One Hand Clapping - A Review

This weekend, I saw the film "One Hand Clapping," made by Paul McCartney and 1974-era Wings. I hope many of you were able to see it as well. Much to my surprise, the film started with 2024-era Paul telling us all about what we were about to see and how much he enjoyed the music from Wings.    

I had always believed that Paul never released this film in the 1970s because he didn't think the music was good enough for release.   If that is true, then Paul was wrong.   As soon as Wings started the first song, "Jet," you could tell they would rock.   This mini-concert at EMI Studios on Abbey Road was fun, rockin', put a smile on your face, and enjoy type of stuff.   Many of Wing's now classic songs, such as "Band on the Run," "Live and Let Die," "1985," and "C'Moon/Little Woman Love," were performed.  Paul, alongside Linda, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch, and Geoff Britton, looked like they were having the time of their lives, and we were allowed to sit in and enjoy right alongside them. 

Paul also treated us to some numbers where he was at the piano—"My Love," "Suicide," and "I'll Give You a Ring" were great, but my favorites were "Bluebird" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."   Actually, the "One Hand Clapping" version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" is now my favorite version of that song.  I used to like the Wings Over America version the best, but it has been officially bumped out of the #1 position. 

You get to see cameo appearances by Geoff Emrick and Howie Casey (who does an amazing sax solo on Bluebird with Paul almost standing on top of him).  

Just when you think the party is over and the credits start to roll (and one guy in the theater actually got up and left), Paul returns and talks about the "Backyard" footage.  This second part was just as much fun as the first.  Paul sits with his guitar in a grassy area behind EMI studios and plays some of his favorite songs, including "20 Flight Rock," "Peggy Sue," and a big hit at the theater where I was in St. Louis, "Sweet Little Sixteen."   Sure, Paul mixes up the lyrics, but it is all part of the intimacy of feeling like you are right there with him behind Abbey Road.  

The entire show ran a little over an hour and was so much fun that I wish it was longer.   My biggest complaint, as I am sure is the biggest complaint of everyone who saw it, was that the footage has not been cleaned up at all.   It looks like a bootleg of a bootleg.   Was that the look Paul was going for?  The screen was blurry, there were "halos" around the people, and all of the colors were dull.  Has the original film been lost to time and has nothing to work with?  Did they borrow someone's bootleg copy and make a copy using a VHS player?   I do not understand how this could be released in such poor shape.   Maybe I am just spoiled by Peter Jackson's treatment of Get Back.   I hate that this Wings footage looks so bad because I want it to be preserved for the future.   

However, I can't be too upset over it.  I would rather have crappy-looking Wings footage than no Wings footage.  And the sound was great. I just hope someone can clean up this film before it goes on Blu-Ray or streaming.   Paul and his bandmates deserve to look the best. 

It is no longer showing at theaters, but if you haven't gotten the album and you like Paul McCartney, you have to get it!   It is SO good!

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