h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi, Bluebottle. Good article. YouÕre obviously a Beatles nut.

But you forgot to say that ÒBand on the RunÓ was something of a concept album. In the early 1970s, Paul McCartney found it very difficult to play to ordinary audiences, due to the Beatles legacy. So it was hard for him to get any ÒbandÓ going at all. Audiences would turn up and expect a Paul McCartney band to play old Beatles songs ~ like ÒYesterdayÓ.

So Paul hit upon running around the country, turning up at venues and offering to play there that night. Literally, a band on the run.

I remember sitting in the StudentsÕ Union Bar in Nottingham. We were pretty bored, and discussing what to do with the evening. Suddenly, someone shrieked, ÒHang on! How longÕs that note been there?Ó

Our attention focussed on a very small handwritten note which had been pinned to the cork notice-board: ÒPaul McCartney appearing LIVE tonight at , , , Ò

We laughed, and discussed whether it was a joke ~ they were forever trying to get us students to do something or other. Then, we decided that as we had nothing better to do , , ,

It was, of course, Wings. A great night. IÕve always admired Paul McCartney for getting back on the road like that. I think, out of all the Fab Four, he is the real ÒmusoÓ.

Hi Eeyore - glad you liked the article. And you're definately right about the way they started out, I was thinking about writing an article about that seperately - but it is very true that they were a "Band on The Run" in many ways, and did a whole tour of England's universities.

I'm extremely jealous that you got to see them, though! I'd give my left arm to have been there... What did they play, can you remember?

Hey, Bluebottle. YouÕre really asking something there.

I remember very well how we found out about them playing, because it was so ridiculous. But I canÕt remember exactly what the play list was: it was a long time ago, and I wasnÕt exactly noted for my sobriety then.

It was just a great night. We felt lucky. The lasting memory is the way in which we discovered Paul McCartney was playing. Much as I love the Beatles, together and individually, IÕve seen an awful lot of bands since then and I probably couldnÕt give you a play list from 5 years ago never mind over 25 years ago. Sorry.

Back Seat of My Car, Heart of the Country, Another Day, and Every Night are all songs I associate very strongly with that time in Nottingham. But I couldnÕt put my hand on my heart, and say they were played that night Ð although IÕm pretty sure about Another Day and Back Seat of My Car.

Hey, Bluebottle. YouÕre really asking something there.

I remember very well how we found out about them playing, because it was so ridiculous. But I canÕt remember exactly what the play list was: it was a long time ago, and I wasnÕt exactly noted for my sobriety then.

It was just a great night. We felt lucky. The lasting memory is the way in which we discovered Paul McCartney was playing. Much as I love the Beatles, together and individually, IÕve seen an awful lot of bands since then and I probably couldnÕt give you a play list from 5 years ago never mind over 25 years ago. Sorry.

Back Seat of My Car, Heart of the Country, Another Day, and Every Night are all songs I associate very strongly with that time in Nottingham. But I couldnÕt put my hand on my heart, and say they were played that night Ð although IÕm pretty sure about Another Day and Back Seat of My Car.

Ever had that feeling of dŽjˆ vu? Oops!

I know the feeling of Deja vu - happened to me several times!

I know what you mean about remembering how you learnt, but not what the play list was. Last year Craig Charles was down at Southampton Uni doing a stand-up comedy routine, which we went along to, and that was really funny and a great night - but even though that was only last year I've no idea what jokes he said, but he made them really funny. That was a great time.
But you're probably right about those songs you mentioned - afterall, they were all out at that time, so they are the ones he is likely to have sung.

I'm still jealous, though.

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