Paul McCartney has officially become an oldies act.
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"Maybe I'm Amazed"--maybe that wouldn't sound right on guitar. "Lovely Rita" that's on one of my Paul "Live" CDs, he has performed that live before. He might think it would look corny or cheesy to sing certain songs acapella. You have some good ideas, Lyceum, but you're telling Macca what to do, and he does what he wants regarding his shows, although he does desire to please the audience. The set list for the Kiev concert appeared to be cleverly and effectively thought out, the concert was so fantastic. Someone kept harping on, Why doesn't someone tell Paul? Paul can read for himself, good gravy, with the mind he's got. That's for damn sure. You oughta know he comes in here and reads stuff out of curiousity and because it's mostly all about him and naturally that piques his interest. Him with his lively curious Gemini genuis mind, don't worry he's more than capable of reading all this for himself. I can imagine him snickering at some of the stuff on the forum boards. Making frowny faces and laughing at other things, and not liking various aspersions. I'm sure he appreciates the time, thought and effort you put in creating your elaborate extensive set list. He probably will take note of it and might carry out a few of your wishes.
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yankeefan7, I agree with the reasoning behind your alternate choices for solo songs. I also considered "Take It Away", wouldn't mind hearing it either. I like "About You" too; didn't include anything from 'Driving Rain as it's a pretty recent album. I like many of it's songs though, especially "Back in the Sunshine" and "Rinse the Raindrops". "Rockestra" is excellent, maybe invite Dave Grohl again (and other contemporaries) to beef it up a bit too! 'Back to the Egg' has several more songs I'd like to hear live too. The 'Last Flight' bootleg can only do so much justice to that period live. I also like "My Brave Face" but I saw that song live on five separate occasions which is why I didn't include it. SusyLuvsPaul, please tell me when Paul played "Lovely Rita" live. I double checked all my CD's and DVD's and can't seem to find it anywhere. Maybe you have something I've overlooked?!? Singing a cappella takes a lot of self confidence and skill to do well, qualities abundant in the case of Paul. I think it would be a brave way of presenting one or two songs that everyone knows in a different way which the audience would appreciate for its gutsiness. Oh, and by the way, I'm not "telling Macca what to do", I'm just offering up one fan's opinion on hearing the same thing too often and offering up my set wish list. If Paul says he choices his setlist by imagining what his audience would like to hear, I'm making it easier for him by spelling out what I would like to hear; that way he doesn't have to guess. If more people agree, so much the better and maybe our voices will be heard! Btw, I'm also a Gemini D D
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McCartney's band doesn't need any help from Dave Grohl or anyone else, they have plenty of energy, they rock and they rock hard! McCartney could easily perform Silly Love Songs, he has excellent singers in his current band, so the Linda part wouldn't be a problem at all. Great suggestions for his setlist guys, I would include ... The Mess - This was part of Wings setlist in the early days, it's a great rocker and would get the crowd going. Big Barn Bed - This is another one Wings performed in the early days, just another great rocker. Hi Hi Hi - You just can't leave out this fantastic rocker, it's a definite crowd pleaser! Girlschool - This is one of the hardest rocking songs Wings ever recorded, this baby is seriously screaming play me live, would be awesome as the final encore song. yes, I like the hard rocking McCartney, to me he doesn't show his really hard rocking side enough on stage. Songs like Birthday and Helter Skelter are real treats, but McCartney doesn't perform enough hard rockers like that. He does plenty of the uptempo pop songs, but not enough of the real hard rockers. The songs above would give him and his band a chance to really rock the house!
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left hand man:
McCartney's band doesn't need any help from Dave Grohl or anyone else, they have plenty of energy, they rock and they rock hard! McCartney could easily perform Silly Love Songs, he has excellent singers in his current band, so the Linda part wouldn't be a problem at all. Great suggestions for his setlist guys, I would include ... The Mess - This was part of Wings setlist in the early days, it's a great rocker and would get the crowd going. Big Barn Bed - This is another one Wings performed in the early days, just another great rocker. Hi Hi Hi - You just can't leave out this fantastic rocker, it's a definite crowd pleaser! Girlschool - This is one of the hardest rocking songs Wings ever recorded, this baby is seriously screaming play me live, would be awesome as the final encore song. yes, I like the hard rocking McCartney, to me he doesn't show his really hard rocking side enough on stage. Songs like Birthday and Helter Skelter are real treats, but McCartney doesn't perform enough hard rockers like that. He does plenty of the uptempo pop songs, but not enough of the real hard rockers. The songs above would give him and his band a chance to really rock the house!
I've been waiting to see Paul play Girl's School...forever. It would be a great live performance. Play it Paul, cause I said so.
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left hand man:
I don't understand the logic behind state your point but don't state it too much? No one has stated their point of view more than the people who want to hear McCartney keep churning out a Beatle heavy setlist!
You've got over forty posts in this thread ALONE about this topic, not to mention belaboring the same point in other threads, but you don't understand "don't state it too much"?
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Eric, you're right I don't understand because you're talking about one or two little threads, and I'm talking about years of people justifying McCartney performing the same basic setlist!!
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Wow jorke you're really sounding like a jaded-out stroppy old git! Did you forget your Zoloft this morning, or your prune juice? You review a show off the radio? You shoulda been there! I'd pay to hear him sing the phone book!! :
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Paul has millions upon millions of fans who have never had a chance to see him perform live. Being the performer that he is, I think he is trying to give fans what he thinks they want. Can you image seeing a Chuck Berry show without hearing "Johnny B Goode"? Having been in bands myself, I also understand how set lists are built. Songs are added or positioned to give the singer's voice a rest, to allow the drummer to catch his breath, etc.. That said, you wonder why certain songs continue in the list ("C Moon"). You really have to conclude that there are certain songs that Paul just loves to sing for some reason ... maybe they hold special memories for him or something. I have been fortunate enough to see Paul perform a few times and have never been disappointed, partly because I have been thrilled just to be under the same roof as a living legend. As someone somewhere once wrote "It is like having the Gospel read out loud by Christ himself!" ... well, sort of.
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Joelamp, I understand, but Christ didn't just keep reading the same verse of the gospel over and over and over! McCartney has more than enough excellent songs to please his entire fanbase, no one would be dissappointed.
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Helluva discussion! My sole concern is that Paul does not reverse re-establishing himself as a viable, contemporary hit-maker which Memory Almost Full, along with thse great promo-shows, did last year. For the rumored farewell world-tour, it would be appropriate for our Paul to give his standard, rockin' show for audiences in countries/cities he'd never performed. However, for the towns/countries he's been to before, I would love to see a new show. If Neil Diamond cn change up his act, we KNOW Paul can. -a
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left hand man:
Joelamp, I understand, but Christ didn't just keep reading the same verse of the gospel over and over and over! ...
SNAP!!! Has a certain logic to it.
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jorke3344:
Paul McCartney?Anfield Liverpool Sound Concert (Running commentary while listening on the radio) 1. Hippy Hippy Shake: What an interesting choice for a concert opener. A nod to the Live at the BBC shows! Wow, we might get a ?new? show. 2. Jet: This one is NOT a surprise. This always been the 2nd or 3rd song to open a Macca show. My wife thinks he has always sung the line ?Jet? a bit off-key. No difference here, but always good to hear. 3. Drive My Car: Gosh, I?m sick of this one, but I guess it keeps up the show?s energy better than ?Flaming Pie.? 4. Flaming Pie: Oops, spoke to soon. A little different than previous concert versions, with harmony vocal in response to the lead vocals at the end of the song (but pretty standard take, nonetheless). 5. Got to Get You Into My Life: OK, let try to get the crowd pumped. 6. Let Me Roll It/Foxy Lady: Arghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know, he says everyone wants to hear the hits. When, exactly, was this a hit? What is wrong with him? If you think the show needs this kind of groove, bring back ?Letting Go? or something else like it. 7. My Love: Shaky vocals. At this point, the number of Wings/solo songs are greater than Beatles tunes. Shocking. 8. CMoon: And now he?s telling the stupid story behind this lame song. Talk about just sucking the air out of the place. With his catalog, he pulls this out for this type of big show???? 9. The Long and Winding Road: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 10. Dance Tonight: Nice version of this song. Thus begins the acoustic section of the show 11. Blackbird: He really struggles with this one. Doesn?t anyone have the guts to tell him he can?t pull this off anymore? 12. Calico Skies: This is a good ?un, that he sings well. 13. Spent my early life in Liverpool (Not sure if this is the title??): New song, primarily driven by acoustic guitar and accordion. Ringo?s ode to Liverpool was much better. 14. I?ll Follow the Sun: Does the same false ending, three times (the last one sung in a kinda boozy voice. Kinda inspiring me to start drinking heavily as well) 15. Eleanor Rigby: He?s going through the motions now. 16. Something: Did you know that George was a really good Ukulele player? Does he really think anyone in the crowd hasn?t heard this story before? Unbelievable. 17. Penny Lane: Stops the song after the first line, so he can start over and ?get it right.? Wow. How original! Wait, the song is over and now he?s inviting a special guest to the stage. Could it be Elvis Costello? Ringo? No, it?s Mr. Dave Grohl. Now, that is worth the price of admission. 18. Band on the Run: This is for the Wings fans out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 19. Back in the U.S.S.R.: So much for the Wings fans out there. 20. Live and Let Die: Please, bring Olivia and Yoko on stage to sing backup vocals. Do something different?. anything. The sheep are cheering though. 21. Let it Be: At this point, I think I?d like to go watch Hillary Clinton?s Puerto Rico victory speech. I expect more surprises there. 22. Hey Jude: Great, the bathroom break song. Seriously. OK, he?s left the stage, but I?d like to predict the encore. ?I saw here standing there? and ?Yesterday.? No reason to go out on the limb here. The BBC commentators are praising the show as spectacular. The guy is saying he has never seen anything like the pyrotechnics that accompanied ?Live and Let Die?. OK, so there was someone there tonight that has never seen a Paul McCartney show. 23. Yesterday: He still sings this one well. 24. A Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance: Well, I guess that?s what he meant by ?a few surprises.? Oh my God..he screwed up the words in the bridge. He caught the bus in seconds flat twice (and mumbles a couple of unrecognizable words as well)!!! No wonder he never does anything new. He?s so shaken by that screw up that he?s not even going to finish the song, rather he?s now made a clumsy transition into ?Give Peace a Chance.? 25. Lady Madonna: Mentions the screw up to the song?s lyrics for a Day in the Life before launching into Lady Madonna. How embarrassing. Dave Grohl is back. How exciting. 26. I saw her standing there: Goodnight!
Oh dear God in heaven, that exact show would be the crowning moment of my life. No problem there whatsoever. Indeed, whatever he wants to play, is a-ok with me.
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While I'd love to hear something new ~ I'll take what I can get. I've never been disappointed after attending his concerts and I've been to a few. I still can wish for venus and Mars/Rock Show for an opening.
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lyceum '89:
I think the 'artist' in him is alive and well. His creative output isn't complacent, why is his live offering thus?!? I was just re-listening to the Freelance Hellraiser cuts from the Twin Freaks album (and to the : Anfield pre-show recording I made ops: ) and I find listening to them sometimes more satisfying than to the original cuts. If Paul has to play many of his 'mandatory' songs, why couldn't he mix them up a bit, let the band re-arrange them to liven them up. I also just recently listened to the Foo Fighters version of "Band on the Run", talk about a nice injection of energy! Dave Grohl did his bit to liven up it's rendition in Liverpool; no wonder Paul invited him. Anyway, doing things slightly differently also keeps the show fresh instead of turning out note perfect reproductions of what's on vinyl or CD tour after tour. 'Left hand man', I don't exactly know what you mean by "I don't understand the logic behind state your point but don't state it too much? ", who are you referring to. Personally, I'll state it overtly so it's quite clear, I agree with the original premise of this thread, by playing the same majority of songs tour after tour, Paul is already starting to bore many of his fans with his repetitive oldies act (obviously not all, as we all witness by the strong reaction of Beatle heavy fanatics to keep things the same). I'm willing to bet that many of these Beatle heavy fans will also want a change in the setlist if they hear another tour of the same stuff. And if this is their last chance to hear Paul live because he stops touring, in year's to come, I bet they'll say to themselves, 'oh, I wish he had played all those other songs that don't even exist anywhere as live recorded versions'. If I remember correctly, 'left hand man' also suggested a setlist divided up by thirds, 10 Beatles songs, 10 Wings songs and 10 solo songs as a core. If he plays around 36 songs per tour, that gives us another 6 songs to add, perhaps from whatever his newest offering is at the time. So below, I make my personal suggestion which I think would sound original and new. BEATLES - I would agree that there are certain songs that probably needed to be played but I would love for him to do them differently so they sound fresh. 1. Yesterday - how about an a cappella version? Just him and a microphone. Or, with just one snare drum and him slowly brushing it center stage? 2. Hey Jude - drop the boys and girls bit for one. How about dropping the piano too? Do a version on lead guitar with some major feedback, rock it up and crank it up. Then let the crowd take over for the na na na's before reprising with some hard licks and ending with some fireworks here. 3. Let It Be - in my opinion, just let it be (as in don't play it) but if it must be played, I'd like to see him doing this one a cappella too. One voice, one mike and thousands of lighters. Still kind of magic but different. In my opinion, the above three songs suffice as requisites (bathroom anyone?!? Don't jump down my throat! ) NEW STUFF 4. And I Love Her - Has this really never been played in the last 40 years? 5. Lovely Rita - fun, from the classic Sgt Pepper but not played before to my knowledge 6. Rocky Raccoon - need I say more? 7. Oh! Darling - ditto 8. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - fun, fun, fun 9. She's A Woman - a screamer for the fainting girls 10. I'm Looking Through You - nice replacement for all those other over-played mid-sixties songs WINGS & earlier- perennial favorites 1. Maybe I'm Amazed - play it on guitar though, instead of hiding behind that piano. 2. Band On The Run - His most popular album's title song, better than repeating Jet again. 3. Live And Let Die - I'm a sucker for fireworks and flames shooting into the sky, especially when my hair gets singed in the front row! NEW STUFF 4. Mrs. Vanderbilt - went down well in Kiev, keep playing it now that the band knows it. 5. Junior's Farm - everyone is asking for this one, JUST DO IT! Let's go down to Junior's Farm!!! 6. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five - another song I see on many people's wish lists; there must be a reason and for one I agree. "...shake it, but don't break it!" 6. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - It was a NUMBER ONE SONG and he's still never played it?!? Can't believe this. It's always been one of my favorites, actually, as a small boy I thought it was by the Beatles. Well, I was 25 % right. 7. Helen Wheels - HELL ON WHEELS. Would really go down well live! 8. I've Had Enough - (...of Heather) can sneak in some word changes while he's at it. 9. Getting Closer - good rocker for some heavy guitar licks 10. Goodnight Tonight - I can imagine a great light/laser show during this popular hit SOLO - Sorry, haven't listed all the Wings songs I'd still love to hear. 11. Listen to What the Man Said - 12. Silly Love Songs - "...and what's wrong with that? I'd like to know..." 13. With a Little Luck - might become a new bathroom song since it's a bit slow, but it gives couples a chance to make out. Hey, it was also a number ONE song. SOLO - ok let's move on. I've added three more to Wings so only 7 solo songs to top out at 10. 1. Young Boy - It was the single from "Flaming Pie" and sounds better live than the title song. Bring it out! 2. Back In the Sunshine Again - takes on new meaning AFTER Heather! Lot's of guitars between Paul, Rusty and Brian. 3. Angry - heavy beat, lot's of guitars, great vocals. Begs to be played live! 4. Ballroom Dancing - from 'Tug of War', perhaps not as well known as the other songs but would probably keep the tempo of a live setting better than the other slower songs that might send more people to the bathrooms. 5. Bogey Music - fun, goofy, would get people bopping around ; I think it would be a fitting replacement for C Moon 6. Dress Me Up as a Robber - another one from 'Tug of War'. Lively and melodic. Beats playing Ebony and Ivory which was THE bathroom song on the 1989/90 tour. 7. No More Lonely Nights - I love the guitar solo in this song! THE LAST SIX - a chance for the newest songs and maybe some other gems thrown in for good measure. 1. Come and Get It - Paul's song for Badfinger from 1969. Maybe a reach to ask Paul to play it again but it is one of his better compositions that he gave away and would sound great. Anyone that's heard his demo of it can imagine that. 2. Sally G - flip side of 'Junior's Farm'. Maybe he could play this in Nashville only as a paean to the country/western sound. Or, play it everywhere to show us how easily he masters all musical genres. 3. Only Mama Knows - in the best Wings rocker tradition 4. Dance Tonight - goes down well. 5. Ever Present Past - another single from 'Memory Almost Full' 6. House of Wax - I saw this live last year, Paul sure did charge the audience up with this one. There, that's 36 songs. Obviously, the above songs are in categories and not in the order they could be played. Should Paul begin a tour supporting a new album then obviously I'd like to hear songs from it instead of some of the older ones but generally I would enjoy the above setlist. I think this list would also entertain a majority of the fans attending a concert on a new tour; big hits, lesser hits, some surprises. And if Paul toured two more times, I wouldn't want to hear the same thing twice. PAUL, CHANGE THE SETLIST!!! YOU'VE GOT IT IN YOU. Ok, I'm ready for the slings and arrows...
I agree with your post on this one. Of course I am always happy to see Paul live and hear him perform. Still it is time to see some more of the Wings and solo era represented. I saw him 18 years ago tonight (July 4, 1990), and Sept 27, 2005. Both shows were fantastic. However, I feel that being more adventerous in the set list would be a good thing. It might open up more of those very casual Beatles heavy set list fans to his solo career. Obviously nothing that the solo Beatles did could ever top their work as a group. Still, it's way past time for a lot of people in general to be exposed to more of the solo work.
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I believe the main resaon McCartney setlists are mostly Beatles is due to audience reaction. I expect Beatles songs to get a huge ovation but most non-Beatle songs are met with at most polite applause. I remember seeing McCartney in MSG in 1989 and he opened with "Figure of Eight" and most of the crowd sat on their hands. Even if audience did not know the song it was a nice little rocker and should have gotten the crowd going. The other "Flowers In the Dirt" songs were met with the same kind of reaction. I have seen him on every US tour and for the most part it is the same thing. McCartney aims to please and he can tell what gets the crowd excited so he churns out the Beatle numbers. I have come to the conclusion that most of the concert audience is Beatle/McCartney fans rather than McCartney fans. Just my opinion.
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To a degree you are right Yankeefan7,the Flowers songs were new to most of the audience,but new songs as a rule don't go down a well as golden oldies.I think refreshing the Beatle and Wings songs is a good proposition.Most fans just want to hear Beatle and Wings songs that haven't been played in awhile.As a Macca fan of 35 years i'd like a balance of the three phases of his career,but generally the majority want Beatle faves.He just needs to mix the oldies up a bit. It would be good for the band to play a varied set.Playing Mrs Vandebilt in Kiev, you saw the joy on the faces of all concerned at playing something fresh.
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[quote="yankeefan7"]I believe the main resaon McCartney setlists are mostly Beatles is due to audience reaction. I expect Beatles songs to get a huge ovation but most non-Beatle songs are met with at most polite applause. I remember seeing McCartney in MSG in 1989 and he opened with "Figure of Eight" and most of the crowd sat on their hands. Even if audience did not know the song it was a nice little rocker and should have gotten the crowd going. The other "Flowers In the Dirt" songs were met with the same kind of reaction. I have seen him on every US tour and for the most part it is the same thing. McCartney aims to please and he can tell what gets the crowd excited so he churns out the Beatle numbers. I have come to the conclusion that most of the concert audience is Beatle/McCartney fans rather than McCartney fans. Just my opinion. I was at two of the four MSG shows back in 1989 and I agree with you, that at best, the 'Flowers In The Dirt' songs were met with a lukewarm response at that time. But that was then, when the hunger for Beatles songs had not been satisfied to the degree that we've been fed over the past intervening 19 years. No one had ever heard so many of those Beatles songs played live for the first time so, of course there was near universal acclaim for hearing the Beatles hits. At that time, fans could only see or hear several Beatles songs that were recorded on the 'Wings Over America' record, 'Rockshow' film, 'Wings Over the World' tv special or 'Kampuchea' album; they/we didn't have the plethora of DVD's, or CD's that are available today. I also remember from 1989 that songs like "Jet", "Band On The Run" and "Live and Let Die" had just as loud cheering as most Beatles songs. Anyway, it's now 2008; let's see what will happen during any upcoming actual tour beyond the present few special event concerts.
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lyceum '89:
yankeefan7:
I believe the main resaon McCartney setlists are mostly Beatles is due to audience reaction. I expect Beatles songs to get a huge ovation but most non-Beatle songs are met with at most polite applause. I remember seeing McCartney in MSG in 1989 and he opened with "Figure of Eight" and most of the crowd sat on their hands. Even if audience did not know the song it was a nice little rocker and should have gotten the crowd going. The other "Flowers In the Dirt" songs were met with the same kind of reaction. I have seen him on every US tour and for the most part it is the same thing. McCartney aims to please and he can tell what gets the crowd excited so he churns out the Beatle numbers. I have come to the conclusion that most of the concert audience is Beatle/McCartney fans rather than McCartney fans. Just my opinion.
I was at two of the four MSG shows back in 1989 and I agree with you, that at best, the 'Flowers In The Dirt' songs were met with a lukewarm response at that time. But that was then, when the hunger for Beatles songs had not been satisfied to the degree that we've been fed over the past intervening 19 years. No one had ever heard so many of those Beatles songs played live for the first time so, of course there was near universal acclaim for hearing the Beatles hits. At that time, fans could only see or hear several Beatles songs that were recorded on the 'Wings Over America' record, 'Rockshow' film, 'Wings Over the World' tv special or 'Kampuchea' album; they/we didn't have the plethora of DVD's, or CD's that are available today. I also remember from 1989 that songs like "Jet", "Band On The Run" and "Live and Let Die" had just as loud cheering as most Beatles songs. Anyway, it's now 2008; let's see what will happen during any upcoming actual tour beyond the present few special event concerts.
Some good points brought up in this and the last post by yankeefan. I think having the official DVD's out helps the case for having more solo material out there. I figure that songs like Hey Jude, Let It Be, Yesterday, Jet and Band On The Run are the standards that link all the tours together. Still, what about songs like Take It Away, No More Lonely Nights, I've Had Enough, Junior's Farm, or even resurecting My Brave Face? Most of these are top 40 if not top ten hits and would certainly add to the concert. My Brave Face takes on a new significance due to Linda's passing. I say why not add something a little different to the set list, both to satisfy the hardcore fans like us and get the new fans to investigate the back catalog. It's not as if Paul has to reinvent the wheel or forsake some of the classics that have been played often. I would propose that having some older songs that haven't been played live before would enrich the concert. These could go along with the newest songs and show some of the depth of Paul's career outside the Beatles.
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Beautiful Night would be great live.
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"Lovely Rita" and "Helen Wheels" would be FANTASTIC live!