Yep. We're back - and what better way to restart ERV than with true Rock Royalty™ - Sir Paul McCartney? Books have been written on Sir Paul and the Beatles, so we're not going to attempt that, but the simple version is that the Beatles were arguably the most popular AND the most innovative act of their generation. Needless to say, this is highly unusual in any art form.
While we think of McCartney as a 1960s star whose success continued well into the 1970s, he was still productive and successful in the 1980s. Sir Paul released 7 LPs during the decade; all but one broke the top 30 (the exception was the Снова в СССР album). McCartney also had 10 top 40 singles, including 3 #1s ("Coming Up," "Ebony and Ivory," and "Say Say Say.") For those asking, "The Girl Is Mine" peaked at #2.
"Take It Away" hit #10 on the top 40 (#15 in the UK), while the Tug of War album reached #1 on the charts in both countries. The video is a high budget, nostalgic look at a band's rise to popularity through the years. Is it modeled after Wings? The Beatles? Perhaps.
Eagle-eyed viewers will recognize drummer Ring Starr, producer George Martin (on the piano) and Linda McCartney. Even sharper readers may recognize Eric Stewart on guitars (10cc, performed on several McCartney albums in the early 1980s) and Barbara Bach (Ringo Starr's wife since 1980).
Actor John Hurt (Midnight Express, The Elephant Man, Alien, among others) plays the lead, because of course he does.
Amazingly, McCartney remains active as of this writing.
