McCartney plays decades of hits

Paul McCartney opened his Oct. 23 Milwaukee "US" concert with "Magical Mystery Tour," the title song to a long-ago Beatles album.

It was an apt choice since McCartney has been on his own 'magical tour' since 1962. That's the year the Beatles rocketed (or rocked) to stardom. McCartney was just 19.

To quote a Fidelity Investments advertisement, McCartney has been a "Quarryman, Beatle, Wing, poet, painter, father, frontman, producer, business mogul and knight."

Now 63, Sir Paul mustered those decades of experience into a crowd-pleasing extravaganza, including a synchronized light show, at the Bradley Center.

Building anticipation for McCartney's appearance didn't seem necessary but the event included a pre-show with DJ Freelance Hellraiser (who played the Twin Freaks re-mixes of Paul's songs) and a brief film chronicling the pop star's life from childhood to his appearance at this year's Super Bowl half-time and Live 8 shows.

Then fans got what they were waiting for, a lengthy show featuring dozens of classic songs-- some never before played in concert-- performed by a master musician with a crack back-up band. (Those players include drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.; Rusty Anderson, guitar; Paul Wickens, keyboards; and Brian Ray, guitar and bass.)

Hofner bass in hand, McCartney followed his opener with "Flaming Pie," "Jet," "I'll Get You," "Drive My Car," and "Till There Was You." He switched to his Les Paul guitar for "Let Me Roll It," a heavier Wings' number; then played bass on "Got to Get You Into My Life."

Switching to a grand piano which rose from below the stage, McCartney performed his current single, "Fine Line," "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Long and Winding Road." Next, he pulled out a composition from the Quarrymen period and played "In Spite of All The Danger," a obscure song be wrote with George Harrison in the 1950's. Acoustic versions of "I Will" and "Jenny Wren" followed.

He returned to grand piano to play "For No One," "Fixing a Hole" and "English Tea" from his new album. More acoustic material followed including "I'll Follow the Sun," "Blackbird" and "Eleanor Rigby."

McCartney returned to his Hofner for "Too Many People" from 1971's "Ram" LP and added "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," "Good Day Sunshine," "Band on the Run," and "Penny Lane."

He rounded out the program with "I've Got A Feeling," Back in the USSR," "Hey Jude," and "Live and Let Die," complete with mind-boggling pyrotechnics.

The crowd was treated to two encores. The first featured "Yesterday," "Get Back," and for those who think McCartney can't rock hard, a incredible version of "Helter Skelter." The second included "Please Please Me," the Beatles' first No. 1 hit; and "Let It Be," performed on psychedelic upright piano. The show finished with the perfect closer, "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)/ The End."

On a 'magical mystery tour' of our own, this week's concert was the third time my wife Sue and I along with friends Bob and Carol Nygaard, have seen McCartney perform live. We traveled to Chicago's Rosemont Horizon on Dec. 4, 1989 for McCartney's World Tour in support of his "Flowers in the Dirt" album. During the Illinois performance, engineers recorded a little-known track called "Together" which appeared on the "Tripping the Live Fantastic" double compact disc.

Then, on June 2, 1993 we caught McCartney in Milwaukee during his New World Tour after the release of the "Off the Ground" CD. The show at County Stadium was nearly cancelled at the last minute due to rain shorting out the sound system. McCartney remarked that he had never seen "such a nice collection of raincoats."

During his recent Milwaukee show McCartney proved he has nothing to prove. He played decades of hit songs, entertaining 12,000 fans for hours.

Next year, McCartney will turn the age he mentioned in his Beatles composition "When I'm 64."

Still, there's no sign he's about to retire, for McCartney clearly loves what he's doing.

So, the 'magical mystery tour' continues. All aboard!

Chasing 45's down Ludington St.

In an era before chain stores dominated the marketplace, independent merchants were no less savvy in bringing pop culture to the masses. In the late Sixties period that meant the latest hit song by the hottest group could probably be found at numerous outlets in bustling downtown Escanaba.

After hearing a new song on radio, you could search for a copy at various stores within a few blocks of one another along Ludington St.

Those stores hoping to snag the teenage rock 'n' roll fanatic stocked a hit list of double sided seven inch plastic discs known as "45s" or "singles." Customers got an additional song on the "B" or flip side of the platter which usually came in a picture sleeve. (By the way, those picture sleeves today are often worth more than the record. That's because spindle-type record storage cases meant a hole had to cut into the sleeve, ruining it.)

In your quest for the hippest tune, let's say "Judy in Disguise" by John Fred and His Playboy Band, you might have stopped at Advanced Electric, located at 1211 Ludington St. The store touted its inventory with a small red sign outside reading "Record Rack." Owned by Arthur Flath, the store sold television sets, radios, Frigidaire appliances and phonographs.

It featured a "complete record department," including both 45s and long players. Customers could purchase discs from in store stock or by special order. The store carried "Phonolog" an impressive catalog printed on yellow paper, updated weekly, which listed all available product. Mrs. Flath, son Brian or their friendly staff would help you navigate the huge Phonolog book to find the right song.

Advanced placed their orders with Radio Doctors, the venerable downtown Milwaukee retailer which also serviced hundreds of mid-west wholesale accounts. Radio Doctors maintained a world-class stock of 45s, enabling customers to purchase both current and older 45s.

Another retailer making noises in the 45 marketplace was Felton Radio & TV Supply. Owned by Oliver Felton, the store was located at 601 Ludington St. until it was destroyed by fire. It reopened at 1105 Ludington St. Felton drew customers into his store with an attractive display of the Top 100 singles in numerical order as determined by Billboard magazine. He spent time every week rearranging his display as songs rose or fell on the chart. The average hit record had a life-span of about three months.

Just a block away at 1011 Ludington was competitor J&R Radio & TV. Like its name stated, the store sold televisions, radios and stereos as well as records. Proprietor Dick Stichman promoted his store with the slogan "where service minded people shop."

The search for the 45 of your desires may have also taken you to Major Utilities at 1300 Ludington St. Major Utilities placed jukeboxes in hundreds of bars and restaurants in the Delta County area. Chances are that if you didn't hear a hit song on the radio, you would hear it on one of their jukeboxes.

Those colorful and bass-booming appliances kept track of how often songs were played so the operator could pull records which didn't get enough spins. When that happened owner Herbert Flath would sell those 45s in the upstairs quarters of his business. Teenagers could climb the 13th St. stairs on Saturdays and buy a slightly-used recent hit for a quarter.

Although Marrier Music at 701 Ludington St. may have quit selling 45s by this period, the store made a significant impact with its "Record Club" during 1963-65. Hundreds of area residents joined Chet Marrier's club to receive a free 45 after the purchase 10 at the regular price.

Of course, Escanaba's trio of dime stores also catered to pop music fans. Those retailing giants included Kresge's at 1104, Woolworth's at 1112 and Neisner's at 1116 Ludington St. Woolworth's had a respectable record department and carried the fan magazines of the day. The store made a big splash earlier by stocking tons of Beatles-related merchandise.

So, those are some of the stops you may have made in your 45 record quest. It was the final step before you could go home and play your tune to your heart's content, knowing that you were an integral part of pop culture.

My journey with John Fogerty

A song can take you on a journey, literally and figuratively.

Take "Green River" for example. This swampy classic from Creedence Clearwater Revival evokes visions of the Louisiana bayou even though it was recorded in California.

Couplets like "walkin' along the river road at night; barefoot girls dancing in the moonlight" in vocalist John Fogerty's southern drawl were easy to understand. References to "catfish bite... shoefly, dragon fly..." were a little more opaque.

In fact, I listened to "Green River" hundreds of times before I figured out Fogerty's eloquently slurred vocals.

"Green River" came out of the radio in the summer of 1969 like no other song; a energetic burst of rock 'n' roll lasting less than three minutes. The tune stands out even today and demands your attention.
It's been my favorite song virtually since the first time I heard it.

As the Sixties ended, Fogerty was incredibly prolific. As singer-songwriter, lead guitarist, producer and arranger, Fogerty's CCR released three albums in 1969, outselling even the Beatles. Radio pumped out "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son" and dozens of other Fogerty classics.

CCR toured as their acclaim grew. Many called them America's greatest rock 'n' roll group. Every bar band knew their songs.

I followed Fogerty's career like he was my Pied Piper. New singles came out every three months. Nineteen hits in all appeared in rapid succession.

After the early success, however, Fogerty's bandmates became resentful of his control and brother Tom Fogerty quit in 1971. "Mardi Gras" was more democratic with the other two members writing and singing, but it sold poorly. Creedence broke up in 1972.

Fogerty was feeling pressured by his label, Fantasy Records, for more product. He recorded "Blue Ridge Rangers" in 1973, playing all the instruments himself. A self-titled album followed in 1975, but Fogerty was becoming increasingly dissatisfied. He bought out his Fantasy contract by signing over the copyrights to his songs. Numerous lawsuits ensued.

Fogerty withdrew from the music business. Fans waited decades between albums. "Centerfield" came out in 1985 containing the hit "Old Man Down the Road." The Grammy winning "Blue Moon Swamp" appeared in 1997 and "Deja Vu (All Over Again)" last year.

He toured less, too. For his 1985 gigs he stayed away from CCR chestnuts, but he had a change of heart by the late Nineties when he embraced his classic catalog and played enthusiastic versions during his shows.

Although a life-long fan, the first time I saw Fogerty perform live was at the opening of the Rock 'N' Roll Hall on Fame in Cleveland on Sept. 2, 1995. He played "Born on the Bayou" and "Fortunate Son", but not "Green River." Then, to back his "Blue Moon Swamp" album, Fogerty appeared at the House of Blues in Chicago on May 27, 1997. Finally-- after 28 years-- I heard Fogerty blaze through "Green River" on stage just a few feet away.

My Fogerty journey continued this year when my wife Sue and I saw him on tour with John Mellencamp at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant on July 4. He put on an energy-filled show, running from one side of the stage to the other while playing his signature guitar licks. Not bad for a 60-year-old. And yes, he did play "Green River" as a duet with Mellencamp.

Now, Fogerty's own journey takes another turn. He has returned to Fantasy Records where he gained his initial fame. Earlier this year, the label was sold to the Concord Group, owned by TV producer Norman Lear.

The result will be the Nov. l release of the first product to contain both CCR and Fogerty material. "Long Road Home: The Ultimate John Fogerty/ Creedence Collection" will contain 25 tracks. Besides Creedence hits, four of the songs will come from this summer's tour, while six others are solo hits.

Of course, "Green River" will be included. It's Fogerty's favorite song, too.

Lennon's legacy remains relevant

Apple Records is taking the occasion of John Lennon's 65th birthday Oct. 9 to promote new product from the late iconic musician and political activist.

The Beatles' label this week released a CD package entitled "Working Class Hero: Definitive Lennon," while an expanded DVD package called "Imagine" will follow in two months. December 8 marks the 25th anniversary of Lennon's assassination in front of his New York City apartment.

The dual anniversaries will keep Lennon's name and music in the public eye. The hits-filled double CD includes 36 classic Lennon tracks. That package will be followed next week with remastered editions of his 1970's albums "Sometime in New York City" and "Walls and Bridges." The deluxe DVD version of the 1988 film "Imagine: John Lennon," meanwhile, will include previously unseen footage and a 36-song soundtrack. Mobile Fidelity is also set to release the "Live Peace in Toronto 1969" CD in November.

Lennon's 1980 murder was life- defining for many people. Just like President Kennedy's assassination, they remember the moment they heard about Lennon's death. Howard Cosell made the tragic announcement on Monday Night Football, but most people found out the following day. It seemed to many that an era had passed.

Yoko Ono, Lennon's widow, has updated the ex-Beatle's catalog and numerous posthumous albums have been released. Lennon's "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" recordings formed the basis for a Beatles revival in the 1990's which saw the group post a record three No. 1 double albums. The streak continued in 2001 when their "1" album proved the year's best-selling CD.

Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" was the title track to a special package released in the Far East market in August. In fact three versions of the anthem were included in the 18-track album. The first version features well-known Asian singers, the second is a 2004 Yoko Ono recording, while the third is the original 1969 song. The imported disc, called "Peace, Love and Truth," sums up Lennon's philosophy in the title.

That ideology was reflected in the lyrics to "Imagine" his 1971 smash single and album. Lennon's only Michigan appearance as a solo artist came on Dec. 19 of that year when he and Yoko Ono performed before 15,000 people at the "Free John Sinclair" rally in Ann Arbor.

Lennon wasn't everyone's favorite, however. The Nixon administration put the FBI on Lennon's case to force him from the United States for his peace efforts. Still, Lennon won a "green card" and was allowed to stay.

Former bandmate George Harrison will also feature this fall with a reissue of the "Concert for Bangladesh." The landmark 1971 charity recording-- showcasing a Madison Square Garden performance by Harrison and friends-- will be available Oct. 25 on CD and DVD.

Harrison had quite and "A" list of friends at the time, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr. The DVD will include the original 99-minute movie and over one-hour of extras. Dylan's performance of "Love Minus Zero/ No Limit" will be an additional track on the remixed CD. All artist royalties will continue to go to UNICEF.

Following the Beatles' tradition of issuing new product timed for Christmas sales each year, Paul McCartney released "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" in September and is supporting it with a widely acclaimed tour. Ringo Starr's "Choose Love" came out in June. Both albums have been well-received by fans and critics.

Additionally, the DVD version of the "Let It Be" movie, documenting the Beatles' disintegration as a group, may be released early next year, according to Apple Records.

This fall marks the significant anniversaries of John Lennon's birth and death. Judging from marketplace demand and worldwide attention, the Lennon legacy remains relevant today. His cohorts from Liverpool didn't do badly, either.