More and more people appreciating Paul's and Wings' music
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Just thought I'd share something that happened to me this morning... I went to my local record store on the way to work this morning to pick up the 2CD remaster versions of McCartney and McCartney II (I didn't have them physically yet...now I just need to buy the 2CD Band on the Run to have them all on CD so far). I have a BUNCH of store credit saved up so I figured might as well! The fellow that runs the store is a guy probably my dad's age (~60) who is always wearing a fedora and has longish salt-and-pepper hair, stubble, hipster horn-rimmed glasses, wears flannel shirts over t-shirts, ripped jeans, boots...he looks like a typical 60s hippie burnout (don't get me wrong, he's a SUPER nice guy, I've known him for years, but that's what you think when you first see him). When I took the discs up to pay, he said "hey, a couple of GREAT ones here!" I said yeah, about time I got them on remaster. He said "McCartney has some GREAT demos on the bonus disc!" and also said "have you checked out Wings Over America yet?" I told him I had the remaster already and said the sound was so much better than the original, to which he agreed. Just then the young kid working there who had been on the phone hung up and saw what I was getting and said "haha, I was *just* on the phone ordering more McCartney stuff from the distributor!" I told them I was seeing him at Fenway next month and the older guy said "shit, he's playing Fenway? Wish I'd known. Enjoy the show!" It's funny because I never in a million years would've guessed he'd like Paul and Wings. Usually when I go in and he's working, there's either heavy classic rock (AC/DC, etc) or avant garde jazz or new indie (Killers, Arctic Monkeys, etc) playing over the speakers. To say I was shocked would be an understatement!
I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve. -
DrBeatle:
It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
That last line does seem to ring true, hope its a lasting trend! 
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Paul's solo stuff and Wings, especially RAM, Band on the Run, and his solo debut, seem to be getting a lot more attention and "cred" amongst some of the more hipper publications. The reissues have been helping too, lots of attention being given to them by sites that appeal to younger audiences like Pitchfork (they gave RAM a 9.2/10).
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Mr. Spock:
DrBeatle:
It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Great story, thanks for sharing!
That last line does seem to ring true, hope its a lasting trend! 
Speaking from personal experience, I was a big Wings fan before I was a big Beatles fan. "Band On The Run" album did that for me. Being in my 20's, most people my age whom I've encountered don't know much about Wings, let alone Paul. Once in a while someone will stop me and say "nice shirt" when I'm wearing my Wings t-shirt. Usually it's someone twice my age, but I've had a couple of younger people compliment it, which was awesome. I recently told this story somewhere else on the forum about how I have a friend my age who bashed my love of Paul's music (and anything older than 1990), who also happens to love "Jet". He never knew who it was. When I told him where the song came from, he was shocked. He even went to see Paul at Wrigley in Chicago in 2011 and was impressed! So much of the Wings catalog is fresh and daily in my mind. I speak to people who lived it while it happened, and many have said they've forgotten everything I've learned, and that they gotta go back and listen to these songs again after 30 years. I've got friends checking out everything from Red Rose Speedway past Wings to Off The Ground...and even Back To The Egg. Just a few hours ago, I turned someone on to "Biker Like an Icon" who had never heard it before. I even had a 3-way discussion about "Old Siam, Sir" earlier tonight when I played it at a bar! On Father's Day, a friend and I debated over the Broad Street soundtrack. It's become a part of my daily social life. I'll do anything to keep Paul's solo music around. Wings Over America is back in the spotlight. People are talking about it and asking me about "Rockshow" because they saw the Colbert Report. It is so cool having Wings promoted by Paul, even if it's a reissue, because it's been out of mainstream for so long. -
Excellent points, all. I also think a big part of it is that in the 70s, it was seen as cool to bash Paul and uncool to like him and his music, perhaps driven by John's comments in the early 70s and the music press being so besotted with John and staying in his good graces that they relentlessly pushed this narrative until it became the accepted conventional wisdom (this isn't a bash at John, of whom I'm a big fan of, rather it's a bash at the press!). I think nowadays, the younger fans weren't alive back then so they don't know any of what was said/written, and the older fans don't give a flying f**k about what critics say and aren't worried about being thought "uncool" for proclaiming their love of the man and his music.
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I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Now if he'd only realize that & work more Wings & solo work into the setlist.
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oobu24:
I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Now if he'd only realize that & work more Wings & solo work into the setlist.
True
I'm first and foremost a massive Beatles fan, but I do absolutely love Wings and his solo stuff, too...even for me, it's a bit Beatles-heavy. But I'm not complaining, it's all good in the end 
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DrBeatle:
oobu24:
I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Now if he'd only realize that & work more Wings & solo work into the setlist.
True
I'm first and foremost a massive Beatles fan, but I do absolutely love Wings and his solo stuff, too...even for me, it's a bit Beatles-heavy. But I'm not complaining, it's all good in the end I wasn't complaining either.
and in the end...it is all good! -
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Seemed like Paul spent the 70's having to comment on what John said. No matter what John spewed out, the press fawned over & believed everything,no matter how ridiculous his comments were.
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In preparation for the Ottawa concert, I sent my elderly mom the "Wings Greatest" CD for Mother's Day. In the last 10 years or so, she has come to love the Beatles' music, mostly because they play it so heavily on the "oldies" station she listens to. Back in the 70's/80's when I was still at home and listening to all things Beatles & solo Beatles, she couldn't stand it and always told me to turn it down. So I get a call the other day about the CD I sent her. She says "I love ALL these songs, but I never knew any of them were by Paul McCartney!"
I think she is going to get her eyes opened at the concert! -
bentleysmama:
Seemed like Paul spent the 70's having to comment on what John said. No matter what John spewed out, the press fawned over & believed everything,no matter how ridiculous his comments were.
Yep. I love John as well, but the press were so far up their own asses for him it was pathetic. Even John, once he reconciled with Paul in '74, had (mostly) only nice things to say about him. Hell, he said he thought Band On the Run was a great album, praised Paul's bass playing on Goodnight Tonight, and said flat out that he liked Coming Up and that's what spurred him to start recording again. But you never hear that from the press...
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oobu24:
I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Now if he'd only realize that & work more Wings & solo work into the setlist.
Ever notice that when he announces "this song is for the Wings fans" it looks like he is suprised he gets some cheers - lol.
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oobu24:
I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.
Now if he'd only realize that & work more Wings & solo work into the setlist.
Hear hear! I love his Beatles work but I want to hear more of the Wings/solo work.
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There have finally been more "songs for the Wings fans" during Out There. Some nice additions, but given all the music Paul wrote in the '70s with and without Wings, there is certainly room for more in that setlist. Maybe 2-4 fewer Beatles songs in favor of Wings. That would certainly be fair - especially during promo of WOA and Rockshow.
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^Even with as much a Beatles freak as I am, I wouldn't mind that in the least.
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DrBeatle:
Just thought I'd share something that happened to me this morning... I went to my local record store on the way to work this morning to pick up the 2CD remaster versions of McCartney and McCartney II (I didn't have them physically yet...now I just need to buy the 2CD Band on the Run to have them all on CD so far). I have a BUNCH of store credit saved up so I figured might as well! The fellow that runs the store is a guy probably my dad's age (~60) who is always wearing a fedora and has longish salt-and-pepper hair, stubble, hipster horn-rimmed glasses, wears flannel shirts over t-shirts, ripped jeans, boots...he looks like a typical 60s hippie burnout (don't get me wrong, he's a SUPER nice guy, I've known him for years, but that's what you think when you first see him). When I took the discs up to pay, he said "hey, a couple of GREAT ones here!" I said yeah, about time I got them on remaster. He said "McCartney has some GREAT demos on the bonus disc!" and also said "have you checked out Wings Over America yet?" I told him I had the remaster already and said the sound was so much better than the original, to which he agreed. Just then the young kid working there who had been on the phone hung up and saw what I was getting and said "haha, I was *just* on the phone ordering more McCartney stuff from the distributor!" I told them I was seeing him at Fenway next month and the older guy said "s**t, he's playing Fenway? Wish I'd known. Enjoy the show!" It's funny because I never in a million years would've guessed he'd like Paul and Wings. Usually when I go in and he's working, there's either heavy classic rock (AC/DC, etc) or avant garde jazz or new indie (Killers, Arctic Monkeys, etc) playing over the speakers. To say I was shocked would be an understatement!
I left with a big smile on my face...it's been a revelation the last few months how many people I run into, in person or on the internet, young and old, who are REALLY into Wings and solo Paul. It's almost like they're not afraid to admit it anymore because people realize now that it's *really* great music. It's SO nice to see his solo stuff, but ESPECIALLY Wings, finally getting the props they deserve.Imagine if McCartney played more of his Wings/Solo in concert, maybe even more people would appreciate it. Yes, older people at shows may want to hear mostly Beatles but I bet younger people would be willing to give the non-Beatle songs a shot and appreciate them. It is also too bad that more different McCartney songs are not played on classic rock radio stations. IMO - it seems the same basic ones are played all the time.
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True true. You only ever hear Jet or Silly Love Songs on the radio, *maybe* Wings' version of Maybe I'm Amazed, and that's it for post-Beatles Paul stuff. I'd actually be fine with significantly fewer Beatles songs, only because an even split between Beatles/Wings/solo would be ideal for me and right now it's 2/3 Beatles stuff.
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I've been saying for years that McCartney should split his setlist evenly. He does about 36 songs how about... 12 Beatles 12 Wings 12 Solo It would be more representative of his career, and McCartney could mix them up so the audience is hit with surprise after surprise.
