10 Perfect Rock Songs Cut From Classic Albums
7. Soily - Paul McCartney and Wings
Ever since Paul McCartney left the Beatles, he always had a bit of a nasty reputation in the mind’s of rock and rollers. Nevermind the fact that he was responsible for the Fab Four crumbling down over business ventures, Macca was starting to become known as the soft member of the group, only making the lush piano ballads for the band and being offset by the raw emotion of John Lennon and George Harrison. Paul had always been a rocker since day one, and Wings’ live album gave him an excuse to get back to his roots.
Having conquered the world on the strength of his new band’s albums like Venus and Mars and Band on the Run, Wings Over America gave us a little bit of everything that the new McCartney had to offer, including some newer versions of those old Beatles tunes like Yesterday and I’ve Just Seen a Face. Right towards the end of the album though comes Soily, with a balls to the wall energy that Paul hadn’t really captured since his first few solo records. Being equal parts Helter Skelter and Get Back, the whole appeal of this song is in the attitude that Paul sings it with, almost breaking out his Little Richard vocal chops on some of the higher notes.
The band did eventually cut this song in the studio and release it as a B-side, but putting it on in the studio is really missing the point. This is a song that comes to life on the stage, and hearing the band in their element cutting loose for their fans is the only way it should be enjoyed.