Paul McCartney: Rock 'n Roll Animal

Today I'm here to prove that when he was in the mood, Paul McCartney could challenge Robert Plant, Freddie Mercury, Roger Daltrey, Ian Gillan, Mick Jagger, Bono and others as a championship caliber rock singer and composer. A few weeks back I posted a handful of tracks that McCartney haters often cite to convince themselves that he's really nothing more than a latter-day Lawrence Welk, so today I'm giving equal time to the composer's heavier side. If you've already read my defense of the hall-of-famer's granny music it's time to read Paul McCartney: Rock 'n Roll Animal.
"I'm Down," the B-side to The Beatles' single "Help" (1965)
McCartney did a great Little Richard impression when he covered "Long Tall Sally" in 1964, and he was just as good when he wrote and sang "I'm Down" a year later, another obvious tribute to one of his early idols and influences. Listen to his maniacal screams at 1:52 and 2:08 as proof. An unrelated highlight of this deep track is John Lennon emulating Jerry Lee Lewis playing a Vox Continental organ solo with his elbow just like The Killer did.


"Drive My Car," from Rubber Soul (1965)
"Drive My Car" isn't nearly as ear-splitting as some other rock songs, but it has clever, subtle, dirty lyrics unlike any other Beatles song, and that's enough to make it one of my favorite Fab Four rockers. McCartney had the basic song written, but John Lennon came up with a new lyrical theme because both songwriters hated the lines Paul had already written. According to his biographer, Barry Miles, Paul said that "Drive my car was an old blues euphemism for sex."  His earthy lead vocal and Ringo Starr's cowbell help make this edgy rocker a perfect opening to an absolutely wonderful album.


"Helter Skelter" from The Beatles (aka The White Album) (1968)
No, The Beatles didn't invent heavy metal when this song appeared on their brilliant double set as some people claim, and McCartney's lyrics about a popular British carnival ride NEVER EVER suggest that cult members should perform mass murder on behalf of their psychotic leader. Inspired by The Who's "I Can See for Miles" McCartney composed what is easily the raunchiest track in the quartet's catalog. (Take that, John Lennon.) Once listeners get over the initial shock that this is a McCartney piece of work, rock fans should realize how eclectic of a composer and performer he truly is. Two extreme sides of the elite bassist's personality are on full display on this album because he placed "Honey Pie" on the same release. Listen to Ringo Starr yell "I've got blisters on my fingers" at the very end.


"Junior's Farm" - Wings, Non - LP, 45 rpm, single (1974)
This rockin' record peaked at #3 on the US hot 100 and #16 in the UK. It's about getting away from The Beatles and their fatal business dealings by just kicking back and relaxing at his Scottish farm with Linda and his family and was inspired by Bob Dylan's "Maggie's Farm." McCartney said the lyrics are silly and interpreters shouldn't try to find any hidden or deep meaning in them. That's fine, because I've never really paid attention to the words anyway. The fact that this big hit rocks hard was always good enough for me. Jimmy McCulloch played lead guitar and Denny Laine handled rhythm while their leader once again supplied some excellent bass work.


"Twenty Fight Rock" - Paul McCartney, from Choba B CCCP (1988)
This deep track takes McCartney back to his roots, and it should have special significance for him. It's the 1957 Eddie Cochran hit that McCartney - then only 15 - played to impress John Lennon on the day they first met at St. Peter's Church in Liverpool on July 6th of that year. It quickly led to his invitation to join the Quarrymen. The album's title translates as Back in the USSR in Russian, and it was originally released only in that country. It's a covers album that is not one of his finer efforts, but I figured if you've never heard this important song in Beatles history you might want to listen to it now. If you don't believe playing rockabilly qualifies someone as a rock 'n roll animal you need to check out most of Brian Setzer's repertiore and this from Robert Plant. 

Comments

  1. Jonathan King8:57 PM, April 30, 2026

    Glad to see "I'm Down" here. I got up at 6 in the morning the day in 1965 that the new Beatles single "Help!" was scheduled to debut on AM radios everywhere. I liked it, groggily, well enough, but it was the B-side that really woke me up!

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