Paul McCartney Returns to Ed Sullivan Theater

Home www.alstrand.com


Introduction


How Did He Become An Icon?


1966


Post Beatles


Thanks


Pre-1963


1967


Five String Taste


Influential Bass Players of the '60s


1963


1968

Driving Rain

Large Scale vs. Small Scale Basses


1964/1965

1969


What Do Others Say?

contact the author

Bibliography

My thoughts on Paul's playing on John's songs


WHAT DO OTHERS SAY?



George Martin


" There's no doubt that Lennon and McCartney were good musicians. They had good musical brains, and the brain is where music originates - it has nothing to do with your fingers. As it happened, they could also play their own instruments very well.


And since those early days they've all improved, especially Paul. He's an excellent musical all-rounder, probably the best bass-guitarist there is, a first-class drummer, brilliant guitarist and competent piano player."




Sting


" It's hard to separate McCartney's influence on my bass playing from his influence on everything else-singing, songwriting, even becoming a musician in the first place. As a child, I would play my Beatles albums at 45 RPM so I could hear the bass better. He's the Guvnor."



Will Lee


" Growing up in Texas in the early '60s I was so obsessed with the Beatles' music that I didn't feel like a fan, I felt like I was in the Beatles. About the same time I switched from drums to bass I became aware of who gave the band its charm and personality, from visual tunes like "Penny Lane" to the group's repartee with the press. It was the same fellow who was able to take a poor-quality instrument like the Hofner bass and create magic on it. I especially dug Paul's funky, Motown-influenced side, evident in the bass line from Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey," or even in the syncopated part from "A Day In The Life.
Paul's influence on bassists has been so widespread over numerous generations that there's no denying he's in everybody's playing at this point. We're all descendants. He played simple and solid when it was called for. But because he had so many different flavors to add to a song, he was able to take the instrument far beyond a supportive role. Paul taught the bass how to sing."



Stanley Clarke


"Paul definitely had an influence on my bass playing, not so much technically, but more with his philosophy of melodic bass lines - especially as I hit my teens and the Beatles' records became more adventurous. On tracks like "Come Together," the bass line WAS the song. I've always liked that. The only other person I knew of who was doing that was James Jamerson. That was one of the reasons I was inspired to write "School Days": so I could just play the bass lines and people would hear a whole song.



I had the honor of being contacted by Paul through George Martin to play on Tug of War, and I also appeared on Pipes of Peace [both on Capitol]. Paul was very nice. He asked me to show him how to slap. During Pipes we got a groove going in a studio jam, and it ended up making on the album as "Hey Hey." He graciously gave me a co-writing credit, and it's still a thrill to see my name next to his above the music in the song book."



Billy Sheehan


" The reason I got involved with music in the first place was because I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. I watched all the girls going crazy, and I figured this was the best business in the world to be in. Later on, when I got more deeply into music, Sgt. Pepper was a break-through record for me. I must have listened to it several hundred times. What intrigued me was how totally musical every aspect of it was, especially Paul's melodic, fluid bass lines. When my band Talas was starting in the mid '70s, [the Beatles' tribute show] Beatlemania was big, and we used to play entire gigs of just Beatles tunes. I've learned so much from Paul about playing, writing, and playing and singing at the same time that I should probably start sending him checks.




Most bassists get into the flashy players, but I think the reason Paul is often overlooked is that what he was doing wasn't really obvious. It was so brilliantly woven into the context of the songs. One of my favorites is the bass line from "Rain." I still use it to test the low end of an amp. That Paul happens to play bass is a great boon

1964, at 10 years old, we all had to pick our Beatle and Paul was MINE !!!! My sister told me if I could stand on my hands to the count of 10, she would get Paul McCartney to give me a kiss. I did it twice.... and I am still waiting :):):) Love you, Paul !!!! Ginny

hey paul: i no this is on short notice but i will be seeing you on 7/21/2009 for the 12th time this time at citi field in new york and what i want to tell you is before you take the stage play 2001:a space odyssey through the sound system and on the last note is a que for you to open with ringing notes of day tripper do the song then do jet i think it would make a dinomite opening for your show i hope you read this or one of your people and do this and make my day?....jimmy kelly

The hyperbole regarding Sir Paul and The Beatles will never live up to the greatness they left behind. I hate comparisons with other artists. All the Michael Jackson deification has brought that about.
But seriously, folks...Paul, John, George and Ringo were the greatest thing to happen to music in the past century and beyond. I am proud that Paul still tours and makes music. I would like to see him be a bit more honest in his interviews and reflect on the genius of Lennon and even George Harrison. Paul reached his peak when he was trying to "one up" John. He never really did, really, but that's OK. Gotta love Michael jackson, but let's be honest, folks...Paul and his group left a much bigger imprint on the planet. Nobody will ever get near The Beatles. Ever...

The best part of the interview is when Paul told Letterman he didn't like his late nite show.

He's also quite a clean old man.

For real, all you haters out there don't know what your gibbering about.
Take a look at these entertainers, the talent is really in the eye of the beholder, the numbers don't lie.
So if someone makes music, and half the world will pay to hear it, then I guess you must be pretty good.
Thank God we have many different forms of music to listen to, no one say's that you have to listen to something you don't like to hear, unless you live in a communist or dictatorship.
Get real, I don't care for this book that everyone is so crazy about HARRY POTTER, but no one is asking me, and just by the mere numbers alone, this Rowling chick is the real deal, someone at least thinks so. I am not so crazy about the big money that some athletes make, but you know what , no one put a gun to any of the owners heads and said hey , lets pay this big old fat guy shaq 40 + million to wear one of our uniforms, I say more power to him , if he or anyone can pull it off , go for it. These entertainers are successful because they have something that a large number of people are willing to pay for, end of story. So to say Paul Mac is a no talent, and the the boss is no good, is completely insane, what did you write that was so good. And who are you?
So don't get your shorts caught in your crack, chill, land enjoy the spice of life, get outside your comfort zone and listen to some Frankie baby, and "fly me to the moon", lol.

Hedge, stay off that Oxi cotton stuff, it will make your head spin,lol
I suppose this rap music is where its all at, and that the Beatles where the reason we entered Vietnam, lol
That sounds about right, lets see , you are a young black man who voted for Obama, and you drive a ?, I mean , take the bus, and are mad at the world because it owes you a living,lol.
Oh and I forgot, your deaf in one ear and loud constant noises remind you of the jungle,lol

I guess I have been pretty lucky. I was 12 yrs old and a HUGE Beatles fan. My brother was dating a girl who was in charge of the band playing before the Beatles as they toured. My brother asked me if I wanted to meet the Beatles. I told him in so many words that he was crazy and should not tease a Beatles fan. He told me he was not kidding and would I like to meet them. Well, yeah, yeah, yeah, I said. I didnt take it seriously. Who would. But 3 days later my brother took me to my mom & dad in the living room stating that this girl he was dating was going to come over to the house early in the morning and pick me up to take me to the bus leaving for San Diego from Los Angeles (Thats where I lived, actually in Sherman Oaks). On the Bus I was to meet Mal Evans who was their road manager, of coarse I didn't believe him, but in later years I was to find out he was the road manager and all he told me about the Beatles on the way there was true. When we got to the stadium where they where to play that nite, I was taken to the back of the stadium to a small basketball court where a table with a red cloth was set up with microphones all along the table. I was to stand about a foot away from this table. Behind me, where many photographers with cameras ready to shoot. "What where these guys doing here?" I thought. I was to find out about 5 minutes later when the Beatles came out and sat at this table and flash bulbs where goin off like crazy. I was in awe because Paul sat right in front of me. There they where all of them just a couple of feet from me. I couldn't believe this was happening. The press was asking questions as the pictures where taken. When the press conference was over the girl who got me there asked if I wanted to meet them. I told her I was scared to. I was!! What if I said something stupid, or I was the biggest nerd they ever met. But before I could answer I followed her to George Harrison & John Lennon. She introduced me and shook their hands. (I didnt wash my hands for 2 days) Ringo & Paul had left and it was too late to meet them, but I had my camera and took many pictures to remember this nite. Sorry to say, the pictures can not be found, wish I had them now. After that I was taken to the stadium to watch the Beatles perform. The stadium was only half full because before that John Lennon stated that they where more popular than Jesus. So alot of kids hated them and would not go. THEIR LOSS!! BIG TIME!! I have met alot of famous people but meeting them and seeing them that nite was one of the best in my whole life. Sad to say, that in writing this now at that time I never thought that George & John would be taken away from us so soon. But at least Paul & Ringo are still here. Well, Thats how I met the Beatles. Well, kind of, George & John at least.

THE BEETLES IS ANOTHER NO TALENT BAND FROM THE 60'S...LIKE THE BOSS SPRINGSTEEN AND THE NO TALENT BRITNEY SPEARS...STUPID BABY BOOMERS LIKE THE BEETLES, BUT THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE DUMBEST AND WORST GENERATION, THEY HAVE PUT OUR COUNTRY IN A MESS AND THEY GAVE US THE LOSER NAM VETS WHO ARE A DISGRACE TO REAL VETERANS....AND NOW THE NO TALENT BEETLE ..PAUL MCARTNEY....GEEEEZZZZZ....