The album feature Macca classics such as ‘Coming Up’, ‘Waterfalls’ and ‘Temporary Secretary’. McCartney II was more of an avant-garde release than its predecessors and reached number one in the UK albums chart. McCartney would start the next decade with another ground-breaking solo effort that signalled the dissolution of another of his bands, Wings. The record’s DIY approach was very different to what Macca had been used to in the Fab Four and laid the groundwork for the ‘lo-fi’ production movement that was to come later in the 1970s. It features some of his best solo efforts in the form of ‘Every Night’ and ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’. The first album in the box set was McCartney’s first solo record after leaving the world’s biggest ever band. But I for one am happy to add to the McCartney canon.Each of the albums are representative of McCartney’s uncompromising approach to dedication and creativity. McCartney IIImay be overshadowed by the latest Dylan or Springsteen when it comes to this year’s assessment of “Boomer Rock”. My faves are the opening and closing tracks, Winter Bird/When Winter Comes Along with Women And Wives (something Paul knows a bit about) and The Kiss Of Venus. Sure there’s no Yesterday or Eleanor Rigby or even a Rocky Raccoon among the songs but there’s plenty to like. McCartney’s voice is noticeably older on III, and that’s one of its charms. Second, musically, Paul is all over the map on both albums…there is a common loose vibe and a easiness to his approach. Well, for one thing any music by Paul comes with a certain amount of emotional baggage for any of us boomers.

So what’s all this ancient history got to do with McCartney III? (See photos of the first three pages of my albums listed in order that I bought them… McCartney I is 26, Wildlife is 58 and in-between came the amazing Ram. I was but a wee lad when these albums were released and they made a big impression on me. Actually now that I think of it, the entire side to is all good! But side two holds a couple of real gems, namely Dear Friend (addressing a certain Mr Lennon) and Some People Never Know. The first side featured nonsense rockers such as Mumbo and Bip Bop and a loose version of Love Is Strange. Ostensibly a Wings album, Wildlife found Paul, Linda and Denny Laine dipping their toes into a lo-fi, loosely recorded bunch of tunes that, on the surface don’t really jell. Which leads me to Wildlife, the McCartney album I think IIIis most like. Over the years the album and songs such as Temporary Secretary and Coming Up have gained some critical cred but I still find them tough to listen to. Another stripped down affair, this one found Macca noodling around with various synths. The second McCartney album was released in 1980 after the breakup of Paul’s other band Wings. The album drew mixed reviews (it wasn’t The Beatles) and generated its share of now-classic McCartney tunes… Maybe I’m Amazed, Every Night and the lovely Singalong Junk. At the time this was a solo album like no other, but nowadays it’s a fairly common practice.

The first McCartney album was notable for the fact that Paul (and Linda), recorded the entire record on their own, on their farm with Paul overdubbing all the instruments and Linda adding a few BVs.

So a little history before we get into the new album… While on the surface that would seem sensible, I find this album reminds me of another old critically-derided album, by Wings titled Wildlife(1971). With the title McCartney III, everyone and his mother naturally wants to draw connections to McCartney I(1970) and McCartney II (1980). And his McCartney IIIadds a nice touch to an otherwise “challenging” 2020. There are worse ways to end a year musically than with a new Paul McCartney album.

Paul mccartney mccartney iii