Paul McCartney in the Seventies

There’s not much more to learn about Paul McCartney, he’s probably the most famous musician on Terra Firma, So what can l learn in this book, about Macca in the seventies. Pretty much as it happens,I love a lot of what McCartney did in the seventies, stuff like Ram and McCartneys first solo album are wee gems, and lets not forget the stuff he did with Wings marvellous.

So one was was definitely interested in reading an indepth book, about his life during the seventies period.
After recording his debut solo album, he missed the camaraderie of a band, so he put together a band with his wife Linda and Denny Laine who would become the main stalwarts of Wings, the first line-up featured Henry McCullough and Denny Seiwell, and they started turning up unannounced at various colleges, and started making a melodic racket. This worked well at first, but soon the press caught on, and scuppered that plan. Might as well make some records then, which they did including a protest song Give Ireland back to the Irish, The songs kept coming out, as been in a band with McCartney you never had to worry about lack of songs. Talking of songs what about the epic Live and let Die after which the original line-up split, and off went the 3 stalwarts to Lagos to come up with Band on the Run.

Now growing up in the seventies as l did, you could surely be almost forgiven for thinking that Wings were verging on being classed as light entertainment, due to songs like Mary had a little lamb, the theme from Crossroads, and not forgetting Mull of Kintyre this of course is tosh, now enter into this, Scottish guitar player Jimmy McCulloch and have a listen to Juniors Farm that song is a wee cracker. Other great songs are Helen Wheels,Rockshow, Wino Junko and the Denny Laine penned Again and again and again to name a few of the top of my head.

Wings were a very troubled band, with many line-up changes due to all manner of things, like money issues to general not getting on, were the main concerns, but it must have been weird to be in a new band with Paul McCartney who is a giant amongst musicians, it could never be equal being in a band with an ex-Beatle. On Paul’s side he also found it difficult having grown-up in The Beatles and now finding himself with session men and yes men.

In the end Wings disbanded, this may be due to the japanese drug-bust and the tragic death of John Lennon,plus l think Denny Laine had enough, as he loved to tour and McCartney by this time had enough of the hassle that touring endured on him. Man on the run; Paul McCartney in the seventies by Tom Doyle is the book, if you want to check out the whole shebang, but like it says on the cover, it deals with a specific timeframe, this l have noticed is a current trend, in books l have recently read, where it deals with events over a certain period of time, so your not, for example going to read about McCartney chomping vegetables for The Super Furry Animals in the 21st century.

Chris McDougall

Nothin To Lose

Nothin’ To Lose, is the book about the making of the band Kiss, put together by band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and helped by writer Ken Sharp.

It kicks- off with their formation, starting with the band Wicked Lester, which featured Gene and Paul who turned down their record deal, because they felt not ready for it, which it has to said is a really ballsy thing to do for a band starting out, and getting a major-label deal, it showed the determination and their vision for what lay ahead. So instead, they set up a new shop with Peter Criss, and later, when they found Ace Frehley and decided a name change, they were now called Kiss, and the foundation to what became now known, as the greatest most entertaining rock band ever was born.

So what do l know about Kiss, well not too much, when l think back to when l first discovered Kiss, l remember their image, but l struggle to remember their songs. thinking back, l was blind-sided, l hear explosions and visualise flash’s and remember stomping sounds and big guitar riffs, and their costumes were wow, one was a demon with bat wings, that could also spit fire, another a cat and here’s one as spaceman who had a guitar that was smoking, and then there was a guy with the star around his eye, by the way, this was in my childhood. What l do know is this, l had mates that were die- hard fans, that you could never win an argument with about music, l found this utterly fascinating, it was like, me “hey! l like the Who’ , Kiss fan would then say “well ok, but they aint as good as Kiss, me: l like Slade!, Kiss fan: ok but not as good as Kiss, or “What about Humble Pie, forget it chum there not as good as Kiss. These guys totally adored Kiss, respect.You almost felt like it was a cult, very dedicated to Kiss, it was like giving yourself over to God, and the church but loads more fun and different benefits. I succumbed, and went to see Kiss in concert, and l really loved it, and l’m glad l got to see them, l even read Ace Frehleys book and that was mighty fabulous too.

So this book was a particular must for me, as l had much still to learn about Kiss, so Nothin to lose, gave me good insider information, about the early days of Kiss, it deals with the period from their beginnings and ends when, they finally won over the hearts of the youth of America with the Kiss Alive album.

This book is written in a vox-pop type approach, you know, where you just get quotes of the people who witnessed their rise to the top. l like this style and you get the sense your travelling along with them,you get all sorts of great quotes from The Ramones, The New York Dolls and even Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper.

Kiss were way ahead of the game, and got on with it, first Gene got them great management, with Bill Aucoin and Joyce Biawitz, and not forgetting Sean Delaney, who was a bit of a jack of all trades. The band would sign to Neil Bogarts Casablanca label, they recorded their debut album and got their shit together, They went on the road, which was a nightmare for the bands that headlined over them, and soon they had to do their own headline dates as their stageshow was so awesome. But with hardly any help from the radio, who would not play their songs (unless, the Casablanca record promo guys, handcuffed the DJs to their seats at Kiss shows, so they could not escape), even though they had done TV, and the fanbase was growing, recording albums and endlessly touring, they got their breakthrough. What l really learned about Kiss was how the fans, the Kiss army got behind the band, and how Kiss really appreciate their fans, l also learned how Kiss also really respected other artists to like, The Who, Slade and Humble Pie. I have to say this is a smashing read,and l now know how the songs go.

Chris McDougall

KISS larking about in New York 1974

The Temptations Aint Too Proud To Beg

Ain’t too proud to beg is the definitive book about the band The Temptations, from their troubled beginnings, and the troubling times, during their rise, and the tragic things that lay in their path. A highly detailed opus by Mark Ribowsky, its attention to detail over the rocky road to stardom, and the bringing together of the Primes, Siberians and The Distants, all bands that would eventually merge into The Temptations, who I’m sure everyone has heard of. Of course you must of heard My Girl, that song is everywhere, well l know it well and l don’t even own a copy of it.

The book’s main focus is on the line-up that recorded My Girl, and that was Otis Williams, Melvyn Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin, and boy did they have tough upringings, really tragic and scary in the case of Ruffin. As much as this is a telling of the tale of The Temptations, it is equally about the rise of Motown, and Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and other key fiqures such as Mickey Stevenson and the musical genius of The Funk Brothers, all held the cards to the making of the Temptations and what great singers they were, blending beautiful harmonies and great dance moves.

It took a wee while, before finally the temps hit the number one spot with My Girl, followed by more greatness in songs like Ain’t too proud to beg which remains the fans favourite. Then came the departure of Ruffin who kept coming back and making unannounced appearances, employing guerilla style tactics to get onstage. His replacement Dennis Edwards, signaled a change in direction, and they entered a new era of musical stylings that owed a lot to flower power and the emerging funk scene with bands like Sly And The Family Stone. To me this was my favourite period, and there is a great compilation album out there called Psychedelic Soul which has all the hits and funky stuff to, look at numbers like Cloud Nine, l can’t get next to you, Ball of Confusion all classics.

Afterwards the hits kept coming, Papa was a Rolling stone, Just my lmagination pure gold right. Sadly many of the Tempts died in dire circumstances, and only Otis stll remains from the classic line-up,Paul Williams apparent suicide,Melvyn from a coma, and one time, he had even being shot while trying to to stop a car jacker he was not killed cause the jacker recognised his voice from the Temptations and choose to kick him out of his car instead of killing him outright, Ruffin took far too much cocaine and blew up his heart, and Eddie died of lung cancer. Its a heavy book that’s for sure, but what a superb band of brothers they were.

Chris McDougall

Darrell Bath Band

Right l’m off to Ardrossan, Scotland which l know is near Glasgow It’s close to the sea , lt’s the sort of place that when there’s a storm coming to Britain, the news stations send out reporters to experience strong gales and the plan is, they try not to get blown away while delivering the state of the weather. Lucky for us the weather is behaving, in fact at times it’s rather splendid.

The reason l’m here, is to play with Darrell Bath who has arranged with Davey for us to play at the Ardrossan Bowling club. I’ve been to Ardrossan before, with Darrell, we came up by national express last time and we brought Pumpy a drummer with us, to be honest the journey was a bit grim travelling by bus for up to 12 hours each way, this time its just Darrell and l and we got smart and took the train up, which was most pleasing, we’re gonna use a local drummer who as it turns out is fantastic.

What’s also great about coming up here, is the guy we are staying with, Davey is his mantle, he his very hospitable, he’s also got impeccable music tastes, this trip we get an eclectic choice we have Frances Beby, then Alan Vega and Gemma Ray, and Marriot and Lane, and Panda Bear so its a good mix.

Darrell Bath and l have been playing for a few years now, l first got together with him when l joined the Dave Kusworth Band, although we did meet many years previously, well Darrell’s a major talent and a nice geezer which is always a plus. Another plus is, he’s a walking crawling musical encyclopedia he could earn millions on the pub quiz circuit, but would rather pass on his knowledge through his musical abilities. He writes his own songs, sings well and can throw in covers of the cuff. Me l find myself thrown into this melee, the songs he covers are a pastiche of well known stuff like Debris by the Faces maybe get a bit of The Stones Honky Tonk Woman to flight 505 we even get the Themes from Minder and Auf weidersehen Pet, blimey.

In the band tonight we have Gordon another major talent, not only on the drums for us but he’s even made it in the support band which he fronts, playing guitar and singing. Darrell tells Davey and l later that Gordons the kind of guy you want in your trench we all agree. Gordons band Sonny Daze and The Restless Knights are great and lovely peops as well.

The gig goes well, and we get em up on the dance floor, many generations have turned up from grandparents, parents, and offspring, so its a varied crowd and we are well received, So we are all happy it’s been such a blast. The next day l get to see my cousins, Carolyne and Julia, I don’t get to see them enough, l have seen them twice in the last 400 years, so its great to meet and catch-up, we go to the local pub and hang out there with big Ian and later on after my cousins have left, we end the evening with a meal and going to some bars and having a top night. The next day, we go and see Sonny Daze and Darrell has a go, and jams well, with the gang of Gordon McNeil on vocals and mouth organ and guitar, and Will Harvey on guitar or is it bass, Louis Kolodziej on bass or is that guitar, John Blair on guitar and Gordons daughter Ash McNeil on drums and they are all fantastic musicians and they play lovely music, fantastic.

Of course l drink far to much Gin and the next day l don’t enjoy the train ride back but l have to say we had a brilliant time and l hope we can return very soon.

Chris McDougall

Photo by Big Ian