Former Beatle embraces his roots on live acoustic album
In 1991, Paul McCartney had put the past behind him, and the former Beatles bassist was experiencing a mid-career renaissance. A couple of years earlier, he had released yet another solo album and had embarked on another tour, and it was only during that trek – more than 20 years after he parted ways with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – that he fully embraced the Fab Four’s catalog onstage.
On his 1976 live album, “Wings Over America,” McCartney included performances of “Yesterday,” “I’ve Just Seen a Face” and a couple other tracks he had penned with Lennon but ignored most of the catalog of songs the pair composed during the magical ‘60s. However, after releasing “Flowers in the Dirt” in 1989, he hit the road, performing a mix of Beatles standards, Wings songs and solo hits. The response from fans and critics alike was overwhelmingly positive.
As a result, in 1991 McCartney and bandmates Linda McCartney, Hamish Stuart, Robbie McIntosh and Chris “Wix” Wickens teamed with drummer Blair Cunningham to record an episode for the television series “MTV Unplugged.” The resulting show was a smashing success and spawned “Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).” And like everything he has ever touched, the album turned to gold.
On the disc, McCartney and his band play a set of oldies including “Be-Bop-A-Lula,” “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” “Singing the Blues” and “Good Rockin’ Tonight.” In keeping with the theme, there are acoustic versions of post-Beatles material and a rendition of the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine,” as well.
The real highlights, though, are the renditions of Beatles classics such as “She’s a Woman,” “Blackbird” and “And I Love Her.” Seemingly free from pressure, McCartney even jokes after erring the opening line of “We Can Work It Out,” saying, “With an informal gathering like this, we can just start again.” If he didn’t already hold the audience in his hand before that point, he certainly did after proving that he is human and starting over.
The acoustic versions of these tunes are a refreshing change of pace, and McCartney’s work here takes him back to his roots. He’s passionate in his embrace of the Beatles’ music, and the set serves as a fine rock ‘n’ roll history lesson. This is a must-have for anybody who loves Sir Paul or his associated projects.
ken@blanknews.com
