Besides NEW, 2013 saw the May 27th release of the archive edition of WINGS OVER AMERICA.
The live album which documented the band’s triumphant 1976 tour across North America has been reissued with a four-book, four-disc (3CD, 1DVD) Deluxe Edition Box Set.
The box set’s superior audio and video include the two-disc ‘Wings over America’ album remastered at Abbey Road, a bonus audio disc recorded live at San Francisco’s Cow Palace, a bonus DVD containing the rarely seen 75-minute television special ‘Wings over the World’ and the photo gallery montage entitled ‘Photographer’s Pass’.
The Deluxe Edition Box Set contains four exquisitely rendered art books packaged with an incredible array of exclusive memorabilia, souvenirs, mementos, keepsakes and never-before-seen photos and art work from this tour.
The110-page commemorative tour book beautifully recounts the behind-the-scenes drama through dozens of live performances and backstage photos along with new interviews and liner notes.
The ‘Wings over America’ leatherette-bound ‘Tour Itinerary’ contains extravagant memorabilia including printed 8X10 glossy band photos, a backstage guest pass, facsimiles of the invitation to the infamous end-of-tour party at the Harold Lloyd Estate in Beverly Hills along with ‘Wings over America’ concert tickets, original album artwork, tour posters, set lists, lyrics, press materials and much more.
‘Look!’, the box set’s warm and intimate book of Linda McCartney photography features Paul and the band in their everyday life as they made their way across the country in the spring of ’76.
Lastly, the set contains ‘The Ocean View’ an extraordinary hardbound compendium of drawings and sketches by artist Humphrey Ocean that captures the band on tour in relaxed and revealing ways. A striking artistic achievement in and of itself, the audacious ‘Wings over America’ Deluxe Edition Box Set is a must have for any McCartney enthusiast.
November 13th saw both the release of Live At The BBC in remastered form, as well as a second edition, On Air- Live At the BBC Volume 2.
The Beatles BOOTLEG RECORDINGS 1963 on December 17th. At the time, Apple did not attempt to put together a 50th anniversary box set for any of the original Beatles albums, until the 2017 Sgt. Pepper set. Instead, they put out this, which was a compilation album of 59 recordings, released exclusively through the iTunes Store.
The compilation was released worldwide in order to prevent recordings made by the Beatles in 1963 from legally entering the public domain in Europe due to revised copyright laws.
Paul also recorded and released a few other songs in 2013, which were released as b-sides and bonus tracks on singles pulled and deluxe versions of NEW.
“Struggle” One of the four songs written by Paul McCartney and producer Paul Epworth, and released as a bonus track of the Japanese version of the album.
- A drone beat is layer with Paul’s falsetto. Interesting track with layers and layers of spoken/sung lyrics. Lots of twists and turns. Rating – 7.5
“Turned Out” From the Deluxe edition of “NEW.” It is one the four songs from the “NEW” sessions produced by Ethan Johns.
A nice little pop ditty, that Paul is so good at. Great double tracked vocals and a wonderful I’m headed out of town beat. Paul slows the middle eight before lurching back in the ending. Paul’s voice is really strong and I’m wondering why there was no room on New for this overlooked gem. Rating – 8.5
“Demons Dance” ‘Demons Dance’? “Lord knows what that’s about!…” -Paul
- A quirky little number, it’s piano leading the track sounding like the coda on “Rock Show.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song like this from Paul before. Very spiritual in tone and feel, and I guess this is appropriate for the song’s title. Rating – 8
“Get Me Out Of Here”
Paul plays a Ngoni, an African instrument he was given when performing with Africa Express on September 2012.
“So I took it in the studio the next day. We had this track and I used this instrument. It made this great (rhythmic) noise. Luckily the strings on it fitted exactly with the bass part. Well, it became the bass part. Yeah, that was just one of those things. It just fitted really nicely.”
- A soulful bluesy bouncy track with Paul’s processed vocals perfect for the song. Acoustic driven, perfect production. Paul even mocks the British reality show, “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here” in the lyrics. Love the backing chorus singing “Oh boy, someone get me out of here!”
“Hell To Pay” Officially released in October 2014 as part of the Collector’s Edition of NEW. “‘Hell to Pay’ is about someone who doesn’t give back and so there’ll be hell to pay one day.”- Paul
-Piano driven and another wonderfully produced rocker. Paul stretches out with a howling ending. It really sounds sweet, but lacks the hooks that could have made it special. Rating – 7
Next 2014…….
A Life Through The Eyes Of A Man 