Free The Beatles Boxed Set by Joe Bensam Page A

possible reunion, he also mused about the
possibility. Each of them had his own solo careers, and maybe coming together as
The Beatles once again was in the cards.
                And
that was how it seemed when Paul showed up unexpectedly at one of John’s
recording sessions in Los Angeles. They had “a little jam”, with Paul behind
the drum kit, Linda on the organ, and a musician from next door strapped on the
bass. Stevie Wonder, who was just down the hall, joined the group and sat
behind the electric piano. That became a memorable jamming session,
particularly for Paul and John, who felt like it was old times.
                Meanwhile,
Wings achieved more success, particularly with their second US number one, Band
on the Run . Their album of the same name was such a success that it became
the band’s first platinum LP. They didn’t stop there. They released more chart
topping LPs, including Venus and Mars in 1975 and Wings at the Speed
of Sound in 1976.
                By
September 1977, the single Mull of Kintyre that Paul co-wrote with Laine
was becoming one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history. The single
became Paul’s most successful single of his solo career when it achieved double
sales of the previous record holder, She Loves You . Mull of Kintyre sold 2.5 million copies and held the UK sales record until 1984.
                The
album London Towns , released in 1978 , and Back to the Egg ,
released in 1979, were less than successful. The latter album was a
collaboration between Paul and a rock supergroup named “the Rockestra”.
                Wings
was active through 1981 and produced seven studio albums, five of which topped
the US charts. The band’s live triple LP, Wings Over America , was one of
few live albums that claimed the top spot in America.
                Among
the six US number one singles that the band produced were Listen to What the
Man Said, Silly Love Songs, With a Little Luck, and Coming Up. Paul
and the rest of the Wings disbanded in 1981. Laine claimed that the disbandment
was partly due to Paul’s reluctance to tour. He feared for his personal safety
after John’s murder in 1980.
                Before
Wings disbanded, Paul had released his second solo LP, McCartney II which he produced and where he composed all the music and performed all the
instrumentation. He collaborated with Stevie Wonder on the number one hit, Ebony
and Ivory and with Michael Jackson on The Girl is Mine . Ebony and
Ivory became the fourth-biggest hit of 1982.       

    Paul and Stevie Wonder collaborated for
the song that became a big hit, Ebony and Ivory
    Paul also worked with Jackson on the US number one, Say
Say Say, and earned for himself a UK number one with the single Pipes of
Peace.
                He
did collaborations with various artists between 1986 and 1994. In 1994, Paul went
on a hiatus that lasted four years from his solo career so that he could work
on Apple’s the Beatles Anthology with George, Ringo and George Martin.
                In
1995, Paul received an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Music,
presented by Britain’s Prince Charles. In December 1996, it was brought to
Paul’s attention that he was to be awarded the 1997 New Year Honors and was to
be knighted for services to music. The ceremony took place in March 1997.
                One
of the most significant awards that Paul received as a solo artist was when he
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 1999. And just a year
later, he was awarded a Fellowship by the British Academy of Songwriters,
Composers and Authors.
                And
while Paul was surrounded with success, he was also besieged by loneliness when
he learned of John’s murder in 1980. Paul had written Here Today to
celebrate a man whose friendship had meant so much to Paul, more than anyone
else except his wife. Paul