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Category Archives: VOW

(Beatles) Video Of The Week

Dec 23 4 comments
VOW

Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney’s original 1979 promo video)

Wonderful Christmastime single sleeve art

For your holiday VOW this year, I’ve dug up Paul McCartney’s 1979 promo video for “Wonderful Christmastime.” Many of you have probably been hearing it lately, playing over the PA in all of the department stores, while getting your holiday shopping done, and so I thought I’d post up the visuals to go with it.

Although it has a Christmas theme, it was recorded most likely in the summer of 1979, during Paul’s sessions for his McCartney II album. Like the other songs from these sessions, Paul plays all the instruments, although his band Wings are present in the video. While the McCartney II album was not released in final form until May of 1980, a double album test pressing version, prepared in extremely limited quantities, was out in late 1979. However, “Wonderful Christmastime” was not on it, or on the final version of the album. It was only issued as a single on November 16, 1979. Years later, in 1993, it appeared on the U.K. remaster CD of the Wings album Back To The Egg as a bonus cut. More recently two different edits of it appeared on the June 2011-issued deluxe edition of McCartney II (along with a DVD that contains this featured video). The video was filmed at the Fountain Inn, located in Ashurst, West Sussex, U.K.
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Dec 16 0 comments
VOW

Yesterday – Blackpool Night Out performance, Aug. 1, 1965

Blackpool Night Out

On August 1, 1965, after over a year of no live performances on U.K. television, The Beatles took the stage at the ABC Theatre to perform six numbers on the program Blackpool Night Out. Along with both sides of their new single (“Help!” and “I’m Down”), they performed the A-sides of the previous two singles (“Ticket To Ride” and “I Feel Fine”) and two songs from their latest LP, Help! The first of these was Ringo Starr’s vocal performance of the Buck Owen’s song “Act Naturally”. The second, featured here for the VOW, is Paul McCartney’s solo performance of “Yesterday.”

The audience during “Yesterday” is quite interesting, as they are likely used to screaming, but aren’t sure how to react to such a gentle song. As the stage lights darken, John Lennon and George Harrison make their exit, and Ringo remains sitting quietly at his drums. Paul plays his acoustic guitar upside down, and is accompanied only by the house band’s string quartet. The audience remains unusually quiet until Paul’s final note. At that point, as the screaming applause fills the room, the lights come up, and John Lennon runs on stage to present Paul with a bouquet of flowers, saying “Thank you, Ringo. That was wonderful.”

This performance of “Yesterday” (along with”I Feel Fine”, “Ticket To Ride” and “Help!” from the same show) appears on the Beatles Anthology 2 CD set. All six Blackpool performances except “I Feel Fine” appear, at least partially, on episode 4 of the Beatles Anthology home video documentary. This show would be The Beatles’ last non-mimed U.K. television performance until “All You Need Is Love” in 1967.

Click the image above to play the video.

Beatles music makes great gifts over the holidays. Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post, for your favorite Beatlemaniac:

1) Anthology 2 1996 2-CD set featuring out-takes, live performances and other historic Beatles recordings between 1965-1968. Includes the version of “Yesterday” heard in this post.

2) The Beatles Anthology – 2003 reissue of 5 DVD set with over 10 hours of Beatles commentary and historic performances, including the performance of “Yesterday” seen in this post.

3) Help! (Remastered) 2009 stereo CD remaster of original 1965 album, featuring original stereo master of “Yesterday”.

4) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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Dec 09 0 comments
VOW

All Those Years Ago (George Harrison original slideshow promo, 1981)

Somewhere In England cover art

Thirty one years ago yesterday, John Lennon was taken from us by a disturbed individual’s violence – the very same violence that John himself had spent much of the later years of his life opposing. Today’s video feature is a slideshow of various video clips and photographs of John’s life that were compiled into a promo of George Harrison’s tribute song to John, “All Those Years Ago,” released on a single in May of 1981, a few months after his murder.

George originally wrote “All Those Years Ago” with different lyrics, for Ringo Starr to record. Ringo made a recording of it, but felt that the vocal requirement was too high for his range. He was also not too keen on the original words. Since Ringo was not happy with the song or his recording of it, George took it back, and after John’s death, he wrote the lyrics for the version containing all of the heartfelt references to John that we know now.

George retained the original backing track, with himself on lead guitar and Ringo on drums, and superimposed his new vocal with the revised lyrics onto it. He also recruited Paul and Linda McCartney and their Wings bandmate, Denny Laine, to provide backing vocals. This makes the song one of the few that feature three members of The Beatles after the official breakup of the band. Additionally, Al Kooper plays keyboards on the record. Appropriately, long time Beatles producer George Martin co-produced the song with George Harrison. The sessions for “All Those Years Ago,” as well as the rest of the tracks on the associated album, Somewhere In England, were held in George Harrison’s private studio located at his Friar Park home in South Oxfordshire, U.K.

Today we can hear the song, not only in remembrance to John, but to its composer as well. Two veterans of music’s past, whose spirits remain strong in our music and memories of today. Thanks for stopping by…

Click the image above to play the video.

Beatles music makes great gifts over the holidays. Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post, for your favorite Beatlemaniac:

1) Somewhere in England – 2004 CD remaster of original 1981 album, including “All Those Years Ago”.

2) Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison – 2009 remastered CD collection of George Harrison’s biggest hits, including “All Those Years Ago”.

3) Live in Japan (Hybr) – 1992 CD set of George Harrison live in concert with the Eric Clapton band. Includes hybrid CD that has separate surround sound mixes, and features a live performance of “All Those Years Ago”.

4) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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Dec 02 4 comments
VOW

Off The Ground – Paul McCartney promo clip, 1993

Off The Ground cover art

Paul McCartney’s first studio CD of the 1990′s was Off The Ground. Continuing with the majority of the band from his previous Flowers In The Dirt album from 1989 and most recent world tour, Paul initiated sessions for Off The Ground in December of 1991 and had the tracks up to snuff by the following July. American drummer Blair Cunningham was the newest edition to Paul’s line-up. Blair, who had formerly played with The Pretenders, along with a few other bands, had replaced previous drummer Chris Whitten after Paul’s 1989/1990 world tour. Chris had left the band earlier and went on to participate in the Dire Straits final world tour of 1991-1992. Hamish Stuart and Robbie McIntosh, who both play guitar and bass, had been with Paul since ‘Flowers,’ as had keyboardist Paul ‘Wix’ Wickens, who is still touring with Paul today. Paul’s late wife Linda sings backing vocals and plays keyboards.

The title track to the disc, seen in this promo clip, is an upbeat pop-flavored tune that has Paul taking a trip out the window and flying around the world. Paul released a VHS in October 1993 called Movin’ On that touches on the making of the video, as well as a few others from the album. The song “Off The Ground” was also released on a CD single in April of 1993. The short interlude that precedes the song in the video is a non-album track that appears on the CD single with the curious title “Soggy Noodle.”

Click the image above to play the video.

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Off the Ground 1993 complete CD containing title track and other great tracks C’Mon People and even a couple collaborations with Elvis Costello.

2) Movin on [VHS] – VHS film of one hour feature on Paul and his band in the studio and video filming sets for Off The Ground promos, etc. Never released on DVD/BluRay.

3) Flowers in the Dirt- – Paul’s previous CD with ‘almost’ the same band (Chris Whitten was on drums instead of Blair Cunningham). Includes the hit My Brave Face and a few other collaborations with Elvis Costello.

4) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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Nov 25 0 comments
VOW

Blue Suede Shoes – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, live in ’69

Live Peace In Toronto cover art

It was promoter John Brower’s lucky day on September 12th, 1969. He called Apple to see if John & Yoko could possibly lend some credibility to his Rock & Roll Revival Festival the following night by flying in and introducing one of the acts. Surprise! John said he’d come, but only if he could play. Brower would’ve never even considered asking for a performance. After all, none of The Beatles had performed onstage since the summer of 1966, unless you count a few songs on a rooftop at Apple. John could not consider the other Beatles to join him as Ringo had just returned from the hospital and Paul was home with his new baby, Mary, and George simply just hated touring altogether. Instead, John got in touch with his old friend Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White, who both agreed to play. He asked Eric Clapton to come along too and didn’t get an answer till the following morning, when Eric was finally reached by telegram. This five piece line up became the first incarnation of The Plastic Ono Band. Only one day after receiving Brower’s phone call, John was onstage opening with a favorite – Carl Perkin’s classic “Blue Suede Shoes,” which was also covered by Elvis Presley. John acknowledges this in the performance by doing his ‘Elvis legs’ before the crowd. The show came off quite well, and John was pleased that he was able to put a band together in a matter of hours, with the complete freedom of playing and improvising at will. In fact, he was so thrilled about it, he informed acting manager Alan Klein that he had decided to quit The Beatles.

Click the image above to play the video.

Extra info: On Dec. 12, 1969, the entire performance was released on the Apple LP Plastic Ono Band – Live Peace In Toronto 1969.

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Live Peace in Toronto 1969 – 1995 stereo CD remaster of original 1969 LP of the entire performance by John Lennon/The Plastic Ono Band, including “Blue Suede Shoes”.

2) John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band – Sweet Toronto – DVD release of the entire performance by John Lennon/The Plastic Ono Band, including “Blue Suede Shoes”.

3) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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Nov 18 0 comments
VOW

Weight Of The World (Ringo Starr 1992 promo)

Time Takes Time cover art

“Weight Of The World” was the catchy sounding first single pulled from Ringo Starr’s big comeback album Time Takes Time. Released on May 22, 1992, Time Takes Time was Ringo’s first studio LP in 9 years. His previous 1983 album, Old Wave, was not even distributed in the U.S. and, although it was a good record, fell on apathetic ears in 1983.

By the late 80′s he started up the All-Starr Band, but needed a good studio album to get back in the action. “Weight Of The World” was a great opening single for Time Take Time, and the upbeat sound is a good representation of the mood of the entire LP. It features Ringo on drums and vocals, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench on keyboards, Mark Goldenberg on guitar and James “Hutch” Hutchinson on bass. It is one of three songs on the album produced by Don Was. Others sitting in the producer’s seat for the disc were Peter Asher, Jeff Lynne and Phil Ramone. It was written by Brian O’Doherty and Fred Velez. Most of the songs on the album were written by others, but Ringo co-wrote three of the albums songs.

Time Takes Time was also Ringo’s first album where he worked with Mark Hudson (originally of the television comedy The Hudson Brothers). Mark assisted with vocal arrangements on a few of the tracks and went on to be a core part in Ringo’s career. He served as producer or co-producer on the next 9 albums by Ringo between 1998-2008.

Click the image above to play the video.

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Time Takes Time – 1993 original CD, including “Weight Of The World”.

2) Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Vol. 2 – 1993 All-Starr Band CD set featuring “Weight Of The World” Live at Montreux.

3) Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo – 20 track 2007 hits compilation by Ringo Starr, including “Weight Of The World”.

4) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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