Sir Paul

OK, after reading this review of Paul McCartney's show in Yankee Stadium, I'm officially very excited about seeing him at Wrigley on the 31st.

I've seen him six or seven times, but there are at least five songs mentioned in the review that I've never seen him play. Very excited about that.

Another reason I'm excited is that I'm taking Tommy to the show. It will be his first official (Landecker & the Legends don't count) concert, and I just know he's going to love it too. It will make a great story in the future when people ask him what his first concert was.

Happy Birthday Ringo

Ringo is 71 years old today. I love this video of Ringo performing Nilsson's "Only You." His sidekick in the video is Harry Nilsson himself, looking like he just got out of bed. John Lennon played guitar on this song too. I think it's actually quite a good version of the song, maybe Ringo's best singing ever.

John meets Paul

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning...

"July 6, 1957…John Lennon and Paul McCartney were introduced to each other at a church social where Lennon's band, the Quarrymen, was playing. In the church basement between sets, 15-year-old McCartney taught 16-year-old Lennon to play and sing Eddie Cochran's, "Twenty Flight Rock" and Gene Vincent's "Be-Bop-A-Lula." Lennon was also impressed when McCartney showed him and the group's Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they had been paying someone else to do for them."

Beatles in Tokyo

45 years ago today the Beatles performed in Tokyo. Here's the video of one of their songs in concert that night...

She Said, She Said

Once again, Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac gives me some Beatles information I had never heard before...

June 21, 1966…The Beatles recorded the John Lennon composition, "She Said She Said," the final track of the "Revolver" sessions. It took nine hours to rehearse and record the entire song, complete with overdubs. Paul McCartney does not appear on the finished recording; the bass was played by George Harrison.

I had no idea Paul wasn't on the song. I've always liked this one, but my son Tommy tells me it is one of the "crappy" Beatles songs he recently purged from his iPod. No offense, son, but them's fightin' words...

Here, There & Everywhere

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac today...

"June 14, 1966…The Beatles recorded "Here, There And Everywhere." Paul McCartney, John Lennon and producer George Martin all said it was one of their favorite Beatles songs. In 2000, it was ranked the 4th greatest song of all time by Mojo magazine."

It's also been used as the first dance at countless weddings, including the wedding of my buddy Stu and his wife Pam. (Bridget and I used "And I Love Her" because our band didn't know how to play this one.) The Beatles were never filmed performing the song, but Paul was...

Silly Love Songs

#1 in the country 35 years ago today...

Rain

Released exactly 45 years ago...it's appropriate in the Chicago area today.

Good Day Sunshine

What were you doing exactly 45 years ago today? The Beatles were in the studio recording the song "Good Day Sunshine."

I believe this is the documentary from that day...

Eleanor Rigby

According to Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey Almanac, on this day in 1966 the Beatles completed work on "Eleanor Rigby." That's really a Paul song, and he later included it in his (incredibly awful) film "Give my Regards to Broadstreet."

McCartney at Wrigley?

The Sun Times published the rumors I've been hearing, which is that they have two dates set aside at Wrigley for Paul McCartney concerts later this summer. (Details here).

I should note that nothing is being confirmed, but...it sure sounds like it really could happen. There will be suckers willing to pay quite a lot of money for tickets to see that show. I look in the mirror at one of them every day.

Silly Love Songs

It was the #1 song in the country exactly 35 years ago today, and the video is a pretty funny look back at 1976...