Helen Wheels

Goddamn it, Paul McCartney, stop being so cute! Ridiculous. I say Band on the Run was as good as anything McCartney produces with The Beatles. He wasn’t able to keep it up for very long, but for a few years in the seventies, Wings were absolutely amazing. They had that happy-making quality which is like aural crack for the brain, and which McCartney seems to have a disproportional level of access to.  The man is like a lightning rod for melodies. To his credit, he seems to still be amazed and delighted at the talents that he’s been given. And I in turn am amazed and delighted to still have the sane and humble Paul McCartney to show everyone else how to wear bigger-than-Jesus fame with grace.

Don’t Let It Bring You Down

The rewards of exploring the ‘deep cuts’ are varied and rich. I’ve said it before and I’ll go on saying it. Some of the most interesting output is often hidden in the middle of the back side of an obscure LP that hasn’t been pulled off the shelf in decades. That’s where you find it.

Cook Of the House

Is it odd that this song is aspirational to me? Linda McCartney is an aspirational figure to me. Not because of the whole marrying a Beatle thing, either. Paul and Linda, they were smart enough to know that the kitchen is where the heart lies. While everyone else was jetting around the world hoping to find personal fulfillment in the arms of a guru or inside a fancy car, or on a therapist’s couch, or in the form of a chemical, those two knew the secret all along. The answer that everyone eventually came to, usually after stints in jail and in rehab and possibly a blood-transfusion or two, is that they’re only happiest at home with their pets and children. When Paul McCartney started loudly espousing the joys of domestic bliss with dogs and children everyone thought he was soft in the brains. Then they had to admit he was right all along, enjoying his happy life in the heart of the country. And when I say ‘they’ I mostly mean Lennon, but everyone else it applies to as well.

Cafe On the Left Bank

If you’ll observe, we have quietly moved on to the c-list. Two letters a year at the rate I’m going. Should keep me busy for a good long time, god willing. And here’s some Wings for you.

Beware My Love

Reminding you again how awesome Wings is or are or were.

Band On the Run

Band on the Run has to be Paul McCartney’s solo masterpiece. It was one of a handful of McCartney albums that stand beside his Beatles work. Out of the four, it was Paul who was able to reqularly rescale those heights of brilliance. Of course it is the subject of fervent debate which Beatles but out the most Beatles-quality solo material. My money is on Paul, all the way. Paul put out four solo albums that were as good as anything the Beatles ever did. None of the others came as close as many times.

The famous cover was taken after a dinner party Paul and Linda hosted. The people in the picture are not the members of Wings – Wings at the time had a membership of three. Although all the guests were stars (at least at that time and place) only one is known to me – the great Christopher Lee, then known as a b-movie Dracula, now known as Saruman (among many great roles). Lee is third from the right.

The video was filmed at the Coachella music festival only a few months ago

Backwards Traveller

Backwards Traveller, Wings, London Town, 1978

This is a demo of Backwards Traveller. This song was a bit of a throwaway, although a highly melodious one, in its studio version. This is quite raw, but still recognizably catchy. London Town is one of Paul McCartney’s best solo albums, and the last really great one.