FEATURE:
That Would Be Something
PHOTO CREDIT: Mary McCartney
What Can We Expect from McCartney III?
___________
IF things outside of music….
IN THIS PHOTO: Paul McCartney in 1975/PHOTO CREDIT: Linda McCartney
have not given us much to cheer about, it seems that the music world itself is stepping up. There have been some terrific albums released, and every month brings us so many treasures! That looks set to continue, as there are some brilliant forthcoming albums. One that has caused excitement over the last few days is McCartney III. I am not sure whether Paul McCartney himself has said anything regarding its content, but there are images and news stories online that say McCartney’s third eponymous album is coming in December. His first McCartney album arrived in 1970, when The Beatles were breaking up and, hit by the turmoil and in need of an outlet, he released this terrific album that contained classics like Maybe I’m Amazed, Every Night, and terrific songs like That Would Be Something, Junk, and The Lovely Linda. I still think that album remains underrated but, given that The Beatles were splitting, maybe critics were reacting to that and blaming McCartney. The album is a fantastic thing, and I can appreciate why McCartney needed to record and release it. It was a decade before he released McCartney II, and that album was more stripped-back and experimental. Again, many have overlooked it and written it off, and whilst it does contain some weaker tracks – and is less consistent than McCartney -, it is a great album that was written when Wings split (the band Paul McCartney formed after The Beatles).
Now, four decades after that album, we are going to get the third in the trilogy. This is what the Beatles Bible say about the December-rumoured album:
“McCartney III is believed to be the third completely solo homespun Paul McCartney album, following 1970’s McCartney and 1980’s McCartney II.
The domain name mccartneyiii.com was registered on 28 August 2020 by CSC Corporate Domains, the company which also registered paulmccartney.com and flaming-pie.com.
At the beginning of the year we were on holiday and then the lockdown started just after we got back and so I flew to England and spent the time with my daughter, Mary, and her kids on the farm. So, suddenly, we were all locked down there. So it’s not been bad at all. In fact, I feel a bit guilty admitting that it’s not been bad, and a lot of people do. They don’t want to admit that, actually, you know, [they’re] enjoying it. I’m very lucky. The weather’s been brilliant and Mary and her kids are great, so I’m seeing a lot of my grandkids and Nancy, so it’s been all right. I feel dreadfully sorry for all those who are less fortunate and obviously all those who have lost loved ones, but I’ve been lucky. I’ve been able to write and get into music, starting songs, finishing songs. I’ve had a few little things to write and it’s given me the time to finish some songs that I hadn’t found the time to get around to, you know? I’ve been recording using lots of hand wipes and disinfectant and social distancing, which was good because I don’t like not working.
I suppose I learned that you can’t take anything for granted and that it’s very difficult to predict the future now. In all honesty, I don’t think I learned much. I knew the value of my family and it’s been great being able to spend more time with them, but it doesn’t mean I want to do that all the time. I like working as well. But relationships are important. Family is important. Music is important. Like I say, I’m lucky, because what I do, it all starts with writing, and I can pretty much do that anywhere, so long as I’ve got a guitar. I like having stuff to do, as it keeps the brain busy. And on top of all my projects, I’ve had the luxury of just being able to sit down and write songs for no reason, which is great. It keeps me off the streets. Paul McCartney, GQ, 4 August 2020”.
Paul McCartney was due to headline Glastonbury this year, and during lockdown, I can imagine that he has been frustrated and keen to get on the road. He released McCartney after the stress of The Beatles’ end and the studio offered him retreat and some comfort; the same can be said for McCartney II after Wings’ demise. During such a strange time, it is appropriate that McCartney III should be announced! McCartney’s last studio album, Egypt Station, was released in 2018, and it gained some positive reviews.
I wonder whether we will get a continuation of that regarding sound. It is quite a polished record, whereas an album like McCartney II was more experimental and barer. It would be wonderful to hear an album like that where McCartney records on simple equipment and takes everything back to basics. I would imagine that McCartney III is going to be sonically similar to his recent albums, rather than him tearing away layers but, thematically, I think we will get quite a wide-ranging album that has the same sort of imagination and breath of his other two McCartney albums. In any case, it is something to look forward to, and I do think that there will be a lot of songs about hope and togetherness. When the world is going through such a tough trial, I think McCartney will reflect that, and there will be quite a bit of emotion at play. Maybe we will get a tracklist and more news as the days go by, and I guess a single might be released between now and December. Whatever is coming, the possibility of more Paul McCartney music is very exciting indeed! There are rumours flying as to what McCartney III might offer, but you can never easily guess what he will do regarding his albums – whether we’ll get something Egypt Station-like or he might go completely nuts! The greatest songwriter who has ever lived is still captivating us and keeping us guessing…
AFTER all these years.