25: The Solo Creative Peaks of Lennon and McCartney

SATB 25 copy

In this special episode – taped before a (presumably) live audience at the 2015 Fest for Beatles Fans in Rosemont, Illinois – Robert and Richard discuss their picks for solo Lennon and McCartney compilations.

Songs heard include: “This One,” “Beautiful Night,” “Imagine” and “I Know (I Know).”

Richard’s Paul compilation picks:
Busking MaccaRobert’s John compilation picks – the hits:
Let It GoAnd the deep tracks:
No More CryingRobert’s two volumes on the solo years are available in print and Kindle editions here and here.

Seventies

Lenbuskin
Check out Richard’s Lennon bio here.

Richard’s newest book, Beatles 101, is available in print and Kindle here.

Beatles 101 small
Coming soon: the 2016 Something About The Beatles double-art calendar….

2016 front cvr2016 back cover

0 thoughts on “25: The Solo Creative Peaks of Lennon and McCartney”

  1. Paul: Maybe I’m Amazed, Back Seat of My Car, Dear Friend, Band on the Run, 1985, Jr.’s Farm, Girls’ School, Country Dreamer, Early Days, Every Night, Tug of War, Here Today, That Day is Done, Beware My Love, Monkberry Moon Delight, One of These Days, Little Willow, After the Ball/Million Miles, I’ve Had Enough, On the Way

    John: Mind Games, Jealous Guy, Mother, Oh My Love, Love, God, Instant Karma, Crippled Inside, #9 Dream, Happy Xmas, Woman, Gimme Some Truth, Old Dirt Road, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, Bless You, Oh Yoko, Hold On, Remember, New York City, You Are Here.

    Enjoyed the show!

  2. Just a couple of comments:

    Robert, you are absolutely correct . . . they would have remained golden for years to come.

    And Richard, you are right . . . their solo work revealed their individual weak spots. But wrong on so much about McCartney!

    As for George’s solo work: it took quite a tumble after Living in the Material World, though there were a few gems on Extra Texture, 33 1/3, Dark Horse, George Harrison and the rest save Gone Troppo, which, in my view, was quite awful. Cloud 9 was fine, not great . . . and Brainwashed really good. ATMP, Living in the Material World and Brainwashed, Top 3.

    Tug of War was superb . . . Freedom was sadly pedestrian.

    . . . and there’s always more (who said it?).

  3. Was there a mention of McCartney’s “Coming Up” or Lennon’s “Watching the Wheels” – each a masterpiece from 1980. If there is any question about what these two could still have accomplished as Beatles, these songs are the answer.

  4. Very enjoyable listen. I tried compiling a 12-songer for each solo career:

    McCartney:

    Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)
    Maybe I’m Amazed
    Junk
    Every Night
    Let Me Roll It
    My Love

    Band On The Run
    From A Lover To A Friend
    With A Little Luck
    Junior’s Farm
    No More Lonely Nights
    Mull Of Kintyre

    Lennon:

    #9 Dream
    Instant Karma
    How
    Mother (One-to-One concert)
    Imagine (Lew Grade Tribute)
    Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

    (Just Like) Starting Over
    Watching The Wheels
    Woman
    Jealous Guy
    Oh My Love
    Oh Yoko

  5. Love listening to you guys talking Beatles !

    My personal double vinyl “two of us” runs like this;

    Side 1:
    Instant Karma
    Too many people
    Every night
    Love
    Mother

    Side 2:
    God
    Ram on
    How?
    Gimme Some Truth
    Maybe I’m Amazed

    Side 3:
    Let me roll it
    Little Lamb/dragonfly
    #9 Dream
    Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
    Dear Friend

    Side 4:
    Nobody told me
    I’m carrying
    Nobody loves you when you’re down and out
    Woman
    Little Willow

  6. Ok, a year after first broadcast. I enjoy your podcasts a lot, but just a bit too dismissive at times about solo careers (particularly Paul). Not even a mention of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard! I would put this in the top two of his solo career for these reasons which you guys mentioned as helpful for his music:

    – Back against the wall, his marriage on the rocks.
    – Leads to great lyrics alongside the normal top tunes.
    – A producer (Nigel Godrich) who told him when his stuff was not up to par and drove him to higher levels.

    Give it about 5 lessons and I am sure you will come around.

  7. Best part of “Beautiful Night” is that ending. THAT is worth the price of admission right there. As soon as you hear Paul hit those Hofner notes, the whole thing lights up and is super cool. Prior to that section, it’s not the best of tracks. I DO like the “Medal from a local neighborhood” line though (best line in it actually as he’s a Sir at that point). This was a tune that he did in the 80s with Billy Joel’s guys. That version, without the ending tagged on, is just super dull.

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