Things We Said Today

[@TheEeliciousOne]

Another great show! Thank you so much. And to Adrian and Allen, thank you for your brilliant book. I've got my copy and I am loving it.

[@ainsleyperry5192]

Lad's, at Paul's final concert at the O2 in London Mary McCartney arrived backstage before the concert walks over to her sister Stella and said, "Have you seen Dad? Stella replied, " Not for awhile now, Ritchie has arrived so they're off somewhere." Mary then say's, "When those two get together they're like a couple of old women." To which Stella agrees. Whats nice is we all know Paul McCartney but to his daughters, he's just Dad. Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@brywool]

Like the podcast and both Legacy books (GREAT books). Just a small point for your hosts: It's Jimmy McCullOCH and Henry McCullOUGH- I've heard that in more than a few episodes of the show, or I wouldn't mention it.

[@davecostello560]

I've nearly finished Vol 2, and once again it's been a revelation. You think you know how it all went down, and then discover a whole new level of understanding! Thank you Adrian and Allen for two top quality books - the research is stunning and I love how you let the people who were there give their opinions, but you refrain from any subjective opinions of your own, just present the facts. There was such a difference between '76 and '79 for the whole Wings vibe and McCartney's outlook - I had forgotten how consistently hostile the UK Music Press was towards him. It did take its toll, for sure.

[@taoofjohnandpaul]

I appreciate that Ken comes with prepared questions.....I salute you Ken!

[@DavidBLevy]

Yes! Well put. I thought the convo derailed a bit with Darren spending his first questions asking about next volumes instead of talking about any number of things from this volume. I think his "skip around" way of reading the book probably didn't give him very good prep. A book like this needs to be read in book order because it's an accumulation of time with a momentum that is part of the story. You can do a "skip around" approach to reading a book like Luca Perasi writes, but not a narrative book like McCartney Legacy.

[@garrywilbur7238]

Fantastic interview! Thanks guys!! Love the book.

[@debbiemessmer8973]

Great show!

[@thingsthathappenedtomymoth2816]

I was sixteen when the live album WINGS OVER AMERICA came out. Darren’s question, “Why did Wings sing ‘Richard Cory” in that show reminds me of something. We studied Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poem “Richard Cory” in High School. A kid about my age in America then kind of knew that the Simon and Garfunkel song was based on the poem. The famous thing about the poem, its shocking last line, could spoil the song for you if you haven’t heard it. So, without giving it away, I will say that when I first heard Wings’ version, I was mystified when Denny Laine switched the name “Richard Corey” for “John Denver” about a third of the way through. It’s one thing to nod to a respected peer, but when the context is what it is in that song, it’s misguided.

[@t221000]

Thank you so much for the incredible book Alan and Adrian. I was also stunned at how often Paul would get ideas for songs that weren’t recorded until years later. I think the problem with wings is that so many members quit and then they got new members and there were three different iterations of the band and that might be why people don’t think wings is a real band. I was so happy 😀 to discover the McGear album 💿 a few years ago. Denny contributed so many songs as a songwriter to Wings from “No words” to “Again and again and again” his efforts should not be forgotten.

[@wespinolaster]

Happy New year ! Wae

[@cristianmartinperezcolman793]

Feliz año nuevo!

[@DavidBLevy]

One of the things the day-by-day approach of the book makes clear is how CONSTANT Paul's creative process/output was. Seems like before his new record was even in the shops he was already prepping a new batch of demos and juggling 6 unfinished projects. I think us Beatle fans have spent decades appreciating that all four Beatles had successful solo careers, but I don't think you could write a book like this about the any of the other 3 and match the sheer productivity of Paul. Another thing the book makes clear is how inevitable it was that Paul would do a "movie" project, which turned out to be a Broad Street, but in the 70s he was keen to do a sci-fi film, but I think the idea of a "movie" project in general is what survived---something that Paul had trouble letting go of. The book is truly spectacular. And, all those session notes of and demos or attempted takes of songs made even someone like me (a pretty staunch Macca fan) discover lots of new breadcrumbs. Today as I read, it was the 1979 unreleased Paul song "Cruising Ahead" which I was then able to search for on KZbin and find a GREAT sounding version. Besides the "inevitable" movie project, it also seemed "inevitable" that Paul would tire of Wings. As much as it provided ready hands for recording and touring, so much of it was hassle and heartache. Ken, yes, Wings members could contribute to a song (on Paul's approval of that contribution making it in), but so would a percussionist working on Tug of War, no? I think your definition of "band" is not as simple as you want to apply it to Wings.

[@Zholobov1]

Big thank you, guys! That's enormously precious gift from you! Happy New Year! 🎄⛄🧨🎇🌨️❄️

[@buttercup1765]

Listened to both 1 and 2 on audible... Excellent!!

[@RussBeatle63]

Thanks, guys! You made my new years 2025! 2 questions if i may directed to Allan & Adrian... Were you both surprised (i was blown away..great stuff guys) by the number (52) and some names of drummers considered before Geoff was selected?...and do you think any of those 52 would have been a longer duration/ better choice? I think most of us beatles fans alive in the 1970s (of course minus ken!).... Wished/wanted/hoped for a reunion. Do either of you think there was ever a moment up till december 8th 1980... of that happening? Or was that a pipe dream for millions and millions of us?

[@MalEvansUSA]

One of the folks who auditioned was Mitch Mitchell 😊.

[@Nuclearmagenta]

As to the debate about whether or not Wings is a band, I have always said that if you took a poll of music collectors who own multiple McCartney related albums I sincerely doubt you'll find more than a few who file their Wings albums under W (for Wings) rather than under M (for McCartney). Whereas even The Doors created albums without Jim Morrison, it is inconceivable that Wings could issue any recordings without Paul.

[@kenmichaelsradio748]

That's not really the issue. It all depends on how you define a band. To me, if everyone contributes something creatively, it's a band. You can have an obvious leader where most of the attention is drawn to him, but it's still a band. I can tell what lineup of Wings is playing a song without being told, because I recognize the individual styles of each lineup. And I'm sure there are plenty of fans who recognize a difference betwen a Wings album, and a solo-McCartney album.

[@Nuclearmagenta]

@@kenmichaelsradio748 That's a fair point, and I am in total agreement with you. Perhaps I'm really questioning why, with an artist like Eric Clapton, I categorize my copy of Blind Faith's album under B, my Derek and the Dominos albums under D, and my copies of his solo albums under C, while I categorize all of my Utopia albums under R for Rundgren, intermixed with all of Todd's solo albums in chronological order, and that I file all of my McCartney related albums under M, and I file all of my Mothers of Invention albums under Z for Zappa. I'm not totally certain but I think the answer is as simple as the point being made in this podcast about the issue of a so-called "super group." If one member by far exceeds other members in terms of fame, stature and creative accomplishment, whatever "organization" he or she is in is simply not comparable (in terms of being a marketable entity) to groups where fame and stature etc. is more equally divided. So much of how we process and consume art is connected to how art is marketed to us. So, yes, Wings is a band and their work is distinguishable (more or less as the case may be) from work issued by Paul as a solo artist. But I feel that the work of this band, perhaps unfortunately and unfairly, will always be viewed as being under the umbrella of Paul's solo output.

[@ronfowlermusic]

​@@Nuclearmagentai file Wings albums in my collection separate from McCartney albums. Henry McCullough and Joe English go under Wings, Denny Laine has his own section

[@kenmichaelsradio748]

@@Nuclearmagenta Well put, but I think of more of what really matters, which is, do the other members contribute, not simply how the music is marketed. I highly doubt most people could name anyone in the Alan Parsons Project other than Alan. That doesn't mean it isn't a band, and the other members don't matter. In my interviews with Wings, you'll find certain members hear a big difference between a Wings album and a solo McCartney album. It's all subject to debate.

[@Nuclearmagenta]

Thank you for engaging in the conversation Ken. It’s a fascinating topic for debate. And thank you for all the great work you’ve done on your various platforms. By the way, I think I have a clever Beatles trivia question for you to use in a future contest.

[@Painter19]

There’s an argument that even as interesting and good their solo careers were afterward, their creative influence and peak was over by the end of 1973.

[@kenmichaelsradio748]

I would never say their creative peak was over by 1973. There's so much great music that followed. I personally think Paul was more creative after Wings, and Ringo certainly grew as a songwriter. Creative influence may be another story.

[@ronfowlermusic]

I think you guys were a bit too hard on Jimmy and Denny. I suppose I'm biased because I'm friends with Paul Salley, the author of the Jimmy McCulloch book "Little Wing". I'm not saying he never took a drink or never touched a drug, but why does every conversation about him have to center around drugs? We should be talking about what he brought to the band as a guitar player, songwriter, and singer. Paul must have had a high opinion of him, to want him in his band, and to allow him to get some songs on the albums. I like that Allan and Adrian actually discussed Denny's contributions in the book - usually books about Wings focus 99.9% on Paul and barely acknowledge the other members, which seems ridiculous in Denny's case - he was there for the entire duration of the band. On this podcast, though, he's mostly discussed in negative terms - in terms of how stoned he was, how he didn't write as much as Paul did - well, NOBODY wrote as much as Paul did! This was even an issue in the Beatles, when Paul would ring everybody up and say "it's time to record", and John would be like "well, can you give me a few days to come up with some tunes", and of course George was always treated like a second class citizen. Of course, Jimmy and Denny are not around anymore, they can't defend themselves. Anyway, that's all, I've said my piece. Now I'll go hide in the corner.

[@sergeetcheverry8080]

I think why wings ended in 1980 was linda was done touring and wanted to stay home and raise there kids and Paul always felt wings was Paul and Linda

[@MalEvansUSA]

His best friend was murdered. Paul was worried about safety. He thought wings with juber and holly was second rate garbage

[@khoury2000]

​@@MalEvansUSA Agree, and jail time in Japan was an impact.

[@Painter19]

Good show! But seriously at 1:13m longest question ever. Get to the point!

[@MalEvansUSA]

Adrian Sinclair and Allen kozinn did a fantastic job. It was good work. However there were several major omissions. Unlike first book There were a few too many errors and some inaccuracies due to sloppy editing and poor research however those are oversights and fixable. Kozinn and Sinclair not mentioning Alf Lennons death just weeks after Jim mccartneys death was a grievous oversight. As reported by one day at a time Anthony fawcett this resulted in a condolence call between John and Paul before the April 1976 face to face meeting. The lack of any documentation or record of John and Paul meeting and exchange of gifts in New York January 1972 was also a significant oversight that chip madinger was very perplexed as to why it was omitted. Hopefully next edition will rectify these oversights asap. They left out the telegram where John invited Paul to play at one on one concert in August 1972. That should have been included too. These guys need to be more accurate for volume 3. All of these needs to be rectified in future editions

[@t221000]

Thank you so much for the incredible book Alan and Adrian. I was also stunned at how often Paul would get ideas for songs that weren’t recorded until years later. I think the problem with wings is that so many members quit and then they got new members and there were three different iterations of the band and that might be why people don’t think wings is a real band. I was so happy 😀 to discover the McGear album 💿 a few years ago. Denny contributed so many songs as a songwriter to Wings from “No words” to “Again and again and again” his efforts should not be forgotten.