Paul McCartney certainly hit it out of the park in Fenway. The 67 year old McCartney treated the Boston crowd to over 30 songs from the Beatles, Wings, his solo career and even his latest project called the Fireman.

McCartney’s Buddha-like drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. told the Boston Globe that Sir Paul somehow manages to play as if he were still that teenager with the mop top haircut back in Liverpool. McCartney’s Drummer adds that Sir Paul does not need to tour but he is playing live because he wants to. According to Laboriel, Paul loves to tour and it keeps him young, every time he sits down he’s reborn, he’s like a seventeen year old who is thrilled to be there in the moment.

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I’m still recuperating from the Paul McCartney historic concert at the new Mets Citi Field. Here are some highlights…

For those who don’t know, the Beatles were the first band to play in a huge sports arena. It was in the Summer of 1965 at the New York Mets Shea Stadium. Of course these days huge concerts in sports arenas are common. But, back then the pioneering Beatles actually sung through the stadium’s PA announcement system (Now up at bat… The Beatles… ECHO Echo echo). The original Beatles set list was only 12 songs long and could barely be heard by the 55,000 screaming girls in the audience (OK, there were some screaming dudes too.)

I was actually married at the old 1960s World’s Fair building right where the Beatles Helicopter landed after their Shea Stadium concert. We had our buffet on the same roof where the Beatles made their quick escape decades before. The building had a heliport on the roof which is now a big patio with a beautful view of Manhattan. I’m sure nobody who celebrates their wedding there has any clue of the history.
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For some reason that escapes me, they tore down Shea Stadium last year and built a new baseball stadium right next to it. As a Beatles Tribute, Paul McCartney was asked to be the first to play the new Mets Ballpark.

McCartney had made a guest appearance when Billy Joel played the last show of Shea Stadium last year. I happened to be driving home from the airport just as McCartney’s Limo exited Shea and I drove along side for while as McCartney headed home with a large police escort to the Hamptons. McCartney returned the favor to Billy Joel by having him as a guest on the first night of the new stadium.

McCartney’s voice was the stongest I’ve heard it in the three times I’ve seen him. At sixty seven, his voice is still as strong as it was in his twentys (even if he had a bad hair day in the misty New York weather). You can see in these video hightlights how much fun McCartney was having…

My highlight of the show was when Paul paid tribute to his recently deceased friend George Harrison. Paul played Harrison’s song “Something” on a ukulele that George had given him. As in the Concert for George Harrison DVD performance, the whole band comes in and they morph into the recorded version with photos of George behind the band. It was a very touching moment when Paul turned around at the end of the tribute and raised two peace signs to the large image of George Harrison being projected behind him. Here’s Paul singing Something…

- Beatle Geek Pete
Visit my blog for Beatles Merchandise & News

Remember the reports earlier this year that Michael Jackson was to will his ownership the Beatles Publishing Catalog back to Paul McCartney? Will McCartney now get his songs back?

Today, Paul McCartney’s homepage simply says…

“It’s so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones. I send my deepest sympathy to his mother and the whole family and to his countless fans all around the world.”

Very diplomatic of Sir Paul considering how his one-time friend and musical collaborator later stabbed him in his Back-in-the-USSR. McCartney often told the story of how he gave Jackson some older-brotherly advice telling the gloved-one he should invest in something he loves like Music Publishing. McCartney was certain his friend and collaborator was joking when Jackson said, “One day I’m going to buy your songs Paul”.

Only Jackson wasn’t joking. In 1985, Michael Jackson outbid Paul McCartney and paid 47.5 Million for the Beatles Publishing Catalog.

But now, the Beatles Publishing future is uncertain after Jackson’s death.

Last January, The U.K.’s Daily Mirror reported that a Jackson insider had stated, “Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right.” Is it possible Jackson foresaw his early death later the same year and wanted to correct his earlier wrong doing?

But who really owns the catalog now? Was Jackson able to hold onto his investment despite his recent financial downfall? Jackson sold 50% to Sony but held onto the other half of the publishing catalog.

However, according to a 2002 lawsuit filed by a creditor, Michael later used his music shares to secure a 270 Million Dollar loan. By 2005, The Wall Street Journal reported Jackson racked up 500 Million in debt.

It is possible the shares in Beatle’s publishing will go to some creditor. Or, perhaps back to his onetime friend and mentor Paul McCartney. Keep those fingers crossed.

McCartney and Jackson’s collaboration started after Paul wrote “Girlfriend” from his London Town album with Jackson in mind. Jackson’s producer Quincy Jones suggested to Michael that he record the song for his first album “Off the Wall”. Jackson didn’t use the song, but thought of Paul for his next album “Thriller”.

So, McCartney and Jackson worked together in 1982 on Jackson’s “This Girl is Mine” for the Thriller album. Then they worked together again in 1983, this time for McCartney’s “Say Say Say” from the Pipes of Peace Album.

After they had their bidding war over the Beatle’s Publishing Catalog, they reportedly never spoke again.

Even after death, Michael continues to dish up the strangest  stories.

Pete the Beatle Geek
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Paul McCartney Gives his Friend a Brotherly Pat on the Back While Michael Jackson Prepares to Sucker Punch Paul.