Here's the rest of our Thursday This And That post ...
heavy on McCartney tonight ... but a few other topics as well!
New Paul McCartney documentary “Man On The Run” … here is my review
NOTE: If you have not watched the new Macca documentary yet, you might skip my review OR even if you did see it??? :)
I liked it -- especially because it ended in 1980 with the end of Wings, the band. The music Paul did after was mostly not appreciated by me much other than a few gems here and there. Of course, I quit buying new music by ‘85, so it wasn't his music's fault, in my case. That said, I jotted some notes down on how MY life revolved around Wings in the ‘70s. THIS film really did great at weaving the story around the music OR weaving the music around the story. It works either way. The story is mostly chronological, but the songs are not as much since many fit the story better being switched around to some extent.
Beginning with Chris Welch saying the "McCartney I" album was a "disappointment," I had to disagree vehemently. I loved it. It was portrayed as "the easy album," but "Maybe I’m Amazed" is very possibly one of the greatest songs Paul ever did and to figure out to fit all the instruments like that and have so many ideas in JUST ONE SONG right after leaving the Beatles hardly makes it an "easy album" to make. Besides, there were some simple songs on it and "Junk" twice as well as Beatles semi-retreads at times, but it all worked amazingly well. As I watched and the date "October, 1970" came on the screen, I could not help but think of my fave Emitt Rhodes in HIS tiny home studio doing the same thing to HIS amazing first LP done the same way and released only five months after "McCartney," but having to ping pong the tracks back and forth. How incredible was THAT?
Anyway, the film talks like "Ram" was the best time of Paul and Linda's lives and it was truly a great album. The home footage of 70/71 was really great to see. Then the formation of Wings with the 1972 rehearsal tape was cool to see for the first time. I really had no idea they just barnstormed their first tour across England. Scary, I'd think. Then, the big lull, IMO. "Wildlife" was a failure, IMO, and basically skipped over in the film. NO mention of the 45 "Give Ireland" as a great but very odd choice for a 45 (at least in the US) or “Hi Hi Hi.” They panned the McCartney TV special, which was truly bad (like a REALLY bad Magical Mystery Tour film). In 1972, we lived in Lincoln and I had just recently bought a stereo Lafayette reel to reel recorder from my brother Roger and one of the first things I taped with it was that entire TV special thru a line patch from our TV. I had not used reel to reels since 1969 and our old Bell recorder in Dodge City. "Mary Had A Little Lamb" was a huge disappointment 45 and failed to reach the top 10 here easily.
In the meantime, John, George and Ringo were all doing some great stuff and I began to wonder about Paul's journey musically. Then, in 1973, came "Red Rose Speedway" and "My Love" went to #1. I "liked" the album and felt it a LITTLE bit of a comeback. Still, not nearly as good as "Ram" had been. Then, while on vacation (I was 17) with family to California, on the way back home I heard "Live And Let Die" as a new 45! VERY unusual for Paul to have another 45 so soon and unlike "My Love", the label was back to the normal green Apple label. The song was GREAT!
I had no idea about the troubles recording the "Band On The Run" LP until Geoff Emerick's great book told much more than the documentary did about the whole thing. Whatever, that LP solidified Wings as a stand-alone great band from the Beatles. The next, "Venus and Mars," is probably my fave of the Wings LPs. "Listen To What The Man Said" and "Letting Go” were just fab (altho the 45 version of the latter sucks).
The final three Wings LPs were ok, but nothing like all of the above. I DO love two songs … "I've Had Enough" (another cool screamer) and "Arrow Through Me." I will also mention that many will find it unbelievable that "Mull Of Kintyre" was the biggest selling single in the UK of all time, but it was then. My brother Bill, who was in college and a huge fan of ELO, joined me in praising "Mull" as a total fave altho it was relegated to a B side, non-LP then and barely got airplay in the US.
I’m glad the doc ended then, as I said. Funny that 60 years ago yesterday, the Cavern club closed its doors. Anyway, that's my take on this documentary.
Clark Besch
There weren’t many surprises or “big reveals” for me in the doc … I had pretty much followed Wings’ entire career as it happened so had heard most of these stories before … but it WAS cool to see some of this never-before-seen footage … looks like Paul and Linda documented their lives in great detail (and let’s face it, there is SO much press footage from this era that you could have put together an entire Wings Anthology Series to run for several more hours … but honestly, how much more do you need to see. (Clark: You might want to pick up the companion Wings book for even more in-depth coverage of this era. Cool to see nearly all of the ex-Wings members quoted throughout the book, too … speaking of which, my understanding at the time was that when Henry McCullough and Denny Siewell told Paul they weren’t coming with him to Africa, things ended up in fisticuffs … yet all of them seem to talk quite nicely about their time in the band now. Maybe time really does heal old wounds.)
I remember buying the McCartney album a day early … my Dad and I just happened to be downtown that Sunday and while walking around, I saw a record store (probably Rose Records) putting together their window display in anticipation of Monday’s official release date. I walked in and practically BEGGED the guy to sell me a copy … which he ultimately did. (I figure the statute of limitations has passed by now so neither of us will get in trouble!) I ran home and played it three or four times before I called my best friend Brad (also a HUGE Beatles/McCartney fan) and invited him over to hear it. (We were already familiar with “Teddy Boy” from all the Get Back bootlegs we both owned. I remember being shocked that McCartney thought it was good enough to include on his first solo LP after The Beatles passed it over for the official “Let It Be” release. It just isn’t a very good song!)
But I, too, was amazed by what Paul had done on his first solo release, playing every instrument and handling every vocal (with a few chime-ins from Linda.) Yes, in hindsight there’s a fair amount of filler on this LP … I don’t think I’ll ever listen to “Kreen Akrore” again … but there were also some real gems here … “Junk,” “Every Night,” Oo-You” and, of course, “Maybe I’m Amazed” stand out … but I also enjoyed “Man, We Was Lonely” and “That Would Be Something” if only for how corny they both were.
That being said, I think Emitt Rhodes’ album where he plays every instrument blows McCartney’s effort away ... and for all intents and purposes, he was a complete unknown ... NOT a member of the most famous band in history! The songs, singing and playing are ALL better than what McCartney gave us (save “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Junk”) and at the time I was probably ten time more likely to put Emitt’s album on than I was McCartney’s. Truth be told, I STILL listen to it quite frequently today!
Honestly, I think they skipped over quite a few things along the way in recounting Wings’ real history. The album “London Town” wasn’t even mentioned. But again, how much can you cram into a two hour documentary. (When they first announced this film, the first thing my wife said was “Why? How much don’t we already know about him?” … and in my case, that was pretty spot on.)
For the most part, I liked the “James Paul McCartney” television special (although I will admit that portions of it are pretty corny) … but hearing “Live And Let Die” for the first time EVER before its release … and closing the show with Paul singing “Yesterday,” the first time he had performed ANY Beatles song after the split … were key, pivotal moments for me.
I have always had a hard time picking “favorites” by artists that I truly love … but I recently narrowed down my Top Five Paul McCartney singles. They range from throughout his career, but in hindsight, seem rather heavy on the 1979 - 1980 era (although I will be the first to admit that I have liked precious little of what he’s done post 1990.)
My Top Five would be:
#1 – Live And Let Die (1973)
#2 – Listen To What The Man Said (1975)
#3 – Arrow Through Me (1979)
#4 – Coming Up (1980)
#5 – Goodnight Tonight (1979)
Note that some of the obvious #1’s are missing (“My Love,” “With A Little Luck,” “Ebony And Ivory,” one of his all-time WORST in my opinion, although I DO like his duet with Michael Jackson on “Say, Say, Say,” “Uncle Albert,” “Silly Love Songs” and “Band On The Run)
What impressed me most about the documentary was the brutal honesty throughout – things said about him, many of which he now concedes are probably true, the way he reacted to some of the things said about him … his anger that sparked “Band On The Run” to become his best and biggest album … comments about John, comments about Allen Klein … he laid it all out there on the carpet as opposed to his typical fashion of turning on the charm and just playing it off. Even showing his much-criticized reaction to learning of John Lennon’s death (yeah, it's a drag) … but I DIDN’T like how he shrugged off being thrown in a Japanese prison by saying that maybe deep down inside, he WANTED to get busted. Can you imagine if they had prosecuted him to the full extent of the law … seven years in jail with his family having to move to Japan just to be near him?!?! What the hell was he thinking??? (Even his daughter comments in the book that a seven year old kid could have hid the marijuana in the suitcase better than he did!)
Definitely worth watching, no matter how big a fan you are or may have been. Wings’ accomplishments have been kind of brushed off over the years as no big deal – but in hindsight McCartney was able to follow up The Beatles in a HUGE way and became quite a presence in the 1970's. One cannot help but wonder if the band had stayed together what new directions he may have pushed them. (I’ve always played this mind game when it comes to each of the former Beatles’ solo releases … how many of these songs would have been deemed good enough to make it on to a Beatles album. Even taking it year by year, which 14 tracks from 1970 would have made the cut? “Maybe I’m Amazed” certainly … but beyond that the strongest material came from George on his “All Things Must Pass” album … yet at most he likely would have only been allowed two songs … “What Is Life” probably would have been one of them … but I’m not even convinced that his big #1 record “My Sweet Lord” would have made the cut! (kk)
Tom Cuddy sent us Bob Lefsetz’s review of the Paul McCartney doc …
"Paul McCartney: Man On The
Run," Prime Video trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBcllNrY0u8
Screw the reviews. You know if you have to see this. And if you do ...
There's a star-making machinery behind the popular song. Image is important.
You're never truly let inside. Unless
you are.
Those Rick Rubin interviews were fantastic, but Paul was playing a role, a
Beatle. But who is this guy really?
I guess what impressed me most is when I heard Paul say he took the jitney in
from the Hamptons to NYC, and then a bus uptown. That's revelatory in a world where
everybody wants to become so rich and famous that they can extricate themselves
from the world of the hoi polloi.
But Paul McCartney is just another scouser from Liverpool. Albeit a very
talented one. And rich, too, but this film addresses the Allen Klein lawsuit / controversy
... Never forget that Klein ended up owning all those early Rolling Stones
albums. It wasn't like today, they were making it up as they went along. The
record companies were corporations, but the rest of the business was a free-for-all.
With hustlers and shysters and ... Paul had no idea where the millions went,
for a while anyway.
Don't confuse this film with the book, the latter was hagiography, this is shot
from a distance. Morgan Neville has earned his rep, and he delivers here.
McCartney is a micromanager who wants his hand in everything. But when you give
up control is when you get greatness. And the first half of this film is truly
great.
The second half? There's nothing wrong with it, but the arc fizzles out. Wings
tours America and then what?
Well, what happens is ... family life.
The most poignant thing said in this film is how both Paul and Linda lost their
mothers at a young age. And you can see here how Paul is needy. Or insecure. He
needs Linda by his side constantly. Just like he needs Nancy today. It's not so
much that he needs a correction factor, someone to keep him in line, but he
knows what's going on outside, the fame and people's reaction to it, isn't
really real.
Another fascinating thing said in this film is when Chrissie Hynde says the
stars don't really change. The penumbra does, but the people themselves ... Joe
Walsh nailed it, but people didn't take it so seriously because of the humor in
"Life's Been Good." But Joe's still singing that song nearly fifty
years later. The spotlight moves on. Even worse, the spotlight today is much
narrower, much more focused, and the audience itself is made up of stars.
But not back then.
You may be mesmerized, positively gobsmacked by Swiftmania, but when you see Beatlemania
in the beginning of this film ... Whoa! I was there. And everybody else who was
remembers. It was like nothing before and nothing since. The entire youth was
fascinated by this group. Listened to the music, read everything they could,
picked up instruments to play the songs and ... The Beatles were good-looking
and talented with great voices ... You just don't get that trifecta today.
That's one thing that comes across right away, Paul is cheeky. Irreverent. And
later in the film he says Liverpudlians hate the bosses. Which is kind of
funny, because today everybody wants to be the boss. But the Beatles were not
American, there was no dream, they were playing literally in a cavern. Such
that when they did succeed, they maintained their values, which were a
combination of curiosity and suspicion. They didn't trust the system. Today
Donald Trump accepts fake awards, back then John Lennon sent back his MBE.
So, the breakup is covered. But what is made clear here, in a way that it's
never been done previously, is that Paul was lost. And he didn't know where he wanted to go.
It wasn't as simple as playing music, although that was an issue, but how
exactly was he going to live?
You see images of the farm in Scotland ... That was truly off the grid. He had
to get away to find out who he was, to cogitate, he drank too much and then ...
He made "McCartney."
Now in truth not everything Paul has done since the Beatles is great, but that
initial solo album is a masterpiece, if for no other reason than it was
thrown-off, made in a vacuum, not worrying about the audience.
Today seemingly the only things people talk about are "Band On The
Run" and the hits. But if young people really listened to
"McCartney" ... it's human, and personal ... if only today's acts
could replicate this magic.
And then there are the bands. Bottom line, McCartney was the leader. And Paul
isn't perfect, he can't understand the musicians' feelings, he's got no idea
where they're at, how they're being paid a meager salary. And when members quit
just before the journey to Lagos, instead of being compassionate, he becomes
indignant, saying if they want more money they should write the songs.
Yup, Paul is flawed. He doesn't always do the right thing.
So, he puts Linda in the band, they always bring the family along, back in an
era when no one did this. But Paul had to. That's what he needs, that's his
bedrock, not lawyers and accountants, but his family. It roots him. He can
count on them. And he's certainly the center, but without them it's not clear
he can carry on.
Unlike the book, the film is not completely linear and not every moment is
delineated, they don't go through every album, however ...
A highlight for me is when they're playing "Big Barn Bed" live,
before it comes out. I love that song, but ... watching this movie you get the
context, he's talking about his barn, his life.
This happens all the time. The lyrics you thought were generic are actually
specific, he's talking about his life, mostly with Linda.
As for Linda ... She can never be completely humanized, like Yoko she started
off on the wrong foot.
And another thing you get from this film is these weren't paragons of insight
and education, Paul and Linda were making it up as they went along. Growing up.
And that's bookends this film. Paul's need to grow up. A lot of musicians never
do. Paul is infatuated with music, he needs to make it, but it's not enough to
make and keep him happy. And what is life about anyway? I still don't know. And
I'm not sure Paul does either.
There are missteps. There's the TV special with the singing and dancing that
looks nearly tone-deaf ... then again, one thing that comes clear in this movie
is Paul did so much on a lark, without much aforethought. He was not a prisoner
of his image. But without taking chances, you can never grow.
And you find out that Paul writes best when he's away from his regular space.
First in the toilet, then in Lagos ... Inspiration is an enigma, but Paul has
continued to push the envelope.
Now the truth is today Paul literally has the best band, and it's been together
for decades. But it's clear, he's the leader.
But you need backup musicians. Sure, Paul can make the records himself, but man
it is lonely.
So, despite all the Beatle projects we've been exposed to for thirty-odd years ...
There's still more to learn.
John was all about ripping himself open and testifying as to his hurts and
beliefs. But Paul has played it closer to the vest. And you think you know
these acts through their music, but in truth you don't.
I learned more about Paul McCartney, got a better feel for the man in "Man
on the Run," than in any previous production.
Where he goes from here, I'm not sure. But Paul has survived. He has not
succumbed to the dangers and missteps that have sidelined and even killed so
many other star musicians. Even around him, like Jimmy McCulloch.
That's the challenge. Continuing
to live. Too many players are like athletes, trading on the past, the good old
days. But Paul is not nostalgic, he's constantly marching forward.
At this point, Paul McCartney could truly be the most recognizable guy on the
planet. They used to say it was Muhammad Ali, but the Greatest is gone now. How
do you cope?
That's what this film is all about, the question of how you carry on.
If you're just flipping the channels, looking for something to watch, don't. If
you hate Paul McCartney and his music, don't. But if you still consider him a
member of murderers' row, someone who can always come back and hit the long
ball, "Man On The Run" is a MUST-SEE!
--Bob Lefsetz
Rotten Tomatoes gave "Man On The Run" a score of 100% ... you can't beat that! (kk)
In other Beatles news, Ringo Starr already has another new album coming out …
April 24th is the release date for “Long Long Road,” ten brand new tracks produced by T-Bone Burnett. (Ringo is totally digging this pairing with T-Bone!)
An advance track has just been released … “It’s Been Too Long” (with guest vocals by Sarah Jarosz and Molly Tuttle) … not a bad little tune! (kk)
Ringo also does a Carl Perkins tune (that’s his third dating back to The Beatle Days!)
Other guests appearing on the album include Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow and St. Vincent. (kk)
"Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I'll be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first – rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."
And then this from Shelley …
I was wearing a pink pullover sweater with no buttons. If it had buttons, I would have popped them with pride at The Fab Four concert on February 28th at The Ridgefield Playhouse. My pride doesn't come from any beliefs that I have anything to do with their talents and stage presentations that have led to their recent surge in concerts around the world. Rather, it comes from looking around the theatre and finding my current and former students and their families in the audience, along with other special needs groups participating in this FUN! My students have interviewed The Fab Four, connected them to the history of The Beatles and found a musical joy that they would otherwise have missed. It is very true that there is a communication gap between teaching staff and administration in every district. It is also very true that there is a tight and educationally sound community of communication between educators of different districts. What is good, bad, successful and disastrous is discussed and passed on between us. Therein, this concert is sold out!
I have enjoyed The Fab Four since their early days of only four members. I bought tickets for virtual concerts during covid and watched their touring members grow to AT LEAST 18 performers whose names I know. There may be more and, of course, they have at least two technicians who travel with each tour group. They have recently gone to Australia and Japan. They can actually appear in concert, at the same time, from opposite ends of the globe. And yet, the quality of each has never been sacrificed.
The players tonight are: Ron McNeil (John Lennon), Ardy Sarraf (Paul McCartney), Erik Fidel (Ringo Starr) and someone I have never seen before in The Fab Four, Doug Couture (George Harrison). Ron and Ardy are OGs and it was Ron's idea that pulled Ardy into the creation of The Fab Four.
Tonight's performance has added songs from the movie HELP! along with a playlist from the beginning of Beatlemania to the final moments of Abby Road recordings. All is enhanced by video presentations depicting fans, street medleys and psychedelic artistry. They are genial and find ways and times to pose for and greet the audience as they recreate the powerful music and relationships of The Beatles.
There are 10 guitars I can see set up on stage. It reminds me that the talent and perfection The Beatles demanded of themselves is now going to be demanded by four more musicians. So much fun!
She Loves You
I Want To Hold Your Hand
A Hard Day's Night
Can't Buy Me Love
Yesterday
HELP!
Another Girl
You're Gonna Lose That Girl
Ticket To Ride - with lyrics zipping across the back screen
This reminded John (Ron McNeil) of Karaoke. He asked Yoko what 'Karaoke' means as it is a Japanese word. Her reply was, "It means THIS IS GONNA SUCK." We're not sure that's true.
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
I Need You
The Night Before
Day Tripper
I Saw Her Standing There
Twist and Shout
INTERMISSION - giving them time to grow mustaches
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help from My Friends
Eleanor Rigby
Sgt. Pepper reprise
A Day In The Life - WOW! This is almost enough to merit the price of admission
Imagine
Give Peace a Chance
Something
Get Back
Revolution
Encore: Hey Jude
The band unfolds from a group to individuals as the they begin, strengthen, and diverse.
AND IN THE END ... the love we take is equal to the love we make.
And on Sunday, I watched 'Man on the Run.' Maybe I will talk about that tomorrow.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Representative
Forgotten Hits
And here it is, as promised ...
Man On The Run
I loved it! It is honest and portrays Paul as being human. It does not knock John nor any other Beatle to the floor (although they each had their moments).
I did not learn anything new. I have read and watched everything I could get my hands on about The Beatles break-up. However, I was still entranced by the story and can relate it to my feelings at that time, and how my feelings have changed ... and grown in a positive form ... over time. I was a teenage female totally besotted by Paul McCartney, entranced by John Lennon's nerve, enchanted by George Harrison's spiritual (and progressive music writing) and longed to just hug Ringo, and say "We will get through this. It cannot be happening."
I still had empathy for the young girls standing outside at Paul's wedding who were crying and being hounded by the press asking, "Why are you girls crying? Why are you crying?" I fear they were trying to make a mockery of these girls and how they related to Paul McCartney. Their answer of "I am just so happy for him." and the others shaking their heads in agreement shut down the questioning.
To hear Paul's voice say he had messed up, that he had really made mistakes in certain of his decisions. To hear him talk about taking up the bottle to make the pain go away. (It didn't work) And to hear him say thank goodness he had Linda during this painful parting was to raise him in my mind.
They are/were four men. With flaws. With superior talents. With an eternal bond even when dysfunctional and angry. They were The Beatles. And with any one of them absent, it would never have been.
Watch it. Watch the forming of Wings. Watch the wind changing the direction of Paul's life. Feel the love between members even through the worst "divorce" in musical history. This biopic is very honest, sad, enlightening, and emotional.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
Some commentary from Billboard regarding the new Billy Preston documentary ...
Tom Cuddy sent us this poster promoting Feddy Cannon’s new release, “Everybody’s Rockin’ Tonight.” You can listen to this tune on YouTube … and I’ve gotta tell you, Freddy still sounds great! (Can he score another hit on the Heritage World Chart???) kk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHm5S1iB6EA&list=RDXHm5S1iB6EA&start_radio=1
Another nice tribute to Neil Sedaka ...
https://theseconddisc.com/2026/03/05/in-memoriam-neil-sedaka-1939-2026/
>>>A new band forms in Los Angeles called The Herd. Before their first record is released, they will change their name to The Buffalo Springfield and go on to score the timeless Top Ten Hit “For What It’s Worth.” (kk)
True story: An online DJ I follow, name upon request, introduced a Poco song (from the Timmy Schmit era) explaining their origins, but instead of Buffalo Springfield, identified its predecessor band as Dusty Springfield!
I didn't attempt to correct him, despite there being many witnesses to the live set due to Mixcloud's inclusion of live chat, and neither did any of the witnesses.
I'm not presuming he reads FH.
Bob Frable
Are you sure he wasn’t just making a funny??? Hey, these slip-ups happen. While Dusty Springfield wasn’t personally herself a band, she did “spring” from a band of siblings called The Springfields way back when.
We covered Dusty's story here:
https://fhdustyspringfield.blogspot.com/
This just in ...
Twisted Sister’s 50th anniversary tour is back on … with Sebastian Bach stepping in for their ailing frontman, Dee Snider.
In a statement released by the band, Bach will continue to honor his solo gigs as well.
Twisted Sister members Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda are thrilled to announce that iconic vocalist and front man Sebastian Bach will be fronting the band for a handful of select dates this fall. These appearances do not affect or conflict with Sebastian’s current or future solo touring schedule, which remains fully intact.
The tour schedule is still to be determined at this time … but are expected to be announced shortly. (I'm sure half our list just breathed a collective sigh of relief!!!) kk
And finally, with that said ...
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you …
We passed 7 MILLION VIEWS earlier today and I wanted to thank each and every one of you who have provided a reason for me to keep doing what I’ve been doing for these past 27 years. As what may turn out to be the understatement of the year, it’d be pointless without you! So thanks again for your continued support. (kk)
