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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:
Robert’s John compilation picks – the hits:
And the deep tracks:
Robert’s two volumes on the solo years are available in print and Kindle editions here and here.
Check out Richard’s Lennon bio here.
Richard’s newest book, Beatles 101, is available in print and Kindle here.
Coming soon: the 2016 Something About The Beatles double-art calendar….
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!
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?).
A welcome return to form after the last iffy interlude – shall make my lists in due course.
You know these podcasts are good when 1:06 feels like 5 minutes. Great stuff . Thanks.
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.
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
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
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.
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.