Ryno2317

June 22nd, 2018 at 11:26 PM ^

Jones lost it.  McCartney is easily a top 5 bass player — if not top three — in rock.  Listen to almost any Beatles song from 65 on and he is playing lead bass totally directing the song.  Listen to Hey Bulldog and even Little Help From My Friends.  Guy is brilliant.  In his defense, Jones was referring to the first time he saw them in the early 60s when McCartney was asked to be the bass player out of necessity.  Love each and every one of the Beatles, however, McCartney was the best musician hands down and its not  that close.  Plus, he was good on every instrument and might have been the best drummer in the band.  

wolverine1987

June 23rd, 2018 at 2:59 PM ^

"McCartney was the best musician and it's not even close." You are correct, though this is seldom acknowledged because of the different camps of "John was best," or Paul was best, and generally speaking it's cooler to say John. 

In fact one of the reasons John tired of the band was that Paul generally speaking ran the band and came up with the direction for each album--Sgt. Pepper was Paul's idea, as was Abbey Road, and other Beatles triumphs. In fact without Paul we would have had at least one fewer Beatles album, because the others the last couple years were far less interested in recording, and Paul pushed them.

Durham Blue

June 23rd, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^

Good observation.  I always liked Paul the best mainly because I like his songs more than John's.  I think most people believe John was the leader because he was most influential in forming the band and was the most outspoken.  But I don't think there's any question that Paul made the Beatles "go".

Ryno2317

June 23rd, 2018 at 11:21 PM ^

Totally agree.  Without McCartney, there is no Abbey Road.  Abbey Road is the best or second best Beatles album, so have to give McCartney credit for that.  Sgt. Pepper is a total McCartney creation, however, think about this:  George Martin took Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane off of that album and released them as singles.  He said that was the biggest mistake he ever made.  Imagine St. Pepper with those two songs on it.  

Yostal

June 22nd, 2018 at 10:37 PM ^

Paul McCartney has been one of the most famous people in the world for 50 years and he still genuinely seems like he likes people.

Also, the "Let It Be" story does that to people.

Also, this showed me just how good Dana Carvey's Paul McCartney impression is, because he has Paul's subtle mannerisms nailed.

Yostal

June 22nd, 2018 at 11:04 PM ^

Additionally, if you listen to the Beatles Channel on SiriusXM, there's an interstitial where Paul talks about how his house in Liverpool is now a museum and he kept threatening to go on the tour as a regular customer, but he was worried what would happen, so this seems like a good way around that.

Rodriguesqe

June 22nd, 2018 at 10:56 PM ^

"One of the best things I have ever seen."

Seconded. I love going on a Beatles kick every few years, and you just jump started one.

Growing up John or George were always my Beatles. The older I get the more of a Paul guy I become. All are great, and all had their share of highs and lows post Beatles, but Paul more than the others had the carefree lightness that I think really make the Beatles stand out from the their classic rock contemporaries. 

Ryno2317

June 22nd, 2018 at 11:30 PM ^

Interesting ... I was always a Paul guy but I have been getting into Harrison as of late.  Probably the best solo artist of all of them. All Things Must Pass is such a great album as it has 6 or 7 great songs on it.  It’s tough for me to listen to John’s solo stuff as he is half John and half Yoko who is just terrible.  Plus, John kind of lost his voice and his stuff just wasn’t the same.  His last album, however, stands out and man how the 80s would have been different musically had he lived.

Rodriguesqe

June 23rd, 2018 at 12:20 AM ^

Completely agreed with John's solo, although I love the best of of his solo. He did release some true turds. Paul gets slaughtered most for his solo career. I've never really delved into it, but I always suggest digging a little deeper into John's to defend Paul. I am sure its got plenty of lows, but Paul's good stuff is still good. All Things Must Pass is easily the best solo work, followed closely by Plastic Yono Band. 

The 80s and forever would be different had John lived. Not just musically, either, which again is why I loved him. He was a strongly contradictory figure, misogynistc, hateful in his lyrics (the guy wrote, or borrowed, "I'd rather see you dead little girl, than to be with another man", and "Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time, It's easy". The #metoo woulnd't have a clue what to do with John.

The reason I liked John and George was their counterculture message was catnip to a young me. Not that I'm turning that way, but I viewed Paul as too conservative to be my idol. When John died, the MC in the ER (seriously?) played all my loving. How incredible is that? Still, the greatness in the Beatles is a true joy they bring us. And I think that's Paul, more than anyone else.

Ryno2317

June 23rd, 2018 at 12:34 AM ^

Ram was a really good piece of work and — believe it or not — Flaming Pie in 1997 was solid as well.  As for Lennon, he wrote my favorite Beatles song of all time but i just can’t wrap my head around all the contradictions.  Peace and love and all that but didn’t care about his kid as he basically abandoned him.  Paul always seemed to remember he was just a poor kid from Liverpool and George became the most interesting as he came to understand that fame wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. 

1VaBlue1

June 22nd, 2018 at 10:57 PM ^

I watched this earlier today, what an awesome deal!  Can you imagine being some bloke in that pub, just having a pint...  Next thing you know, Paul Friggen McCartney is giving you and 30 other people a private concert!  That would be awesome!

Also, the history behind Penny Lane, Let It Be, his house, Sgt Pepper, etc was neat to learn.  I'm not a huge Beatles fan, but it was very interesting.  That was the best carpool karaoke I've seen to date!

TheRonimal

June 22nd, 2018 at 10:58 PM ^

Honestly I found the part with him playing in the pub pretty cringe-worthy, but the rest of it was pretty cool. Best show I have ever been to was Paul at Firefly in 2015, and that's coming from a now 26 year old that wasn't particularly into The Beatles before that show. 

rjc

June 23rd, 2018 at 8:22 AM ^

This was delightful, thanks for sharing.  Maybe a little corny at times but it really got me and not to proud to admit that a few tears were shed.  Luckily wife and kids are still sleeping or I’d never hear the end of it.  The power of music to instantly bring back memories and emotions is just amazing.

Blue Vet

June 23rd, 2018 at 9:27 AM ^

"Here Comes the Sun" was one of my favorite Beatles' songs, but it wasn't till after the Army that the song burrowed inside me. The day of my discharge, they lost my paperwork, keeping me 3 hours late. Then, grumbling about the Army sticking it to me one last time, I drove into my new life. For an hour I kept the radio off, trying to shed the aggravations and enjoy the morning. Then I turned the radio on, and "Here Comes the Sun" started, as if it had been waiting for me. And when I heard this —

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right

— tears, sad and happy, began to flow. Still today, hearing that song, I say it's all right.

chewieblue

June 24th, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^

I’m came to be a Beatles fan later in life and am convinced they are not only the most famous band of all time, but the most important.  Their sounds, studio mixing, playing ability, and downright amazing writing is unmatched.