On his musical memoir about growing up in Liverpool, Paul McCartney sings:"My father was a salesman"My mother was a saint"Working every God-given minute"To make enough to pay the rent."'PAUL MCCARTNEY REVEALS HOW A 'HAPPY' TEEN HITCHHIKING TRIP WITH GEORGE HARRISON DELIVERED A SHOCKSir Paul McCartney is still trying to entertain us more than six decades after Beatlemania first hit American airwaves.(Getty Images)Of course, she’s a saint – remember "Mother Mary comes to me," from Let It Be – and McCartney is not quite in that category.
But in the lead-up to his 84th birthday, more than half a century after his band broke up, he has produced some of his finest work since, well, the Beatles.A few of the songs fall flat, in part because of the all-Paul-all-the-time flavor in which he double-tracks his own harmonies.On some songs, Chrissie Hynde provides the backup vocals.It is exquisitely produced and McCartney uses some of his old Beatles and Wings tricks.
One song starts out with spoken words and then launches into the stratosphere, with McCartney playing different guitars.Another is all acoustic.
His voice ranges from crooner to rocker to falsetto to, briefly, the familiar growl.On others, he abruptly changes tempo and sound nix, an old Beatles trick. PAUL MCCARTNEY SAYS BEATLES CLASSIC UNITES AUDIENCES 'IN TRUMP’S AMERICA' DESPITE POLITICAL DIVIDESir Paul, in short, is still trying to entertain us, and himself.
"When I’m 64" seems so far away. On The Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney plays 17 instruments, including harpsichord and recorder, but that eventually gives it a certain sameness.There are all kinds of changes, in pacing and instrumentals, with one song just on acoustic guitar.
Mighty orchestral arrangements arise out of the blue.About half the tracks are polished rockers and ballads, some others flat or dull. For many of us, it's hard to remember a time when McCartney wasn't a part of our lives.
(Jim Dyson/Getty Images)On another song...