Nice Things By Wings (Newcastle 1975)

 

Nice Things By Wings

By Andy Bone

Newcastle Sunday Sun

September 21, 1975

    They were still cheering for Paul McCartney 10 minutes after the last note had been played by Wings at Newcastle City Hall last week. Afterwards, there were a few minutes of exhausted silence. Then the superlatives began to come out. "Fantastic, magnificent, superb," were uttered by hardened reporters and disc jockeys. There was not a doubting Thomas in the house. All were agreeing. It was the concert of the year. 

    McCartney had done the impossible by reaching a second peak in his pop career. He seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself as he gradually warmed to the wildly enthusiastic audience during the two hour concert. 

    It was a varied, well-paced set, a bit of rock, some excellent solo acoustic stuff, and every song spot on. But it was no ego trip either. Paul did not hog the spotlight. He and his wife, Linda, humbly sang backing vocals as ex-Moody Blue Denny Lane sang his classic "Go Now". He then became a mere bass guitarist as an excellent guitarist, Jimmy McCullouch played "Medicine Jar" and strummed along when Denny sang Paul Simon's "Richard Cory", but the biggest acclaim of the night was reserved for old Beatle numbers like "Yesterday", "Lady Madonna",  "Baby, I'm Amazed," and "Long and Winding Road."

     Wife Linda is no longer just part of the baggage. She played a variety of keyboards and sang nice backing harmonies. It was Linda who beckoned the audience to front when the seething mass leapt around for the great rock session in the final 20 minutes.

Getting Carried Away

 

Hanging out with Harry

 Photos taken by Cindy Rebello

 

During the time of the March of Dimes Marathon in 1974, John and Harry were staying at the Plaza Hotel (as known due to the "Beatlefest" back story).  I wonder if these photos were taken there. 

Tape is Silent as in Wings

 Tape is Silent as in Wings

No Writer Listed

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

September 18, 1975

    Radio Newcastle reporter Ian Penman thought he had got the scoop of a lifetime when he persuaded ex-Beatle Paul McCartney to be interviewed. He rushed the tape back to the studio, but when he played it back, all he got was the sound of silence.

     "McCartney had been playfully fiddling around with the tape recorder and must have accidentally pressed the rewind button." Radio Newcastle disc jockey Dick Godfrey said today.

     Penman had been reviewing the wildly successful concert by McCartney's group Wings at Newcastle City Hall last night. It was to have gone out on Godfrey's Bedrock Program on Monday, 

    Penman refused to take no for an answer when the ex-Beatle's aides banned interviews after the Show. "He toured the Newcastle hotels, and he found McCartney," Godfrey said today. "Paul gave him an excellent interview, but it all came to nothing."

     Penman has put down notes from the interview from memory and will read them out on the Bedrock Program on Monday.

Playing in Italy

 

Paul Comes Home in Triumph (1975)

 

Paul Comes Home in Triumph

By Peter Trollope (Eric Critic)

Liverpool Echo

September 16, 1975

    There was one man missing when Paul McCartney made a triumphant return to Liverpool last night with his group Wings. That man was Mr. James McCartney --Paul's father. "He's got arthritis and couldn't make it," explained Paul, after his sell-out show at Liverpool's Empire Theater. "He had to stay at home and watch the telly instead," said Paul.

     But the rest of the McCartney clan could. There were 68 of them in the audience, so it was a real family affair. "I've never enjoyed a show so much", said a delighted Paul after Wings had received a 10-minute standing ovation and had been called back for two encores.

     His stepmother, Mrs. Angela McCartney, said after the show, "It was marvelous, just wonderful. I really enjoyed it."

     Paul's brother, Mike McGear, said, "I don't think that they have ever played so well. It was a gas."

     The crowd gave a hero's welcome to the former Beatle, who was back in Liverpool for the second time with his group. "The last time was unbelievable, but tonight was something special", said Paul, who spoke to me with his wife Linda, after the group's two-hour show.

     The show had to be stopped halfway through when hundreds of the 2,500 capacity crowd rushed towards the stage. But Paul stepped in to avert trouble. "I told them to take it easy, because things were getting a bit heavy out there," he said. 

    Paul revealed that he is a regular visitor to Merseyside. "We love to come back up here and see the folks and meet friends. It's nice because people never bother us, and we can all have a great time.

     "I don't like what they've done to the city with all their concrete buildings, though it's a bit like New York, but I suppose that's what some people would call progress. Still, the people haven't changed. They were wonderful tonight. We shall be back here as soon as possible."

     The group is traveling to Newcastle today.

McCartney Magic Holds the Fans Entranced (Liverpool 1975)

 McCartney Magic Holds the Fans Entranced

By Peter Trollope

Liverpool Echo

September 16, 1975

    The magic that is Paul McCartney was still echoing around the streets of Liverpool last night, long after he had made a triumphant return to his hometown with his group Wings. Fans, both young and old, went away singing from one of the best concerts ever at the Empire Theater. It was two hours of nonstop entertainment.

     Paul was there to enjoy himself, and so were the fans. "Hi, it's great to be back in town," he yelled as he bounced on stage, still as cherubic as ever. The band kicked off with "Venus and Mars" and then proceeded to belt out "Jet", "Lady Madonna", a splendid version of "Live and Let Die," and a very moving "Maybe I'm Amazed." Much of the material came from his latest album, Venus and Mars.

     The highlight of the evening came when Paul took to the stage alone with just an acoustic guitar. He did two numbers which had the crowd spellbound. They were "Bluebird," and the song which made him and the Beatles world famous, "Yesterday."

    As the strains of "Yesterday" finally faded away from his vocal cords, high up in the balcony could be heard the sound of a girl crying quietly, only to be drowned out by triumphant applause. 

    McCartney's multi-talents do not upstage the rest of the group for him.  For in Denny Laine and Jimmy McCullouch, he has two of the very best guitarists in the world. On drums, Joe English reigns supreme, his arms flailing and cymbals crashing. 

    Linda is perhaps the most surprising one in the group. Her keyboard playing has improved immensely, and she now plays a vital role in "Band on the Run" and tracks such as "Jet."

     The group finished with a show-stopping version of "Band on the Run", which had the crowd on their feet screaming for more.  They called them back for two encores, and finally, Paul had to come out himself and say thank you to a crowd who won't ever forget the music he and Wings have given them.

Dueling Guitars

 

A trip to Cape Cod

 September 15, 1975

Mexican Take Out

 September 15, 1980