Category Archives: Paul McCartney

The Beatles First Ed Sullivan Appearance: A Personal Rememberance!

It’s finally here! Sixty years ago, the United States (and since the U.S. considers itself the center of the universe), and the world was visually introduced to The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. Seventy-three million people were exposed to what England had seen for the previous two years, and fell in love.

It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. Many viewers tuned in to witness a musical farce or to see the band fall flat on its face. Who doesn’t slow down at a traffic accident and gawk or at least sneak a peek. The hype had been there for the past month as I Want to Hold Your Hand rose to #1. Who were these guys usurping our record charts?

I was a witness and remember comments from my family about their long hair. (Really? Look at the haircuts. They were just touching their ears!) Someone said that John Lennon resembled a “singing golf ball with hair.”(??!!) And, of course, there were plenty of comments about the crazy screaming girls in the audience. (“What are they screaming about? They can’t even hear the music!”)

I can honestly say that I wasn’t totally won over by The Beatles from that first appearance. Even as a child, I was skeptical. I think it was my unfamiliarity with some of the music. That soon changed. But I returned the following weeks to witness those incredible moments. And man, Ringo Starr could sure rock those cymbals–and drums! But I stayed well clear of the ongoing discussion amongst my sister and her teenage female friends on who was cuter: John Lennon or Paul McCartney? That was so annoying! I just wished I didn’t have to hear it!

And when I visited New York City in 1985, before the age of home-owned video tapes, I went to the Museum of Television and Radio (now known as the Paley Center for Media). The first thing I wanted to see was that first Ed Sullivan appearance. I wasn’t the only one.I found out that that show was the number one requested viewing item. It seems everyone wanted to relive those magical moments when The Beatles changed the world!

Nowadays, I can just post it on my blog. What a wonderful world!:
http://youtu.be/CqrauzHPpwE

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My radio show, “Theme Attic,”  is on Wednesdays 12PM-4PM ET.

The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!

I have other musical areas to explore:

I occasionally will add to The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!

I’ll select a song to celebrate and then give my thoughts about it. Nothing really brand new here that hasn’t been done before. But since I have a website, I can collect them and lay out what my own greatest songs are.

Here’s a link to have a look at “The Greatest Songs Ever Recorded”: https://philmaq.com/the-greatest-songs-ever-recorded/!

Occasionally, an “awesome song” crosses over to become a “Greatest Song!”

My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!

Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for brilliant musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!

Mark Your Calendars – February 9th

Now, I know that on February 9th many of us will be wrapped up in the WInter Olympics, but true Beatles fans will be tuning in to CBS from 8-10 p.m. for their special, “The Night That Changed America: A GRAMMY Salute To The Beatles.” It was taped immediately following The Grammy Awards broadcast this week.

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The two-hour presentation will include tributes by a number of remarkable performers including John Legend, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and Pharrell Williams.

Of course, we just want to see Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr working our favorite tunes! Word is that Dhani Harrison joined in on one song.

Seventy-three million people tuned in to The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. How many people will tune in this time around?

Peace and Love,

Bitsy

Congratulations, Paul!

Well, I’m just a bit overcome by the amazing Grammys presentation on Sunday. Such a great mix of performers! But, I have to say, what brought a tear to my eye was watching Ringo play with Paul. OMG! What a moment!!!

Our esteemed Beatles were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to popular music. Well deserved, I must say. And, as it’s coming up on the 50th anniversary of their coming to America, very timely.

Not all the Grammys are awarded during the prime time broadcast, so you might not be aware that Paul walked away with five Grammys this year! In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of The Beatles, he also was nominated for and won the following four Grammys:

*  ‘Best Rock Song‘ for ‘Cut Me Some Slack‘ which he co-wrote with Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear.
*  ‘Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package‘ for last year’s ‘Wings Over America‘ re-issue.
*  ‘Best Surround Sound Album‘ for ‘Live Kisses‘.
*  ‘Best Music Film‘ for ‘Live Kisses‘.

Congratulations, Paul!

Peace and Love,

Bitsy

Paul McCartney nominated for Five Grammys Tonight!

With the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show coming at warp speed–about the only thing taking my mind off the “polar vortex,” is tonight’s Grammy Awards. It has plenty of anxious anxiety for Beatle fans: Will Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr perform together again? They are both scheduled to perform, but it hasn’t been officially stated that they will do something together.

Oh. well, at least this year’s Grammys should be better than last year’s with both of them on the bill. But I don’t see how it could beat that killer performance of the Abbey Road Medley when Paul traded guitar licks with Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh, and Dave Grohl. But I hope it does.

The show should keep McCartney fans riveted since Paul is nominated for five Grammys for his work on Cut Me Some Slack–the song he did with Nirvana’s remaining members, Live Kisses–the DVD version of his standard covers album, Kisses on the Bottom, and the Deluxe reissue packaging for Wings Over America. I have my fingers crossed…………….

Summer’s Last Gasp: “The Sun Is Shining” Soundcheck by The Fireman (Paul McCartney)!

Near record heat made me think of one of my favorite songs from “Electric Arguments” by The Fireman (Paul McCartney). Here’s Paul at a sound check giving it a run through:

“NEW” Paul McCartney Single Released!

 

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The first new track from Paul McCartney’s next album, “New,” has just been made available. The album is set for release in the UK on October 14th and the U.S. October 15th. Sounds very “Beatleish!”

Wings First Live Performance 41 Years Ago Today!

Paul McCartney started his post-Beatles performing career with his new band 41 years ago today. While his new band, Wings, started slowly, they evolved into an incredibly successful band on their own. I thought it would be interesting to look back at the very minor beginnings of the band as Paul reflects on those early tours:

“I Now Declare Beatle Bits Open!!”

I thought the best way to start my new website would be a variation on a silly line that John Lennon used in “A Hard Days Night.”  I say that because I am looking to have a lot of fun writing about The Beatles, my favorite—anything!   Maybe I should step back a little bit and do some explaining.

If you have ever read anything on my other website, philmaq.com, you would put together the observation that I am crazy about music. All kinds of music! The Beatles are at the top of that obsessive interest. They have meant so much to me for as long as I have been aware of them. I can’t even tell you how many hours I have listened to their music both as a group or individually as solo artists. Whatever the number is, it far exceeds many of the closest artists combined by a large factor. I can honestly say that I still make new discoveries when listening to songs I’ve probably heard tens of thousands of times.

As a musician, Beatle songs are so much fun to play! They’re full of intricate surprises that sound so great when they come alive in your hands!

The extent of my musical obsession hit me hardest a few years ago when I felt saddened because I had a thought about my own mortality. But I wasn’t sad because I was getting older. No, I was sad because I realized that I had less time to listen to The Beatles! I’ve since come to grips with that dilemma, sort of, and I have just decided to appreciate listening in the moment.     

Being able to do anything about or with The Beatles is as close as it gets to a lifelong dream for me. “Beatle Bits” will consist of a mixture of many different things. It might be an item that was overlooked elsewhere. It might be upcoming news. It might be reviews, or gossip. But I also want “Beatle Bits” to have some musical analysis.

So, that’s the plan. Of course, I am open to any suggestions along the way. This will be “our site,” and I will always keep, you, the reader in mind. And I will always keep in mind John, Paul, George, and Ringo, as well as all of the other people who gave them support along the way and were a part of their lives. Thank you guys!

And I couldn’t think of a better day to launch this new site:

Happy 71st Birthday, Paul!  

This video is from last year, but it offers some great images of Paul throughout the years. Enjoy!