Paul McCartney’s 1971 album Wild Life was an interesting detour from one of the world’s most successful songwriters. The end of his most recent group, The Beatles, had been followed up by two albums that attracted their fair share of disappointing reviews (though both are now considered classics by many). Creating a new band (Wings), the album saw McCartney showing off his domestic bliss with wife Linda, using a more laid-back approach, focussing on endearing melodies and calming ballads over the sonic experimentation and cultural awareness that made his former band so famous.
And now that the album has just passed its fiftieth anniversary, the LP is due to be reissued this Friday on vinyl. Also, to further aid celebrations, an interview with McCartney from 2018 has been shared on his website, giving us some background on the making of the album and McCartney’s more recent thoughts on it. And one topic that most certainly had to come up was the influence of his old bandmate, John Lennon.
The Beatles had an uncomfortable relationship with one another after their breakup in 1970. Creative and financial disputes saw some bitter things said, both in the press and on their respective solo albums. However, the most bitter fallout was probably between the two lead songwriters, John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Both a war of words in the press and songs on their solo albums had them locking horns, with McCartney’s Ram album criticising Lennon’s political activism and implying him to blame for the group’s end. Lennon’s response with the song “How Do You Sleep“ was even more damning, dismissing McCartney’s solo career as “muzak“, and even referencing a popular conspiracy theory in implying that McCartney was creatively spent.
By this point in time, McCartney wanted peace. Penning the song “Dear Friend“, it was a call to lay down arms against one another. It became the last track on the Wild Life LP. Speaking about it in the recently revisited interview, McCartney said “that’s sort of me talking to John after we’d had all the sort of disputes about The Beatles break up. I find it very emotional when I listen to it now. I have to sort of choke it back …. This was me reaching out. So, I think it’s very powerful in some very simple way. But it was certainly heartfelt.“
Eventually, the two did see eye to eye, even briefly recording together again for the Toot and a Snore in ’74 sessions. Sadly Lennon was shot dead in 1980 by a crazed fan, but McCartney always had their reconciliation as a source of comfort, writing the song “Here Today” in response.
If you’re interested in Wild Life’s upcoming reissue and want to celebrate it with other fans, you can join a listening party on Friday at 5 pm GMT here. If you want to pre-order it, you can look here. And if you just want to hear an important piece of history from the world’s most acclaimed rock group of all time, follow this link, and enjoy.
