Wingspan [Paperback]

Paul McCartney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2002

In the 1970's, Paul McCartney's Wings had a hard act to follow, the Beatles, but brought us what many have described as the purest rock music of the decade - that brief period after music stopped selling revolution and before it began selling pierced navel rings. Wings was huge: the group had more No 1 singles (six) than the Stones, Eagles or three other ex-Beatles combined. This is an intimate scrapbook charting how the band grew and became one of the biggest-selling acts of the 70s. At the same time Paul and his wife Linda, a fellow band member, were raising a family, and the book is a personal record of the Wings' beginnings after the break-up of the world's most famous group through to the very end of that decade. Apart from the insight into the dynamics of a hugely popular band, it reminds the reader of some of the songs and how they were written, recorded and performed: "Band on the Run", "Mull of Kintyre", "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Jet" and "Junior's Farm".

Editorial Reviews

Review

In large size Z format with 150 photographs by Linda McCartney, here is the definitive celebration of the 1970s band, Wings, by its founder. An intimate scrapbook that offers an insight into the dynamics of a hugely popular band that reminds readers of some wonderful songs and how they were written, recorded and performed.

About the Author

Sir Paul McCartney - co-founder of The Beatles and Wings and the creator of so much more - has been one of the most recognisable people on the planet for nearly 40 years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (October 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316860328
• ISBN-13: 978-0316860321
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,149,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An average book, August 13, 2008

By 

trilliane - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paul McCartney - Wingspan: Hits and History (Paperback)

The book opens with 12 pages with nice color pictures of Paul, Linda and the group, followed by a fine collection of songs (sheet music) from the Wings and solo albums. This is the full list from the index:

HITS
-----
Listen To What The Man Said
Band On The Run
Another Day
Live And Let Die
Jet
My Love
Silly Love Songs
Pipes Of Peace
C Moon
Hi Hi Hi
Let 'Em In
Goodnight Tonight
Junior's Farm
Mull Of Kintyre
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
With A Little Luck
Coming Up
No More Lonely Nights

HISTORY
---------
Let Me Roll It
The Lovely Linda
Daytime Nightime Suffering
Maybe I'm Amazed
Helen Wheels
Bluebird
Heart Of The Country
Every Night
Take It Away
Junk
Man We Was Lonely
Venus And Mars/Rockshow
The Back Seat Of My Car
Rockestra Theme
Girlfriend
Waterfalls
Tomorrow
Too Many People
Call Me Back Again
Tug Of War
Bip Bop/Hey Diddle
No More Lonely Nights (Playout Version)

The sheets of music contain melody notes (with the lyrics underneath), piano notes (for both hands), chords and guitar tabs, all in the original keys (that's pretty much the standard for these kind of books).

The melody, the lyrics and the chords seem to be OK, as far as I noticed (I can't comment on the tabs, since I don't use them). However, I must admit I'm disappointed from the piano arrangements. They aren't as good as I hoped they would be, and I found myself playing from the chords instead (and I didn't have to buy the book to get the chords). I have recently bought (from Amazon UK) a British book called "Play Piano With... Paul McCartney" and the arrangements there were very good and pretty close to the originals.

All in all, it's a nice book to play the great songs of Paul McCartney from, but if you're looking for a piano book, I wouldn't recommend this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No sheet music in this book, February 15, 2011

By 

Tudor Fan "Tudor Fan" (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wingspan (Paperback)

The book pictured shares the same title as a UK book that includes sheet music (the other Wingspan's cover shows two hands with fingers spread on the cover). The book above is a nice collection of photos and some commentary but contains NO sheet music. I ordered this book based on the customer reviews which appear to be reviews for the other Wingspan music book. The product description by Amazon, however, is correct.

Just wanted to point this out so someone else won't make the same mistake I did.

4.0 out of 5 stars good music, March 29, 2010

By 

David Moen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paul McCartney - Wingspan: Hits and History (Paperback)

arrived as expected, book is good.
Why do they place the chords on the bottom of the music lines though???