Spoiler for the thirteenth
installment
of Paul's sydicated
radio show!
00:27 Hi -Ho 01:20 Sweetest Little Show 04:20 There is No Me Without You - The Manhattans 08:30 Set This Town On Fire Tonight ??? 12:40 Suzie Q - ??? 15:10 Froggie Went A Courtin 18:20 Sunny Goode Street - Donovan 22:30 Every Night 26:00 Turn Tape Over 00:45 Philo Cheese Straws 02:05 Endless Days ??? - Linda 05:05 Be Vegetarian ????? 09:15 Ivory Madonna - UB40 ( I think this song has a different name but I can't remember it.) 13:45 Things We Said Today 17:45 Devoted to You - The Everly Bros. 20:15 Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying 24:20 Bye Bye 25:00 The Entertainer
When evaluating Paul's "Oobu Joobu" episodes, it's easy to focus on the nature of the unreleased material--how much there is, how different it is from released versions, and so on. But "Oobu Joobu" is a radio show, and it's important to think about it in comparison to what else is out there on the dial. Episode 13 gives us plenty of reminders that this series is more eclectic and intriguing than just about anything on commercial radio in the US.
For example, Paul includes a rehearsal recording in which he plays the traditional American song "Froggie Went A-Courtin'". It's not exactly an unheard of song--Bob Dylan recorded it a few years ago on the "Good As I Been To You" album--but how often does this type of song make it to the airwaves, even on the non-commercial part of the dial? Paul sounds a little distracted in places, perhaps having trouble remembering the song, but it's still an appealing recording which sports some very nice guitar work. More familiar to the McCartney faithful, but still a departure for the casual listener, is the Ray Charles nugget "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'". I prefer the soundcheck played here to the one included on "Tripping The Live Fantastic", particularly the more rocked-up bridge section. For good measure, Paul also throws in a brief performance of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer".
Of course, Paul also does some of his own material in the soundcheck and rehearsal material presented this time out. From the Beatle repertoire comes "Things We Said Today", in what appears to be another "Unplugged" rehearsal. This one has a very nice a capella intro that elicits some laughter from Paul, but which actually works quite well. Too bad this wasn't used. From Paul's solo catalog comes "Every Night", sounding much like the version played on the 1993 tour. Like "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'", this song was recorded at the soundcheck from Paul's 5/5/93 show in Cincinatti. Finally, there's another of Paul's off-the-cuff soundcheck jams, this one revolving around the phrase "gonna set this town on fire tonight". Fun.
The outside material played is also quite eclectic, with several tracks that you can safely expect not to hear elsewhere. Paul's old buddy Donovan checks in with "Sunny Goode Street", and Paul spins "Ivory Madonna" by UB40, a young band that shares Paul's love of reggae (he even sings the title with the record at the beginning and then scats a bit). The Manhattans are represented by their 1973 R&B hit "There's No You Without Me" (which hit #43 on the pop chart). The URAOTW (Unidentified Reggae Artist Of The Week) covers the Dale Hawkins oldie "Susie-Q". There's even an excerpt of "Heigh-Ho" from Disney's "Snow White" which opens the program up. And Paul speaks movingly before he plays the Everly Borthers classic "Devoted To You", telling about hearing it on the way to see Linda while she was recuperating from Stella's birth.
Speaking of Linda, she has a song for the first time in several weeks, but the 70's-ish piano piece, while nice, is ruined by a poor vocal performance--unfortunate since most of Linda's vocals aired during this series have been stronger than I expected. The song is not given a title, but I'd guess "Endless Days and Lonely Nights." Her recipe is for Philo cheese straws.
Rounding out the show are a well-played, mostly instrumental piece in which Paul does perform a rather sullen chorus, the words to which I can't understand at all (I'd guess "Beam Exchange" or perhaps "Be Mr. James", and the bootlegged demo of "Sweetest Little Show", which is aired in part and segued into the released version.
Another tough choice for song of the week, but I'll pick "Froggie Went A-Courtin'" because it's such a change from what we usually hear from McCartney.
... Ain't enough water to put it out!
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