As humanly possible, this book attempts to evaluate every track that
Paul McCartney has released on a major label. Thus, the premise of this
book: to sift the gems from the chaff and examine what's driven
McCartney up and down for fifty years.
There are plenty of tracks suitable for casual fans, adolescents, even
preschoolers. But there are tracks for an older audience too, tracks so
good they can supply grown-ups with a rewarding soundtrack for a
lifetime. It's these that make for a playlist worth keeping.
From 1970 and beyond, the songwriting Paul McCartney seemed to be
saddled with a rickety who-cares system that generated iffy results.
Gone were 'Eleanor Rigby' and 'Penny Lane'. Instead, came the
thought-free 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' and 'Bip Bop', songs The Beatles
wouldn't have considered for a second. Troubles swarmed around him as he
searched for his place. The Beatles had theirs - where was his? Was he
overly obsessed with perfection? Maybe. Or was it insecurity? His next
record couldn't be a forward-thinking experiment, with sales falling
wherever they may. It had to - had to - be a chart topper adored all
over the world.
