Did you see the documentary, “Man on the Run,” running on Amazon Prime? (Watch the trailer above.) It focuses on Paul McCartney’s career in the 1970s following the Beatles’ break-up, culminating in the formation of Paul McCartney and Wings.
It’s a compelling story. Many forget that McCartney recorded 7 studio albums with Wings, which included over a hundred studio tracks and 29 singles. By contrast, the Beatles recorded a dozen studio albums.
McCartney’s Wings years produced some real gems, many of which have become staples at weddings. Of course, the most popular of the bunch has to be “Silly Love Songs,” which was Sir Paul’s 27th number one hit single.
“Silly Love Songs”
McCartney wrote this song in direct response to a cynical put-down directed at him by his former bandmate and collaborator, John Lennon. Lennon could be quite sarcastic and slurred McCartney for writing “silly love songs” and “sentimental slush.”
The refrain of ‘Silly Love Songs’ provides a witty riposte to Lennon’s sardonic putdown:
“Love doesn’t come in a minute,
Sometimes it doesn’t come at all,
I only know that when I’m in it,
It isn’t silly, love isn’t silly, love isn’t silly at all.”
McCartney explained the reason for the song:
“I thought, Well, I know what they mean, but, people have been doing love songs forever. I like ’em, other people like ’em, and there’s a lot of people I love — I’m lucky enough to have that in my life. So the idea was that “you” may call them silly, but what’s wrong with that?”
“Silly Love Songs” wasn’t only his biggest love song with Wings, it was his biggest single with the band, topping the charts for five weeks in a row.
As you listen to it, pay attention to one of McCartney’s best bass lines. Really exceptional.
“My Love”
This is certainly one of McCartney’s most romantic songs, topping the charts for four weeks in 1973.
“Listen to What the Man Said”
This is a mysterious song about the power of love. Who, exactly, is this ‘Man’ to whom Paul says we should listen? Maybe God? Hmmm … whatever the meaning, the song pulls you in and really sizzles when Tom Scott wails away on a soprano sax solo. The song topped the charts for one week in 1975.
“Warm and Beautiful”
The first verse says it all:
“A love so warm and beautiful,
Stands when time itself is falling;
A love so warm and beautiful’
Never fades away.
“Maybe I’m Amazed”
McCartney actually wrote this song before he formed Wings. It’s a song that pays to tribute to his wife who supported him through a tough time in his life when the Beatles disbanded. Wings recorded it again in 1977, and it became their 23rd best selling song.
There are more great Wings songs penned by Paul McCartney. But these listed above, in our view, are the cream of the crop. Of course, he has many more written when he was with the Beatles, and even more since Wings disbanded. At 83 years of age, the timeless Paul McCartney is still writing great songs.
If you’re looking for timeless music to be played at your upcoming Columbus wedding celebration, Columbus Pro DJs will help you curate crowd-pleasing songs that are proven to pack dance floors in the hands of our top-tier DJ/MCs. And we play them on high end equipment that saturates your hall with beautiful, balanced sound. Check us out to see if we’re available for your event.
