Legends of Rock & Roll - Paul McCartney (Before, During & After the Beatles)

"It's All About the Music!"

Welcome to another in the Legends of Rock & Roll series.

This is, like the others, a mini-biography of one the greatest performers in the music world. This is the second of a series within a series covering the four members of, arguably, the greatest group in music history, The Beatles. I've already covered John Lennon, now it's Paul McCartney's turn.

This book is not about the Beatles.

While I know that you can’t write about Paul McCartney without considering the Beatles, the emphasis of this book is not the Beatles, but instead, the life and music of Paul McCartney as an individual and as a solo performer.

In this particular volume, like before, I will discuss Paul’s early life and his joining up with three other lads to create what is probably the greatest rock and roll group in the history of the world.

But it all ended at one point and Paul had a solo career after the Beatles broke up that still goes on to this day.

Come with me for a walk down memory lane as I review the life of Paul McCartney, and especially, the music that he produced. We'll visit each of his hits and find out how they came to be written or how they were recorded; and discuss any trivia that might be associated with the music.

This book is about the man but even more importantly, it's about the music. This series is my way of honoring the people that have brought so much joy to our lives over the years.

It is an unauthorized fan tribute.

The Chapters include:

Introduction - A general introduction and a kick-off for the book.
Early Childhood - A brief summary of his life before the music started.
Music in the Family - Like most performers, Paul grew up in a home with music. His father was a musician and encouraged him.
The Quarrymen - How did Paul meet John Lennon and become part of the band that would later become The Beatles?
Birth of the Beatles - A brief introduction to the band, as it was getting started.
The Beatles Years - Paul was a very important part of the band. It wouldn't have been the same without him.
Paul is Dead - Did Paul really die in 1966 and was he replaced with a lookalike? Get the whole story.
Drugs - The four guys had their share of experiences with drugs. How it affected the music.
Linda Eastman - How did Paul meet the love of his life and first wife, Linda?
The Breakup of the Beatles - All good things must come to an end.
Wings - Paul's new band, Wings, was the start of another super group.
First Tour - Paul didn't want to tour as a Beatle, he wanted to tour in his own right as a single performer.
"Hi, Hi, Hi" - One of Paul's early fun songs. Is it really about drugs?
"Band on the Run" - How the biggest album of Paul's career was recorded.
"Venus and Mars" - Personnel changes in the band and more hits.
"Wings at the Speed of Sound" - The next album with another number one single, "Silly Love Songs".
"Mull of Kintyre" - Believe it or not, this was the first number one song for Wings in England since the breakup.
"London Town" - Not one of Paul's better selling albums, Wings was down to just three people and one of them was pregnant.
"Back to the Egg" - His first album on a new label, Columbia, and the last with the band, Wings.
Clipping His Wings - Why did Paul break up the group. Wings was no more.
"Ebony and Ivory" - The story behind one of the most successful duets of the Eighties.
Working with Michael Jackson - Paul and Michael Jackson recorded two big hits together.
1984 - 1990 - Paul, now flying solo, finishes out the Eighties.
Nineties - Things are slowing down for Paul, but there is still a lot of great music to be played.
Losing Linda - In 1998, the love of his life, Linda McCartney, dies of breast cancer. A tragic loss.
Twenty-First Century - Paul marries again and continues to work.
Legacy of Paul McCartney - Every Legends book has a Legacy section where we review the awards and contributions of the artist.
Afterword - My closing thoughts.
Selected Discography