McCartney, Paul - Back In The U.S. Live 2002 (DVD)


Year of Release: 2002
Label: Capitol Records
Catalog Number: 7243 4 77990 9 9
Format: CD
Total Time: 180:00:00

Regardless of whether you went to see Paul live on tour or didn't want the hectic journey and the tens of thousands of people around you, this DVD is more than just the concert itself. Instead of playing the nonstop show, this DVD comes as kind of a documentary, with bits and pieces of interviews interspersed throughout the show. True, maybe a special feature had to be installed in order for you to decide whether at all you want all the titbits as well, instead of just the music. However this DVD really focuses on all the aspects of a gigantic tour with the spotlight on virtually every single crewmember because it's the teamwork and the superb family spirit that was able to set this thing on the road. A lot of so called rockstars could learn a lesson or two from Paul McCartney, who always has a friendly word for each and every member of the team. Having at times performed between 350 and 360 shows a year during his Beatles period, Paul knows how important it is to have a good understanding whilst on the road.

In the backstage area we are shown the intimacy of Paul's dressing room where we briefly see him rehearse "Here, There & Everywhere" with Emmylou Harris. Paul's bathroom evens serves as location for some short vocal acrobatics. We witness real soundchecks ranging from the steamin' blues of "Bring It To Jerome" to the country flavoured acoustic shuffle of "Midnight Special" and "San Fransisco Bay" with Twix on accordeon. This is music for the sheer pleasure of playing music, as if we were going back to the very beginning with the Quarry Men! But then there's the actual show, which as said before, is more like a film, like a documentary, or should we say a rockumentary? Judging from the enthusiastic crowd, a McCartney show is there for all ages, as we see children, parents and even grandparents. But a grandparent Macca certainly ain't as his voce sounds as good as ever. As Twix says: combining the talent and genius of Paul McCartney together with the enthusiasm of young new musicians results in the biggest buzz you're ever gonna have, whether you're part of the band or one of the many thousands coming to have a good time.

It really is amazing how such a huge crowd can become so very silent when Paul takes his guitar to tackle "Blackbird." He then strips the Beatles classic "We Can Work It Out" from all arrangements. Paul unplugged. In between songs we hear a short punk version of "Hey Jude" as proof of the wit inside the band. The version of "Matchbox" is the soundcheck prior to yet another gig. Paul then dedicates "Your Loving Flame" to his new found love Heather. A little later however, he will also remember Linda when he plays a wonderful version of "My Love." Although dating from the sixties "Getting Better" gets its very first live rendition during this tour. Paul then pays tribute to his two Beatles pals who had passed away. "Here Today" has been written for John Lennon, whilst George Harrison is being remembered by means of "Something," ukelele and all. Next to the music we see footage of Paul and Heather doing all kinds of things for charity. Then Paul visits the apes and even makes music with them. The Beatle goes Monkees? "Band On The Run" sports some nice slide guitar courtesy of Rusty, whilst "Back In The USSR" shines because of the Beach Boys harmonies. During "Maybe I'm Amazed" Paul looks at drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr. and really looks amazed at what he does. Abe also has a brief solo spot during "Sgt. Pepper's (reprise)." When all the crew hold up huge hearts during the final day of the US tour it all becomes emotional for Paul, so there are some bum notes during the intro. But as it's like parting from a close family, we forgive him.

Years after John and Yoko's bed-ins, Paul puts on a red T-shirt bearing the white letters that read "No more land mines." If only we could swap each of those landmines for a copy of this DVD then surely the world would be a much better place. Whether you buy this DVD because you're curious to find out if the press was right about this tour or whether you were there and want this DVD as a souvenir (in which case you should stick your ticket inside the box) Back In The US is a fantastic DVD thatshows all along what I have known for a very long time already, that Paul is God!


Tracklisting:
Hello Goodbye (4:02) / Jet (4:03) / All My Loving (2:09) / Live And Let Die (3:05) / Coming Up (3:26) / Blackbird (2:30) / We Can Work It Out (2:30) / Here, There And Everywhere (2:26) / Eleanor Rigby (2:17) / Matchbox / Your Loving Flame (3:29) / The Fool On The Hill (3:09) / Getting Better (3:10) / Here Today (2:28) / Something (2:33) / Band On The Run (5:) / Let Me Roll It (4:24) / Back In The USSR (2:56) / My Love (4:03) / Maybe I:m Amazed (4:49) / Freedom / Let It Be (3:58) / Hey Jude (7:01) / Can't Buy Me Love (2:09) / Lady Madonna (2:21) / The Long And Winding Road (3:31) / Yesterday (2:08) / Sgt. Peppers ? The End (4:40) / I Saw Her Standing There (3:08) Bonus tracks: Driving rain (3:11) / Every Night (2:51) / You Never Give Me Your Money - Carry That Weight (3:06)

Special features : Set list / Sound check:

Musicians:
Paul McCartney - guitar, piano, bass, vocals
Rusty Anderson - guitar, background vocals
Brian Ray - guitar, bass, background vocals
Paul 'Wix' Wickens - keyboards, programming, background vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. - percussion, drums, background vocals

Discography:
McCartney (1970)
Ram (1971)
Wild Life (1971)
Red Rose Speedway (1973)
Band On The Run (1973)
Venus & Mars (1975)
Wings At The Speed Of Sound (1976)
London Town (1978)
Wings Greatest (1978)
Back to The Egg (1979)
McCartney II (1980)
Tug Of War (1982)
Pipes Of Peace (1983)
Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)
Press To Play (1986)
All The Best (1987) (USA only)
Flowers In The Dirt (1989)
Tripping The Live Fantastic (1990)
Liverpool Oratorio (1991)
Uplugged (The Official Bootleg) (1991)
Choba B CCCP (1991)
Paul Is Live (1993)
Off The Ground (1993)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Liverpool Sound Collage (2000)
Wingspan: Hits And History (2001)
'From A Lover To A Friend' (single) (2001)
Driving Rain (2001)
Back In The U.S. Live 2002 (2002)
Back In The World Live (2003)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard - Special Edition (2005)
Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart (2006)
Memory Almost Full (2007)
Amoeba's Secret (ep) (2009)

Back In The U.S. Live 2002 (DVD) (2002)

Genre: Rock

Origin UK

Added: April 6th 2003
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.paulmccartney.com
Hits: 1909
Language: english

  

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