Paul McCartney "Let Me Roll It"

I went out on Tuesday night to see St. Paul And The Broken Bones at Great Scott in Allston.

Paul made a joke early on, that they only had one album's worth of material, and so they were going to have to pad the set with a few covers.

I wasn't too surprised when they launched into the Sam Cooke tune "Shake," as it fit right into their wheelhouse of classic soul.  Nor was it surprising that they ended the show with a cover of "Try A Little Tenderness."

I WAS surprised, near then end of show, at a pretty interesting cover choice:

Paul McCartney & Wings "Let Me Roll It."

It seemed like an usual, but fun choice for a retro-Soul outfit.

But it was particularly surprising for me, considering that the last band I went to see live, Lake Street Dive, also covered "Let Me Roll It" during their live show.

It's a great McCartney track, but I feel like its a bit of an obscure one.

Now, if you're over 45, you are probably offended by that.

But if you are under 35, like all the band members of both bands mentioned, then you weren't born when "Band On The Run" came out.  And "Let Me Roll It" isn't like (the song) "Band On The Run" or "Jet" which still get regular radio airplay.

If you didn't have an older sibling who owned the record, or didn't grow up to be a McCartney fanatic, "Let Me Roll It" is an easy one to have missed.

But now I've heard it two shows in a row.

Could this be a trend in my life?  I hope so!

Next week, I'm going to see Rocket From The Crypt in Boston.  Is it likely that a punk-with-horns reunion show will contain a cover of "Let Me Roll It"?  Well, it's as likely as a retro-Soul band doing it, I guess.

And what about the following show I have on my calendar?  Part of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, at Berklee Performance Center on May 3rd,  "Comedians Who Have Been On The Daily Show And Also Comedians Who Have Not."

Is it too much to ask that you perform "Let Me Roll It" on that night, John Hodgman?

Hear Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It" on Youtube.


Hear Lake Street Dive's version on Youtube.


Hear St. Paul & The Broken Bones do it live on Youtube.

Amos Lee "Chill In The Air"

Every year around this time, I complain/note that record releases slow down.

Years ago, this would mean that the labels would effectively shut down for the couple of weeks around Christmas.

As the Christmas-sprawl spread earlier and earlier into the season (instead of just being the week or two before Christmas), so did the spread of Christmas music taking over the airwaves.  It got harder to get a new record going after Thanksgiving.  So the labels pretty much stopped releasing things then.

November became a place where only "safe" releases would be put out.  "Best Of" albums, or records by artists so famous that the record didn't have to win over a listening audience because it would sell on name alone.

Now the Christmas season pretty much starts the day after Thanksgiving, so releasing anything in November, even marquee-act records, is pretty much a mistake.  Paul Simon's new boxed set came out in October, for instance.

This movement has made the MVY playlist (and I'm sure this is true at other stations) hard to manage.  Normally, songs run their course, and there are new songs to replace them.  But in recent years, as tracks have burnt out in December or early January, there have been slim pickings in terms of new songs to replace the old ones.

In recent years, indie labels have had some success by releasing strong records in this gap.  So last year there were a few new great albums from artists like Calexico, Bettye Lavette and David Wax to help us in the "off"-season.

This year, whether by luck or by strategy, November and December and into January should go a little more smoothly.

A number of really strong albums were released at the end of the summer, timed in such a way that the first single is peaking now, and the second single is ready to roll out.

Much easier than trying to bring attention to a new release, the folks who promote records are able to pick up the phone, call guys like me and say "The first Paul McCartney single had a great run on your station.  Are you ready to switch tracks to 'Queenie Eye'?"

Other recent adds include second single from Frank Turner and Valerie June and third singles from The Lone Bellow and Bonnie Raitt.

When we got this new Amos Lee song in, I didn't have to think too hard about it.  We'd already been listening to the album, I had heard the song a number of times already, the record had already been well received by critics and by our audience.  So it's an easy add, and a strong song that can help anchor the station's playlist through until new releases start picking up again in mid-January.


Hear the song on Youtube.

Paul McCartney "Queenie Eye"

A few different folks on my Facebook feed posted pictures of their kid standing in front of a store, with a collection can, raising money for their junior sports teams.

I flashed back to being 8 and 9, when they'd make us dress in our full Pioneer League baseball uniform, and plunk us in front of Shaws or Kmart, and have us panhandle for change.

I looked at those pictures on my Facebook feed and thought, "That's when I started my complete hatred/fear of asking for money."

Which made me laugh.  Because I was looking at these pictures on Facebook as a way to procrastinate from preparing for the Fall Friends of mvyradio Drive.

So . . . Hey!  Would you like to donate some money to support a very important local organization?

Can I look at you with my pleading, 8 year old eyes?

Well, at least for the Friends Drive, if you make a donation of $100, we'll give you the new Paul McCartney record.

For the Pioneer League, I think they only gave you a ticket that said you donated.

So . . . WooHoo!  Paul McCartney CD!  Donate!

Yeah, it hasn't gotten any easier for me.


Hear the song on Youtube.

Paul McCartney "New"

You probably made up your mind about Paul McCartney a long time ago.

You either think he's a genius, continuing to do genius work.  Or you think he's kinda hacky, and he's just hacking along.

I'm not here to convince you one way or another.

Over the weekend, I was catching little snippets of updates about Diana Nyad, who was attempting to swim from Havana to Key West.

It wasn't until late yesterday, when she had achieved her longtime goal, that I heard a news report actually mention her age.

I had assumed this person so intent on such an athletic feat, was in her 20s or 30s.

Sixty-Four.

Paul McCartney zipped past 64 nearly a decade ago.  But he keeps making records, long past an age he once wonder had any worth whatsoever.

He'll likely never make another song as great as "Let It Be."  And when you are in your 70s, neither will you.

That's not the point.  It doesn't matter if, in your old age, you are achieving feats that no one thought were possible or you are creating just a shadow of your former output.

The point is, that to be alive, you need to keep jumping in the water and swimming anyway.

And in the end, that's the thing to take away.


Hear "New" on Youtube.


Hear "When I'm 64" on Youtube.

Paul McCartney & Jimmy Fallon "Scrambled Eggs"

Here's another Weekend Post:

Perhaps you are coloring eggs today.

Does it color your view of the classic "Yesterday," to know that as Paul McCartney was creating the song, before he came up with the word "Yesterday," he dropped in the phrase "Scrambled Eggs."  Really!

He went on to perform it on Jimmy Fallon . . .


Hear the song on Youtube.

Peter Serafinowicz "Ringo Remembers Christmas 1979"

Here's another "I Looked At The Internet Today So You Don't Have To" feature.

I mentioned previously that "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney is "one of my least favorite Christmas songs."  But this comedy piece does a much better job of reflecting my true distaste for that song, by mocking it.

I have to say, this guy has one of the best McCartney impressions, in terms of getting his mannerisms down, that I've ever seen . . .


See the video on Youtube.

The Shins "Wonderful Christmastime"

Despite all the turmoil of this week, the parade marches on, figuratively and literally.

I can spend all night returning emails and strategize-ing and working on Saving mvyradio, but they ain't post-poning Christmas just for me.

So this weekend, I'll put the Campaign on hold (in my mind) and do some Christmas shopping, co-host the Falmouth Christmas Parade with Barbara Dacey and listen to some Christmas music.

While there is a lot of marginal Christmas music out there, every year there's usually at least one record that's worthy of attention.

I think "Holidays Rule" is particularly good.  Lots of good interpretations by lots of good artists.  You can listen through the sampler below, or skip down to The Shins doing an admirable job of lifting one of my least favorite Christmas songs, to pretty decent levels.




Hear The Shins on Youtube.


Hear .fun on Youtube.


Hear Rufus Wainwright and Sharon Van Etten on Youtube.

Paul McCartney "Get Yourself Another Fool"

Barbara and I got interviewed on Monday for a piece in Martha's Vineyard Magazine, about the radio stations that service the Island (us, WCAI the local NPR affliate and WVVY the Vineyard's Community Radio station).

We were talking about the history of the station and the evolution of the station's musical programming. And we got on the subject of how some songs last and some don't and the reporter asked an interesting question, "Is there any artist or song that surprised you?"

I don't know if I am surprised by any one song's longevity, but a few artists came to mind. Particularly this new track.

Paul McCartney has been known to release more than a few things that fans would call . . . lacking. But every once and a while he releases something that still has some magic.

It's natural for an artist's quality to drop over time. And it's okay. It's completely reasonable.

But it's surprising and wonderful, when an artist who has no reason to still be good, is still good.

Like Paul Simon's "So Beautiful Or So What" or Robbie Robertson's "How To Become Clairvoyant," the couple of tracks I've heard from McCartney's "Kisses On The Bottom" suggest that Paul latest effort is as inspired as Simon's and Robertson's.

Hooray for surprises!


Hear the song on Youtube.


Hear the song on Youtube.

Paul McCartney "Waterfalls"

Wait a minute . . . TLC ripped off Paul McCartney? I had no idea.

How was there not a lawsuit? And how come I'm just hearing about this now?

(Well, the answer to the 2nd question is that the 1980 album "McCartney II" is about to be reissued)


See the video on Youtube.


See the video on Youtube.

Steve Martin "Best Love"

There are several "alternate History of The Beatles" projects out there in the film world.

One imagines that John Lennon faked his death and is still alive.

And other sends two time traveling Beatles fans back to the Sixties to prevent John from meeting Yoko, who they blame for breaking the band up.

And with altered history/reality movies being all the rage (Inception, The Adjustment Bureau, Source Code), I can see how my brain got a-spinning when I heard this new Steve Martin tune featuring Paul McCartney.

I started to wonder about that fateful day when Paul met John and they hit it off, going on to form the most creative, productive, influential songwriting partnership in music history.

What if they hadn't liked each other?

I mean, it's not impossible. John could be abrasive. Paul had an ego.

What if, on that one day, one of them rubbed the other the wrong way, and instead of playing off each other creatively, spurring each other to greater heights, they just bounced each other in opposite directions?

What would have become of them?

Well Paul, even without John, would still have had his incredible gift for melody. Though he may never have been challenged by an equal or by the pressures of mega-fame, to create a "Sgt. Peppers," he certainly would have seen success writing ballads like "Yesterday" and crowd-pleasers like the Wings track "Jet" (he didn't need John, George or Ringo for those).

Okay, so alternate-Paul has some mid-level success. He's not a Legend, but he's a moderate star through the 60s and into the 70s. The 80s and early 90s are a fallow period (they kinda were for the real Paul, too). But alternate-Paul doesn't have to carry the torch for The Beatles (who don't exist in this reality) and he doesn't have to trot out the hits on stadium tours.

So alternate Paul returns to his roots. As a young lad he loved the music of Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent and Carl Perkins and Eddie Cochran. It's a style he has a knack for. And his heritage, combined with his authenticity, leads to a small Paul revival in his mid-60s, as a Brit who can make American roots music.

Delving further, alternate-Paul rekindles a passion for Bill Monroe*, and proves to be a credible mandolin player. His surprising bluegrass release turns heads and garners new fans.

And if all this fiction were fact, the alternate-Paul's record might sound a bit like this Real-Paul guest spot on the new Steve Martin record** on the song "Best Love."

Real Paul sounds pretty in the pocket here, like he'd been doing this all along.

Maybe Paul wasn't dead. Maybe the Real Paul was in an alternate reality all along.



* Real-Paul does cover Monroe's "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" on his "Unplugged" album


** Stand-up-comedian-turned-actor-director-writer-turned-author-turned-40-years-into-his-career-credible-Bluegrass-success seems like a few alternate reality stories of its own.

Ringo Starr “Walk With You”

It’s easy to dismiss Ringo. But give him some credit. Can you name another non-songwriting musician, who, in the wake of his band’s breakup, has put out 15 solo records?

He only wrote 2 Beatles songs. He was not a composer. He certainly doesn’t need the money. But he presses on, writing songs, making records and touring.

I’m not saying that you should consider that he’s this amazing songwriter that we’re all over-looking. I’m just saying, Give The Man Credit For Trying, especially since he doesn’t have to.

Check out his new song, with Paul McCartney guesting.

The Beatles “Her Majesty”

All Time Top Five Songs Under 90 Seconds . . .

Not to get all Manson Family on you, but should we read, too deeply, into this Beatles song?

The Beatles had tried, and failed, to film the recording of an album, from beginning to end. After acrimonious battles within the group, they shelved the “Let It Be” project.

Realizing that they were perhaps at the end of their partnership, they agreed to collaborate, as peacefully as possible, on one final album, “Abbey Road.”

Side Two of the Beatles final record seems to end with “The End,” which features Ringo’s only-ever-in-the-Beatles-catalog drum solo, and three short guitar solo leads, by Paul, John and George in succession.

“And In The End, The Love You Take,
Is Equal To The Love You Make.”

A fitting final lyric to the legacy of this monumental band.

So what to make of the fact that after “The End” and a breath of silence, Paul comes in, solo, singing, “Her Majesty”?

The song was supposed to be a part of the Side Two medley, but the band didn’t like how it fit into the whole, so it was snipped out. And its tacked-on appearance at the end of the album, was the result of an engineer, who did not want the performance to be lost.

But why did it Stay?

What does it say about The End of the Beatles? About Paul? Or his Ego? About the other Beatles? Or does that fact that I’m thinking about it some 40 years later, really say something about me?

How does this 23-second coda suddenly change the final word?

What do you think?

Hear "Her Majesty"

Hear the song and see some nice Beatles photos, here

Buy the album, here

The Beatles / Paul McCartney "Blackbird"

I saw Paul McCartney at Fenway.

It was incredible. No surprise there. I mean, the man has hit after hit after hit. He could have just played the first few bars of 50 different songs, and that would have been enough for the crowd to be apoplectic.

Earlier in the week, my wife had gone to see Coldplay in concert. On the way into Fenway, we were talking about how Coldplay’s songs, like U2’s, are stadium-ready. Their anthemic nature worked really well in the less intimate setting of an outdoor venue.

Paul has no shortage of anthems, and he pulled out the BIG songs, including “Day In The Life,” “Jet,” and a totally over the top “Live And Let Die” complete with flashpots and fireworks.

But the amazing surprise of the night was his ability to pull off quiet songs. Can you imagine being able to pluck an acoustic guitar, and have 30,000 plus people sit in rapt attention?

Paul introduced “Blackbird” as a song he’d written in response to the Civil Rights movement of the 60s, then rendered it beautifully on guitar. It was magic, how something so massive could be so intimate and moving.

I don’t know if the video captures it, but here’s a bit of footage my wife took on her camera, as well as the original song.

Hear The Beatles "Blackbird"

See the video shot by the lovely Mrs. Finn, Here