Pop culture reviews Wings Over America; Arrested Development; Comic Book Creator magazine


Wings Over America  Back in the 70s, double-live albums were the big thing.

You'd put one on, dim the lights and imagine the experience of being there, staring at the pictures in the gatefold cover and letting your mind conjure images of a magical, ideal show in your head.

If you were in elementary school at the time, like I was, and lived in the sticks, this was as close as you'd be getting to a rock show anytime soon.

I loved those days and the magic music played in my head. As a result, the real concerts I've seen have rarely matched those I staged sitting in my room, head, record on the turntable and head placed between my stereo speakers. I had a pretty awesome beanbag chair.

I listened to this Paul McCartney and Wings record -- which was actually a triple, not double LP-set -- plenty back then. I hung the poster that came  up on my wall. Those LPs are pretty scratched up, so I got pretty excited when a remastered version was scheduled as part of McCartney's current reissue campaign.

I sprung for the standard, double CD edition, though there's a big box with extras and also a vinyl version (I'm strongly tempted to get that, too). It sounds great, with Paul's bass high up in the mix and fantastic vocals throughout. I've seen McCartney twice now, back in 1989 and again several years ago. It's no secret that he's lost a lot of his range and the smoothness in his voice, though he still puts on a helluva show. But listening to him here, in his mulleted 1970s prime, is something else. He screams -- just screams -- that scream on the rockers, and sounds mellow and tender on the ballads. It's remarkable.

Also remarkable is the selection of tunes. This LP was recorded in 1976, just 10 years after the Beatles toured the U.S. for the final time and just six years after the Fab Four broke up. Yet, Paul had already written a selection of hit songs that hold up amazingly well. His solo output, and Wings, is held in much higher regard these days than it was even 10 or 15 years ago. People get that these songs have great melodies and harmonies. Sure, sometimes the lyrics are silly and, if you listen to all the albums, there are a fair share of duds. But, during this period, McCartney was working at a high level of creativity and quality.

There's no stage patter on the album, just a parade of prime 70s McCartney tunes,  including "Venus and Mars," "Let Me Roll It," "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Live and Let Die," "Magneto and Titanium Man," "Listen to What Man Said," "Let 'Em In," "Silly Love Songs" and "Band On the Run."

As a kid, with spending money limited to an allowance and lawn-mowing money, this was the only solo McCartney record I owned at the time. And it was the only one I needed.

In the 70s, McCartney was reluctant to lean too heavily on Beatles tunes -- now he plays lots. But Wings Over America includes a few of his best. "Lady Madonna," delivered with a more Elvis-inspired vocal than the Beatles' original recording and a great horn chart is fantastic, and "I've Just Seen a Face," "Blackbird," and, of course, "Yesterday," get the Paul with acoustic guitar treatment.

A few more scattered highlights: A nice rendition of "Bluebird," the jazziest tune McCartney's ever recorded; Denny Laine singing "Go Now,"a hit from his Moody Blues days, and a spirited cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Richard Cory."

One of Paul's best.










Arrested Development. My viewing of this show's long-awaited fourth season stalled out after the third episode. I'm sure I'll watch the others at some point (they were all loaded up on Netflix at once, some diehards have already seen them all), but what I've seen so far hasn't generated much enthusiasm for plunging onward.

What's wrong with it? You can read all sorts of opinions all over the Web.

My take, based on viewing these early episodes is that there's too much narration and explanation and the season's structure -- with each show focusing on one character's point-of-view of events -- robs it of the manic energy that made the original three seasons of AD so insanely funny.

AD works best when multiple characters are interacting the the jokes are flying fast. This new season, with it's Rashomon-like structure, pulls the characters away from one another and slows everything down. Instead of skittering by so fast you can barely see them coming or going, comic bits lay around and wear out their welcome.

There's a joke in the first episode that's played out for so excruciatingly long that you're tempted to fast forward. With the old AD, I was constantly rewinding to hear jokes that I missed because I was still laughing too loud from a previous bit to hear them.

Some people say this new season gets better 7 or 8 episodes in (I've heard both). Others say they shouldn't have bothered trying to revive the series.

I'll try more. But, as I said, I'm in no hurry to do so.














Comic Book Creator  This new publication from Jon B. Cooke, editor of the much-loved, much-missed Comic Book Artist magazine is off to a strong start with its recently released first issue.

Like other publications in the Twomorrows stable -- Alter Ego, Back Issue, the Jack Kirby Collector -- there's a focus on the history of comics and famed creators here, but Cooke's new mag isn't tied to a specific historical period or genre, which provides some nice variety to his lineup. And, unlike his previous effort, Cooke is freed up to focus on not just artist, but comic book writer, editors and other involved in the creative process.

I enjoyed the pieces about the retirement years of cartoonist Frank Robbins and the career of comics historian Les Daniels and learned a lot about both men. Cooke's long piece about the unfair treatment of Jack Kirby was more familiar territory to me, but he does a nice job detailing the highlights of Kirby's career and the controversies concerning the rights of creators versus the corporations who hire them and, ultimately, reap most of the benefits from the concepts and characters artists and writers create.

The next issue is a double-sized tribute to the great Joe Kubert. I'll be there.


Vintage promo poster for the Beatles' Second Album on Capitol


Paul McCartney to appear on one-hour Colbert Report June 12

Could be fun:
The Nation will experience a special one-hour episode of "The Colbert Report" as Stephen Colbert welcomes Paul McCartney.
The super-sized show will feature an interview as well as performances of songs featured on McCartney’s current Out There tour, the new 2013 reissue of “Wings Over America” and more with one song to be exclusively available at www.ColbertNation.com.
Tune-in to "The Colbert Report" on Wednesday, June 12 from 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET/PT to watch this epic episode.
Said Colbert, “I think this McCartney kid’s got something special and I’m gonna put him on the map!”
McCartney first appeared on “The Colbert Report” on January 28, 2009 in an interview for a “Better Know a Beatle” segment.
The one-hour special on Wednesday, June 12 marks McCartney’s first musical appearance on the show. Currently, McCartney is on his sold-out Out There world tour. The performer’s vintage 1980 concert film “Rockshow,” shot during Paul McCartney and Wings' 1976 tour, had a one-night only theatrical release in May.

 

BBC Radio this week: Laurel Canyon; Goon Show; Philip K. Dick; Terry Pratchett; Psychedlia; The Zombies!

Click the links to hear the following programs.

Laurel Canyon Mickey Dolenz tells the story of Laurel Canyon, his home while drummer with the Monkees.

The Goon Show: The Starlings London is besieged by birds in a special recording without an audience or orchestra.

Philip K. Dick: We Can Remember it for You Wholesale Hidden beneath false memories, a disturbing truth is revealed. Read by William Hootkins. 

Terry Pratchett - Night Watch  Discworld comes to radio! Captain Sam Vimes confronts his past in a rather direct manner.

The History of Psychedlia Writer and comedian David Quantick examines the lasting impact of psychedelia.

Master Tapes: The Zombies John Wilson talks to members of The Zombies about the album Odessey and Oracle. 

 

Beatles promotional poster for Rock'n'Roll Music compilation album