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6.52pm
Reviewers
29 November 2012
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Just wanted to share something that happened this morning 8)
I went to my local record store on the way to work this morning to pick up the 2CD remaster versions of McCartney and McCartney II (I didn’t have them physically yet…now I just need to buy the 2CD Band On The Run to have them all on CD so far). I have a BUNCH of store credit saved up so I figured might as well! The fellow that runs the store is a guy probably my dad’s age (~60) who is always wearing a fedora and has longish salt-and-pepper hair, stubble, hipster horn-rimmed glasses, wears flannel shirts over t-shirts, ripped jeans, boots…he looks like a typical 60s hippie burnout (don’t get me wrong, he’s a SUPER nice guy, I’ve known him for years, but that’s what you think when you first see him). When I took the discs up to pay, he said “hey, a couple of GREAT ones here!” I said yeah, about time I got them on remaster. He said “McCartney has some GREAT demos on the bonus disc!” and also said “have you checked out Wings Over America yet?” I told him I had the remaster already and said the sound was so much better than the original, to which he agreed. Just then the young kid working there who had been on the phone hung up and saw what I was getting and said “haha, I was *just* on the phone ordering more McCartney stuff from the distributor!” I told them I was seeing him at Fenway next month and the older guy said “shit, he’s playing Fenway? Wish I’d known. Enjoy the show!”
It’s funny because I never in a million years would’ve guessed he’d like Paul and Wings. Usually when I go in and he’s working, there’s either heavy classic rock (AC/DC, etc) or avant garde jazz or new indie (Killers, Arctic Monkeys, etc) playing over the speakers. To say I was shocked would be an understatement! 
I left with a big smile on my face…it’s been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It’s almost like they’re not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it’s *really* great music. It’s SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"
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9.52pm
14 December 2009
Offline 
DrBeatle said
Usually when I go in and he’s working, there’s either heavy classic rock (AC/DC, etc) or avant garde jazz or new indie (Killers, Arctic Monkeys, etc) playing over the speakers. To say I was shocked would be an understatement!
Well, I myself listen to avant-jazz and ’70s metal all the time (have no interest in new indie tho), and I’m really enjoying those McCartney reissues too, so it’s not like it’s totally unheard-of! Your ears deserve a break from the noise every once in a while, y’know. But I know what you mean and yeah, it’s nice to see the critical redemption of Paul’s catalogue, whether it’s just a case of backlash-against-the-backlash by hipsters or not.
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
11.07pm
16 June 2013
Offline I was 13 when Band On The Run was released, and I can tell you Paul & Wings were respected by the public and FM radios in Westchester New York. The 1973-76 period was clearly Paul being the ex-Beatle taking center stage. Paul & Wings were right up there, only outdistanced by Led Zep and Pink Floyd. Paul & Wings had nothing to envy from Deep Purple, the Stones, Boston, Manfred Mann, Fleetwod Mac, Jefferson Airplane, Aerosmith, Queen, Eagles, Genesis, Yes… If you mean respect from the press, that’s another story. Who cares, I was too thrilled to read or listen to critics. I simply bought Wings records.
12.45am
20 December 2010
Offline McCartney always had some backlash back in the 70’s. I think a lot had to do with some of Lennon’s remarks about how Paul writes ‘MUZAK’ and not very interesting lyrics. I have always thought ‘Wings’ was a great band. The fact that he started out playing the college circuit and trying to get back to basics as a little band was gutsy back then. He has written so many great songs throughout his career. We all need to not compare his solo output to what he did in The Beatles. Just listen and let his music take you to where it needs to. I still feel he did his best work in the 70’s but has a lot of great tunes after that period.
The further one travels, the less one knows
1.08am
16 June 2013
Offline It’s strange, I knew he was an ex-Beatle but I never compared his solo/Beatles work. I never thought back then there were so many Macca bashers. I just enjoyed “1985” the same way I enjoyed “Give Me Love”, “Photograph”, “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night “… To Me all the solo Beatles shone the same.
1.39am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline The problem Paul had in the 70s in many ways was the press release he put out for McCartney in 1970. Much as Yoko has always, in a slightly racist way, been portrayed as the woman who broke up The Beatles, it was Paul who promoted his first solo album by telling the world that The Beatles were dead, and then – whatever the world may have thought of Yoko’s role – went on to sue John, George and Ringo to dissolve the partnership.
However much Yoko was blamed, Paul was considered to have wielded the axe.
"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
1.04pm
Reviewers
29 November 2012
Offline ^good point by all of you. I think a big problem, too, was that it was seen as “cool” to hate on Paul and very “uncool” to like Wings and his solo stuff, mainly because of what was touched on above: John’s remarks and the press being so besotted with the “intelligent” Beatle that they pumped this narrative up relentlessly to the point that it became the accepted conventional wisdom. Nowadays, I think younger people who weren’t even alive back then don’t know anything other than the music itself, and those of us old enough just don’t give a fuck about what critics said/say anymore. 8)
"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"
Please Visit My Website, The Rock and Roll Chemist
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2.17am
10 August 2011
Offline We’ve had this discussion on this Forum in the past, but one of the major issues of the day was McC’s insistence on having his photographer-wife as a full member of his band.
It’s hard to take a band seriously when one of the main members is not a musician in any sense of the word. This is particular true when you’re talking about an ex-Beatle whose work is always being compared to his prior work. It really looked like he himself wasn’t taking his music seriously.
Of course this was not an issue for fans who came of age in the 70s with Wings (or later) and were NOT comparing them to the Beatles.
Lennon faced a similar issue, but in his case both he and wife thought she had a special talent.
With Linda’s passing and the passing of time, she’s come to be seen in a much more favorable light
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
6.53am
17 January 2013
Offline I know a lot of younger people, like late teens early twenties, that have no idea who Wings are! I think they are GREAT, I don’t really know why they aren’t more popular.
"Please don't bring your banjo back, I know where it's been.. I wasn't hardly gone a day, when it became the scene.. Banjos! Banjos! All the time, I can't forget that tune.. and if I ever see another banjo, I'm going out and buy a big balloon!"
1.33pm
Reviewers
29 November 2012
Offline Into the Sky with Diamonds said
We’ve had this discussion on this Forum in the past, but one of the major issues of the day was McC’s insistence on having his photographer-wife as a full member of his band.It’s hard to take a band seriously when one of the main members is not a musician in any sense of the word. This is particular true when you’re talking about an ex-Beatle whose work is always being compared to his prior work. It really looked like he himself wasn’t taking his music seriously.
Of course this was not an issue for fans who came of age in the 70s with Wings (or later) and were NOT comparing them to the Beatles.
Lennon faced a similar issue, but in his case both he and wife thought she had a special talent.
With Linda’s passing and the passing of time, she’s come to be seen in a much more favorable light
True, but in Paul’s favor, he wanted her in the band just so they could always be together. And Linda was *always* letting people know she knew she wasn’t a musician and that she was only doing it so she and Paul (and the kids) could be together all the time. Unlike John, who was always trying to fucking shove Yoko down everyone’s throat to try and make people like her. Funny story from 2 days ago: I was listening to Lennon’s “Live Peace In Toronto 1969 ” album and when the last song, John John (Let’s Hope for Peace) came on (and if you don’t know, it’s literally 15 minutes of Yoko shrieking over guitar feedback), after a minute of it, my 3 1/2 yr old son covered his ears and said “Dad, I don’t like this, turn it off.” I cannot tell you how proud I was at that moment 
"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"
Please Visit My Website, The Rock and Roll Chemist
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2.50pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
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Surpised your son got thru a minute. I hear 3 seconds of Yoko and im hitting the skip button.
The idea presented that she was a tuneless pushy wife really is complete crap when the music is listened to, whilst she didnt have a great voice she could sing within certain limits and her harmonies are great in places. The media never gave her, or Yoko a chance. However whilst Paul and Linda were keen for her to remain in the background only occassionally coming to the front, at times reluctantly, Yoko was thrust upon everyone and you were told off if you didnt get it.
The problem Wings had and still have is that they are always going to be compared to the Beatles and will never match up.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
3.13pm
Reviewers
29 November 2012
Offline meanmistermustard said
Surpised your son got thru a minute. I hear 3 seconds of Yoko and im hitting the skip button.
The idea presented that she was a tuneless pushy wife really is complete crap when the music is listened to, whilst she didnt have a great voice she could sing within certain limits and her harmonies are great in places. The media never gave her, or Yoko a chance. However whilst Paul and Linda were keen for her to remain in the background only occassionally coming to the front, at times reluctantly, Yoko was thrust upon everyone and you were told off if you didnt get it.
The problem Wings had and still have is that they are always going to be compared to the Beatles and will never match up.
You hit the crux of the matter right on the money there. Paul never claimed she was an artist as a musician (she was clearly one as a photographer and cook) and Linda felt the same way. Yoko and John thought she was the fucking balls and like you said, if you didn’t get it, the problem was with YOU. Unfortunately, 99% of the Earth’s population didn’t get it, so what does that say about Yoko?
Now that my kids are fully Beatles fans (and so young, too!), I’ve been working on solo Beatles. John and George, and Wings especially. They love them…Band On The Run is their favorite solo album so far.
"I know you, you know me; one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"
Please Visit My Website, The Rock and Roll Chemist
Twitter: @rocknrollchem
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6.52pm
10 August 2011
Offline Love that song! It’s perfect for getting the guests to leave!
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
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