"The footnotes for my nineteenth book. This is my standard procedure for doing it. And while I compose it, I'm also reviewing it"-Jeremy Hillary Boob Ph.D
Buttons and Beatles. When glanced at on a surface level these two concepts seem to hold little to no similarities, but when observed individually or together, it is determined that these two different concepts hold a very vital characteristic; that is the act of holding itself. Button's hold pieces of fabric together. It is what keeps our coats closed through chapped days of fall. For historians or collectors finding a button can be unveiling a piece of another life, holding onto the past and the present. When The Beatles, on the other hand, provided a house that would hold the insanities of teenie-boppers, rebelled rockers, and anyone impressionable to be swept up in the wave known as Beatlemania. Through challenging upbringings of loss, illness, and personal damages of young innocents, the soon known to be Fab Four, gave the world hope to hold onto through lyrics of holding hands entangled in the deeper meditative explorations and a revolution that provided music for the deranged, the complex, the misinterpreted, and the genius. The Beatles provided a safety rope that guided the hopeless.
Last December, musician in his own right and talents, Tim Janis, proved that miracles can happen to those who still believe in his movie entitled Buttons; A Christmas Tale. This film includes a star studded cast including Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Robert Redford, Kate Winslet, and others whom provided this film with holding characteristics of its own as the movie hits on a genre that evokes nostalgia in a genre that is lost today; the family musical.
Amongst the whimsical, challenging, intense, and melodic soundtrack provided throughout the film as one follows two orphan girls on their search to find a home in time for Christmas, one will hear "Nova", an orchestral piece written by Sir Paul McCartney. *McCartney, no stranger to working with Tim Janis as the two have collaborated twice before, with Paul's son James, at Abbey Road studio.
The following video is "Nova" via Youtube;
"Nova" first appeared on A Garland for Linda, a tribute album comprised of ten contemporary composers including Paul McCartney, under conductor Peter Broadbent. "Nova", unlike other works McCartney is known for which tend to bop to the pop side of charts and scales, is a classical composition fitting the theme of the album composed of all classical pieces in dedication to Linda as part of the Garland Appeal organization. This group helps raise awareness of cancer fighting, a disease in which Linda McCartney was diagnosed (breast) in 1995 and succumbed to at the age of fifty-six in 1998. "Nova" is a song written out of pure admiration after loving and trusting someone found in ones life. As the film Buttons is getting ready for it's DVD release, coming this December 3, it is important to hold onto values of hope, love, trust, and believing that we can find whomever that somebody is and admire the journey we go on and the people whom get us there. You can now Pre-Order the film that fans are calling (via IMBD Review section) a "Soon to be Christmas Classic", "Absolutely Charming", and a movie that "offers hope in a world that seldom offers or reminds us that there is hope". Tim Janis Buttons: A Christmas Tale DVD release December 3.Pre-Order by clicking here. Can't wait for December 3? Digital copies are available now! Purchase at the above link. Below is the Buttons Trailer;
Winter for some is seen as such a miserable, dreary, time of year. It's the time of year that animals hibernate, birds fly south, freezing balls of rain mound in some of our yards, and when plants usually die. Spring however may come a little bit early this time around.
This week Paul McCartney and his great team announced that the Grammy-Award and BRIT nominated album, Flowers In The Dirt, will be reissued this coming March. The album was McCartney's eighth solo album released on 5 June by Parlophone. Reaching number on in both United Kingdom and Norway. During this time McCartney released "My Brave Face" which was a natural hit in the United States. All things were falling into place, leading McCartney to embark on one of his biggest tours of his career, The Paul McCartney World Tour, which started hitting North America, Europe, Japan and Brazil from September 1989- July 1990.
The album features the talents of several producers, Elvis Costello, David Foster, Mitchell Froom, Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson, and McCartney himself. Also, EMI producer, Beatles producer, and friend, George Martin had work on "Put It There", as well as Pink Floyd guitarist, David Gilmour lending his skills on "We Got Married". A thirteen tracked album with artwork was photographed by, who else but Paul's then wife, Linda (Eastman); the canvas was painted by the World Tour backdrop artist, Brian Clarke.
In the Reissued, Deluxe Edition one can find all new configurations at Abbey Road Studios, digital downloads, three unheard cassette demos, remixes, single edits, and original B-sides, eighteen bonus audio tracks, featuring unreleased demos from McCartney's co-writing with Elvis Costello;
"The demos are red hot off the skillet and that’s why we wanted to include them on this boxed set. What’s great about these songs is that they’ve just been written. So there’s nothing more hot off the skillet as I say. So that was the kind of great instant thing about them. I hadn’t listened to them in ages but when I did I knew we had to put them out. We made a little tape of them and sent them to Elvis, who loved them too. We said we should put out an EP or something and now the moment’s finally arrived.” -McCartney. PaulMcCartney.com Paul Announces Reissue of 'Flowers In The Dirt'
Paul McCartney's website also includes;
"The DVD that comes with the Deluxe Edition includes all the music videos from the album, three new short films with unseen archive material that show some of the creation process of the album and the documentary 'Put It There' originally released on VHS in 1989 – a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Flowers In The Dirt as well as featuring live performances from his 1989 World Tour."
Here are what you can expect;
FLOWERS IN THE DIRT TRACKLISTING:
SPECIAL EDITION (3CD/1DVD) DISC 1 (Plus HD audio download):
1. My Brave Face (2017 Remaster)
2. Rough Ride (2017 Remaster)
3. You Want Her Too (2017 Remaster)
4. Distractions (2017 Remaster)
5. We Got Married (2017 Remaster)
6. Put It There (2017 Remaster)
7. Figure Of Eight (2017 Remaster)
8. This One (2017 Remaster)
9. Don’t Be Careless Love (2017 Remaster)
10. That Day Is Done (2017 Remaster)
11. How Many People (2017 Remaster)
12. Motor Of Love (2017 Remaster)
13. Où Est Le Soleil? (2017 Remaster)
DISC 2 (Plus HD audio download):
1. The Lovers That Never Were (Original Demo)
2. Tommy’s Coming Home (Original Demo)
3. Twenty Fine Fingers (Original Demo)
4. So Like Candy (Original Demo)
5. You Want Her Too (Original Demo)
6. That Day Is Done (Original Demo)
7. Don’t Be Careless Love (Original Demo)
8. My Brave Face (Original Demo)
9. Playboy To A Man (Original Demo)
DISC 3 (Plus HD audio download):
1. The Lovers That Never Were (1988 Demo)
2. Tommy’s Coming Home (1988 Demo)
3. Twenty Fine Fingers (1988 Demo)
4. So Like Candy (1988 Demo)
5. You Want Her Too (1988 Demo)
6. That Day Is Done (1988 Demo)
7. Don’t Be Careless Love (1988 Demo)
8. My Brave Face (1988 Demo)
9. Playboy To A Man (1988 Demo)
DVD
Music Videos:
1. My Brave Face
2. My Brave Face (Version 2)
3. This One (Version 1)
4. This One (Version 2)
5. Figure Of Eight
6. Party Party
7. Où Est Le Soleil?
8. Put It There
9. Distractions
10. We Got Married
Creating Flowers in the Dirt:
1. Paul And Elvis
2. Buds In The Studio
3. The Making Of ‘This One’
(The Dean Chamberlain One)
Put it There:
1. Put It There Documentary
DOWNLOAD ONLY: Original B-sides, remixes and single edits:
1. Back On My Feet
2. Flying To My Home
3. The First Stone
4. Good Sign
5. This One (Club Lovejoys Mix)
6. Figure Of Eight (12” Bob Clearmountain Mix)
7. Loveliest Thing
8. Où Est Le Soleil? (12” Mix)
9. Où Est Le Soleil? (Tub Dub Mix)
10. Où Est Le Soleil? (7” Mix)
11. Où Est Le Soleil? (Instrumental)
12. Party Party (Original Mix)
13. Party Party (Club Mix)
Cassette demos:
1. I Don’t Want To Confess
2. Shallow Grave
3. Mistress And Maid
---
SPECIAL EDITION (2CD) DISC 1:
1. My Brave Face (2017 Remaster)
2. Rough Ride (2017 Remaster)
3. You Want Her Too (2017 Remaster)
4. Distractions (2017 Remaster)
5. We Got Married (2017 Remaster)
6. Put It There (2017 Remaster)
7. Figure Of Eight (2017 Remaster)
8. This One (2017 Remaster)
9. Don’t Be Careless Love (2017 Remaster)
10. That Day Is Done (2017 Remaster)
11. How Many People (2017 Remaster)
12. Motor Of Love (2017 Remaster)
13. Où Est Le Soleil? (2017 Remaster)
DISC 2:
1. The Lovers That Never Were (Original Demo)
2. Tommy’s Coming Home (Original Demo)
3. Twenty Fine Fingers (Original Demo)
4. So Like Candy (Original Demo)
5. You Want Her Too (Original Demo)
6. That Day Is Done (Original Demo)
7. Don’t Be Careless Love (Original Demo)
8. My Brave Face (Original Demo)
9. Playboy To A Man (Original Demo)
---
VINYL (2LP) Disc 1 Side A:
1. My Brave Face (2017 Remaster)
2. Rough Ride (2017 Remaster)
3. You Want Her Too (2017 Remaster)
4. Distractions (2017 Remaster)
5. We Got Married (2017 Remaster)
6. Put It There (2017 Remaster) Side B:
7. Figure Of Eight (2017 Remaster)
8. This One (2017 Remaster)
9. Don’t Be Careless Love (2017 Remaster)
10. That Day Is Done (2017 Remaster)
11. How Many People (2017 Remaster)
12. Motor Of Love (2017 Remaster)
13. Où Est Le Soleil? (2017 Remaster) (**not on vinyl, this track will be available with the accompanying digital download).
Disc 2 Side A:
1. The Lovers That Never Were (Original Demo)
2. Tommy’s Coming Home (Original Demo)
3. Twenty Fine Fingers (Original Demo)4. So Like Candy (Original Demo) Side B:
5. You Want Her Too (Original Demo)
6. That Day Is Done (Original Demo)
7. Don’t Be Careless Love (Original Demo)
8. My Brave Face (Original Demo)
9. Playboy To A Man (Original Demo)
Make sure to Pre-Order your copy!
You can read more about the reissue at the McCartney website itself by clicking here.
Personal;
Personally, I believe this album defines how determined McCartney is to keep his legend alive. After Wings had split and McCartney had released a few albums without a great sensation, Flowers In The Dirt reclaimed that spark and wonder that we all have, making us ask the inevitable question, "How does he do it?". Also, in the psychedelic and creative film making of one of the favored tracks, "This One", had taught me hand motions and 'sign language', so yes, Macca once again, A+ for not only music education, but language.
It was just after Paul McCartney and Wings had lost two of their members (Henry McCullough Denny Seiwall), Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine released their third and most successful album, Band on The Run, in December 1973, that Wings started on a new project; Venus and Mars.
"With this new album I did this scroll thing and sat down and put one
song there, and another song here. Fiddle about. Fiddle about."- Paul McCartney, Melody Maker, 1975
(L-R) English, Laine, L. McCartney, McCulloch, P.McCartney
The band began recording at Abbey Road Studios in November, 1974 despite their desire to record the full album in the United States, which wasn't possible after Denny Laine had difficulties acquiring a visa to enter the US. Two months later the group, along with Laine, picked up their work and moved to Allen Toussaint's Sea Studios in New Orleans on 16 January and stayed til 24 February, 1975. It was during this time that Wings went searching for two new members to replace their lost lead guitarist and drummer, that's when Jimmy McCulloch, a young and extremely gifted guitarist, and Geoff Britton, a former karate expert, joined the band. However, Britton was found fighting with Laine and McCulloch that he left the group half way through recording leaving Wings to find a new drummer. It was Tony Dorsey, Wings trombonist, who recommended a New Yorker who's drummed with names from Joplin to Hendrix; Joe English.
"I completed half the tracks on the album and then a local drummer called Joe English did the rest.
It's a funny band, Wings. From a musician's point of view, it's a
privilege to do it. From a career point of view, it's madness! No matter
how good you are, you're always in the shadow of Paul."- Geoff Britton, 1975
The album was released after final recordings and mixing held at Wally Heider Studios in Los Angeles on 27 May, 1975 (US)/ 30 May, 1975 (UK). The album toppled charts, reaching Billboard Top 200 for one week and seventy-seven weeks in US Charts, not to mention the twenty-nine weeks the album spent in UK Charts including one week at number one and only three months later on 1 August, becoming platinum. The album has sold over 4 million copies featuring the following tracklisting;
Wings in New Orleans, 1975
Venus and Mars (McCartney)
Rock Show (McCartney)
Love In Song (McCartney)
You Gave Me The Answer (McCartney)
Magneto and Titanium Man (McCartney)
Letting Go (McCartney)
Venus and Mars (Reprise) (McCartney)
Spirits of ANcient Egypt (McCartney) -- Sung by Denny Laine
Medicine Jar (McCulloch-Allen)
Call Me Back Again (McCartney)
Listing To What The Man Said (McCartney)
Treat Her Gently - Lonely Old People (McCartney)
Crossroads Theme (Hatch)
After the album was completed the group took a short break before they began working on Wings fifth studio album, Wings At The Speed Of Sound. Recording took place at EMI Studios starting in September of 1975, however the album was mainly put together in 1976. During this time Wings had begun preparing for their most recognizable tour, Wings Over The World. It was during the tour that the album was released, on 22 March, 1976 (US) / 26 March, 1976 (UK). The album features a track sung by each band members;
1976
Let 'Em In (McCartney)
The Note You Never Wrote (Laine)
She's My Baby (McCartney)
Beware My Love (McCartney)
Wino Junko (McCulloch - Allen)
Silly Love Songs (McCartney)
Cook of the House (McCartney)
Time To Hide (Laine)
Must Do Something About It (McCartney) --sung by Joe English
San Ferry Anne (McCartney)
Warm and Beautiful (McCartney)
The album peaked at number two in the UK and became the fourth best selling album of the year, even spending thirty-five weeks on UK charts. In the US the album reached number one and held the position for seven (non-consecutive) weeks, and placed in US charts for fifty-one weeks. The album has sold 3.5 Million copies worldwide.
Now that you have a bit of history behind the album why not buy them? It was released today, 4 November, 2014, that these two history changing albums have been remastered for the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. The Paul McCartney official website posted this earlier today;
"Venus and Mars and At The Speed Of Sound
- the remastered Wings classic albums and latest instalment of the
GRAMMY award-winning Paul McCartney Archive Collection – are out now!
Wings are one of the most successful acts the UK has ever produced,
achieving no less than 14 US Top 10 hits and 12 Top 10 hits in the UK.
Following 1973’s Band on the Run the mid ‘70s were a commercial heyday for Wings." PaulMcCartney.com
followed by this statement;
"As with all the Archive Collection, Paul has personally supervised all
aspects of the reissues. The remastering work was done at Abbey Road by
the same team who have worked on all the reissues as well as The
Beatles’ catalogue."- PaulMcCartney.com
Each reissued album will contain three discs- two CDs and one DVD. Venus and Mars will feature;
CD 1 – Remastered Album
1. Venus and Mars
2. Rock Show
3. Love In Song
4. You Gave Me The Answer
5. Magneto and Titanium Man
6. Letting Go
7. Venus and Mars – Reprise
8. Spirits Of Ancient Egypt
9. Medicine Jar
10. Call Me Back Again
11. Listen To What The Man Said
12. Treat Her Gently – Lonely Old People
13. Crossroads
CD 2 – Bonus Audio
1. Junior’s Farm
2. Sally G
3. Walking In The Park With Eloise
4. Bridge On The River Suite
5. My Carnival
6. Going To New Orleans (My Carnival)
7. Hey Diddle [Ernie Winfrey Mix]
8. Let’s Love
9. Soily [from One Hand Clapping]
10. Baby Face [from One Hand Clapping]
11. Lunch Box/Odd Sox
12. 4th Of July
13. Rock Show [Old Version]
14. Letting Go [Single Edit]
DVD – Bonus Film
1. Recording My Carnival
2. Bon Voyageur
3. Wings At Elstree
4. Venus and Mars TV Ad
CD 1 – Remastered Album
1. Let 'Em In
2. The Note You Never Wrote
3. She’s My Baby
4. Beware My Love
5. Wino Junko
6. Silly Love Songs
7. Cook Of The House
8. Time To Hide
9. Must Do Something About It
10. San Ferry Anne
11. Warm And Beautiful
CD 2 – Bonus Audio
1. Silly Love Songs [Demo]
2. She’s My Baby [Demo]
3. Message To Joe
4. Beware My Love [John Bonham Version]
5. Must Do Something About It [Paul’s Version]
6. Let ‘Em In [Demo]
7. Warm And Beautiful [Instrumental Demo]
DVD – Bonus Film
1. Silly Love Songs Music Video
2. Wings Over Wembley
3. Wings In Venice
I hope you're not too far away for me to see again
Heather;
Paul, Heather, Linda
Prior to Linda's marriage with Paul McCartney in 1969, she was engaged in a relationship with American geologist, Joseph Melville See Jr, whom she met at the University of Arizona and married on 18 June, 1962. Heather Louise See was born on 31 December, 1962 to the couple in Tuscon, Arizona. When she was six years old her mother and father had separated leaving Linda and Heather to go to New York where Linda pursued her career as a photographer. In 1967 Linda had met Paul McCartney and was soon invited to live with the musician in his St. John's Wood estate. Two years later on 12 March, 1969 Paul and Linda were married and Paul took over as Heather's adoptive father, where you can find her appearances in The Beatles film, Let It Be.
Heather McCartney
Just like her mother and now her adoptive father, Heather was interested in the arts, taking up photography where she won the Young Black and White Printer of the Year Award in Llford for a piece she called "Waterfall". She went on to pursue her love for art throughout college where she took up pottery and design.
In the early 1980s Heather was hospitalized after suffering from emotional disorders. On her release she decided to travel through Mexico where she became part of the Huichol and Tarahumara tribes. She moved around a few years later to live with her biological father, Joseph See in Arizona, but after her fathers sudden death on 19 March, 2000, after being found with a self inflicted gunshot wound, Heather moved to England and became a potter. In 1999 she launched her own house-ware products called Heather McCartney Houseware Collection.
Mary;
Paul and Mary
Mary Anna McCartney was born on 28 August, 1969 in London becoming Paul's first child, in fact she was named after Paul's mother (read about her here). When Mary was a few years old her parents had formed a group called Wings (read about Wings History here and Wings Tours here) where she would travel with the band as they played various gigs. She would grow up in the McCartney's Sussex estate as well as High Park Farm in Scotland. With her mother being a photographer, Mary is featured in many pictures of Paul on the road or photographic while growing up. Her most famous photograph is featured on McCartney's first solo album, McCartney, where she is seen tucked in her fathers jacket.
Traveling with Wings
Just as her mother she became a photographer and photo editor for Omnibus Press, a music book publisher; In 1992 she then became a professional photographer. Some of Mary's earliest work can be seen at the first official photo of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair with his family, after she had became close friends with Cherie Blair while campaigning for breast cancer awareness, in which Mary is a part of. Since then Mary has photographed Sam Taylor-Wood, Jude Law, Ralph Fienes, her young sister Stella, Paul McCartney, and much more.
In 1995 Mary met television producer and director, Alistair Donald, after being introduced by Mary's younger brother, James. The two dated for three years and arranged to be married for May 1998, due to the sudden death of Linda McCartney the wedding was postponed til 25 September, 1998. The following year on 3 April, 1999 and n the 1 August, 2002 the couple gave birth to Elliot Donald. The family would resign in Lauderdale Mansions South in Maida Vale, London. Unfortunately, in 2005 the couple separated with no public confirmation of divorce but the separation seemed to be permanent in 2007 when she began going back to Mary McCartney instead of Mary McCartney-Donald.
That same year she released her first exhibition with her work of offstage pictures of The Royal Ballet, London capturing the hard everyday lives of the performers calling the exhibit, Off Pointe: A Photographic Study of the Royal Ballet After in Brighton. Following this exhibit shes had several more solo;
Self portrait
Off Pointe; A Photographic Study of the Royal Ballet After- 2004, 2005, 2007
Playing Dress Up- 2007
Backup - 2007
British Style Observed - 2008
Collective Works - 2009
From Where I Stand - 2010, 2011, 2012
Developing - 2013
She went on to have four group shows;
Schweppes Photographic Portrait Show- 1995
31 Studio EXPOSED, Platinum Prints - 2004
Strength and Beauty Embodied by Avant- Garde Women - 2007
Gay Icons - 2009
Mary
After separating from her first husband Mary had begun seeing Simon Aboud, a director whom she would have her third child, Sam Aboud, on 11 August , 2008. The couple had a private ceremony on 12 June, 2010 in London at the Marylebone Register Office. 3 September, 2011 The Aboud family grew bigger with their last addition, Sid.
Mary is active in campaigns to spread cancer awareness, Smile Train ( where she was asked to take photos of four children from Volgograd and Bejing) and she is an animal activist taking a great part in the McCartney's Meat Free Monday. In 2012 she released her own vegan cook book, Food.
Stella;
Traveling with Wings
Stella Nina McCartney became Paul and Linda's second child on 13 September, 1971 in Lambeth, London being named after Linda McCartney's grandmother. Just like Mary and Heather, Stella became part of the Wings traveling, in fact the name Wings came while Paul was praying while Linda was rushed in to the emergency caesarean section while giving birth to Stella. Paul had sat outside the operating room and prayed for the safety of his wife and child where he prayed for her to be born "on the wings of an angel." with an image of wings in his mind.
With all the riches, Paul wanted his children to lead as normal as a life as they could leading to Stella and her siblings to attend local state schools in East Sussex, where Stella was a victim of bullying. By age thirteen she had designed her first jacket. It was only three years later she became an intern for Christian Lacroix where she began working on his first fashion design collection. She later studied at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and graduated from Central St Martins in 1995 where supermodel and friends Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon, and Kate Moss modeled Stella's graduation collection for free. The collection became a hit making front- page and being sold in a London boutique called Tokio and would be licensed to Browns, Josephs, Bergdorf Goodman, and even Neiman Marcus. After school she began her passion for style and fashion starting her first collection. By 1997 she was working as a Creative Director of Chloe in Paris. In 1998 she designed her sister's wedding dress for Mary's wedding to Alistair Donald.
In 2001 she launched her own fashion house with Gucci Group (now Kering) where she shared her first collection in Paris. Since then she now owns seventeen stores in London Mayfair, Manhattan's Soho, Paris' Palais Royal, LA's West Hollywood, Barcelon's Passeig de Garcia, Milan, Rome, and Miami. Her collections are being sold over fifty countries.
photographed by Linda
Two years later Stella launched her own perfume line calling it Stella. In 2004 her design was shown through a summer tour for Madonna's Re-Invention Tour and Annie Lennonx's tour. She also worked for the film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow for Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law's costumes. Some of her most recent works were when she began working with Adidas having a long-term partnership with the athletic line in September 2004. Adidas by Stella McCartney can be seen in 2010 when she was appointed by Great Britain's Creative Director for the 2012 Olympics, the first time a leading fashion designer has designed clothes for both the Olympic games and Paralympic Games. 2005 she became releasing her products for H&M in hopes of selling more affordable options to her fans; when the her line with H&M was released in November 2005 it was sold out immediately. She then launched CARE a 100% organic skincare line in January 2007. In March of the same year she began working in one hundred target stores, primarily in Australia. In 2010 McCartney began working with Disney to create jewlry inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Her work has also been seen in New York City Ballet's Ocean's Kingdom, which is based on an album by her father from 2011.
Stella and British publisher Alasdhair Wills were married at Mount Stuart House on Isle of Bute on 30 August, 2003. The dress she wore was an updated version of her mother's dress worn in 1969. The couple has since had four children, James (2005), Bailey Linda Olwyn (2006), Beckett Robert Lee (2008), and Reiley Dilys Stella (2010).
Stella McCartney
Paul McCartney presented Stella with the Designer of the Year Award by VH1/Vogue in 2000. Three years later she recived the Woman of Courage Award, for her work against cancer. Best designer of the Year Glamour Award and the Star Honoree at the Fashion Group International Night of the Stars were presented to her in 2004. In 2005 she recieved the Organic Style Woman of the Year Award. The Elle Style Award for Best Designer of the Year and the Best Designer of the Year at the British Style Awards became part of her award collection in 2007. She recieved an Elle Award for Best Designer of the Year in Spain in 2008, that same year she recieved the Green Designer of the year at the ACE Awards. The following year she was honored by NRDC, Glamour magazine Woman of the Year, and featured in the Time100. 2011 she was had recieved the Red Carpet Award by the British Fashion Council. On New Years Honours for service to fashion 2013 she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). As of February 2013 she became one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.
As an animal activist like her parents, her clothing represents that, for example one of her designs for Adidas says "Suitable for sport vegetarians".
James:
photographed by Linda
12 September, 1977 the third McCartney child was born, James Louis named after Paul's father (read about him here) and Linda's Mother, Louise. As said with his older sisters, James would be on the road traveling with The Band on The Run, Wings. While on the road on McCartney's 1989 World Tour, James would have a tutor and would later attend Thomas Peacocke Communite College but started his love for music, surprisingly not because of his father but after seeing Michael J Fox perform in the film Back to the Future, James would later play Paul's Fender Stratocaster, previously owned by the great Carl Perkins, at age nine. The McCartney's had a scare when James was sixteen years old he was surfing with friends and was swept out to sea. The family was called and immediately arrived at the scene where they waited forty minutes for James, who returned on his own.
He would follow his love for music appearing on his fathers 1997 album, Flaming Pie, where he played guitar and drums on a few songs. In 1998 Linda released her own album, Wild Prairie, where James played lead guitar. He is also listed in Paul's 2001 album, Driving Rain as co-writer on certain tracks like "Spinning On An Axis" and "Back In The Sunshine Again". In 2005 he joined his father on his US Tour.
Jame began recording his own music in 2008 with his father, David Kahne, and various other musicians. He made his first US debut on 14 November, 2009 at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center where he performed his own solo material. He released his first EP on 21 September, 2010 with the name Avaliable Light.
James
"The music was inspired by The Beatles, Nirvana, The Cure, PJ Harvey, Radiohead - and all good music. It is basically rock 'n' roll, clean sounding and vocal. The words on the album refer to spirituality, love, family, trying to sort out one's life, and many other things."- James McCartney
Since then he has toured the UK in February and March 2010 and the US in April, 2013, released his first solo album, Me.
Beatrice;
Beatrice
Beatrice McCartney was born on 28 October, 2003 by McCartney's second wife, Heather Mills. In great respect and trying to keep the innocence of a young girl, Paul has kept Beatrice out of the star light as much as possible.
I Look High, I Look Low,
I'm Lookin' Everywhere I Go,
Lookin' For A Home
In The Heart Of The Country.
I'm Gonna move, I'm Gonna Go,
I'm Gonna Tell Everyone I Know
Lookin ' For A Home
In The Heart Of The Country.
Unfortunately, I do not have enough days to write about all of McCartney's estates but I'll write about my favorite, High Park Farm, Kintyre, Scotland.
During 1966 The Beatles had become fully aware of the taxman and the money situation, George Harrison even wrote "Taxman" from The Beatles Revolver.
"I discovered I was paying a huge amount of money to the taxman. You are so happy that you've finally started earning money - and then you find out about tax."- George Harrison, Anthology
It got to the point that the Beatles had thought about giving their money to a worker and have him go to the Bahamas where the money would be tax-free; the plan didn't work out it the end. To protect his money Paul invested his money, after being advised by his financial advisers, in a Farm in Campbeltown, Kintyre, Scotland. The house has one hundred eighty-three acres, three bedrooms, and near the Mull of Kintyre,
"It's 200 acres and a farmhouse as well. It was well worth the money as far as I'm concerned. But don't think I'm a big property tycoon. I only buy places I like."- Paul McCartney, 1966
The McCartney's at High Park
Prior to McCartney buying the £35,000 home, it was owned and survived by Mr. and Mrs. Brown for nineteen years. After the Brown's moved out and McCartney now owner, Paul and girlfriend, Jane Asher, would take weekends and vacations at High Park to escape the wild frenzy of Beatlemania.
On 12 March, 1969 Paul McCartney married photographer, Linda Eastman , and the two would resigned to High Park. The two would soon go on to grow a family with Linda's daughter from a previous marriage, Heather, and the couples three children, Mary, Stella, and James would grow up up visiting and living at the home where they would raise lambs, sheep, chickens, while taking care of their dogs like Martha, Jet, Poppy, and Lucky.
"Linda said, 'We could do this place up!' And I'd never thought of that, I thought it just stayed how you bought it. I just wasn't enterprising enough to actually think. We could clean this place up! Linda really turned me on to it. I quite liked it before, I like its isolation and I liked the privacy and the end-of-the-world remoteness compared to a city."- Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now by Barry Miles
Paul McCartney sheering
The McCartney's had then bought about six hundred acres and provided the land to his neighbors, his own recording studio and built his own Low Park Farm for his animal caretaker. With all the animals that where held at the farm The McCartney's didn't allow any to be killed, which was a reason why the town was proud to have the family as their neighbors. Another reason to backup how humble the family is, with all the money Paul had made as a Beatle and now into his new band Wings (read about Wings History here and Wings Tours here) , Paul had done the home projects, from painting the house to sheering the sheep, without making the home a giant mansion or attention seeking home most celebrities had.
Paul working on the home
Horses, a love amongst Linda and then a love of Paul's were great for the large estate as the family would ride around their property and sometimes into town. Town citizen and vet, Alastair Cousin, took care of the animals and had very good memories of the McCartney's saying recalling a memory of a local girl who was digging at the beach and a man leaning over saying, 'You've a long way to dig to get to Australia.' When the young girl looked up she saw that it was Paul. William Ross, another citizen who worked on the estate would say,
"They were the worst-dressed people here. They'd walk to town through the farm so they'd have torn their clothes and be covered in muck. They never bothered with airs and graces." -From The Telegraph
Music was wide at High Park. Paul sitting around with his acoustic guitar while Linda would photograph Paul and the kids. In fact, Kintyre was the estate Paul would head to after The Beatles break up where Linda and Paul would release and create the duo album, Ram. In 1977, while working with Wings, Paul McCartney and Denny Laine created the best-selling UK single beating out The Beatles "She Loves You", the single still remains as the best-selling single in the UK, called "Mull of Kintyre"
"Paul and I sat with a bottle of whisky on afternoon outside a cottage in the hills of Kintyre and wrote the song Mull of Kintyre. Paul had written the chorus and we wrote the rest of it together."- Denny Laine
"It was a love song, about how I enjoyed being there - imagining I was traveling away and wanting to get back there."- Paul McCartney
The song even features bagpipers, conducted by Tony Wilson, from Kintyre who were very eager and excited to release a single. The following video is "Mull Of Kintyre";
When Linda passed away after a short battle against breast cancer a memorial for her was held at Trafalgar Square in London where a bagpiper, on Paul's request, would play "Mull of Kintyre" in the memories of their time together. A memorial in Kintyre is held for Linda with a beautiful bronze statue of Linda. Mary and Stella had come out to say the following on the memorial to their mother;
"Scotland was one of mum's favourite places and it is wonderful to have a permanent statue to remind us of the great time we spent with her there."
Members of the town of Campeltown, including Alastair Cousin say;
"Much more importantly it will be recognized as an appreciation of Linda's generosity, always anonymous, to so many causes, her enthusiasm for Kintyre expressed in her photography and her determination to ensure that her family were exposed to the values whenever possible."
Unfortunately, after Linda's passing the estate remained with very little visits from McCartney and in 2010 was put up for sale with an estimate value of £2.93 million.
"Maybe he has got too many good memories of Linda here and now it is too painful for him to come. But he did a lot of good for the town. It is still a big draw for tourist to come here. He has got to be thanked for that."-William Ross
When people talk about The Beatles Girls (Beatlettes) names like; Cynthia Powell, Pattie Boyd, Maureen Cox, Jane Asher, Yoko Ono, Olivia Trinidad, Barbara Bach, and Linda Eastman come to mind. But what about Martha? The other girl in Paul's life, with her dark brown, soft eyes, and wavy, multi shades of hair, who even was McCartney's muse to write "Martha My Dear" from The Beatles (White Album). The girl who from 1965 to The Beatles break-up in 1970, can be spotted in some of the groups greatest photo shoots, for example their Mad Day Out. The girl who was living with Paul while he was dating long-time girl friend, Jane Asher; some may say, "Martha, you dog". This post is all about Martha.
13 April, 1965 Paul McCartney was now owner of a three-story Regency town house in St. John's Wood, London at 7 Cavendish Avenue. It was in March of the following year after having renovations done to his new home that Paul had officially moved in; that same year on 16 June a little Old English sheep dog pup was born.After moving into his new home Paul had decided to by his first pet, he had picked up that little Old English sheep dog pup later on in the year and called her Martha.
Ringo Starr, Martha, Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Martha can be seen throughout her stay with Paul in 1965 up until The Beatles last photo shoot on 22 August, 1969 at Tittenhurst Park. She had become part of the group showing up even for the promotional video for The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever". It's been photographed over and over again of Paul walking his dog, hugging her, and even driving her around in his car. Now, it's no shock that Paul and Martha had taken a liking to each other, Paul being the animal lover he is.
"She was a dear pet of mine. I remember John (Lennon) being amazed to see me being so loving to an animal. He said, 'I've never seen you like that before.' I've since thought, you know, he wouldn't have. It's only when you're cuddling around with a dog that you're in that mode, and she was a very cuddly dog."- Paul McCartney
Martha, Paul, and Heather McCartney
Early October (4th and 5th), 1968 The Beatles had gone to record at EMI Studios, Abbey Road to record McCartney's tune, "Martha My Dear", a song that most fans thought were written about Jane Asher or a girl named Martha whom Paul knew, but in 1997 McCartney had released that the song was purely about his beloved dog.
"When I taught myself piano I liked to see how far I could go, and this started life almost as a piece you'd learn as a piano lesson. It's quite hard for me to play, it's two-handed thing, like a little set piece. In fact I remember one or two people being surprised that I'd played it because it's slightly above my level or competence really, but I wrote it as that, something a bit more complex for me to play. Then while I was blocking out words - you just mouth out sounds and some things come - I found the words 'Martha My Dear'."- Paul McCartney
Martha and Heather photographed by Linda
"'You silly girl, look what you've done,' all that sort of stuff. These songs grow. Whereas it would appear to anybody else to be a song to a girl called Martha, it's actually a dog, and our relationship was platonic, believe me."- Paul McCartney
When Paul married his first wife, Linda Eastman, on 12 March, 1969, Martha had developed a bond with animal activist Linda and after The Beatles break up The McCartney's would live in Kintyre Scotland on a farm with many other pets, including a black lab named Jet, which inspired Paul McCartney and Wings (read about Wings History here and Wings Tours here) "Jet", although the song is not written about the dog. They also had a yellow lab named Poppy, a dalmatian named Lucky, and Martha's offspring which was called Martha II or as Arrow.
It was in Kintyre 1981 when Martha McCartney passed away peacefully and surrounded by love at age fifteen. Martha II would appear on Paul's 1993 album, Paul Is Live. The following video is The Beatles "Martha My Dear";
"You can judge a man's true character by the way he treats his fellow animals."- Paul McCartney
"Martha My Dear you have always been my inspiration
