Tuesday, December 29, 2015

ES-Say #55 To Stream, Or Not To Stream? A Handy Guide For Streaming The Beatles(& Paul McCartney).

This month, The Beatles albums have been made available to popular music streaming websites, such as Google Play & Spotify. Now, you and your loved ones can download or stream most of the core catalogue of Beatles tunes. Gear Fab, right?

Unfortunately, this streaming opportunity may be confusing as hell for some folks. Not to worry, here is Not Saying Anything To Paul McCartney blog's handy dandy FAQs!

NSATPM's Handy Guide For Streaming The Beatles & Sir Paulie FAQs
Q1- What is streaming?
A1- I don't know how it actually works, sorry...

Q2-But, what does it mean that I can "Stream The Beatles?"
A2-I don't understand how anyone can "Stream The Beatles", but you can now listen to their songs through popular websites.

Q3-What do popular websites have to do with any of this "Streaming" business?
A3- I'm so glad you asked that, well these websites want some more money, so they thought they should offer The Beatles as a option to their subscribers and to attract new customers.  

Q4-OK, fine, now The Beatles are "an option" to stream?
A4- I just basically mean that if you have "Spotify" you are able to listen to The Beatles.

Q5- But, I listen to The Beatles on 8-Track and Reel-to-Reel!
A5- Sorry Mate, I have no clue what Reel-To-Reel is, and I haven't played an 8-Track since 1981. I listen to The Beatles on Internet Radio and on my CDs!

Q6- That's all very well, but aren't we discussing what streaming is???
A6- Streaming is just like YouTube or Broadcasting, but you need to be connected to the internet to access this information. If you downloaded a song your computer would have the whole song available to play, but if you had streaming the internet is allowing you to listen "live" as a song plays back to you.

Q7- I guess that makes sense, but I just viewed a "Magical Mystery Tour" video on You Tube last week! Is that streaming?
A7- Yes, well done, you're getting it!

Q8. Well, then this "internet radio" must be streaming also? So, why do they do this big announcement "The Beatles Are Streaming On Hoopla???"
A8. Hoopla? You mean, Apple Music surely?

Q9- Whatever! Does this mean I have to buy something, like you mentioned earlier?

This FAQ has been interrupted for the following annoying commercial! NOT SAYING ANYTHING TO PAUL MCCARTNEY HAS A FACEBOOK GROUP! JOIN THE MADNESS TODAY! NOW BACK TO THE NSATPM's Handy Guide For Streaming The Beatles & Sir Paulie FAQs!!!!!!!!!

Q10- WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED? DO I HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING TO STREAM PAUL MCCARTNEY?
A10- calm down, you can stream a Beatle for free but every once in a while, you have to listen to a commercial, it's not that bad!

Q11- So why did my friend Samantha say it costs her like £9.99 a month on Google Play? That's like £120 a year! I have 8-tracks!
A11. Yeah, that "friend" is my little sister and she has no Beatles records so it's ideal for whippersnappers to shell out some money for unlimited downloads and commercial-free access!

Q12- Sounds like a rip-off! Right?
A12- Of Course It Is! It will only cost me £20 to buy Abbey Road and Let It Be albums and Amazon Prime wants £79 a year to have these LPs on my computer. £20 and I got exactly what I want much easier and with CD jewel cases!

Q13- So, should I just forget about this streaming thingy and look into these Compact Discs?
A13- Sounds like a plan to me!

The Beatles have been added to my Spotify-free service and I'm considering a trial order that can be cancelled if I decided not to pay monthly. However, I just got The Beatles in Mono CD Box Set (2009, Japan) for the holidays. It seems a whole bunch more interesting to complain about this CD collectible then to get stuck in with the soulless computer options that many technically advanced fans(of various ages) seem to prefer.

Apologies to any of your Apple-Windows-Android, I may have offended. It's not you, it's me....


Monday, December 21, 2015

ES-Say #54 The "I'm only up to chapter 9" book review for "Conversations With McCartney" by Paul Du Noyer(2015)

NSATPM's anti-blog resident "The Foot (photo) Bomber" happily obliged when asked to help with this portrait. 

Please note: Today's blog may repeat a few stories previous told to assist this "review" due to a)being lazy & b) being ill and forgetful before the holidays. 2016 hopes to be a more original year for us so keep your socks on!

Since reading books is not a favorite activity, but a good challenge for me, I continue to attempt to review various McCartney-related ones. I wasn't too keen on buying this Fall's "Conversations With McCartney" by Paul Du Noyer. It seemed that it might be similar to just reading a compilation of old interviews in book format, and for that, I wouldn't spend £25 for the hardcover. However, I was overjoyed to borrow it from the library. I even promised my dear blog readers that I'd get stuck into the book to complete another "Half-Book" review.

Apologies to my "Dear Blog Readers" but I have failed! ("Jeweller, you've failed!"). That's correct, just like Victor Spinelli in "A Hard Day's Night", I am unable to remove Ringo's Rings, but I digress...
My attention span for reading books is similar to a punishment- sit there in a corner and don't move until you've read all 300 pages. It doesn't even matter that the book is about my favorite musician, it still feels like a never-ending commitment. I want to move on to something else, like going for a walk, for example.

But, let's be serious and get to Du Noyer's book. Honestly, it is refreshing and not boring. As selections of past McCartney interviews conducted by Du Noyer, it is woven into the "story of McCartney" rather than edited parts which appeared in magazines. In McCartney's own words, his story becomes more candid and straightforward. I learned a lot, so far. Maybe I'm not really ment to force myself to read it, but I cannot imagine not getting around to buying it. The book is truely not a complicated read, it is a fascinating read. It's just not necessary to read it day in and out to be enjoyable. I'm going to suggest that the book be kept in the bathroom to pass the time.


 Please get your mind out of the gutter, I did not test this "Bathroom Book" theory in the toilet, but in a hospital waiting room. This is an excellent book to pass the time in a forced situation. "The Foot Bomber" was "The Strained Muscle Complainer" that day when I read thirty pages of "conversations" during a two-hour wait. Now, my "dear blog readers" are scoffing "you can only read 30 pages in 2 hours? That's pathetic!". However, previously, I was reading about one, ten-paged chapter a day, to pace myself to finish within a month.

In the waiting room, the well-edited but expansive book helped to block out the screams of crying children and distractions from The Strained Muscle Complainer's multiple complaints of "nobody has been called in to see the doctor!" I was in a zone with this book as Paul discussed the "trials" (yes, a bad pun) of having to sue the other Beatles. Basic math will indicate, I read three chapters that day, which will get me quicker to the end of the book.

Being a month since checking the book out of the library, I'm on my 3rd renewal and still using a torn-out page from the "Press To Play" CD booket as a bookmark. I can't keep staring at Paul's mugshot-styled photo on the cover day-in-and-out on the living room floor, so I flipped it over to the back cover. I do think other people should read this book, but not unless you need a quick McCartney fix as a worthy distraction. Everyone should have this book. Just trust me, and save it for "emergencies". Hours in a holding cell perhaps? Christmas party hell? You're Welcome...
(NSATPM'S rating- 4&1\2 Thumbs Up out of 5, up to chapter 9, not likely to change after 21 more chapters read on a frequent basis)
Happy Holidays To All Our "Dear Blog Readers" even the ones who brag about reading books quickly! Love from MaccaMeri & The Foot(previously the strained muscle complainer!). Feliz Navidad y Bueno Nuevo Ano! 









Tuesday, December 15, 2015

ES-Say #53 The Paul McCartney Sweepstakes And The Chances Of My Winning...

To be fair, most famous musicians, will hold contests through websites to win various prizes related to them. Concert tickets, signed CDs, opportunities to meet a star; the list is endless. Paul McCartney's website from time to time will hold contests for his fans. Nothing out of the ordinary about offering prizes. If your tech-savy and\or talented, this might help to get noticed among the masses of people whom have entered. The type of contests this would work well in would be an artwork or a video related contest.

This year, I won a writing contest for McCartney concert tickets. Despite the fact, I wrote one sentence, I still won based on my writing ability. This makes me feel great! However, if I tried to enter a couple of his recent contests, with a colouring entry or myself singing "Say Say Say" on a video, I'm afraid I wouldn't be so lucky. Off-key singing and basic colouring skills do not give me a shot in the dark. (I'd like to keep my dignity, thank you very much.)

The "Say Say Say" contest seemed to be geared for a younger audience(not alive in 1983) or computer geniuses. Similarly, McCartney has had photo entry contests before, but I've given up on those also. I may have gotten offended that my beautiful selfie entry could not get me a casting call for the "Queenie Eye" video. Without tons of complaining, I have come to the understanding that, due to the types of contests on offer, it's best to stick with random lotteries or writing-based entries.

I did consider that the recent colouring contest, based on chosen black outlines to color in, might have been triggered by the recent adult-coloring book craze. Even though it didn't seem that difficult to enter, the winners were chosen through artistic creativity, but ultimately this was a fad-based contest. I really didn't mind not entering, partially due to having to spend time looking for crayons at home. Maybe when "creative scrapbooking" becomes the basis of a contest, I'll pull out my glue sticks.

There are often "auction" based contests with Paul. Recently, he auctioned off his jewlery box and, a separate auction contained a signed rocking horse. These types of contests are "purchase required" entries. As many people have bid, unless I get a second and third type of employment, I, too could make a worthy charity extremely happy. I would also have to ignore that a similar jewlery box is available for £15 and not the thousands of pounds donated that would lead to bankruptcy. Auctions are really limited to those with high incomes. While I think charity is about what your comfortably able to give and not an amount that will place you in need of financial help(possibly from another charity.)

While it still exists, going on the radio to be selected as the random caller for a McCartney prize is slightly outdated. Email- based contests is where it's at. As I've mentioned, entering contests is not always a successful means of winning a prize. But, honestly, when I won those tickets based on my own words, the gallizion contests I didn't win were quickly forgotten.

(Unless you count that time I didn't win the random lottery to see Paul at the BBC and Sean Of The Dead's Simon Pegg, miraculously got himself into the fan-only taping...I'll just let that one go...not!)

Tis the season to be Meri(see what I did there). The blog welcomes your letters, in any language, except Klingon. Thank you to our international audience because I love you(I say this sober). Please check addition ES-Say's to join our updates on Twitter and Facebook. Now go listen to a Paul McCartney holiday song, it's December! 

Friday, December 11, 2015

ES-Say #52- It was 35 years ago. (Not today, but on Tuesday)


December 8th, marked the sad anniversary of John Lennon's murder in 1980. A milestone of it being 35 year since, most Lennon and Beatles fans took time to remember him on the day. It seems unbelievable that such a tragedy happened in the first place. If, like myself, you were too young to remember, the event was explained over the years from older family members or relayed through media archives. By all accounts, it seemed to be the shocking moment of the new 1980s decade and everything changed. Paul McCartney had his second solo LP out that year, McCartney II, and had gone into the studio with George Martin on that tragic day, to work and surround himself with other people whom, like himself, were numbed to the news. The press wanted a reaction from John's former musical partner , and unfortunately for McCartney, the press ran with his quick, and now infamous, "it's a drag" comment. McCartney has explained how this comment was taken out of context and has dissected that situation more times than I can count. I've never faulted him for making the comment, and understand the circumstances surrounding it. I just don't understand why it has to be pointed out, either by himself, or interviewers, time and time again.

Reading through the lines, there is a clear and reasonable recount of McCartney's true feelings after the event. While this is interesting and he continues to reminisce about his relationship with John, a few observations(or public opinions) have come up within the last thirty five years. Personally, due to my age and becoming interested in McCartney's solo career since 1993, my own opinions on this topic(McCartney's posthumous response to Lennon) can only fairly discuss the last twenty years.

Had it not been for the Beatles Anthology documentary, broadcasting in 1995, McCartney probably would have not had much opportunity in the 1990s to squarely focus on his unique long term relationship with his friend and bandmate. John Lennon, not being able to collaborate on The Beatles 60s career retrospect of  Anthology, left an irreplaceable void. The two new songs to be released in connection with the project, "Real Love" and "Free As A Bird" were created using unreleased solo material from John. It was an attempt to get "The Threetles"(Paul, Ringo, & George) to create new "Beatles" songs.

The release of these songs did receive some backlash. I can remember that this move wasn't celebrated. I also don't remember anyone at the time calling Paul, Ringo, and George "Threetles". My cassette single('member those) of "Free As A Bird" clearly listed "The Beatles" as the artist. It was quite accepted that the two singles were brand new. These manufactured songs were also considered a cheap move to make a quick buck. I have no way of making this sound better than what it was. The accompanying rare demos and unleased 60s material from the Anthology mid 90s music albums were expensive on CD. Being a teenager, I repeated the same thing that had happened when "Live at The BBC" recording were sold in shops, I bought blank cassette tapes and recorded the radio specials that premiered in connection with the releases. It was more welcome to hear the rare "In Spite of All The Danger" being performed by half The Beatles(Paul and George) prior to Beatlemania, than a pieced together song like "Free As A Bird"  featuring all The Beatles. I even had a political cartoon on my wall at the time that joked these brand new songs were created using John's old answering machine recording. "Hi, I'm not home, leave a message at the tone". It really felt that the remaining Beatles were grasping at straws using rejected Lennon material in regards to the "new" songs.

McCartney's solo career in the 1990s was probably stronger than the period a decade later. He was highly successful and the work became part of McCartney cannon. He had embraced his Beatles past and played versions of Beatles songs that he hadn't attempted earlier during Wings' 1970s live shows. The late period of the 1990s/Early 2000 was reserved for coping post-Linda McCartney death. Going back on tour in the early '00, McCartney had a band besides him, but another void was obvious without Linda being present at the keyboards. Combining the deaths of his first wife, with now both George's passing and memories of Lennon is a tall order but the grieve was now shared rather than a solo focus concerning Lennon. Over the last fifteen years, McCartney is more prepared for interviewer, knowing that the questions will cover his reactions after John's death. George and Linda, on occasion will be covered in interviews, but it inevitably packs a punch for the media stories to ask about Lennon, and it often can become a bit rehearsed or reanalysis.

No one, including McCartney, can project what Lennon might have become over the recent decades because his life was taken so unexpectedly. Some might say The Beatles break up may have been a good thing because it occurred through the decision of all four equally, and sometimes this fact should be memorialised for how it naturally came about. Everything since 1980 cannot be fairly represented as a true representation to how he, Lennon, may have felt. Paul got it right when he opened up in the song, "Early Days"(2013) concerning actual history. He "lived through those early days" where as many of us can't even actually understand this particular situation on a personal level, but we can still empathise to the pain of publically losing a close friend.

   

Saturday, December 5, 2015

ES-Say #51 "...So I want to be a Paperback Writer"
"...and I told the man-'Look Mate, my film script DOES have much of a plot..."

For a writer, releasing a book is like competing in a marathon. A great sense of achievement is reached by pushing yourself hard enough to commit to the ultimate finish line of publishing. Personally, I would love to complete a book. I have a vision and even started to write out some content. But, my fear is that I won't get anywhere near completing a book. This idea is based on my experience of voiding biographical writing in favour of second(or third) person writing. Blogging in "Not Saying Anything To Paul McCartney", is actually good practice of  the first person writing that might lead to an actual book, but don't hold your breath. This absence of being a novelist doesn't diminish my skills of good writing. I am perfectly content with being a freelance journalism writer, blogger, and three-to-five mile occasional runner.

Paul McCartney and Beatles book authors are in abundance. Reading various kinds of these books are great resources to have as a writer. Weeding out the material that will in no way be personally useful is a necessity. Same rings true within my own collection of books. For example, Mark Lewisohn has famously written several colossal reference books on The Beatles. My attention span and lack of bookcase space limits me to decide on choosing one book-The Complete Beatles Chronicle, 1992. No offence to his expertise but I don't have a lot of patience for his style of all-consuming reading.


There must be some floating insects contained in Chicago's water supply as creative fans are to be found in this city containing the John Handcock building and the frequent Beatle Festival.

One resident, a teacher and author, "In His Own Write"(Thanks, Lennon for the pun..) has a new book for consideration, and it's a diamond in the rough of fan subjected poetry and art.

Beware of Napkins-Poems and Illustrations Inspired By The Beatles
Words by Jack Murphy, Illustrations by  Melanie Jeanne Plank. Pre-order Available at http://www.jackmurphychicago.com/buy/beware-of-napkins-4
Image with kind permission of Jack Murphy

Beware of Napkins is able to both celebrate the influence of The Beatles to the public and to the book's creators. It's a shared experience throughout. Some poems homage the members of the band individually("Consider Paul") and a list poem about Yoko are some good samples. It is the episols, drawn and written in letters from Father to Daughter throughout the years with the bonding common interest in George Harrison, that tug at the heartstrings. (NSATPM Book Review Score: Four Out Of Five McCartney Thumbs Up)

Speaking of Paul McCartney poems(ahem), I wrote this one last month for our Facebook Group HERE but will break a rule and subject you, dear reader, to this all-consuming ode of appreciation....and yes, it's ment to be serious...

Ode To Broad Street- By Meredith Evonne
Oh flop movie, I love you so/ Even though you caused McCartney so much woe.
Named after a railroad station/ Which in the end took a permanent vacation.
Since the movie had a horrible plot/A cinematic classic is not what we got.
So badly acted/ The audiences had retracted.
The Beatle stopped his fight/ To promote a film that wasn't quite right.
Decades later the picture became a treat/ In the end it was no defeat.
A musical alights/ with the help of "No More Lonely Nights".
For the flick was an LP video for young men and ladies/All whom grew up with MTV in the 1980s.
Everything that seemed to be wrong/Was actually playing our song.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4/Please Paul don't close the door.
5 and 6 and 7 and 8/I'm telling you it's great!
Please re-release the 'Street' as the tunes cannot be beat!

(As they always say, stick with what your good at and don't threaten to write a debut novel with poems contained like this nugget above)

Thursday, December 3, 2015

ES-Say #50- James McCartney Live(The Other "Me")

Last night, James McCartney was playing one of three planned gigs at The Islington in London. This venue, is not to be confused with The 02 Academy Islington, located a few streets away, and jam packed with teenagers queuing early to see "SuG" or "Hey Violet" on the same night. No, folks, around the same time(about 6 PM), myself(alone), was waiting outside The Islington(small pub and concert space) with the view of the back of a supermarket. I sat on an outside bench for an hour and a half, listening to the soundcheck of James singing solo words repeatedly over a mishmash of guitar sounds. Being alone and getting cold was not very exciting, until ten minutes before the doors opened when five other fans finally showed. Small talk on the bench, turned into puzzlement, as four people dressed in black, arrived and stood in obliviousness by the front door. These people then expectedly cut the queue to get in first.

Under normal circumstances, I would have told these people to move out of my way, but I let it go, because it was obvious that everyone in front was heading straight for the bar area. I darted through a red curtain for the concert space, half-expecting to have to elbow my way to the front. The stage took up a quarter of the room, with more red curtains aligning the back walls and two perpendicular light bulbs ment to look like candles. With the red lighting added to the stage, it looked like "Red Room" from Twin Peaks without a zig zag flooring. For the next hour, as nobody in the bar area had entered, I sat on the floor and dead front & centre with the view of the microphone. It was actually nice being alone, with the stage crew, and bopping to 60s Soul/R&B on the sound system.

At one point, I looked over to the right of the room by the sound board and I saw him(James) standing there(sorry, couldn't help the references). I made the mistake of blinking and when I turned my head back again, to avoid starring; he was gone.
No matter, as the opening act, Nicholas Stevenson  (http://www.nicholasstevenson.co.uk) began playing. Stevenson was by himself with a solo guitar, and had some humourous intros. Even though I didn't know any of his songs, I did enjoy his guitar playing. After about two of his songs, I wondered if anyone had yet come in to hear the concert. I turned my head and couldn't understand why I was sitting down and no one standing in the back would move forward. It was rather unbelievable, actually. (Don't worry, I drew this photo to explain better)

I really had no choice but to stay put and ignore the embarrassment, with the knowledge that the audience would forgo my cooties and soon move up. Well, that didn't happen for the remainder of the opening act. As soon as Stevenson left the stage, a pub staffer, tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to move(Ed. Note: this became our blog's official nemesis, The Foot Bomber's only question later that evening back at home- "Why did you have to move?!?!?". The Foot Bomber could care less about my review of any McCartney Kids' gig). I proceeded to no longer be a rebel and moved towards "FOH" (Front Of House) to wait until the show started.

The zombie crowd unfroze and edged slightly forward and about 70 people now packed in the tight area. James McCartney appeared and a womans voice could be heard yelping cheers loudly. I looked across the crowd and clearly realised it was Stella McCartney. Walking up around my original dead front spot, taking Instagram photos, was Mary McCartney. Both of James's famous sisters had seemed to magically appear. By this time, I was convinced that James might start singing backwards from "Red Room\Twin Peaks" as stage lighting made him look red as well.

The set was about 45 minutes maximum. Everyone applauded every song strongly, regardless If a song was good or not. For example, he would sing some strong lyrics about people not looking beyond his name(obviously, his last name) and not knowing anything about him as an individual. Another song was "Ring O' Ring O' Roses", which unless you can stomach Paul's " Mary Had A Little Lamb" it was a cop out by sampling a nursery rhyme, which did come off sour. But, people applauded anyway and were very supportive despite any lyrical absurdities. His guitar playing, however, was top notch and this was worth the £10 GA ticket. (Yes, I said £10).

If it was not for the notable guitar skills, I might have gotten more fed up with his lack of personality with an audience. He didn't seem nervous at all, just indifferent to the fact that there was an audience watching. When the show ended, some people didn't even know he wasn't coming back for encores as he didn't really say any memorable words clearly like "Thanks Very Much". The set seemed to have one song from 2013's "Me" and possible new songs.

Not shocking, I never got to speak to a McCartney that night(whom magically reappeared again in the dining area), but I did my best to secure Set Lists and a branded "Me" guitar pick before deciding to split shortly after. As I walked down the street towards Islington Acadamy about fifteen teens were running frantically down the street a la Beatlemania to catch their own Japanese boy band idols. A good solitary reminder as to what other kinds of musical legacy Paul McCartney helped to spawn within his career. Not soon to fade away as James might prefer to do, but we shall see.

Not Saying Anything To Paul (and now James, Mary, and Stella) McCartney has a facebook group HERE and a Twitter Account HERE for those who want up-to-the-minute updates and extra content, like that James McCartney Guitar Pick Photo...

Friday, November 20, 2015

ES-Say #49 She Came In Through Cavendish Avenue...
     Street Signs That Should Be Framed(Photo: Meredith Evonne)

Last time I took a trip to St. John's Wood in London, I thought I found one of Paul's famous homes. He seems to have many homes and I can't keep track. Not only can't I list them all, but I made the mistake of taking a picture just because a home was next to Abbey Road Studios. As Paul actual local address was several roads away, today, I decided to look for it.

In the 60s, a group of famous fans, called "Apple Scruffs" waited outside Paul's Cavendish address, at times, on a daily basis. In my case, A.S. doesn't stand for "Apple Scruff" ("A Stalker" is more appropriate). All kidding aside, I chickened out. I'm not "A Stalker", but every few months, I remind myself that it cost virtually nothing to travel to London and look for Beatles(and Paul) related places.

I may have mention before that I found a great book to assist in finding all these places- The Beatles' London . Instead of guessing where one of Paul's homes might be, I looked it up in the book. My Plan A, was rather lame- Step 1- Get On The Street. Step 2- Hide My Beatles Badges, Step 3- Walk Past The Home Slowly And Proceed To The End Of The Street, and finally, Step 4- Run Back To The House And Go In For Tea. (Step 4- was only meant to happen if Paul ran outside to yell "Meredith! Where Are You Going?").

In reality, I went with Plan B(even worse, yet actually happened). This "Plan" consisted of taking a quick selfie on the corner with the street sign, which didn't come out. Slowly moving down the road, I crossed over to the other side. This put me on the wrong side of the street, as I was looking to find the number. There was a small problem, the number wasn't visible from the street but simple counting indicated it was between the homes numbered "5" and "9"(it's 7 Cavendish Avenue, if like myself, you had to look up in a book). When I found it, "Papa, I'm Home..." did not get broadcasted on a mega phone.

Yes, folks, I froze. I never crossed over the street to be pressing my nose on the closed wooden gate. I spend about a minute to take two photos of what it looked like 50 feet away, and then continued to mosey down the road. I looked back behind me as a van stopped and parked close to Paul's gate. Needless to point out the man who emerged was NOT Paul McCartney but some man in an orange high vis vest. *cue losing contestant gameshow noise*. It was time to leave as I decided against taking a picture of the closest postbox at the very end of the road and looked to rent a bike.

It seemed to be more easier to walk twenty minutes to Baker Street to return to the London Beatles Store to look for magazines. Appropriately, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" the song inspired by Apple Scruffs breaking into the home that I spent part of the afternoon passing by, was playing on the store's speakers.

Those were the days, my friend, and they definately did end...

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

ES-Say #48 Mid-Price McCartney & Beatles On A Budget
                                Just another example of my cheapness...or thriftiness in collecting

Not Saying Anything To Paul McCartney(the blog) may have failed to mention that due to financial considerations, you probably won't believe all the collectables featured here, got here by frugality. This means "free", "practically free" and "these-sellers-should-know-not-to-sell-that to-me-for-so-cheap-but-I'll-keep-quiet." If there is a discount to be had, the blog admin(well, myself...) is all over it.
At least the 1993 Holland remaster of "Speed" allows Joe English to keep his neck(left).
 
 
 
As it was decided about 20 years ago to try and cultivate a personal, low cost, yet satisfying hoard of related McCartney merchandise, nothing has really changed. Paul McCartney is not a backer of this blog and I hate to disappoint any preconceived idea that he might be.(He's not in my address book but the "M" pages are intentionally left blank.)

Moving on, today we are explaining that on occasion to continue not spending respectable sums of money on merchandise, we got lucky at the public library and discount electronics store! At the library, aside from failing to get a Pete Doggett Beatles book, "Conversations With McCartney" by Paul Du Noyer (from this Fall) was available. This book will now not cost me £25 in a bookshop, but £25 in library fines for failing to return it in a reasonable amount of time. Maybe, I'll take up speed reading but it's highly unlikely...This collection of past interviews has had positive reviews, so I hope to have a reaction for you in like two months time.

I might skim through the "Collecting Vinyl" book as it has some Beatles related information and may someday assist my collecting column for The Macca Report-click here . However, for my own blog/website/whatever that you are reading right now, I gotta explain how I got "Wings At The Speed Of Sound"(1993 remaster) for £5($7.50). I also found a Beatles Tribute CD for 20p ($.35)

After leaving the library, It was pouring with rain, so I ran inside a discount electronics store to dry off and surround myself with other shifty people to browse. Aside from stocking up on some bargain unrelated McCartney films and music(20p here, £1.50 there), I found "Help!" and Paul's "All The Best" CD. When I decided to do a full look at all the various artists CDs, I found the empty case for the Holland 1993 Wings CD and the tribute disc(as mentioned above).

These cases were all empty as you had to then proceed to checkout at the cash registers for a peppy teenager to fill them up with the media in clear plastic cd envelopes. Little did I understand that this process of finding it alphabetically in a pile would take 20 minutes since nothing was actually catalogued alphabetically("yeah, try W for Wings...what? no, I asked for Saw-ah 2 not Ste-wit Lit-tal"). As I started pouring in sweat in my warm jacket indoors, and while speaking through coughing that a horror film wouldn't be found in the family film's section, I had a more urgent inquiry. I needed to know I was getting the correct 1993 disc to match the jewel case so I made the poor(and peppy) teen tell me. Obviously, I was getting impatient and needed to go home and shower.

Back at home, I first started listening to the 1995 Beatles Tribute CD from a uk label called "Hallmark". I got the impression they have produced various artists albums by paying a fee to be allowed to re-record tracks with hired session musicians. The cd takes a soft rock approach to the hits yet vocally tries to sound like John or Paul. Pleasant enough, despite some odd mouth noises on "When I'm Sixty-Four", I'm sure to get a kick out of it.

The 1993 Holland CD for "At The Speed Of Sound" is another gem in my cheapo collection. As the CD is out of print in this edition, unlike the 2014 digapak version, the former contains three bonus tracks (Sally G, Walking In The Park With Eloise, and Bridge On The River Suite). I'm really not aware if the 2014 box set edition contains those three songs, but it's not on my standard 2-CD version. If you want to buy this 1993 version, or any other 1993 "The Paul McCartney Collection" cds , try not to get suckered into to spending loads. You might even want to forget about trying, but I happen to be a big advocate supporting that particular collection of albums, and can't stop....

Tune in next time when you'll read more Brooklyn/Semi-English accented dialog in a complaining tone about having to throw out Linda McCartney frozen dinners, intitled "Wot? my fridge was wide open all day???? gimme a break!"

Bloody heck, maybe you should just stay tuned until I boast about finishing another book...

Thursday, November 12, 2015

ES-Say #47 Let It Be- The 60s modernised on The Beatles 1+

                       The Beatles 1(2015)- UK copy not purchased from EMI Austria.

On November 6th, last week, when The Beatles 1+ CD and Videos collection was released, I was on vacation. This meant that while I was living it up in Vienna, my selected version(the CD and one DVD) was at home waiting for me under a heap of four-day-old mail. As I was aware of this on my trip the whole time, I had a slight problem remember which version(of about seven, if you include the vinyl), I bought. Vienna supposedly had a entertainment retail store called "Libro". While unable to find this shop to look for The Beatles release, I ran into EMI Austria Music Store by mistake. Hooray!    
                                                   Upstairs-Jazz, Downstairs-Beatles

The Foot Bomber(see previous ES-Say entries), reluctantly, went in with me as I skipped merrily around the shop. I rush past the new 1+ cardboard display containing the new release, to find every single Paul McCartney Archive Collection standard box sets. As the prices were in Euros, but still expensive, I left the box sets alone. Gazing up to the next wall on my left was a framed 89/90 McCartney tour photo. Instead of asking if the photo was for sale, I cornered a shop assistant to ask how much any mono Beatles CD collection would cost. Five minutes later, I was quoted another expensive price, which led me to conclude Ebay was my only other option. 
             The outside EMI Austria store window display-November 7th, 2015

After walking away from the sales counter, The Foot Bomber, handed me a 13 Euro copy of 2014's Long Tall Sally EP Record Store Day release. How The Foot remembered that I wasn't able to find it on record store day was news to me(as he is the blog's Lex Luther). Most of the 1+ videos were for region 6, so I didn't consider buying them. Needless to say, I bought "Long Tall Sally"(rerelease, 2014).
   
After arriving back home, the first thing I did was tear open the parcel containing my new Beatles single cd & dvd purchase.  The Beatles 1+ (2015), updated the stand alone CD release of 1 (2000) for the 2nd time(previously done in 2011) and released restored videos of these hits for DVD and Blu-Ray for the first time. Paul McCartney provides some new video commentary, which for me was the highlight on the single DVD. Peace & Love to Ringo Starr for some new intros even when he really didn't have that much to add. 

The reason Paul's cheery commentary for a few videos was welcome, was because of the "issues" I had with the 27 restored videos. First off, the Black & White footage at times had more of a Grey tinted color, regardless if I approved of the live performance used to represent the #1 songs. As all the film deterioration was nearly eliminated, I didn't like it. Fans in the mid-60s watched these first time around on small, basic, often cheap, or rented television sets. That's the way it was and that's how its basically been re-aired over the years- as a poor quality, but authentic image. 

As the reasoning behind "picture restoration" is to improve these Beatles films digitally, it really only works best with color film. Even tweaking color has mixed results. I can only speak as a viewer when without any real technical mumbo jumbo and comment on what looks good or not. Sitting down for 110 mins straight, wearing glasses, and having to digest the various color altering from video to video, is bound to get a mixed reaction.

Yes, some of the Black/white/grey was acceptable, and probably best on "I wanna hold your hand" and "I feel Fine". When it came to improved color "Paperback Writer", "Eight Days A Week," (from Shea Stadium, seemingly ready for a future full restored version), "Hello, goodbye" and "Penny Lane" get my vote. As I was beginning to think "Elenor Rigby"(video from the "yellow Submarine" movie) could have improved with a 2015 remake, the 2000 promo video for "Come Together" killed the idea. "Come Together" (2000 Melon Dezign version) is included here, and it's just awful. I starting swearing while watching it as it could have been a commercial for an Ipod with annoying swirling computer animation of the Fab Four. 

Moving on towards the last ten videos, all the "Apple Films Ltd" or Michael Lindsay-Hogg directed videos were decent and expectedly good. My "issues" were more about editing the later period pieces, for example, the combining of Get Back rooftop performances clips combined into one version. I'd definately enjoy watching these again, sans "All You Need Is Love". This live satellite version, was colorised(in 1995) from the original black and white broadcast. This version was used in The Beatles Anthology. Yet, the film restoration team for this new 1+ release twenty years later, didn't bother to try again to colorise the original 1967 version. It's like watching a colorised 40s film, where you spend the whole time grumbling it should have been left untouched in the original format, because "it's a classic."

The Beatles have reached a classic music status over the decades. If people want to improve the quality of their legacy, all it is facelift- youthful looking on the outside with an underlying layer of old, but actual features, hidden away from public.

Interestingly, there was a promo television program on Wednesday night on ITV in the UK-"The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One". For an hour and a half, 27 hits were counted down out of order from the 1+ CDs 27 track listing. Short clips of 1+ videos were pepper into the countdown in preview, while other performances not on 1+ of the same songs or random footage, not always in "restoration". Other " nation's favourite" programs have seen CD collections released into retail shops(Elvis, for example). Regardless of The Beatles edition being as top notch as it was, the purpose of airing the show was to get the public's attention to buy 1+ exclusively. It's more likely that off shoots of this promo programming will reach the bootleggers. For now, I have stacked my new copy of 1 on top of my new copy of Falco 3(which I also did buy at EMI Austria Music Shop).

I'm considering moving to Vienna until 1+ is forgotten for the next Apple release on the horizon... 

ES-Say #47, coincidentally, has color problems, the red sections are not for emphasis but inability to alter a setting. Remember, you are always welcome to join the "Not Saying Anything To Paul McCartney" Update Group On Facebook , containing up-to-date news, views, and cutie pie photos(occasionally) of young Beatle Paul!  

Thursday, November 5, 2015

ES-Say #46 The Other Half-Book Review-Fab By Howard Sounes
Ziggy Stardust's classic facial expression can best mirror what this book might do to a reader- Freeze them permanently that way!

Today, A month after reviewing the first half of Howard Sounes "Fab- An Intimate Life Of Paul McCartney" HERE on the blog, I reached "The End". Aside from high fiving "The Foot" (our blog's photo bomber who dislikes Sir Paul), because I actually completed an entire book(explanation in the 1st half), I felt liberated. Yes, liberated, because I no longer have to subject myself to another book by Sounes. That's right, I didn't like Fab and I'm not sure if I can pick up ANY book for a while now.

Digesting what I read, Sounes will declare that this was a fair account. He is a journalist and has written books from Bob Dylan to Amy Winehouse. First off, I like journalists and respect the work they do. However, one of the 2010's book's aim to be "comprehensive" biography with many interviews and footnoted sources, does this with an undercurrent of the author's opinion.

The first half was bearable, the second half was tiresome, mostly because the author would present his timeline of Paul's life in the last three decades peppered with his own conclusions. For example, Sounes uses heavy adjectives that are either unnecessary or blunt. "Almost stone deaf" is used to describe George Martin in the 00's. McCartney, during the same period, "his skin hanging down like the jowls of an old dog". Also, some of the incidents might have an interviewee speaking negatively, but the author will usually agree with the summary rather than question the opinion. It is clearly a lot of "too little too late" when it comes to the support material of the decent person McCartney is. I was stuck reading a moaning complain account of Paul's problematic start funding with LIPA and his diminishing involvement with his classical music releases. The fact that Paul has been revealed to assisted family and friends loyally with financial help and continues to be a  philanthropist is lost because of the overall tone of the book. I can't really believe the positive angles in the book with the hammering of the negativity or judgemental tone of the majority of the book.

One thing that really threw me over the edge as a writer and reader, was the one-paragraph personal declaration within the middle of a chapter to explain how Sounes, himself, was turned on to McCartney live performance during the "Paul McCartney World Tour" in 1989. Sounes could have put this information in a prologue, epilogue, or  on the jacket cover. But, no. He had to chop up the book with his own adoration. The nightmare didn't end there...

Relationships. As Paul was still dating Nancy Shevell when the book was published, his now wife was basically painted as the girlfriend, who may have a shady mob connection. That's just great, but that "wtf" moment aside, two relationships explored need to be noted. I'm not talking about Linda McCartney or John Lennon because nothing really that deep is uncovered that isn't widely known. Surprisingly, the McCartney children are all described in the book as one dimensional(Stella is like dad, Mary works for dad, James has near-death experiences, and Beatrice wants her ice cream). The exception is adopted daughter Heather, whom we get to hear about candidly and as a tragic figure. It maybe because she is the oldest child who spent time with The Beatles during the dragged out break up. However, I think we might be able to guess she's not in the public eye without having to be spoon fed all details that has possibly(not fact) led to a hermit adulthood.

The other Heather. Heather Mills, the second wife, gets all the gold digger attention she deserves with extensive details leading to, and what all journalists had access to: a public account of the divorce settlement. It's all in this book, but after that debacle, how should the expose styled account led to the end of the novel? That's right, a quickie "Paul is so loved by all, so good live, "and in the end, the love you take" familiar nod.

Classic Rock magazine was quoted on the front cover as saying Fab is "The Best Beatles Book Since Revolution In The Head". I disagree, the best book since "Revolution In The Head" by Ian Macdonald is "You Never Give Me Your Money" by Peter Doggett. Sure, I only read like 30 pages of that book, but I liked the fact that every Beatle is shown equally warts and all. If I got one summarized impression of Paul McCartney in Sounes book, it would be "Dustbin Lid".

McCartney is not the horror in Sounes book and he's not the authorised "Many Years From Now" Barry Miles' autobiographical account. He's somewhere in the middle.

I'm sure I'd have a chance to read a more rounded view of a part of Paul's past, hopefully from Doggett, whose book I can also get from the library. Fortunately, Fab, is past due back at the library and I want to pay the 15 cents and wave it good riddance.     

I'm free!    


Sunday, November 1, 2015

ES-Say #45 McCartney in 1986- Cultivating The Phil Collins Look
                 
The mid-1980's seemed to spawn this one look for men that was a bit puzzling-oversized suit pieces with a mullet. Many celebrities opted for this look(ie. Bill Murray), but it seemed to suit Phil Collins to a T, (as you can see above). When Collins was storming the charts as a solo artist in 1985, his stature of being pudgy, short and balding was somehow flattering combined with his ill fitting clothing. Picture Collins, Think Frumpy!


It's unlikely that anyone wants to think of Paul McCartney as "Frumpy", but when he stepped out on stage for the Prince's Trust 10th Anniversary concert, "Frumpy" is the best way to describe what he looked like.

I believe there are three songs that were preformed that night in June of 1986- "I Saw Her Standing There", "Long Tall Sally", and "Get Back". The vinyl copy I have of the single, is missing "Get Back" but I am not complaining.
After watching and listening on YouTube "I Saw Her Standing There", I was not impressed. Yes, Paul had stopped officially touring for several years by this point, but he was a staple at many one-off charity events. Most remembered, unfairly, at Live Aid for his microphone malfunctions during the all-star finale. It was a bad situation during Live Aid, which through his professionalism was able to work around. Prince's Trust, just sounds and seemed like a "bad situation". "I Saw Her Standing There" is not helped by their all-star backing band(including Phil Collins on drums, I assume). Overall, it is a prickly performance with much cheers due to the important charity and proof that musical quality was least important. I'm not going to excuse it with an "that was the 80s" shrug, due to many people whom have mixed feeling about McCartney's 80s career and tend to block it out. (This performance could be one of the reasons.)

Considering I am very tolerant and appreciative of the majority of Paul's 1980s output-albums, appearances, crappy-yet-lovable motion pictures- The Prince's Trust Performance is not something to recommend. I can only imagine that "Get Back" and "Long Tall Sally" were so MOR(middle of the road) that I refuse to ruin the classic image I have of these songs. The middle-aged looking Paul is solidified with this appearance as well as his adopting the "Frumpy Phil" get up. Sadily, this poor choice continued, yet thankfully, disappeared after 1986.
Yet, Paul decided to continue looking his age during the time "Press To Play"(1986) was released in late summer. "Press" is a wonderful video, but I see that his style of tucked in, puffed out trousers and shirt combo prevailed(noooo!). Also, as seen on the "Only Love Remains" single, Phil Collins was probably recording his parts in the studio for "Press To Play" around this time too.
        More proof from my 45s collection that I am not making this look up...

When I said I didn't want to continue to see the "Frumpy" look and act during the rest of Prince's Trust(despite owning the full show LP), I know that some people could argue "It's never going to be as good as the original- accept that!" I fully accept it, but I don't have to expose myself to this, knowing that Paul redeemed this one appearance on many occasions since. But, I have watched something I cannot "unwatch", a tired and dull live version of a classic song. I'm very happy living in the "60s" with "Get Back" and "Long Tall Sally" being perfect.

"Long Tall Frumpy Paul" can definately stay back in 1986...Frumpy Short Phil Collins? Man, we missed you, welcome back! (Please Note: This blog entry was to point out a faux pas in Paul's solo career about 30 years ago, donate to any of those worthy causes like "The Prince's Trust" which managed to last longer than his unflattering trendy 80s look.Princes-Trust.org.uk

Friday, October 23, 2015

ES-Say #44 Never Giving Up The Regards For Broad Street(Even If Paul Does!)
                                           Broad Street, Broad Street, BROAD STREET!

It was thirty-one years ago today when McCartney's "Give My Regards To Broad Street" was released in American cinemas. All with the hope that this musical would be a huge hit, backed by heavy promotion and a soundtrack album. There was only a slight problem. Intended originally as a television special, Paul felt strongly enough that this could be extended into a legitimate motion picture. I'm assuming the initial pitch went something like this...

Yes, loyal blog readers, I am comparing Paul to Kermit The Frog. McCartney was a bit too ambitious with the rushed treatment of making a full length film. The result was a car crash. To emphasize this point further, the move was ranked at #150 for the year ending for box office sales. "The Muppets Take Manhattan"(another musical release three months earlier in 1984) ranked  at #39. Aside from the fact that one film was made with puppets(yes, the Jim Henson film! Come On!) these films have some similarities. Just because they were both inspired by Broadway musicals, the reason that the Muppets succeed in a genre (that Paul was capable of competing with), is because it had a developed plot. "Give My Regards To Broad Street" had a flimsy plot, which Paul had written stuck in traffic.

Broad Street, or the idea of making any movie, had been on Paul's radar for a while during the late 70s. In fact it was supposed to be a different plot and feature called "Band On The Run." However, it never really took flight, and was postponed. Unrelatedly, there had been a TV special for a collection of videos from "Back To The Egg"meant to be promotion for Paul touring with Wings in the early 80s. The difference between that TV Special and Broad Street, boils down to dialog in the latter. If Broad Street had been a TV Special, it probably would have had a substantial decrease in criticism. By all accounts "Give My Regards To Broad Street" was intended to be a serious film to be running in theatres with people paying money to see it. The minute it became clear that the "emperor had no clothes on" most people panned the movie. It was truly considered a "Turkey" at the time, with uncomplimentary reviews.

The soundtrack actually wasn't a failure and helped by the brilliant "No More Lonely Nights" single and other re-recorded songs from both McCartney and The Beatles. Paul McCartney decided rather early on during the fall, when the movie was out for a few weeks, to move on to other projects. It is a strange nostalgic period of where first McCartney was Gung Ho to promote his work, and then he quickly wasn't. As much as the project was frowned upon, it was misinterpreted as a film. It is a long playing video perfect during the MTV generation and simply a blueprint on how to make promotional music videos. Sure, the plot was underdeveloped. The screenplay was so short(48 pages) that it was even included with the official Piano Song Book. But, the value of the musical sequences is very strong and underrated. Most people seemed to be dismissive of the part in the film that was an extended focus on  "Elenor Rigby." The music was great, the focus of that scene with a Victorian theme, painful to watch.

The rest of the breaks in the film for the songs is not to be missed. "Ballroom Dancing" and "Silly Love Songs" is very memorable, for example, for the costumes and choreography. All the promotional material to collect is beautifully styled and considered. It was a last ditch attempt to release the film as a video game for profit in 1985(check out my prattling You Tube video at youtube.com/magicmeri). It had been released in the US on video and DVD, but since MPL blocked it's release in the UK, It does need a blu-ray version, or any version on PAL.

Being the anniversary, I thought I could watch it today on You Tube, but after many hundreds of thousands(seriously!) replays, all full length copies available have been recently audio blocked. That's right, it took awhile but the copyright holders have taken action and now the film can be only be watched silently in it's entirety. I've been forced to write a poem...

I've decided not to share my full poem here (see how disappointing unfinished works can be..hint hint), but it starts off like this-

"Oh Flop Movie, I Love You So/ Even Though You Caused McCartney So Much Woe...."

The rest of the poem will be released in our Facebook Group, which you are always welcome to join, it's fun, informative and now nearing 50 members so email if you want in!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

ES-Say #43 Record Show Saturday Is A "VIP" experience.
"The Paul Is Singing" *Blam Blam* "The screen caps fuzzy" (from Rio 1990) 

This past Saturday, I attended one of the fall record shows held by the company VIP Events. Most of the times I tell people I'm really excited because I'm attending another record show, is usually met with questions of "What?". Well, folks, it's not comic-con, but going to any rented out room filled with multiple collapsible tables and sweaty middled-aged men selling vinyl and CDs to other sweaty middle-aged men, is apparently where I like to go to spend my money. 

As I personally smell like roses, I am usually treated differently(I probably have complained about this before). I spend most of the time going "uh huh" as high valued crap is offered to me. I really don't feel welcome at most of these places, but the aim is to put my head down and manuver around the cardboard boxes, hoping to find a few gems. I lasted about an hour and a half, looking around at the VIP London Victoria Event. 
                         A bit of free advertising (your welcome, VIP)

I will say, I enjoyed talking to a few dealers at this specific event and I was greatful for a few discounts that I received by asking. I paid for the early bird price at 11:15 but it really didn't give me much of an advantage, only because nobody was fighting me over the items I was interested in. I kept asking for a copy of "Let It Be (Naked)" and most dealers assumed I was asking for the vinyl. I was after the CD, but oddly I didn't see very many of the formerly easily available standard Beatles CD releases on EMI\Apple. However, I did find a few interesting items to add to the collection that's pushing me out of house and home.
Ignore the copy of Classic Rock, I bought that at a newsagent the same day.

The first thing I didn't buy, was a £400 Run Devil, Run Mini Jukebox Promo. It was a very cool promo but, for me, the low low price of £400, made me pass it over, as it was the size of a toaster. Then, I went to a bargain dealer to start buying items I could afford and wanted to own.

The List Of New(Old) Macca\Beatles Items ratting me out of house&home

  1. A West German 45" Copy Of "Maybe I'm Amazed"(Live) b\w Soily(Live) from Wings Over America. Plays beautifully, and as it didn't come with a Picture Sleeve, well worth £2 for the import.
  2. A Belgium 45" Copy of Waterfalls with PS! Luckily, I didn't by the UK copy because it turned out I had it at home(must start making lists of what I already own!). The vinyl was so shiny and I was told it came from a great collection, I didn't mind forking over £6.
  3. Rio 1990 DVD(see corny TV screen shot above) which I bargained down because it was oddly priced between £20-£15. Turned out to be a DVD-R originally in NTSC but was region-free. Can't wait to finish watching this and stop pausing the TV to take photos(Ed. Note- this is what we do for this blog and you people, especially our Russian fans. OGROMNOE SPASIBO!!!)
  4. Beatles CD-R An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away. Says 24 unrealised tracks from "Let It Be" & "Abbey Road". I'll take my chances 'cause it was £8.
  5. "Say Say Say" 12" and "The McCartney Interview" (1980). I got these for low prices(totalling £10) at one table which the dealer proceeded to take back the clear plastic sleeves protecting the records. I don't remember the last time somebody did this, so I was stunned, forgot how to complain, stuck them in my bag and left. (I had had enough of the disinterested smelly people). At home, I wanted to hear how "Say, Say, Say" (the original remix and the instrumental) would differ from the new 2015 remixes, but the entire record skiped(I had to find this out on You Tube instead afterward). I don't like the jacket design so I haven't collected it in the past, and the record skipping was a bummer. However, the realitively common "Interview" LP to my amazement was playing fine. Another interview I'd like to listen to as it was recorded prior to Lennon's death.
After the record show, I went to the newsagents to buy "Record Collector" but I bought Classic Rock(November issue) instead. The cover story is about the Hollywood Vampires project that Paul contributed to, and had a photo of him with the group. I'm assuming the cover story will ahead some light as to how the project came about and how the recording is now being promoted. 

Speaking of promoting. Would I go to another VIP Event-Yes. Will I consider bring my own clear jacket protectors and a can of Lysol? I might have to.

With Thanks this week to the readers of the blog in Russia, I don't know how you found my blog but I'm happy you're reading it!
















Sunday, October 11, 2015

ES-Say #42 The Half-Book Review: Fab By Howard Sounes
I didn't buy the hardcover, but I took a photo of it from the 50% off section! (Yep, I'm cheap!)

About two months ago, in a local Bookshop, I found a copy of the bio, Fab- An Intimate Life Of Paul McCartney. I had seen the paperback at my central library many times, but I hadn't checked it out. As much as I love collecting books, I'm awful at reading them.

For the record, I can read, but I get easily bored sticking to one book. Honestly, I finish a couple books a year, and have about 10-20 books that I claim to be reading but never finish. I am determined to finish "Fab" even if it kills me.

I looked around some charity shops for a couple of days, trying to find the biography for a pound. Since I had no luck, I caved in and went back to the central library and got the book, which I've been reading for weeks, one chapter at a time. Presently, I'm up to chapter 17 with 12 more to go. Now that I've read half the book, I feel compelled to write about it, because usually by the halfway point, I have the gist of the style of a book. I can tell you at this point what I think about it, regardless if I can keep reading.

Howard Sounes, apparently, got most of his research from the authorised book, "Many Years From Now" By Barry Miles. That book by Miles, I had owned for years, and lost the 1st edition hardcover, but now own a second edition(?) paperback. I don't need to tell you I didn't read either copy and not having the original hardback is a collector's nightmare. Apparently, I made it worse by not only not reading this book to know that "Fab" could be a knock off, I went and defaced the cover!?!?
Oh Dearest Paul, I do apologise for comparing your mouth to a baked good...

As I have several other McCartney and Beatles books I claim to be reading, it seems that "Fab" could possibly be the footnotes for 1997's"Many Years" while updating Paul's life up to 2010. "Fab" started out to be very informative and interesting about the history of his family and upbringing. If he didn't become a Beatle, he may have followed his educational preparation to a career in Teaching. Although the author is great at introducing all the characters involved in Paul's life, by the time we get to the start of Wings, Paul doesn't exactly come out of the Beatles break up smelling of Roses. Yet, even if the book turns from impartial to commentary and critisim to every late Beatles-period decisions he had made, it's still interesting to hear what happens next. If "selfish" was a country, the world would be struggling to find places to live in an McCartney-run planet. However, I found some of the general opinion of Paul being a Beatles and beyond-career devoted-dictating monster, a bit convenient to use to form a consistently themed story. The interviews with producers, Apple employees, and Ex-Wings members, go along to support this idea of a band member who rises to take the reigns about 95% of the time.

Objectively, how any book makes Yoko Ono seem superior and not that bad, compared to Linda McCartney, is clearly unfair. Yoko has always gotten the scapegoat blame for breaking up the Beatles, while Linda usually is painted as a background character forever devoted to Paul. "Fab" spends no time in informing us that Mrs McCartney came from a rich yet black sheep of her family background, whom decided to pursue and trap Paul into marriage. Give me a break. The one thing Paul McCartney isn't is stupid and it's insulting to say he couldn't figure out the character of the woman he fell in lifelong love with.

The Beatles break up had gotten very ugly on all sides, with Allen Klien in hindsight being a major catalyst for Paul to rightly go on autopilot to try and get Klien out of the bands business. By all accounts, Klien turned out to be a crook and Paul was justified to fight him. The only problem was that Klien got John, Ringo, and George to believe he was what the band needed, even if it meant to not have Paul support. It has been said previously that Paul taking the others to court saved them from losing millions of pounds.

In "Fab" as much as the story is supposed to focus on some of the not-so great things about Paul, the not-so great actions of John Lennon, aren't given as much attention. I'm sorry, I respect John Lennon as much as the next person, but the "John didn't really mean the negative comments" post-Beatles claims of Paul is taken as more forgiving than forgetting. If somebody threw a f&%ken brick through my window(as covered non-chalontly in "Fab" as an action of Lennon's), I don't think I'd be as kindly as Paul is assumed to have no reaction documented in Howard Sounes' account. However, Paul is written about starting 'right row' arguments with little old lady neighbours who report him to the RSPCA for leaving "Martha My Dear" the sheepdog alone at home. Something doesn't add up.

Unfortunately, I have to renew this book again to sludge through the end. I'm up to the part where he stiffs his Wings bandmates out of money. Why oh why am I reading this again? It's now going to take another view years to get to read the new interviews book "Conversations With McCartney" by Paul Du Noyer.

Obviously, reading books just gets me riled up and when your a slow reader, is hard to shake off some of the crap you just spent an afternoon focused on.

Now, bring me my "Pipes Of Peace" CD!(I need a well earned break from this endless sludge-a-thon bio...)

Saturday, October 3, 2015

ES-Say #41 In "War" & "Peace," shockingly, "Peace" wins!
                               Take A Bow! (Not so fast, reissue on the left...)

I'm about to do what most reviewers won't dare. I'm basically going to tell you that the critics got it wrong. The two new Paul McCartney Archive Collection reissues "Tug Of War"('82) and "Pipes Of Peace" are like day & night, yet being different is a good thing. Yet, most critics don't want to touch "Pipes Of Peace" or simply slate it off and name it as the record to pin point when Macca's career took a nosedive. "Tug Of War" was, and, still is, the critics darling. "He worked with Stevie Wonder & Carl Perkins!", "He wrote a song for John!" , and "He's teamed up with the 5th Beatle, George Martin!". Oye Vay!

Personally, I like "Tug Of War" a lot, but to cast off "Pipes Of Peace" as partially unreleased and rejected songs from "Tug Of War" of little value is wrong. I even wrongly assumed that "Pipes Peace" was only of value for one song, "Say, Say, Say". I never even heard of the song "Pipes Of Peace" in the US, until last Christmas when my UK job played the song to death. "How the heck this a fooking holiday song?!?" I shouted after the 15th day straight it played in my store. So, it's about the famous Christmas Truce among the British and German troups during the first World War. Alrighty then, I guess Paul has at least three Christmas songs then(I count Wonderful Christmastime and Rudolf The Red Nosed Reggae, with the later least played yet still enjoyable!).

Truely, Pipes Of Peace is a great song. When you listen to the start of the album, it does set a high bar with the orchestral composition of the song is pure quality. Then, the second song is "Say, Say, Say" only reaching #2 in the UK but a smash #1 in several countries including the US. "Pipes Of Peace" was a B-Side in America to "So Bad" which nearly hit the top 20 at #23. So initially we have a slight marketing problem in both the UK and US with both countries thinking either the 1st or 2nd track on the LP is of more importance of the other. Set that aside, and the album actually flows well. If you really want to be objective, these songs didn't get the credit they deserve. The songs that follow- "The Other Me," "Keep It Undercover," and" So Bad" are so good! The rest is slightly choppy but still flows well among the album. Maybe save "Average Person" and "Tug Of Peace" for B-Side only tracks as they take a bit of patience to understand the motivationsver record those tracks.
On the bonus disc with the 2015 reissue, it's your standard demos that take a quick backseat to the "get on your feet" 2015 remix of "Say Say Say" where Jackson and McCartney switch vocal parts! The best remix ever at 6min58sec that blows the 2005 HiTack remix out of the water. Get Down! (Oh yeah, then it's followed by Ode To A Koala Bear, but you just quickly accept the great inclusion of Twice In A Lifetime and Christian Pop to round out the disc).

I can't say I had as much enjoyment listening to the reissue of "Tug Of War" and album that sort of didn't improve with a whole new remixing of the master tapes. Do I know of all of these songs by heart? Sure, but after not listening to it for about 10 years(I lost my original CD) and my obsession-compulsion with the 1984 Soundtrack to "Give My Regards To Broad Street", I had mixed feelings. For a start, the album is a mishmash. Variety is one thing, but these songs want respect "So Bad" (yeah, that's my pun of the day..) that each one tries to outdo the next song with mixed results. "We Expected Moooore..." Paul warbles on the title track which is a bit overdone. The next song, Take It Away, follows well and is underrated, probably on the slight misfire of the chorus which is very "too much Linda" (this is a whole other topic) but you just go with its faults for the whole, yet it's again overdone. The third track "Somebody Who Cares" mercifully brings it down a notch for a pleasant ballad.

I'm going to continue to go down the list of songs that follow. The fifth song, the 1st duet with Stevie Wonder "What's That Your Doing?" is a fun disco song. Yes, a disco song in 1982, a time when disco was dying a horrible death. I'm not going to insult the song anymore but it's surprisingly dated. This isn't better than "Ebony & Ivory", or the "Thriller" LP Michael Jackson duet of "The Girl Is Mine", or even "The Man" on "Pipes of Peace" also with Jackson. I guess I'm continuing to diss this ridiculous turkey. This really can't be helped because it's the track before "Here Today," the emotional ballad for the recently murdered Lennon. It should have followed "Somebody Who Cares." A complete misfire to place the touching song between a disco track and "Ballroom Dancing." "Here Today" was forgotten for decades, partially because it drums up a devastating period and it's stuck between these two songs forcing you to dance even if you really don't feel like it.

Ballroom Dancing was one song that greatly improved when re-recorded for "Broad Street" (etc. etc. 1984). The next song "The Pound Is Sinking" will test your patience. Following this, is the albums true hero- Wonderlust, which is interchangeable with the re-recording on Broadstreet. In fact, if you want to just chuck the rest of songs, leave "Here Today," "Take It Away," and "Dress Me Up As Robber" we got a decent EP. I don't really want to discuss the problem I have with the Perkins duet, "Get It,"(too much of Paul trying too hard) and the "Ebony and Ivory" 7th demention of hell that becomes the 8th detention when listening to Paul's solo version(Schmaltz, anyone?)

"Rainclouds", one of the B-Sides is good, but "I'll give you a ring" did nothing for me on the second CD of mostly demos.

After listening to "Tug Of War", I really don't want to sit through it for another ten years. I do wonder(not a pun) why I haven't been listening to "Pipes of Peace" for the last 32 years.

But, then again I love Wings' "Back To The Egg", and The Solo "Give My Regards To Broad Street", so make of this unpopular opinion about "Tug Of War" what you will, but I think I still made a good argument.