“Junk” and “Teddy Boy” are low pressure compositions with gentle, poignant lessons to convey. For while there are no songs of truly classic Beatles proportion, most of the cuts are very tasteful and fun to listen to. Surprisingly enough, it manages to overcome our expectations of something more monumental and works very well. This emphasis on simplicity is the keynote of the whole album. “That Would Be Something” gives us the lines “That would be something / To meet you in the falling rain, momma, meet you in the falling rain” over and over again. “The Lovely Linda” starts out, “La-la-la-la the lovely Linda, with the lovely flowers in her hair.” Paul repeats this once, giggles and then stops. The first two songs on side one, for example, have virtually no verbal or melodic content whatsoever. Both the melodies and lyrics on the album are sparse and uncomplicated. Rather than adopt the role of “Super Paul,” McCartney chose to keep things very personal and straightforward - “light and loose,” as he mentions in the official interview. When compared to the best of the Beatles’ previous work, the songs on McCartney are distinctly second rate. Most people probably hoped that Paul’s album would be a gigantic leap “beyond the Beatles,” a super mind-blowing extravaganza with songs which would make “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be” seem pale by comparison. In both the quality of its songs and the character of its production McCartney will no doubt be a disappointment to many Beatles fans. Last week’s Ed Sullivan Show announced that “Paul McCartney would introduce his new record for the American audience.” As millions of viewers tuned in, the show flashed more pictures of the happy family on the screen while one of the songs from the album played in the background. Numerous stories in the world press made the same message a headline event just three days before the album went on sale - PAUL AND LINDA FIND HAPPINESS AWAY FROM THE BEATLES. The album jacket with dozens of family snapshots proclaims that Paul and Linda have found peace and happiness in a way that seems redundant and overdone. Accompanying the release of McCartney was a mass of external information - all of it coming directly from Paul himself - which casts real doubt on the beautiful picture which the songs create. Unfortunately, there is more to this album than just music. The 14 cuts on McCartney are masterful examples of happiness, relaxation and contentment. On the basis of the music alone I was entirely persuaded. This is a beautiful vision and, like most listeners, I wanted very much to believe it was true. Its explicit and uniform message is that Paul McCartney, his wife Linda and family have found peace and happiness in a quiet home away from the city and away from the hassle of the music business. McCartney is an album that wants desperately to convince.
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