together before she tragically passed away in 1998. I am very fond of songs like these that Paul wrote both during and after the Beatles. It is essentially a “character” song, where the full picture of someone is developed musically and lyrically, and this is one of his strongest in this genre.
It’s upbeat, but sad, so sad. She is a warrior in her own way, but no one needs to be lonely. Break the spell, "let him in."
Not everyday need be “just another day”.
(B-Side is also recommended.)
#172/420 - Paul McCartney feat. Stevie Wonder, “What’s That You’re Doing?”
Paul has probably done more duets with famous musicians than any other Beatle following the break-up of the band, including some really good ones with Michael Jackson, but my all-time favorite is one of two he recorded with Stevie Wonder for Tug of War. This song seems to combine everything great about Stevie and Paul into one really groovin’ piece of work. It’s got excitement to it and the lyrics fit the feeling behind it, as the wave of realization that you really dig a girl. Captures the building feeling and getting up and wanting to dance quite well.
I enjoy this song greatly, with two of the greatest musicians of all time on one track. Also an album well worth checking out from later in Paul’s career. Many good songs on this one.
#173/420 - Paul McCartney & Wings, “Band on the Run”
The best Wings album features my favorite from Paul’s run with his band Wings. This has been a favorite since childhood, when I originally thought it was actually by The Beatles, which is reasonable considering it’s one of the most Beatles-like post Beatle songs. But enough about Beatles. This is a grand song from Paul.
One thing I’ve always enjoyed the most about it is its many phases. The third and final is of course the most fun, but it’s so much more from the parts that come before it. Iconic.
At one point in my life I was lucky enough to be a temporary 4th member in a Beatles tribute band and while I didn’t and unfortunately still don't play any instruments, I did get to do the keyboard part at the beginning of this song which remains a highlight of my music career.
Also, Paul really hits some high notes. Very difficult to sing over the period of a live set. I was extremely impressed that even 40+ years later he was/is still able to do it live.
#174/420 - Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”
Perhaps Paul’s magnum opus after The Beatles, this is a tour de force that I have loved since childhood as well. It has all of the iconic McCartney qualities. It’s a multi-phased, character piece with a broad use of instruments, awesome harmonies, more than one memorable chorus in a single song, silly voices/lyrics incorporated, musical callbacks, and foot-tappin’ change-ups left and right. This is the type of song where Paul is at his best and this is a real highlight among such tracks, from my favorite album of his to boot.
Paul was and is awesome (for many reasons but among them) because he never really cared what rock and roll was “supposed to” be, he was never afraid to make it extra English or obtuse, he just made music that sounded good and was enjoyable to listen to and he may be the most listenable Beatle for that reason. Truly a legend in and out of his time.
A fine song for a Saturday morning.
#175/420 - Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, “Ram On”
One of my favorite songs by any artist, this is my favorite song about love. It’s very sweet, simple, ethereal, and enchanting and I really love it. It only repeats the same line throughout, “ram on, give your heart to somebody soon, right away,” but that alone says a lot to me. Don’t waste time, takes chances with your heart, charge ahead with your love and have no regrets.
From the majestic piano rolls, the music comes to swells behind the simple ukulele into a heavenly wash of two people in love, calm and peace, relaxation, and silliness too, making fake trumpets with their voice.
Life is short. It’s hard to give your heart away to someone, but the thing about giving your heart to someone is that you don’t lose it, they only gain it. You have nothing to lose, only something to give. And you should give it. What are you waiting for? Us both to be dead? The perfect moment? Life will pass us by if we have no urgency to love. Not a panic, but simply not a buried reservation. An active act. It will comfort you along the way and lift you up where you stumble. It requires no apologies. It's just love and it's everything.
I think many who know me could accuse me of “ramming on” in too many instances where I’ve been hurt or rejected in some way, but look at me. Do I have any less of a heart than I did when I did those things or tried those things or expressed love in my heart? No less. Maybe even more. And I will never stop until it stops beating.
The one thing that I never regret in life is love. Ram on.
Thank you to Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney for this beautiful song.
Next week, Beatles Without The Beatles month continues with another beautiful soul. He was the most reserved of the Fab 4, overshadowed by John and Paul and never quite as endeared by the public as Ringo, but he may have been the wisest and the gentlest soul of the bunch. Next week is all about the late, great George Harrison.
420 to 30: A Music Retrospective
Week 2: The Jackson 5/The Jacksons
Week 3: A Tribe Called Quest
Week 4: Weezer
Week 5: Bob Dylan
Week 6: Led Zeppelin
Week 7: 2Pac/Makaveli
Week 8: Billy Joel
Week 9: Electric Light Orchestra
Week 10: Elvis Presley
Week 11: Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band
Week 12: The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Week 13: Nirvana
Week 14: The Doors
Week 15: The Rolling Stones
Week 16: Gnarls Barkley
Week 17: Gábor Szabó
Week 18: Galaxie 500
Week 19: Simon & Garfunkel
Week 20: Gorillaz
Week 21: Ennio Morricone
Week 22: The Moody Blues
Week 23: Koji Kondo
Week 24: Rob Zombie/White Zombie
View the full list of "420 Songs" here: https://tinyurl.com/y8fboudu (Google spreadsheet link)