Es-say #19 All this remaster veggie bologna and cheese

Guess what? Well, you can't, so I'll tell you. I am highly annoyed about the upcoming September re-releases of Venus and Mars, and Wings At The Speed Of Sound. I am stomping my left foot. I am stomping my right foot (I am referencing Help! to just make my anger even more silly).
 Yes, this is not world politics or anything of great importance. However, this is what my blog deals with often if you haven't read enough of it- My complaining about how dear sweet Sir Paul McCartney has gone and done something that has affected me personally in some way. I also value many things that McCartney has brought into my life- Music, Vegetarianism, Peace, Joy, etc. Today, I have to get this CD-re-release-mega-expensive-and-wino-junk-stuff-I-don't-want.

Firstly, I love the now defunct 1993 Holland releases of his albums (see an example above). But, I have the 1987 CD version of Venus and Mars. I'd like to spend my money on all the 1993 albums. Thanks to all the new releases(which seem to have an odd release date pattern), it will cost me more money to track down and purchase the ones I want. I can't really complain about At The Speed Of Sound being available as I don't own it, but I'm not impressed with an expanded version costing as much as a budget hotel room rate. A bit of math for you. I will save enough money not buying any of these re-releases box sets to go buy a decent McCartney ticket whenever the moment arrives. It's easily over 150 USD on two albums that are available in other formats(like uploaded online to popular free websites, for example).

The box sets show all this physical material that really doesn't interest me as a collector. I don't want reprints of original posters, lyrics, stickers....I just want the three CDs. How much can you take off the price for that? I remember when Wingsspan came out on CD. I got the 2 CDs, a Wings Necklace, and Mini Poster from Virgin Mega Store for like £15.99 tops. I taped the TV special on video and that was the end of it. I'm sure there were more Wingsspan tie-ins but I honestly, hand over heart, remember telling someone "Wow, that CD set was a good price!" The CDs track selections were impressive and I remembered that the most. I'm not trying to knock any of the studio albums at all, but with a double disc available with these new re-releases eliminating the DVD on the higher priced box sets, I do feel I'm getting less of what I should be.

Maybe in a few years, i'll buy them, but definitely not right away. This is the most interesting thing about collecting. Getting good deals when the iron isn't hot. It just doesn't make me too happy when the iron is scalding and I'm not getting burnt financially...wait, that's a good thing...

ES-Say #18 Let's Go See The Stars...

The 1st week of July was a time of celebration, not only was it America's Birthday, but the place where they broke away from (Britain) had to acknowledge the anniversary of one of their very own greatest films(directed by an American). That's right, it's officially fifty years since A Hard Day's Night was released and I can't begin to express how happy it was to see this re-released to UK Cinemas. I was able to break the self-imposed, subconscious refusal to watch the film since the late 1990s.  The British Film Institute had announced a few months ago they would screen the film. Not being a BFI member, I could not get tickets for the Richard Lester introduced screening. The general public(ie. myself) had 2nd dibs to these tickets which had sold out by the time I had tried to get them in June.

I attended a non-Lester introduced BFI screening a few days ago and this was my fourth of July. First one in the theatre, I plopped my rear in my reserved center row, center seat. Wearing a Union Jack t-shirt with Hey Jude on it, I threw all my bags under my seat and relaxed as the cinema played early Beatles hits. Oddly, I started to get annoyed at minor things. Why was the theatre playing Beatles songs that might also be in the movie about to start? Why is there so many empty seats? I didn't even like the people that were there in my closest view- a hippie and a quiet old couple.

All of my initial grumbling got thrown out the window the minute a faceless couple sat directly behind me. If I could sue them for "Peanut Gallery Offences", I would. The movie ads started, they didn't stop talking. The movie started, as the familiar guitar opening of the title song began, John Lennon and 1/2 of the couple behind me are the only two singing lead vocals. The movie gets to the first "Who's That Little Old Man?" and the couple begin to chuckle at everything said in this first train car scene. I can't be for certain, but it felt like they had both be drinking and never seen this film. However, with the rest of the audience dead silent, I was able to block out any further exchanges between the two whom eventually quieted down.

Is that to say this movie isn't funny, no it's screamingly funny and witty. the little decision to film the movie in black and white was the most daring and successful move director Richard Lester made. If you want to be transported back to 1964, this movie sticks you right there. Seeing Paul McCartney on the big screen singing "And I Love Her" makes me want to plead with Jane Asher. Ms. Asher can you strongly suggest to your boyfriend that you want him to go out with me instead? The restoration of 4K Digital Screen Remastering may have had something to do with the fact I was eventually able to feel gripped into awe with the film.

The first half of the movie, I remembered almost everything and enjoyed it. Then it felt like there were completely new bits to make me feel that the old PBS VHS copy I had watched over a decade ago had edited parts out completely. I will try and make these spoilers as general as possible.

1. Right before the press interview scene, sitting in the lobby seats
2. Ringo's solo excursion (much longer than I remember, especially the pub scene)
3. Let's Split up and find Ringo(don't follow me)
4. Paul's Batman Sound Effects(and most of the whole scene involving playing around with costume hair in the crowded dressing room)

I'm not really talking about forgetting as I did that Lesley Jackson was the name of the Magician character that Grandad encounters. I was honestly thinking "what did I just see?!??!?!?"

Walking around the lobby, I had seen a display of Richard Lester donated items from his films to the BFI. To me, to see a shooting script entitled for "Beatles Two" and original A Hard Day's Night posters were the highlights. Here's a tiny film I made of the area.

After the screening, I went to find out when I could view it again, but I couldn't attend the next available screenings. If I was honest, what will stay with me from the big screen until another 50 years have passed is the fire escape scene as it's about The Beatles how I always want to remember them- as a pure joy.

Es-Say #17 What Exactly Is A "Mull Of Kintyre"? ...and the answer is...

  One day in the late 1990s, I probably found a US copy of Wings Greatest Hits and noticed that the last song listed was "Mull of Kintyre". All I did next was scratch my head.

Many of the songs on this album do repeat on the US version of Paul's solo greatest hits album All The Best, but "Mull of Kintyre" did not. At the time, I did some research and found out that it was a huge hit for Wings, so it made sense it would be included, but I couldn't figure out why I had no ability to hum it or why I never heard it on the radio.

In a nutshell, it was not a success in the USA compared to the international chart explosion the song caused in the winter of 1977. Wikipedia notes that it did chart in the lower end of the top 40 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart but nothing more. Being at nine weeks at number one in the UK charts, it's no surprise it got the distinction of being the first UK single to go double platinum.

The song was not in rotation on music stations that I would listen to, so eventually I got either the cassette or cd of Wings Greatest Hits and gave "Mull of Kintyre" a whirl. I think I might have just went back to the other songs on the CD a bit dumbstruck to how this song did better than all the rest of the songs on the album. It was in a class by itself, not good, not bad, just something else!

Time has passed and I would say I'm more knowledgeable with Paul's solo work, but this top song of a beloved place in Scotland still doesn't interest me. Breaking down the lyrics reveals it to be rather nice and the bagpipes are memorable. However, the vocals are melancholy and the chorus repeated over and over is actually saved by the use of the bagpipes. Throwing another log on the fire, I think the version shown on Top Of The Pops completely makes me have the opinion that the original video was possibly given more favouritism. This version really does ruin both this song and The Muppet Show in the same breath. I'm not even going to link the video.

What I will do is link the original video(or what I am assuming is the original video) because it's so much the image I do want to have of the song. Outdoors, natural, unforced, respectable...it's lovely. I ran into the living room yesterday and jumped around when I saw it was the "correct version."



I don't want to get into a whole detailed rant about the second version(ie. I can't look at a smoke machine ever again) but it wasn't like some of the other studio sound stage Wings videos done at the time. The song "London Town", in fact, is boosted up by the clever video using a sound stage.  "With A Little Luck" screams Top Of The Tops but it is just so 70s and personally dear to me that I can happily watch it. No one said you have to love everything Paul and chums has ever done, right?

 

Es-Say #16- You Never Give Me Your Money?!? Come On, Are You For Real?

As it seems like I haven't updated the blog, I might as well slam together a theme along with and overview of all my McCartney/Beatles adventures as of late. Since the end of May, I have attended a record show(and recorded a YouTube video of the purchases), bought tickets to see 'A Hard Day's Night in July', and have been joyfully reading Peter Doggett's excellent book 'You Never Give Me Your Money."
But first, as Paul decided to heed doctors' advice and postponed his USA tour until October, I have lost hope of attending a show myself and I have let go of worrying about how to finance the cost of a ticket. This seems to have left me wanting to just go back and continue buying various things. Tour, what tour? I can still carry on with my collecting.
Now, this is what I came back with after a huge publicized record show http://youtu.be/goP8Y_Kv0gA

I felt it was a huge disappointment and I won't be attending next year. I spent half of what I would normally spend at a show of this size and I was not impressed with the vendors as well. I didn't buy a McCartney 2013 Japanese show, partly because it cost £100 and partly because nobody could have stopped me from stealing it if I wanted to (I was ignored, at least some of the other vendors tried to sell me stuff). This same vendor was selling The Beatles 1963 recordings on CD from the iTunes collection for about £10 lower than iTunes. Luckily, I found my copy from another vendor for half of that discount. It may have gone differently had the higher-priced vendor made any attempt to simply say "hi."

After I left the show a bit underwhelmed and shaking my head, I went outside and found a few more things from an unrelated vendor who was more than happy to sell to me and take my money!!!! Hooray! They did have a McCartney soundcheck cd from last year but I opted for a 2000 Yellow Dog Beatles release. I think I'm holding out for a better recent Macca live concert collection on CD. I like to buy things that have particular tracks or significant meaning to me.

The upcoming DVD release of the 1964 film of "A Hard Day's Night" is something that would fit this idea of things that appeal to me. So much so, that I had tried to get a ticket to the preview British Film Institute screening on July 3rd. At least two months in advance, I thought I had been prepared for this. Only recently, did I find out that the Director of the film, Richard Lester, would be presenting the screening. I went to the BFI before non-member could purchase tickets only to be told the ticket were probably sold out already. As I opted not to pay £40 for membership and then another £11 for the show, I waited for the non-membership onsale time. Can you guess what happened next? I'm going to see "A Hard Day's Night" on another viewing time when Mr Lester won't be in the building and I saved £40! I hope to have slightly better luck in 50 more years, but I'm pleased to be seeing this movie on the big screen.

The blue-ray is being released in July and seems to be a good value for money. The US has been noted for getting a great design to the cover. I'm not that bothered with the UK version on missing a few things but the cover design is a bit questionable(I will point out Ringo's nose as an example, it doesn't look like his own). I know I may just fling the box in the air and hurl the disc in the machine to play regardless of my gripes. I've waited long enough for this but just need to part with the money and order it already.

Maybe I should just walk to work this week?  

Es-Say #15 Save Us (or is it "Spare Us"?)

I think I've got more relief to know that Paul McCartney's "Save Us" performance from October 2013 on iHeartRadio, broadcasted from NYC has finally been released as a video. http://news.iheart.com/media/play/save-us-24798970/

Maybe it comes at the right time as all the rumours about Paul McCartney's health is of no actual comfort. Officially, he has a virus. That's the reason the Japan and South Korea tour got cancelled. I'd rather be worried about something more tangible than people giving random medical opinions. My cousin has worked in the medical profession for decades. Should I ask her about how long it will take for McCartney to be well again? She might have an educated opinion, but not enough information to advise anymore than anyone would. I think I'll wait until McCartney's actual doctor says something, if anything needs to be made public at all.

Another concern was that something must be terribly wrong with his health because he's never cancelled so many shows all at once. I also don't think it was unheard of anymore than cancelling THAT Japan tour in 1980. It's a first time occurrence and what I like to call "Life." I just think he's allergic to Japan!(of course, I'm kidding as the official press report made it clear he was 100% willing to go onstage against doctor's orders.)

Concerts cancelled for illness reasons by many other musicians have been just as generalized in press statements. However, it does not lead people to normally question if the musician is at their end of days or unable to continue touring. The "...But he's Paul McCartney" reasoning is a bit silly because that would make him like "Newman"(uh, his "Appreciate" video Robot star); not human at all. Most touring musicians, including Paul, have insurance and good management ready for any event that would interrupt a leg of a tour. The creditable information will be released but still people will not rest without Paul being more vocal. Another Life magazine cover, Perhaps?

No, he isn't really dead again...   

Es-Say #14 Frozen Mac

I've decided to use a little play-on one of the songs from "McCartney II" to illustrate that Paul's physicians are preventing him from performing at his National Stadium, Tokyo shows this entire weekend. He has a virus yet his recently debuted Robot "Newman" does not(That's right, I said "Robot"). Of course, myself and all his other fans wish him a speedy recovery(Paul, not "Newman," who is interesting as a video star but stranger in person). Maybe I'm not making myself clear Paul McCartney has a virus. "Newman" should not make public appearances but I fully Appreciate this video. I think it's great Microsoft and not Apple(Steve Jobb's Apple) made this video for...you guessed it-Appreciate!

 Newman the Robot, has been revealed to be developed by the same puppeteers that did the "War Horse" stage production. I didn't like that the puppeteers were visible when Paul first arrived in Japan this week. The magic of the video focuses on Paul dancing with "Newman" not "Newman and Men In Black". My point is, I don't want to see Frank Oz and Miss Piggy ever together in the same room for example.

As the Japan concerts are being rescheduled, this does shift the attention to the "Appreciate" video and the "Save Us" single. "Save Us" was added to US radio playlists, but I don't know about the worldwide distribution. Their was supposed to be a "Save Us" video but it hasn't yet materialised. To then launch "Appreciate" online, all this cross referencing of two songs off of the "New"(2013) album is very confusing. Just like my entire blog today, don't you think?

It might be argued that there can't be any focus placed to these two album songs as McCartney himself can't promote due to being under the weather. I could write a book on how his publicity is probably the best in the business yet it does take a major dip when he isn't 100% hands on. This is going to be an interesting moment in his current tour to say the least but I hope his health will improve first.

Es-Say #13 "One Of These Records Is Not Spelled Like The Other..."

I'll be honest, I haven't done enough research for todays Es-Say, yet I did almost forget that the 45 I got last week of "No More Lonely Nights" for about $.50(£.30) could be more than just a duplicate release of the one on the right. Immediately, the most obvious difference(maybe hard to see in my photo), is that the left copy has a non-glossy finish. The glossy UK cover I bought for under $5 and I had recalled at the time that there was a mis-print.

That's right, nobody could spell "Lonely" properly when they set up the typeface for the label(it's wrong on both A&B Sides). From what I do know now about R 6080, my original glossy wrongly spelled copy is that it only had the mishap half-way through the original pressing. So, drum roll...the correct and original 45 vinyl of "No More Lonely Nights" looks like....

It has a nice tin/aluminium look to the label with the letters carved on to it. I may be observing these details of the label completely wrong, but at least it has "Lonely" spelled right and a ring of manufacturing lettering around the label. Isn't it a beauty?!? So, why has it come in a paper sleeve and not a glossy one? Should it be the other way around? I must return back sifting through record boxes. On a side note, there are 7 different UK versions of this song released on vinyl total either in 45 or 12-inch. The 45 got released again as a different version, not only to correct the spelling error, but to release a dance mix on the b-side. All you could ever want to know about these pressing are compiled at The Beatles Recordings website www.jpgr.co.uk/r6080.html

It seems that as much as I didn't really want to collect all known versions of "No More Lonely Nights" I think I got an urge to do this. It now has to run simultaneously with my hunt for every known pressing of "Good Night Tonight." This cannot end well...

Speaking of "Good Night Tonight," less than a month after finding the Holland 45 copy, I found the Sweden copy

The front cover picture sleeve is the same on the back. Unfortunately, I can't add this to the video with the rest of my copies on the you tube page www.youtube.com/magicmeri but maybe it will show up in the future. This whole idea to not look for other versions is a bit too late now. I FEEL LIKE....I FEEL LIKE...

with this French copy of this awesome song from Wings' "Venus and Mars" album. What a great picture sleeve it is(I wonder what the other versions look like). I couldn't let this one go but it's best to focus on what I'm currently collecting. It is really easy to get distracted with all of these great jems, but first get the main collections completed. That seems sensible to me.

Please note: The blog has a Facebook page for various McCartney updates and when this blog has new entries along with "exclusive content." A Twitter page is being considered for the same exact purpose. If you would like either. Please comment here if you would like to join either. Thanks! 

Es-Say #12 Paul has nothing to lose...

This blog entry is just a simply, but lovely, rant. It concerns the current 2014 Paul McCartney "Out There" Tour and how many fans have expressed displeasure with countries or venues chosen to play. It was my view that some of the locations fit a theme of being "New" to go along with both the song on the 2013 album of the same name. Ecuador, for example on the 28th of April, was the first time he played in the country. Other venues in America have had something "new" to celebrate, even if Paul had performed before in the exact location. Bottom line is that this current tour has taken a detour to not play all the expected locations.

I don't listen to anyone who complains about Paul appearing in entire continents for 2014, like Asia or South America because they can't seem to grasp that South Korea and Ecuador are separate countries. Equally, though I do understand the frustration expressed by Australian fans(it's possibly been decades) he can choose to play locations he's never played before. The fact that he wants to continue international touring should be acknowledged in itself.

So where does that leave me? Or anyone else for that matter who would like to watch a 2014 Paul McCartney concert. The year isn't over yet and modern times has provided the ability to watch and listen to multiple web video, reports, photos etc. So, maybe you'll have to wait until 2015 or 2016, when he's 74. Oh yes, I don't think he's going to "pack it in" anytime soon. My advice would be to chill because all these complains about the tour will seem silly when he again plays Madison Square Garden or The O2, at some point. It's important to note the set lists haven't changed that much. All the new songs have been promoted in television broadcasts. It's only a couple not expected songs being thrown into the setlist. In the meantime, enjoy all live material that is readily "Out There".

Rant over, I'm off to another Record buyers show....

Es-Say #11 Easter Eggs

Sir Paul has started his 2014 tour this week in South America. He's "Out There" at the moment and I'm nowhere "Near There" so what's a girl to do? That's right, I've been looking all week for uploaded videos of from fans that actually attended the shows!

Record Store Day was this past Saturday. I managed to get a "Don't Blame Yoko" badge but that was all Beatles-related as unlike last year, no McCartney vinyl was released. In 2013, McCartney did release a special Wings record but I have forgotten which one already because a man waiting in front of me got the last copy then. (Actually, It was "Maybe I'm Amazed" and I forced myself to think of this minor trivia).

Easter Monday came along and a bit of a shock occurred for me. I found another "Goodnight Tonight" 45! This was like Easter, Christmas, and my Birthday all rolled into one as my partner rolled his eyes waiting in the shop. I was even spoiled for choice. I could have bought the French or Holland version and I practically flung the one of the two out of the way for the other...

 

 

  I'm not saying I don't want the French version, but I do have it already just in another location(see additional Es-says). My interest in this particular 45 is a bit scary, but I don't care. I've made this video(sadly, without the French version).

http://youtu.be/yRaXKUrJiI8
I think my next search for GNT remains Brazil, Australia, Japan, and two US versions(45 and Disco Mix) but I will definitely get another French copy when able.

I've been attempting to join more Beatles or McCartney related internet groups, it probably can't hurt for things like current news. I was interested in joining an official fan club. I did find some of these British Beatles Fan Club magazines also this Monday.

 

 

 Spring has definitely sprung this week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Es-Say #10 Mod-ern Merchandise Mentions

Companies are still producing new Beatles merchandise. I thought I had little interest in any of this, partly from a collecting view. Is a 2014 released Beatles T-shirt rare? What about the 1995 Beatles T-Shirt I wear at least once every two weeks? Not really. Original Wings T-shirts can be sold for ridiculous amounts, so I'm hesitant to pay $40 for a new one. Will I pay $13 each for those t-shirts in the above photo? (Yup, I did!)

There seems to be a slight problem with these t-shirts from Primark. They aren't damaged yet my partner swears George's face in the "jumping" shirt doesn't look correctly printed. Granted these shirts may not last after a trip to the washing machine either. My "slight problem" is that each shirt is printed on Primark's own brand(Atmosphere) shirts. The white one is apparently officially licensed to another company(and then printed on a Primark T-shirt). Watch my video about this. I still can't explain it. http://youtu.be/NQq8v-1tFcg

All I can tell you, even though I got some vegan chocolate on the "JFK Airport" one. These sort of WTF?-styled questionable things are great, collectable or not, yet somehow better than 100% expensive run-of-the-mill official stuff.

The next item purchased from HMV is 100% official merchandise. Yet, this is one of those items I consider, uh "hot right now" and..um.."possibly worth something in two decades." Why? Well, lets examine little ole £6.99 coffee mug. I bought it last week and it has been available for almost 6 months. I really should get another one but it's always a gamble what gains value.

The mug is to promote the "Live at the BBC V2" CD from November. Let's try to ignore the 20 year gap between the two volumes of this fantastic series as I make the following point. This ticks all the boxes.

• Only available from HMV     
• Should be Limited Edition
• Not a reproduction item but a new goods item
• I really need to buy another one because I will freak if it breaks in the kitchen.

Best thing to do is keep tabs on this item and other promotional items from Live at The BBC series. I don't even want to think about the promo stuff from Beatles Anthology. I have been shown the light- There are some current items that need to be snapped up immediately. It's just one big guessing game that usually gets resolved every two decades...

 

 

 

 

Es-Say #9 #9 #9 By George...It's The Hidden Threetles!

Let's get one thing straight- I have no problem being an uninformed fan. That's the beauty of not knowing everything about about The Beatles and Paul, I learn as I go. I'm not planning on going into the Guinness Book Of World Records for being an expert on all things Beatles. This is why I didn't know that the George Harrison record, "All Those Years Ago" I bought last week(see above) was more than just a solo hit record. Heck, I thought it was from the 70s. I played the vinyl and still had no idea that this recording was done with a little help from Paul, Linda, Denny(or !"£$%^ Wings!!!!), Ringo, and the fifth Beatle, producer George Martin. This is what the internet has led me to believe. I quote my source as Wikipedia and a couple other pages who may have also sourced this information from Wikipedia. Overall, it is considered a "Threetles"(George, Paul, and Ringo) song but this record, in my uninformed fan opinion, is most certainly not.

The finished product of the song is supposed to have Paul and Linda McCartney and Denny Laine singing backing vocals. I'm not a musician, but I am a DJ and I enjoy listening to songs, especially vocals. The contribution of Wings (really!) of oohing and ahhing along with Harrison is nowhere listed on the '45. Maybe because anyone could have been responsible for it, including the person on the street. The strongest bits of this song are Al Kooper on Electric Piano and all of George's lead vocals and guitars. Even if the full musicians are noted in the LP, it wouldn't matter. It is a Threetles recording but the final product wasn't marketed or presented to sound that way. Paul is very good at being anonymous on a song when he wants to. Here's a great example of the opposite from Rockshow- http://youtu.be/SgrG8XURuP4

On "All Those Years Ago," the song became exactly what George wanted it to be- His own tribute to John Lennon. The intention for it to be a "Threetles" or friends of John's song tribute didn't happen. Had it been that way, maybe "Here Today"(a song written for John) by Paul McCartney for the Tug Of War LP wouldn't have been released.  It's clear that Paul wanted to have some recording available as his own associated tribute for Lennon.  "All Those Years Ago" was not that song but it is a lovely song http://youtu.be/85Smw33PKJA

 

 

 

 

 

Es-Say #8 No More Blindly Spendings (edited version)

I have learned my lesson. I need a spending plan and a strategy the next time I decide to go on a major vinyl shopping trip.

This week, I had the opportunity to travel West. I was assured that my two hour journey was in the vicinity of at least four vinyl record shops and an HMV. I'm happy that I only spent 3/4th's of my normal budget, but I question what the heck I actually carried back home. Here's a picture of only the McCartney/Beatles related purchases.

Looking at the vinyl above and the little research I did online, it's highly unlikely the value of these items will increase. I like the condition of the copy and sleeve of "Say, Say, Say" and I hope it will play on my record player. I don't think I've heard the B-side "Ode To A Koala Bear." It was worth it to me as standard 80s picture sleeves like this aren't worth more than £5/$5.66 at most.

The 12' records of "No More Lonely Nights" and "Love Me Do," and the Julian Lennon LP was supposed to cost four times what I was charged even though all vinyl was 1/3 off. I'm still confused by this deal, but the one store I got these in was strange enough. It sold records and sci-fi memorabilia, yet most of the products were clearly "not for sale." I only knew this because there were at least 50 signs telling me this. I'm not kidding.

In hindsight, I feel that maybe I got the discount in kindness rather than error. The wacky store turned out to want to listen to what I was saying about the vinyl...and they were closing. I guess any sales a sale! The Beatles record turned out to be about 13 years earlier than predicted. It was clearly a re-issue, but I told the shop owner I thought it was from the mid-1990s. The labels don't give away the date, but once I read the back cover at home it mentioned it was a 20th anniversary pressing. The shop owner asked me what language the Julian Lennon album was issued in. Yeah, I think my leg was being pulled, but at least I wasn't being overcharged with the original store price. (I also found McCartney's Russian LP 1988's Choba B CCCP and didn't get want it this time around)

The 12' copy of  "No More Lonely Nights" was an impulse buy. It will have to be replaced as "No More Lonely Nights" and "Good Night Tonight" are, let's be honest, the focus of my entire collection. I think I need to be more aware of the versions of these releases that I need prior to just any old copies. The quality of this copy is terrible and I'm considering using it as a serving tray.

I went to another record shop and nearly bought the Mike McGear Lp. Along with Chob B, that would be the 2nd copy I've had to replace and both records are special. I just didn't feel it was the right times to get those albums.

HMV didn't seem to offer anything. I only looked in the McCartney section and they didn't have much back catalog. I just bought the Moody Blues first album on CD as Denny Laine was a member at that time of recording.

Another shop that I went into had some great picture discs of other bands but they didn't want to sell me any McCartney or Beatles records which were located right behind the counter. They showed me about two stacks of 45s with either plain sleeves or Apple sleeves. They all looked in fair condition and some were 5th pressing 1976 re-issues. Collecting Beatles vinyl is very involved, tricky, and not fun for me. McCartney vinyl collecting is much more interesting and less aggravating. I need to continue down this path and not get side-tracked. Yet, if I can ever find one of the actual Butcher covers for an insanely low price, all bets will be off.



 
  

 

 

 

Es-Say #7- (Not So) Mysterious Charity Single at the Charity Shop

The 45 RPM record that I purchased today for £.50 at the charity shop is a well-known recording and documented, but I have a ton of questions as I hadn't heard of it. Let me make a list here.

1. The 1980s had tons of celebrity charity singles that famously(and arguably) started off with Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" I'd like to know how many records featured Paul during this decade because every time I think I know, I find another one.
2. Ferry Aid, The music group responsible for this Stock Aitken Waterman produced single is jam packed with artists taking part. However, I can only recognise the voices of McCartney, Boy George, Kate Bush, and Andy Bell. Everyone else gets lost in a loud choir. Why is that? (Ed Note: Would you like my opinion? It's a poor musical arrangement)  
3. As a record that sold a half-million copies, was there a greater number of the population who refused to buy it because of The Sun newspapers association with the passenger ferry disaster?
4. Equally, what caused some other artists to decide not to participate? or do a 360 degrees when first opposed?
5. Did McCartney basically "phone it in" either by submitting a brand new vocal part of  "Let It Be" away from the roomful of celebrities located at a separate studio, or the original 1970 session tapes?
6. I don't understand what I wrote in #5. What do you think I meant? He did "phone it in" but was it a new recording vocal done in 1987 or the original Beatles recording from 1970?
7. Is there a video of this? Oh dear...Oh dear 

http://youtu.be/AmieR3KvQAc


Everyone had to lip-sync their 1987 vocals for the video including McCartney(to what does sound like the original 1970 recording) from a separate location. Ferry Aid seems to have focused on Boy George from the room choir but I can only think this is due to his very memorable performance on "Do They Know It's Christmas?"(and as we know, that too features our beloved Paul).

If I had heard of this charity back in 1987, I would just give directly to that charity given the choice of getting the record. Today, my crummy record player didn't skip once on either vinyl side(the side two jam choir is even worse) which means the previous owner didn't play it enough. The re-recording sounds disorganized but that is expected as it was rush-recorded. It's nice that celebrities want to help causes quickly but this is a clear example of why immediate telethons have gained in popularity when the 80s ended; nobody really has to sing in them.

Es-Say #6 - Can't Buy Me Records

Record show days remind me of the one thing I'm not- A man. As a woman, I have to either wave money in the air or slam 10 dvds in front of any vinyl dealer(male or female) to get a bit of attention. I want to be sold items but I usually have a ton of uninterrupted time to figure out what I might like to purchase. The dealers act like they are doing me a favor answering my questions but will take my money. The best experience I can get is maybe some tidbits of record information but I really have to go the extra mile myself. My online searches can only offer so much and girlfriends eyes to not sparkle when I say "Let's go to a record show!" Cue the violins.

At a record show today, I didn't expect much and still got a few good things. My partner bought a 7" of "Jet" without the B-Side pressed label of "Let Me Roll It" and I asked a dealer about its value. He thought it was worth about £10 which was 5x what we paid for it. The dealer didn't try to sell me anything but I bought a 5th pressing copy of "Help"(back cover- above, left, bottom) from 1976.

After awhile, I finally found some cheap but decent bootleg DVD's(view my youtube channel to see the unboxing www.youtube.com/magicmeri) of both Beatles and McCartney. I almost got a second DVD but no dealer would confirm that NTSC Region Free disc would play in a PAL system. This one had no specifications at all on the box but it was a risk that I took anyway.  It does work and I just have to now devote five hours of my life to sit through all of the EPKs and TV promo clips from Memory Almost Full. (Just not right now but I did watch about 30 minutes).


I found a white vinyl 7" Juke Box copy of "Off The Ground" for £3. It was next to an Italian copy of a 7" Picture Sleeve of another day(£8), but I didn't want it as it wasn't in great condition. It said "rare" on it but I didn't feel that way at all and I got the white vinyl 1993 single instead. This was a situation where I did have to bark "Money," like the guy on Storage Wars(or Hunters?) and I got the vinyl.

By this point I was tired and gave away £11. One last viewing at a dealer table was almost a bust as I saw newer 2013/14 items I could have been tempted to purchase but I didn't think my business was welcome. I stretched like a gymnast to reach things in boxes with higher prices and eventually gave up...until I spotted "Spin It On" for £3. "Money" got me the vinyl.

Finally, I got a vinyl carrying case from a dealer who did everything in his power to sell to me. I did accidentally hit my head on the sales table mid-sale, but I finally felt I got a bit of expected acknowledgement for my money. I'll let you know when the room stops spinning but I was very happy to find my way home with half my budget still in my pocketbook. Men...you just got to love 'em...
 

Es-Say #5- A Day In The Storage Container(s)

Today, I decided to take some of my collection into my self-storage unit. My living room is small and I actually worry about magazines getting damaged. My partner owns every issue of Q magazine, but remained calm when many of the copies got soaked with rain water. I took comfort in the knowledge that the 1st issue from 1986 with Paul was unharmed. If any of my own magazines have similar problems, I need a moment to recover and then an action plan. I like to think I keep on top of my entire collections maintenance.

The truth is different. It's all over the place. In addition to my local self-storage and at home, my sister is storing my long-forgotten Beatles/McCartney items in her hallway closet. I have no record of everything I currently own, nor the current condition. I just usually know what items are missing and which of the three places probably has the item. I have been careless with many things and moving things around is not a great idea. I hope I can remember what I brought to the self-storage unit this morning.

I chose to bring some duplicate magazines and Sunday newspaper pull-out magazines. I took a duplicate copy of a recent book(I think the subtitle is called "Paul McCartney in the 70s") just so I wouldn't have an extra reminder about that I need to read it. At the storage unit, I got a bit of a blast- from-the-past. I can only imagine why I had to make the poor decision to TEAR OFF THE FRONT COVER. I was thankful to be sitting down while discovering this 1995 article of Vegetarian Times.

  

I'm sure I've had this at least 17 years, so it's good to at least see it again. I also have decided to look for another copy that can be better cared for in plastic to make up for this catastrophe. I remember I paid about a dollar for the used magazine from the library. I don't think it will be that low cost anymore. Just thinking about my magazine being damaged made me want to leave the building. I decided to go to the supermarket; buy another magazine and complain to no one that the Linda McCartney veggie burgers were no longer on sale.(another Es-Say for another time?)

Es-Say #4 Icon Cassette

Twenty-two years ago, I was a teenager. I loved most British Classic Rock and my favourite group was Genesis. I know I loved the Beatles as most of the local radio stations would play the hits. To be honest, I didn't have a "favourite" one. The Beatles were always just collectively "fab."

Not all people look back fondly on their secondary school days. I can recall joining the environmental club in the 9th grade just to be a part of something because I couldn't twirl a baton to save my life. By the third year (22 years ago or 1992), it was standard to find me sitting in the back of the class wearing an over-sized jacket and a Sting T-shirt. When called upon to answer questions, I panicked as my Sting-hating classmates were always curious by my long-winded answers. The person I admired the most told me "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bologna." It was encouragement that got me through the end of the year.

Back at home, my most admired person had been dating my parent for about a year. We got to go to the Genesis concert that summer with the girl who was virtually my step-sister by now. She went to my school and was only a year younger. We didn't have tons in common but we liked each other enough to hang out at each others houses while our respective parents were on dates. We also both couldn't stand my little sister.

I didn't have cable television, so a major network must have aired the video for "Hope Of Deliverance." In the Billboard charts, it was only a hit on the AC charts(source: Wikipedia). I really remember liking it and the video for "Off The Ground" which was released after the album came out. Much of that interest that I had towards the actual album I can only remember in flashes. I can't even remember if I bought the cassette myself, but once I heard "Biker Like An Icon" on Saturday Night Live, I must have kissed the shoes of the person who handed it to me. I was that kind of a teen- melodramatic, passionate, and impressionable.

My virtual step-sister wasn't herself on a family trip. We stayed at a beautiful hotel but I was sad because I didn't feel like she was enjoying it. It took the car ride upstate and most of the afternoon to figure out that this "virtual step-sister" was giving me the silent treatment and we had to share a room. Thank goodness for that copy of the "Off The Ground" cassette and a working Walkman because I started sulking badly. I think I might have even sung the praises of the album at one point just to ease the tension of the moment and my little sister running in and out of the adjoining bedroom. My parent and my admired friend did not see the piercing judgemental eyes of virtual step-sister. No, we CAN'T work it out.

Away from our shared high school, I did what I would never do on school grounds- Lose my temper. "What is your problem? Why won't you tell me what you think I did? I didn't do anything!" The reply? "Your annoying!!!!!". I glanced over to my "actual" sister jumping on the bed and darted out of the hotel room. It's safe to say the Walkman was with me and that holiday was ruined as our respective parents wanted to take us all home.

I lost the cassette eventually but I quickly lost my virtual family that same year. I didn't lose my interest in Paul McCartney's music. Music is timeless and often personal. I would love to find the promotion for this album and I think I remember this photo below (credit:eil.com). I've got the CD now and a few items in storage somewhere. "Off The Ground" is precious but don't get me chatting about some of my love for the other albums. I understand that might get annoying...

     


   

Es-Say #3- Argentina Te Quiero!

Watching McCartney concerts from the comfort of your home can be a nice experience. I prefer to listen to the audio only of most of the visual media available. I'd like to speak to the camera men and editors from most of the DVDs released in the last twenty years. I buy these videos and I feel that the footage shows the audience happily watching the show just as much as the concert. That could be withstood, but once you jump continuously between the two images for two hours, this editing combination is unbearable. Not for me.

YouTube is a great resource to find my way back to recently filmed concert viewing. It was a pleasure to find this 2010 show from Argentina. It feels like I could have been with the audience enjoying the show. My eyesight feels a little better too and I can recall what Paul was wearing on stage. This pro-shot filmed concert need to be among my collection. If I'm wrong about it being "pro-shot," it's of high quality worthy of the style of filming.

It's not going to be very easy to buy. Even though it was broadcasted, it looks to be a bootleg(or as I say 'Questionable Recording') somewhere floating around. Enlisting the help of uninterested friends hasn't helped this time. (They may have changed their Argentina address...probably not). Good to know YouTube is still in business.   http://youtu.be/qx2gaoXBmPI (if unable to view above)

ES-Say #2-The Magical Mystery Tour Of Slow Transport.

I Love Florida! Rather, I love the idea of Florida-Sun, Sand, Sea, and Sunburns. I got one out of four on my recent trip(SUN!) but I had gone to the state to visit an ill relative and was a bit preoccupied. I think I focused any sadness I must have felt by planning a day to visit a record show in a neighbouring city on another day. My shopping list wasn't urgent but I wanted to find the Capital Label '45 for "Good Night Tonight." The cost of the vinyl just would not justify the effort last week to attend the show. As the day approached, I knew my number was up- Transportation would not be an option. It would have cost $100 in taxi fare. The show was on a Saturday and the local area buses did not run on the weekends. I couldn't walk there and my other relative wanted to go somewhere else later in the day with the car. My puppy dog eyes were not going to change the situation. I moved on by looking for walking distance record shops. I found one a mile and a half away. I didn't heed the warning to watch out for motorists as nearly everyone in Florida drives. I was out-the-door before you could say "Look, another Palm Tree!"


I get to the strip mall after briefly getting lost and the book store(with music) was closed. The opening hours were correct but the owners did not come to work on time as they lived down the road(the other local business explained). I stood there an hour, staring at Senor Bubbles(a Latin Laundromat) across the road half the time and the rest of the time pressing my nose up against
the outside glass of the store. I saw nothing but a few classical LPs through the window and turned back to walk back to where I had started.


After explaining that "Senor Bubbles" was not a porn star while re-telling my empty-handed LP adventure back at the house, I decided to wait to get to a newsstand at some point. The idea to find vinyl took a back seat when I found out Life magazine would have a Paul-only special edition available three days later on Amazon. It turned out the magazine had been out in shops for at least a month. I had no problem finding the issue along with another magazine(see youtube video).
I got to visit a local Target. Target has changed their music department: There are many empty rows and barely any back catalog. It was to my amazement when I saw a Beatles display and offer. The deal was somehow tied into the celebration of the 50th Anniversary on their American arrival. I didn't want a $5 gift card for getting two items. I just knew there were two limited edition t-shirts left in large that was packaged in a box for $10 and I didn't care the box was dented.
I should have cared more about the box and the offer because the cash register refused to scan the item. I suppose if I had gotten the cavern-club-wall-designed-coffee-mug, three employees wouldn't have made me feel like I was breaking the 2-for-Gift Card deal. It was just wonderful to find anything I hadn't been expecting at all on my trip. Here is the flattened box(tag not part of this shirt/another shirt it came from):

 When it was time to go home, I needed to pack smartly. I couldn't travel with the t-shirt box and I had to use my worn clothes to protect the magazines getting bent in transit. Everything survived, I just need to wash a smelly t-shirt.

 

 

 

 

Essay #1- Introduction
I've started this blog without any expectations. At worst, nobody reads it. I still will have an account of all the things I've added to my collection and a timeline for reference. I can be forgetful at times. This is my musical journey that started in either 1979, 1988, or 1993. It sometimes gets dormant. Other times, trigger words like "Tour" or "Limited Edition" will awaken adventures of the unexpected, laughable, and bizarre.

The one thing that doesn't change is the consistency: There's a celebrity looming over my head and I'm ok with that. Personally, The Beatles were significant as they hung in one framed poster next to a separate framed poster of Elvis in my living room when I was very young. I would view these posters from the carpet while watching my cartoons on a 70s television(cleverly designed as a piece of floor furniture). Then, Elvis left the building(aka "my parents divorced").

At least, I got to choose McCartney over Lennon myself, but I'll never forget having those five strangers to look up at during commercial breaks and the bouts of frequent arguing. I'm glad the music turned out to be good just as good as they all looked but I now love collecting Rock & Roll Vinyl and Memorabilia...I just seem to have way too many copies of Wings' "Goodnight Tonight"
I might need to speak to somebody about this! Suggestions?!?