danwood@usa.com


CDnow"


Artist

Album Title

Song Title






THE MUSIC ROOM

Sit Back and Enjoy the Music

MUSIC MENU

THE DAILY WAVE
NET RADIO
VIRTUAL MUSIC LIBRARY
WALL OF SOUND
MUSIC BOULEVARD
VH-1
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
MSN MUSIC GUIDE
HOUSE OF BLUES
RETURN TO HOMEPAGE

Paul McCartney

It is not an overstatement to say that Paul McCartney is one of the greatest songwriters in the history of Rock music. McCartney's two-disc compilation album, Wingspan (Hits & History), has been released, and we celebrate with a two-part MSN Exclusive Interview. Listen now to Part 1, as Sir Paul shares with us his insights and memories of how he wrote some of his most memorable post-Beatles hits. Get free Wings downloads! Read More Listen to the interview Albums by Paul McCartney & Wings Red Rose Speedway Paul McCartney Buy It London Town Paul McCartney Buy It Venus & Mars [Capitol] Paul McCartney Buy It See All Albums by Paul McCartney Paul McCartney's Bio Out of all the former Beatles, Paul McCartney by far had the most successful solo career, maintaining a constant presence in the British and American charts during the '70s and '80s. In America alone, he had nine number one singles and seven number one albums... Read Full Biography More by McCartney McCartney Paul McCartney Buy It Ram Paul McCartney Buy It Run Devil Run Paul McCartney Buy It Essential Songs by Paul McCartney & Wings My Love Paul McCartney & Wings Buy It Live and Let Die Paul McCartney & Wings Buy It Let 'Em In Paul McCartney & Wings Buy It!
Paul McCartney's Bio.. Out of all the former Beatles, Paul McCartney by far had the most successful solo career, maintaining a constant presence in the British and American charts during the '70s and '80s. In America alone, he had nine number one singles and seven number one albums...

Albums by Paul McCartney & Wings Red Rose Speedway Paul McCartney Help Home » Paul McCartney Paul McCartney Play a station based on artists like this one Add this artist to your favorites Find music by this artist to match your mood -Any Mood-GroovyHappyQuirkyRockin'SadSoothingTrippy -Any Tempo-SlowModerateFast Bio (AMG Biography) Out of all the former Beatles, Paul McCartney by far had the most successful solo career, maintaining a constant presence in the British and American charts during the '70s and '80s. In America alone, he had nine number one singles and seven number one albums ... Read full biography during the first 12 years of his solo career. Although he sold records, McCartney never attained much critical respect, especially when compared to his former partner John Lennon. Then again, he pursued a different path than Lennon, deciding early on that he wanted to be in a rock band. Within a year after the Beatles' break-up, McCartney had formed Wings with his wife Linda, and the group remained active for the next 10 years, racking up a string of hit albums, singles and tours in the meantime. By the late '70s, many critics were taking pot-shots at McCartney's effortlessly melodic songcraft, but that didn't stop the public from buying his records. His sales didn't slow considerably until the late '80s, and he retalliated with his first full-scale tour since the '70s, which was a considerable success. During the '90s, McCartney recorded less frequently, concentrating on projects like his first classical recording, a techno album and the Beatles' Anthology. Like Lennon and George Harrison, Paul McCartney began exploring creative avenues outisde the Beatles during the late '60s, but where his bandmates released their own experimental records, McCartney confined himself to writing and production for other artists, with the exception of his 1966 soundtrack to The Family Way. Following his marriage to Linda Eastman on March 12, 1969, McCartney began working at his home studio on his first solo album. He released the record, McCartney, in April 1970, two weeks before the Beatles' Let It Be was scheduled to hit the stores. Prior to the album's release, he announced that the Beatles were breaking-up, which was against the wishes of the other members. As a result, the tensions between him and the other three members, particularly Harrison and Lennon, increased and he earned the ill-will of many critics. Nevertheless, McCartney became a hit, spending three weeks at the top of the American charts. Early in 1971, he returned with "Another Day," which became his first hit single as a solo artist. It was followed several months later by Ram, another home-made collection, this time featuring the contributions of his wife Linda. By the end of 1971, the McCartneys had formed Wings, which was intended to be a full-fledged recording and touring band. Former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine and drummer Denny Seiwell became the group's other members, and Wings released their first album, Wild Life, in December 1971. Wild Life was greeted with poor reviews and was a relative flop. McCartney and Wings, which now featured former Grease Band guitarist Henry McCullough, spent 1972 as a working band, releasing three singles -- the protest "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," the reggae-fied "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and the rocking "Hi Hi Hi" -- in England. Red Rose Speedway followed in the spring of 1973, and while it received weak reviews, it became his second American number one album. Later in 1973, Wings embarked on their first British tour, at the conclusion of which McCullough and Seiwell left the band. Prior to their departure, the McCartney's theme to the James Bond movie Live and Let Die became a Top 10 hit in the US and UK. That summer, the remaining Wings proceeded to record a new album in Nigeria. Released late in 1973, Band on the Run, was simultaneously McCartney's best-reviewed album and his most successful, spending four weeks at the top of the US charts and eventually going triple platinum. Following the success of Band on the Run, McCartney formed a new version of Wings with guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton. The new lineup was showcased on the 1974 British single "Junior's Farm" and the 1975 hit album Venus and Mars. At the Speed of Sound followed in 1976, and it was the first Wings record to feature songwriting contributions by the other band members. Nevertheless, the album became a monster success on the basis of two McCartney songs, "Silly Love Songs" and "Let 'Em In." Wings supported the album with their first international tour which broke many attendence records and was captured on the live triple-album Wings over America (1976). After the tour completed, Wings rested a bit during 1977, as McCartney released an instrumental version of Ram under the name Thrillington and produced Denny Laine's solo album, Holly Days. Later that year, Wings released "Mull of Kintyre," which became the biggest-selling British single of all time, selling over two million copies. Wings followed "Mull of Kintyre" with London Town in 1978, which became another platinum record. After its release, McCulloch left the band to join the re-formed Small Faces and Wings released Back to the Egg in 1979. Though the record went platinum, it failed to produce any big hits. Early in 1980, McCartney was arrested for marijuna possession at the beginning of a Japanese tour; he was imprisoned for 10 days and then released, without any charges being pressed. Wings embarked on a British tour in the spring of 1980 before McCartney recorded McCartney II, which was a one-man band effort like his solo debut. The following year, Denny Laine left Wings because McCartney didn't want to tour in the wake of John Lennon's assassination; in doing so, he effectively broke up Wings. McCartney entered the studio later that year with Beatles producer George Martin to make Tug of War. Released in the spring of 1982, Tug of War received the best reviews of any McCartney record since Band on the Run and spawned the number one single "Ebony and Ivory," a duet with Stevie Wonder that became McCartney's biggest American hit. In 1983, McCartney sang on "The Girl is Mine," the first single from Michael Jackson's blockbuster album Thriller. In return, Jackson dueted with McCartney on "Say Say Say," the first single from Paul's 1983 album Pipes of Peace and the last number one single of his career. The relationship between Jackson and McCartney soured considerably when Jackson bought the publishing rights to the Beatles songs from underneath McCartney in 1985. McCartney directed his first feature film in 1984 with Give My Regards to Broad Street. While the soundtrack, which featured new songs and re-recorded Beatles tunes, was a hit, generating the hit single "No More Lonely Nights," the film was a flop, earning terrible reviews. The following year he had his last American Top Ten with the theme to the Chevy Chase/Dan Aykroyd comedy Spies Like Us. Press to Play (1986) received some strong reviews but the album was a flop. In 1988, he recorded a collection of rock & roll oldies called Choba B CCCP for release in the USSR; it was given official release in the US and UK in 1991. For 1989's Flowers in the Dirt, McCartney co-wrote several songs with Elvis Costello; the pair also wrote songs for Costello's Spike, including the hit "Veronica." Flowers in the Dirt received the strongest reviews of any McCartney release since Tug of War and was supported by an extensive international tour, which was captured on the live double-album Tripping the Live Fantastic (1990). For the tour, McCartney hired guitarist Robbie McIntosh and bassist Hamish Stuart, who would form the core of his band through the remainder of the '90s. Early in 1991, McCartney released another live album in the form of Unplugged, which was taken from his appearence on MTV's acoustic concert program of the same name; it was the first Unplugged album to be released. Later that year, he unveiled Liverpool Oratorio, his first classical work. Another pop album, Off the Ground, followed in 1993, but the album failed to generate any big hits, despite McCartney's successful supporting tour. Following the completion of the "New World" tour, he released another live album, Paul is Live, in December of 1993. In 1994, he released an ambient techno album under the pseudonym the Fireman. McCartney premiered his second classical piece, "The Leaf," early in 1995, and then began hosting a Westwood One radio series called Oobu Joobu. But his primary activity in 1995, as well as 1996, was the Beatles' Anthology, which encompassed a lengthy video documentary of the band and the multi-volume release of Beatles outtakes and rarities. After Anthology was completed, he released Flaming Pie in the summer of 1997. A low-key, largely acoustic affair that had the some of the same charm of his debut, Flaming Pie was given the strongest reviews McCartney had received in years and was a modest commercial success, debuting at number two on the US and UK charts; it was his highest American chart placing since he left the Beatles. Flaming Pie certainly benefitted from the success of Anthology, as did McCartney himself -- only a few months before the release of the album in 1997, he received a knightship. On April 17, 1998, Linda McCartney died after a three-year struggle with breast cancer. A grieving Paul kept a low profile in the months to follow, finally returning in the fall of 1999 with Run Devil Run, a collection comprised primarily of cover songs. Liverpool Sound Collage followed a year later. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide ... Hide full biography Albums by this Artist Expand all 1. Band on the Run [Remastered & Bonus CD] Released 1999 by Capitol Get more information on the album "Band on the Run [Remastered & Bonus CD]" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 2. Choba B CCCP Released 1991 by Capitol Get more information on the album "Choba B CCCP" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 3. Flaming Pie Released 1997 by Capitol Get more information on the album "Flaming Pie" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 4. Flowers in the Dirt Released 1989 by EMI Get more information on the album "Flowers in the Dirt" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 5. McCartney Released 1970 by EMI Get more information on the album "McCartney" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 6. Ram Released 1971 by EMI Get more information on the album "Ram" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 7. Red Rose Speedway Released 1973 by EMI Get more information on the album "Red Rose Speedway" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 8. Run Devil Run Released 1999 by EMI Get more information on the album "Run Devil Run" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 9. Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) Released 1991 by Capitol Get more information on the album "Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites 10. Venus & Mars [Capitol] Released 1975 by EMI Get more information on the album "Venus & Mars [Capitol]" Play a station based on albums like this one Add this album to your favorites ( 1 2 3 ) Next Similar Artists Expand all 1. Backbeat Band Backbeat Band Paul McCartney Rock & Roll Music Honey Hush Slow Down Run Devil Run C'mon Everybody All Shook Up Show artists similar to this one 2. The Honeydrippers The Honeydrippers Paul McCartney Rockin' at Midnight Bluejean Bop Young Boy Blues Lonesome Town I Got a Woman I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday Show artists similar to this one 3. George Harrison, Leon Russell & Bob Dylan George Harrison, Leon Russell & Bob Dylan Paul McCartney Blowin' in the Wind Country Dreamer A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall The Song We Were Singing Mr. Tambourine Man Man We Was Lonely Show artists similar to this one 4. The Traveling Wilburys The Traveling Wilburys Paul McCartney Heading for the Light I'm in Love Again You Took My Breath Away Some People Never Know Where Were You Last Night? One More Kiss Show artists similar to this one 5. Paul Rishell & Annie Raines Paul Rishell & Annie Raines Paul McCartney Sweet Jivin' Mama That Would Be Something Keep Your Hands off Her That Would Be Something Twist It Babe Hi-Heel Sneakers Show artists similar to this one 6. Ray Bonneville Ray Bonneville Paul McCartney Just Before Dawn That Would Be Something Roll With the Punches Mamunia Sylvie's Got a New Man Hi-Heel Sneakers Show artists similar to this one 7. Paul & Linda McCartney Paul & Linda McCartney Paul McCartney Back Seat of My Car Beautiful Night Eat at Home Band on the Run [Barn Rehearsal] Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey Little Lamb Dragonfly Show artists similar to this one 8. The HartAches The HartAches Paul McCartney Slippin' and Slidin' Twenty Flight Rock Baby, Here I Am Run Devil Run My Back Seat Brown Eyed Handsome Man Show artists similar to this one 9. Eric Matthews Eric Matthews Paul McCartney Yes, Everyone No Words Forging Plastic Pain Heaven on a Sunday To Clear the Air Somedays Show artists similar to this one 10. Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach Paul McCartney Tears at the Birthday Party Lie Around What's Her Name Today? And I Love Her This House Is Empty Now Here, There and Everywhere Show artists similar to this one
Musical Styles Rock and Roll, Folk Rock, Bluesy Rock, Folk, Soft Rock, Rock Soul, Power Pop, Classic Rock