Thursday, May 22, 2014

Es-Say #15 Save Us (or is it "Spare Us"?)

I think I've got more relief to know that Paul McCartney's "Save Us" performance from October 2013 on iHeartRadio, broadcasted from NYC has finally been released as a video. http://news.iheart.com/media/play/save-us-24798970/

Maybe it comes at the right time as all the rumours about Paul McCartney's health is of no actual comfort. Officially, he has a virus. That's the reason the Japan and South Korea tour got cancelled. I'd rather be worried about something more tangible than people giving random medical opinions. My cousin has worked in the medical profession for decades. Should I ask her about how long it will take for McCartney to be well again? She might have an educated opinion, but not enough information to advise anymore than anyone would. I think I'll wait until McCartney's actual doctor says something, if anything needs to be made public at all.

Another concern was that something must be terribly wrong with his health because he's never cancelled so many shows all at once. I also don't think it was unheard of anymore than cancelling THAT Japan tour in 1980. It's a first time occurrence and what I like to call "Life." I just think he's allergic to Japan!(of course, I'm kidding as the official press report made it clear he was 100% willing to go onstage against doctor's orders.)

Concerts cancelled for illness reasons by many other musicians have been just as generalized in press statements. However, it does not lead people to normally question if the musician is at their end of days or unable to continue touring. The "...But he's Paul McCartney" reasoning is a bit silly because that would make him like "Newman"(uh, his "Appreciate" video Robot star); not human at all. Most touring musicians, including Paul, have insurance and good management ready for any event that would interrupt a leg of a tour. The creditable information will be released but still people will not rest without Paul being more vocal. Another Life magazine cover, Perhaps?

No, he isn't really dead again...   

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Es-Say #14 Frozen Mac

I've decided to use a little play-on one of the songs from "McCartney II" to illustrate that Paul's physicians are preventing him from performing at his National Stadium, Tokyo shows this entire weekend. He has a virus yet his recently debuted Robot "Newman" does not(That's right, I said "Robot"). Of course, myself and all his other fans wish him a speedy recovery(Paul, not "Newman," who is interesting as a video star but stranger in person). Maybe I'm not making myself clear Paul McCartney has a virus. "Newman" should not make public appearances but I fully Appreciate this video. I think it's great Microsoft and not Apple(Steve Jobb's Apple) made this video for...you guessed it-Appreciate!
 Newman the Robot, has been revealed to be developed by the same puppeteers that did the "War Horse" stage production. I didn't like that the puppeteers were visible when Paul first arrived in Japan this week. The magic of the video focuses on Paul dancing with "Newman" not "Newman and Men In Black". My point is, I don't want to see Frank Oz and Miss Piggy ever together in the same room for example.

As the Japan concerts are being rescheduled, this does shift the attention to the "Appreciate" video and the "Save Us" single. "Save Us" was added to US radio playlists, but I don't know about the worldwide distribution. Their was supposed to be a "Save Us" video but it hasn't yet materialised. To then launch "Appreciate" online, all this cross referencing of two songs off of the "New"(2013) album is very confusing. Just like my entire blog today, don't you think?

It might be argued that there can't be any focus placed to these two album songs as McCartney himself can't promote due to being under the weather. I could write a book on how his publicity is probably the best in the business yet it does take a major dip when he isn't 100% hands on. This is going to be an interesting moment in his current tour to say the least but I hope his health will improve first.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Es-Say #13 "One Of These Records Is Not Spelled Like The Other..."

I'll be honest, I haven't done enough research for todays Es-Say, yet I did almost forget that the 45 I got last week of "No More Lonely Nights" for about $.50(£.30) could be more than just a duplicate release of the one on the right. Immediately, the most obvious difference(maybe hard to see in my photo), is that the left copy has a non-glossy finish. The glossy UK cover I bought for under $5 and I had recalled at the time that there was a mis-print.
That's right, nobody could spell "Lonely" properly when they set up the typeface for the label(it's wrong on both A&B Sides). From what I do know now about R 6080, my original glossy wrongly spelled copy is that it only had the mishap half-way through the original pressing. So, drum roll...the correct and original 45 vinyl of "No More Lonely Nights" looks like....
It has a nice tin/aluminium look to the label with the letters carved on to it. I may be observing these details of the label completely wrong, but at least it has "Lonely" spelled right and a ring of manufacturing lettering around the label. Isn't it a beauty?!? So, why has it come in a paper sleeve and not a glossy one? Should it be the other way around? I must return back sifting through record boxes. On a side note, there are 7 different UK versions of this song released on vinyl total either in 45 or 12-inch. The 45 got released again as a different version, not only to correct the spelling error, but to release a dance mix on the b-side. All you could ever want to know about these pressing are compiled at The Beatles Recordings website www.jpgr.co.uk/r6080.html

It seems that as much as I didn't really want to collect all known versions of "No More Lonely Nights" I think I got an urge to do this. It now has to run simultaneously with my hunt for every known pressing of "Good Night Tonight." This cannot end well...

Speaking of "Good Night Tonight," less than a month after finding the Holland 45 copy, I found the Sweden copy
The front cover picture sleeve is the same on the back. Unfortunately, I can't add this to the video with the rest of my copies on the you tube page www.youtube.com/magicmeri but maybe it will show up in the future. This whole idea to not look for other versions is a bit too late now. I FEEL LIKE....I FEEL LIKE...
with this French copy of this awesome song from Wings' "Venus and Mars" album. What a great picture sleeve it is(I wonder what the other versions look like). I couldn't let this one go but it's best to focus on what I'm currently collecting. It is really easy to get distracted with all of these great jems, but first get the main collections completed. That seems sensible to me.

Please note: The blog has a Facebook page for various McCartney updates and when this blog has new entries along with "exclusive content." A Twitter page is being considered for the same exact purpose. If you would like either. Please comment here if you would like to join either. Thanks! 





Friday, May 2, 2014

Es-Say #12 Paul has nothing to lose...

This blog entry is just a simply, but lovely, rant. It concerns the current 2014 Paul McCartney "Out There" Tour and how many fans have expressed displeasure with countries or venues chosen to play. It was my view that some of the locations fit a theme of being "New" to go along with both the song on the 2013 album of the same name. Ecuador, for example on the 28th of April, was the first time he played in the country. Other venues in America have had something "new" to celebrate, even if Paul had performed before in the exact location. Bottom line is that this current tour has taken a detour to not play all the expected locations.

I don't listen to anyone who complains about Paul appearing in entire continents for 2014, like Asia or South America because they can't seem to grasp that South Korea and Ecuador are separate countries. Equally, though I do understand the frustration expressed by Australian fans(it's possibly been decades) he can choose to play locations he's never played before. The fact that he wants to continue international touring should be acknowledged in itself.

So where does that leave me? Or anyone else for that matter who would like to watch a 2014 Paul McCartney concert. The year isn't over yet and modern times has provided the ability to watch and listen to multiple web video, reports, photos etc. So, maybe you'll have to wait until 2015 or 2016, when he's 74. Oh yes, I don't think he's going to "pack it in" anytime soon. My advice would be to chill because all these complains about the tour will seem silly when he again plays Madison Square Garden or The O2, at some point. It's important to note the set lists haven't changed that much. All the new songs have been promoted in television broadcasts. It's only a couple not expected songs being thrown into the setlist. In the meantime, enjoy all live material that is readily "Out There".

Rant over, I'm off to another Record buyers show....