Paul McCartney To Release Comprehensive Compilation In June

Paul McCartney is set to release Pure Paul, a collection spanning from his 1970 debut solo album all the way through to his 2015 "Say Say Say" remix. Its scheduled release date is June 10. (QNYC note -- I take issue that "Souvenir" isn't on the vinyl version!)

The tracks in the collection were all handpicked by Sir Paul. It will come in three different formats; 2CD, 4CD, 4LP and digital. All will feature versions of Paul's greatest solo, Wings and Fireman compositions. 

The 4CD version features 67 tracks, more than 40 of which were Top 40 hits including 'Maybe I'm Amazed', 'Live and Let Die', 'Mull Of Kintyre', ‘Ebony and Ivory’, ‘Dance Tonight’ and ‘New’.

You can pre-order Pure McCartney HERE.

'Pure McCartney', a new compilation of his solo, Wings and Fireman work, celebrates that fact, showcasing 67 highlights from one of the most-revered catalogues in music - from 'McCartney' in 1970, his debut solo album, right through to 'Hope For The Future', his 2014 track taken from 'Destiny', the most-anticipated video game of the last decade. Not only is 'Pure McCartney’ a monumental mixtape of some of popular music's most memorable moments from 1970 to the present day, it also features curios for the superfans and some of Paul's personal favourites — all handpicked by the man himself..

"Me and my team came up with the idea of putting together a collection of my recordings with nothing else in mind other than having something fun to listen to," Paul says of this project.  

"Maybe it's to be enjoyed on a long car journey or an evening at home or at a party with friends? So we got our heads together and came up with these diverse playlists from various periods of my long and winding career.”

Paul McCartney To Reissue Wings Over America & Rockshow

Paul McCartney announced last week that Wings' live album from 1976, Wings Over America, will be re-released May 27.  Also being released, for the first time on DVD, the live concert film Rockshow.  I might have, most likely, yeah I did, squeal a tiny bit upon hearing the news.  These are the releases I've been wanting since the first of the Archive Collection was rolled out a few years ago.  Out of all of McCartney's work, Wings Over America is probably the album I listen to most.  I'll be emptying my piggy bank for this folks.

Wings Over America will be released as a Deluxe Box Set, a two disc Standard Edition and a three disc Vinyl Edition.  As with the previous archive collections, the deluxe edition is full of goodies.  What's in the massive box set?  For starters, of course you get the Wings Over America album, re-mastered at Abby Road plus a live CD recorded at San Francisco's Cow Palace and a DVD containing the 75 minute TV special Wings Over The World.  I may or may not admit to having non-legitimate copies of the last two items at some point...so, I may or may not need to say 'sorry Macca!'

Oh, but wait, that's not all.  There are four books included too.  There's the 110 page commemorative Tour Book, the leatherette-bound Tour Itinerary, Look! a book of Linda McCartney photos featuring Wings on the road and lastly, The Ocean View a book of drawings and sketches capturing the band on tour by Humphrey Ocean.  The Tour Itinerary book alone contains a mountain of stuff or as the promotional material calls it, 'extravagant memorabilia' ... an appropriate description.

On June 10, Rockshow will be released by Eagle Rock on both DVD and Blu-ray.  I'm excited to finally have this on DVD; my VHS edition had to be put to rest.  The footage was shot on tour in 1976 in Seattle.

It was originally released on Betamax (later on laserdisc) but it’s only now that the complete full length concert is being made available fully restored from the original 35mm film and with restored & remastered sound, including a 5.1 mix for the first time.

‘Rockshow’ Theatrical Release

And then third, but by no means least, Eagle Rock has partnered with distributors Specticast who are releasing the film theatrically worldwide for a ‘one night only’ event on May 15th (see here for more details: www.rockshowonscreen.com) – meaning the film will be shown in more than 500 cinemas across the world!

The theatrical release features an exclusive introduction with Paul McCartney, but there will also be an exclusive VIP premiere screening of ‘Rockshow’, with Paul in attendance and introducing the film, at BAFTA on 15 May 2013.

McCartney & McCartney II Reissues Out Tomorrow!

Continuing with their series of deluxe reissues, MPL and Concord Music Group will release Paul McCartney's solo efforts McCartney and McCartney II, tomorrow, June 14.

McCartney was originally released in 1970. This is the record that kicked off McCartney's solo career. There's a certain romance about this album. It has a certain warm homemade feeling about it ... a man creating musical interpretations of his world with his woman steadfastly by his side. Everything about McCartney screams, welcome, join us in a low-key way. This record has always felt like if you'd shown up at McCartney's house, he'd have been in the mist of recording one of these songs. That vibe, that hominess really shines through on the packaging.

McCartney's voice is in top form and the re-mastering highlights that. On previous versions, I've felt that "Maybe I'm Amazed" has sounded tiny and a bit tin'ish. Here the sound is much more lush, like the grand love song that it is.

The sound on these bookend reissues has been spit and polished giving them an air of freshness. McCartney even manages to maintain its vinyl charm through the re-mastering without the crackle and pops of course.

It has been a while since I've had a listen to McCartney II in its entirety. Normally I hear a song here and there as it comes into rotation on my music player. Listening to it in one full go, it sounds a bit dated in some spots. There is plenty of cutting edge (at the time) synth pop encased on this disc. While a great deal of fun, it doesn't hold up as well to me. It was originally released in 1980 and music wise, it generally sounds like it.

This of course is the album that has the insanely catchy "Coming Up" which frankly, never gets old. While listening to this package, I was re-introduced to "On The Way." It's a song that could have fit well on the first record. "Nobody Knows" is a country tinged, blues pop, stomp that sounds richer yet maintains it's fun, lo-fi quality.

McCartney sounds like a old friend you can't wait to catch up with. McCartney II, while it has its moments, just doesn't maintain the same charm.

I haven't seen the bonus DVD footage included on the reissues so I can't tell you about those. But, McCartney enlisted award-winning filmmaker Jack McCoy to create a music video for the previously unreleased track "Blue Sway." The song, written almost 20 years ago is available for the first time on the bonus audio/dvd of McCartney II. Check out the video at the end of the post.

New York, Sir Paul will be playing Yankee Stadium on July 15 and 16. Check HERE for tickets.

Paul McCartney Gives Deluxe Treatment To Two Classics

Paul McCartney will release the next two reissues in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection on June 14.

Getting the deluxe treatment this time around, his solo debut McCartney. The record was originally released in April 1970. This is the album that gave us the beloved classic "Maybe I'm Amazed."

McCartney II, also gets the deluxe treatment. It was originally released in 1980 and was his solo return after Wings. It contains the catchy "Coming Up" which is etched in my pre-teen memories and insists on making me bounce oddly off-beat whenever I hear it playing.

Both reissues were remastered at Abbey Road and were supervised by McCartney. As with the previous Archive Collection reissue of Band On The Run, these will have bonus material in addition to the original remastered albums and will be available in multiple formats.

McCartney will be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus seven bonus audio tracks including the previously unreleased outtakes “Suicide” and “Don’t Cry Baby” plus a rare live 1979 recording of “Maybe I’m Amazed”. For collectors, the reissue will also be made available as a lavishly packaged 3 disc (2 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition which includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage, an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book containing many exclusive and unpublished photos by Paul and Linda McCartney, original album artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for the two audio discs as well as detailed historical information on the film content.

McCartney II will also be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus eight bonus tracks including B-Sides and alternative versions. The bonus audio CD includes the #1 hit “Coming Up (Live At Glasgow, 1979)” and holiday perennial “Wonderful Christmastime.”

The lovingly packaged 4 disc (3 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition of McCartney II not only includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage (including performances of ‘Coming Up’ and the new video for the unreleased track ‘Blue Sway’) but includes an additional seven rare bonus audio tracks exclusive to this edition. Additionally, the McCartney II deluxe edition contains an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book featuring many previously unpublished photos by Linda McCartney, original album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for all three audio discs plus detailed historical information on the film content.

McCartney Tracklist

CD 1 – Remastered Album

• The Lovely Linda
• That Would Be Something
• Valentine Day
• Every Night
• Hot As Sun / Glasses
• Junk
• Man We Was Lonely
• Oo You
• Momma Miss America
• Teddy Boy
• Singalong Junk
• Maybe I’m Amazed
• Kreen-Akrore

CD 2 – Bonus Audio Tracks

• Suicide [Out-take]
• Maybe I’m Amazed [From One Hand Clapping]
• Every Night [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
• Hot As Sun [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
• Maybe I’m Amazed [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
• Don’t Cry Baby [Out-take]
• Women Kind (Demo) [Mono]

DVD – Bonus Film

• The Album Story
• The Beach
• Maybe I’m Amazed Music Video
• Suicide [from One Hand Clapping]
• Every Night [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea]
• Hot As Sun [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea]
• Junk [MTV Unplugged]
• That Would Be Something [MTV Unplugged]

McCartney II Tracklist

CD 1 – Remastered Album

• Coming Up
• Temporary Secretary
• On The Way
• Waterfalls
• Nobody Knows
• Front Parlour
• Summer’s Day Song
• Frozen Jap
• Bogey Music
• Darkroom
• One Of These Days

CD 2 – Bonus Audio 1

• Blue Sway [With Richard Niles Orchestration]
• Coming Up [Live At Glasgow, 1979]
• Check My Machine [Edit]
• Bogey Wobble
• Secret Friend
• Mr H Atom / You Know I’ll Get you Baby
• Wonderful Christmastime [Edited Version]
• All You Horse Riders / Blue Sway

CD 3- Bonus Audio 2 (DELUXE 3 CD – 1 DVD EDITION ONLY)

• Coming Up [Full Length Version]
• Front Parlour [Full Length Version]
• Frozen Jap [Full Length Version]
• Darkroom [Full Length Version]
• Check My Machine [Full Length Version]
• Wonderful Christmastime [Full Length Version]
• Summer’s Day Song [Original without vocals]
• Waterfalls [DJ Edit]

DVD – Bonus Film

• Meet Paul McCartney
• Coming Up Music Video
• Waterfalls Music Video
• Wonderful Christmastime Music Video
• Coming Up [Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea]
• ‘Coming Up’ [taken from a rehearsal session at Lower Gate Farm, 1979]
• Making the Coming Up Music Video
• Blue Sway

Year End Review: Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run

November 2, we saw the re-mastered, re-release of Paul McCartney & Wings' classic hit album, Band on the Run. It's the first release from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. The 2 CD/1 DVD special edition consists of the original album, a disc of bonus tracks plus a disc containing more than an hours worth of video footage all wrapped up in a tidy enhanced package.

Band on the Run, originally released in 1973, came after some hit and miss McCartney albums. There were some gems on those works but overall, they were just nice. Band on the Run however sparkled and shined with the well crafted pop goodies that McCartney was and is known for. It's a record that still holds up well.

I've been spinning this release. In listening to it, the first thing I noticed was, I needed better headphones! Once that was squared away, I plugged in and cranked the sound. The re-master is louder and more clean than previous releases of the record. I hear more little bits and bobs that I never noticed before.

I realized something while listening to the record. All of the songs that I as a child, first associated as being McCartney, came from this album. Yes, as a kid I knew The Beatles music. But that was The Beatles and Beatle Paul and Wings Paul may have been one and the same, but they were separate in my mind. Beatles Paul was in funny movies and was a cartoon, literally ... oh and he wrote some great songs. But, Wings Paul was a rock star that people could actually go and see. He wasn't the larger than life entity his earlier self had become. Hey, nobody ever said kids made sense! Anyway, two of my all time favorite Wings songs come from this record "Let Me Roll It" and "Bluebird." Even though I've heard the song many times over the years, "Mrs. Vandebilt" has jumped out at me. It just pops on this edition and has been getting repeated plays.

I was excited about the One Hand Clapping video footage. But, I have to say, I'm just a wee bit disappointed. Yes, I'm happy to have it but it doesn't look like it has had any work done to it at all. I realize the footage is old but I expected it to be cleaner. As it stands, it feels a bit like watching a second (maybe third) generation bootleg VHS recording.

In a way, you can consider Band on the Run a best of record. It's some of McCartney's best post Fab Four work to date. I can't imagine a McCartney fan who doesn't own the album. But, if you're one of those who has the album in its original release and never got around to buying it on CD or digitally, now's a good time to pick it up (vinyl lovers need not fear, it's available in that format as well), it's a good little package. Listening to this re-master reminded me just how much I like this record.

Since there are plans to release other records as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, I'm hoping the next one will be Wings Over America with a bonus DVD of Rockshow in its entirety. That would make me one seriously happy chick.

Band on the Run (Special Edition)

Remastered Album

• Band on the Run
• Jet
• Bluebird
• Mrs Vandebilt
• Let Me Roll It
• Mamunia
• No Words
• Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)
• Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five

Bonus Audio Tracks

• Helen Wheels
• Country Dreamer
• Bluebird [from One Hand Clapping]
• Jet [from One Hand Clapping]
• Let Me Roll It [from One Hand Clapping]
• Band on the Run [from One Hand Clapping]
• Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five [from One Hand Clapping]
• Country Dreamer [from One Hand Clapping]
• Zoo Gang

DVD

• Band on the Run Music Video
• Mamunia Music Video
• Album Promo Featuring Band on the Run, Mrs Vandebilt, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Bluebird
• Helen Wheels Music Video
• Wings In Lagos
• Osterley Park
• One Hand Clapping

Paul McCartney To Re-release Band On The Run, November 2

Paul McCartney & Wings classic record, Band on the Run, will be re-released on November 2. The record is the first release from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.

The re-mastering of Band on the Run, originally recorded in 1973, was supervised by McCartney who worked with the same team who did the recent re-mastering of the complete Beatles' catalog. The record will come in several formats, the single CD standard edition, the 2CD/1DVD special edition, the 3 CD/1 DVD deluxe edition and a vinyl edition. I have a well known Sir Paul soft spot, so I have my sights set on the deluxe edition! In addition to the re-mastered music, I'm looking forward to the packaging. I love a nicely packaged product.

Heralded as one of the greatest albums of all time, the GRAMMY winning, smash # 1 album - originally released December of 1973 - yielded the immortal title track and world-wide hit “Jet” becoming Wings’ most successful and celebrated album ever.

Paul McCartney personally supervised all aspects of the Band on the Run reissue. The remastering work was done at Abbey Road using the same team who recently remastered the complete Beatles’ catalog.

Band on the Run will be available in a variety of formats originating with the single disc digitally remastered, essential 9-track standard edition. The 3 disc (2CD, 1 DVD) special edition features nine bonus audio tracks (including the top 10 smash “Helen Wheels”), rare footage of the McCartneys in Lagos and behind-the-scenes at the famous album cover shoot, original Band on the Run promotional video clips, the One Hand Clapping television special (highlighted by studio performances filmed at Abbey Road in 1974) all with beautifully enhanced packaging. Collectors will be especially thrilled by the 4 disc (3CD, 1 DVD) deluxe edition which adds an extraordinary 120-page hard bound book containing many unseen and unpublished photos by Linda McCartney and Clive Arrowsmith, album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, a full history of the album complete with a new interview with Paul and expanded track by track information for all four discs. The deluxe edition also includes a special Band on the Run audio documentary (originally produced for the 25th Anniversary edition.) The original remastered album and bonus audio content will also be issued in a 2 disc 180gm audiophile vinyl edition that comes with an MP3 download of all 18 tracks. Lastly, the standard and deluxe versions of Band on the Run will be available digitally worldwide.

Check out the widget below for a free download of "A Trip To Lagos."

Track List

Remastered Album

• Band on the Run
• Jet
• Bluebird
• Mrs Vandebilt
• Let Me Roll It
• Mamunia
• No Words
• Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)
• Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five

Bonus Audio Tracks

• Helen Wheels
• Country Dreamer
• Bluebird [from One Hand Clapping]
• Jet [from One Hand Clapping]
• Let Me Roll It [from One Hand Clapping]
• Band on the Run [from One Hand Clapping]
• Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five [from One Hand Clapping]
• Country Dreamer [from One Hand Clapping]
• Zoo Gang

Audio Documentary

Remastered documentary disc originally produced for the 25th Anniversary release of Band on the Run. Featuring interview contributions from Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Geoff Emerick, Tony Visconti, Al Coury, Clive Arrowsmith, James Coburn, John Conteh, Kenny Lynch, Michael Parkinson, Christopher Lee, Clement Freud, and Dustin Hoffman.

DVD

• Band on the Run Music Video
• Mamunia Music Video
• Album Promo Featuring Band on the Run, Mrs Vandebilt, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Bluebird
• Helen Wheels Music Video
• Wings In Lagos
• Osterley Park
• One Hand Clapping

www.paulmccartney.com
www.facebook.com/PaulMcCartney

McCartney Says Good Evening To New York City

A couple of weeks ago, Paul McCartney released a multi-disc live set titled Good Evening New York City. About a week ago I got a copy of the record. I have since indulged myself in more than one Macca listening marathon. I was officially put into a "comfort food stupor" listening to Good Evening New York City. What exactly is that you ask? That my friends is when you eat a bunch of sinfully bad for you, but extremely good, food and end up in your big comfy chair afterward with a big goofy grin on your face, usually unwilling to move for several hours. Think along the lines of going to Grandma's house on the holidays and stuffing yourself silly with all of the stuff you normally refrain from eating. I know, you're thinking I'm having one of my questionable comparison moments or something. But, music is food too, just a different kind. It's food for your soul and doesn't damage your waistline. Did I digress? Anyway, so McCartney isn't sinfully bad for you but he's extremely good at doing what he does, which is well, being Paul McCartney!

So, now that I've come out of my Macca induced comfort food stupor, I had to review. For the record, to eliminate any confusion, I'm reviewing the deluxe package. The first thing you notice is the packaging. Well, I did at any rate. In sticking with the whole I'm doing a show on a baseball field thing, all of the discs look like baseballs and there's even a Paul McCartney baseball card which could have used a little sleeve or holder of some sort of its own to keep it in place in the package. You also get thirty-nine pages of photos and liner notes, all of it encased in a compact little book, nice, spiffy and cute. Y'all know I like cute!

One of the things I like about this CD/DVD combo is all 33 songs are accounted for on both the CD's and DVD film. Thank you Sir Paul for that! I get annoyed by packages that have songs on the CD portion but not on the DVD portion and vice versa. I started with the audio portion of the package first. Things kick off with "Drive My Car" one of many songs in the set from that little known band he was in way back when ... believe they were called The Beatles or something. McCartney touches on the highlights of his career including a couple of songs from The Fireman album Electric Arguments, "Highway" and "Sing The Changes" respectively. Right off the bat I found myself singing along. How could you not sing along? The man has written and co-written some of the most memorable songs in rock history and as an entertainer he's infectious.

McCartney has done a number of live recordings over the years. On Good Evening New York City, his vocals show the normal wear and tear of a long career. But, I think this is one of the best live productions, vocally, he has done in a good while. He sounds more rested and relaxed. There seems to be less vocal strain on some of the higher notes compared to some previous live efforts. I admit there are a few spots that I wonder if they were "fixed" but that's a standard thing with live recordings.

Macca is joined on "I Saw Her Standing There" by Billy Joel. That has significance because Joel headlined the last rock concert at Shea Stadium, the site where The Beatles played a now legendary 34-minute set in 1965. He invited McCartney to sing that song and "Let It Be." So, we hear and see Joel a year later helping McCartney christen Citi Field, the former site of Shea.

While the audio portion is fun to listen to, it's the video portion that fully captures McCartney. As I mentioned earlier, he's an infectious entertainer and that infectiousness smacks you upside the head watching him perform. He's the puppy eyed charmer, the storyteller, the joker; he's the friend and widower paying tribute to those no longer with us. He's also still quite a sex symbol if the "marry me Paul" signs are any indication. He's full of energy and looks to be having as much fun as ever.

I'm not a big fan of close up shots of random audience members. I could have done with less of that. But there are visual highlights. The nostalgic visual stuff plays throughout the show on the giant video screens in the background but, during "I'm Down," the only song in the set that The Beatles played at Shea in '65, a nice bit of editing is done. Footage of The Beatles ripping through the song full of energy and smiles is mixed in. Throughout the song, the video bounces between modern day Paul and The Fab Four. Seeing that old footage of The Beatles having a blast momentarily makes you wonder how some four years later they ended up sour faced guys on a rooftop.

Helter Skelter live, need I say more? I'm going by memory, but I believe this is the first time McCartney has included it on a live effort. I'm too lazy to flip through my collection to verify that though. What? I never claimed to be all proper and by the rules professional, just quirky! Sure it doesn't have that down and dirty edginess that it did all those years ago when it was originally recorded but, it's still fun to hear. It all ends with "The End" which I suppose is fitting albeit a bit corny ... it's Macca, he's allowed to be corny if he wants. He's earned it.

The bonus DVD gives McCartney's full performance atop The Ed Sullivan Theater marquee, the theater where The Beatles made their U.S. television debut. You also get an audience documentary culled from footage shot on Flip cameras that were put in the hands of some fans to help document the three shows. To be honest, that bit didn't do much for me though I'm sure the fans involved had a great time with the cameras. I just didn't need a whole segment of it. The digital fan footage is also mixed in with professional footage that makes up the concert film. The disc ends with the full performance version of "I'm Down."

Overall, Good Evening New York City is a good package. For longtime fans of The Beatles, you get lots of sentimentally significant Beatles moments. If you're a McCartney fan, you'll add this to your collection. That being said, casual fans shouldn't dismiss this. Yes, it's a bit nostalgia heavy. But, McCartney as a performer out classes a good number of today's performers and he's armed with a song catalog that few can match. If you're like me and have a Sir Paul soft spot, you'll find yourself in a Macca induced stupor with a grin on your face after nearly three hours of sing-a-long with Paul.

Track Listing
(Live Album / Concert Film)

• Drive My Car
• Jet
• Only Mama Knows
• Flaming Pie
• Got To Get You Into My Life
• Let Me Roll It
• Highway
• The Long And Winding Road
• My Love
• Blackbird
• Here Today
• Dance Tonight
• Calico Skies
• Mrs Vandebilt
• Eleanor Rigby
• Sing The Changes
• Band On The Run
• Back In The USSR
• I’m Down
• Something
• I’ve Got A Feeling
• Paperback Writer
• A Day In The Life / Give Peace A Chance
• Let It Be
• Live And Let Die
• Hey Jude
• Day Tripper
• Lady Madonna
• I Saw Her Standing There
• Yesterday
• Helter Skelter
• Get Back
• Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / The End

Bonus DVD
(Live on the Late Show with David Letterman)

• Get Back
• Sing The Changes
• Coming Up
• Band On The Run
• Let Me Roll It
• Helter Skelter
• Back In The USSR

• Good Evening People (Audience Documentary Film)
• I’m Down (Full Performance)

www.paulmccartney.com
www.myspace.com/paulmccartney

Sneak Peek of McCartney's Good Evening New York City

I've already declared my soft spot for rock legend Paul McCartney, probably more than once even. And, you know he has a new live effort coming out, right? Well, for those who don't know or just need a little reminder, McCartney is releasing a multi-disc live set on November 17. The set, Good Evening New York City was recorded in July at Citi Field and contains nearly three hours worth of music ... 30 plus songs folks. That's a whole lotta Macca! So, to get you ready for the release, we've got video! Check out the clip of "Highway" from Good Evening New York City below. And, if that wasn't enough, there's an additional handy dandy little widget down there for some free stuff! Toss in your email address and you can download the video plus an MP3 from the release, one of my favorite McCartney songs, "Let Me Roll It."

"Highway"

Toss in your email and get some goodies!

www.paulmccartney.com
www.myspace.com/paulmccartney

Paul McCartney To Release Good Evening New York City

Mark November 17 on your calendars as Macca Day. Why? That's the day Paul McCartney releases Good Evening New York City. I confess to having a soft spot for McCartney, actually all of the former Beatles. Okay, that's not really much of a confession especially if you've seen my music collection. To be honest, I hadn't realized how much McCartney music I owned until I set about trying to organize my collection. Being extremely unorganized and easily bored by such tasks, I failed miserably ... at least all of his music is kinda sorta in the same general vicinity now! But, I digress.

Good Evening New York City immortalizes McCartney's historic three-night wing ding (July 17, 18 & 21) out at Citi Field. For trivia buffs, historical reference and whatnot, Citi Field is the site of the former Shea Stadium which is somewhat hallowed ground for Beatles fans. That's where the Fab Four played a 34 minute set in 1965 to a screaming mass of fans, not that those same screaming fans actually heard the show due to well, their screaming! We've all seen the footage, it's one of those big deal Beatles US moments. Some 44 years later and armed with a much better sound system, Macca returned to the scene of the crime and did his thing.

You'll have a few versions of Good Evening New York City to choose from. There's the standard edition 3-disc set (2 CD's + 1 DVD) and the deluxe 4-disc version (2 CD's + 2 DVD's). The deluxe edition includes extended packaging and McCartney's performance atop the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee (the theater the Beatles made their US television debut incase for some odd reason you lack that bit of music trivia) where he stopped traffic. Macca drew about 15 blocks worth of people along Broadway trying to witness the legend. I walked by the theater that morning, passing by all of the MPL equipment cases outside the building (if you hadn't already heard whispers of something big happening, you knew once you saw all of the equipment) and witnessed people already scouting out vantage points hoping for a glimpse of the man himself while on their way to wherever they were going. Parts of the marquee performance aired on The Late Show with David Letterman but the bonus DVD contained in this package will contain footage that didn't air on television and was previously only available on The Late Show's website. And, for the vinyl lovers of the world, of course there will be a vinyl edition package too.

The Citi Field concerts have been heralded by critics and fans alike. So, if you weren't there and want to experience the Macca Magic (Did I just write that? That's kinda corny!) or want to relive it, pick up a copy. As for me, I'm sure the deluxe version of Good Evening New York City will end up in the same general vicinity as the rest of my McCartney collection.

www.paulmccartney.com
www.myspace.com/paulmccartney

The Beatles Get Digitally Re-mastered

Beatles fans rejoice! The original Beatles catalogue has been digitally re-mastered for the first time and will be unleashed upon the world on Wednesday, September 9. This is also the date the much anticipated The Beatles: Rock Band video game will be released. To make the day all the more Beatle-rific it's worldwide Beatles Day. Hey, is that a take off of work holiday?

So, over at Abbey Road Studios, that's in London for those who live under a rock or just plain didn't know in which case you should have all of your rock 'n' roll records confiscated as punishment for lack of rock trivia knowledge but, I digress. Anyway, over there at Abbey Road a team of engineers spent four years hunched over ancient, I mean vintage equipment while using new fangled, modern day, state of the art technology, re-mastering the analogue master tapes. They painstakingly fiddled around with the catalogue keeping the authenticity and integrity of the original recordings intact thus making everything all nice and spiffy for Beatles fans the world over.

They replicated the original UK album art for the CD's including expanded booklets containing the original liner notes as well as newly written notes and rare photos. Each disc will also have a brief documentary about the album but only for a limited time. For those who like those nifty packages known as box sets, there will be two boxed collections available the same day.

The stereo collection contains all twelve Beatles albums in stereo, Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters Vol. I and II which are now combined to make one title. This is the first time the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on CD. These discs are available individually or in the box set. All but the Past Master disc contains a mini-documentary.

• Please Please Me (CD debut in stereo)
• With The Beatles (CD debut in stereo)
• A Hard Day's Night (CD debut in stereo)
• Beatles For Sale (CD debut in stereo)
• Help!
• Rubber Soul
• Revolver
• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (also includes 1987 notes, updated, and new intro by Paul McCartney)
• Magical Mystery Tour
• The Beatles
• Yellow Submarine (also includes original US liner notes)
• Abbey Road
• Let It Be
• Past Masters (contains new liner notes written by Kevin Howlett)

The mono collection contains ten of the albums with their original mono mixes with an additional two discs of mono masters which is I guess you could call the equivalent of Past Masters. The discs in this collection are only available in the boxed set making it more for the collectors or the hardcore fans. As a bonus, Help! and Rubber Soul will include the original 1965, previously unreleased on CD, stereo mixes. Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour and The Beatles are making their mono mix CD debuts.

• Please Please Me
• With The Beatles
• A Hard Day's Night
• Beatles For Sale
• Help! (CD also includes original 1965 stereo mix)
• Rubber Soul (CD also include original 1965 stereo mix)
• Revolver
• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
• Magical Mystery Tour
• The Beatles
• Mono Masters

That's a whole lotta Beatles to dig into. Mark your calendars so you can enjoy a day dedicated to one of the most famous bands in rock history and re-live, re-discover, discover and sing-a-long with John, Paul, George & Ringo.

www.thebeatles.com

Funny People Soundtrack To Be Released July 28

Funny People - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is due to be released on July 28. The movie, Funny People, stars Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience and what happens when the other side isn’t at all what you expect. Eric Bana, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman co-star. The movie will be in theaters July 31.

The soundtrack features a stellar line-up of classic pop artists. That being said, I'm not sure why they felt the need to toss in not one, but two songs from the film's star Adam Sandler. To make matters worse, one of the songs he's allowed to "sing" is John Lennon's "Real Love." Granted, the song sounds better than I expected it to but still, it didn't really need to be here. He is definitely the weak link among the tracks. On the other hand co-star Jason Schwartzman's band Coconut Records, whose work I actually like, fairs much better with their two songs especially the catchy "Wires."

There's Beatles presence other than that Sandler misstep. Paul McCartney's "Great Day" from my favorite modern day McCartney album Flaming Pie, is the opening track. And in the end ... the album closes out with back to back Beatles. Ringo Starr's "Photograph" a song he co-wrote with George Harrison for his 1973 record Ringo which is followed by an acoustic demo version of John Lennon's "Watching The Wheels."

The soundtrack also boast two new live tracks. The first, James Taylor's live on-camera performance of "Carolina In My Mind" in the film and "Jesus, Etc." by Wilco featuring Andrew Bird on violin.

Listen to "Jesus, Etc." by Wilco featuring Andrew Bird Here.
Listen to "Watching The Wheels" by John Lennon Here.
Watch the official Funny People Trailer Here.

Track Listing

• Great Day - Paul McCartney
• Wires - Coconut Records
• All The King's Horses - Robert Plant And The Strange Sensation
• Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor
• Keep Me In Your Heart - Warren Zevon
• Real Love - Adam Sandler
• We - Neil Diamond
• Jesus, Etc. - Wilco featuring Andrew Bird
• George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone - Adam Sandler
• I Am Young - Coconut Records
• Memory - Larry Goldings featuring Maude Apatow
• Numb As A Statue - Warren Zevon
• Photograph - Ringo Starr
• Watching The Wheels - John Lennon