Paul McCartney Tosses Off A “G” Gem!

Just a guy at a piano, but what came from the mind of Paul McCartney was genius and a great way to begin my look at “Music A – Z” – with this list of songs beginning with the letter “G”!

These Guys Messing About In The Studio!

Yes, take four Beatles and a collection of songs, and what do you get? Another one of their masterpieces, including this great song from Paul!

10 – “Got To Get You Into My Life” by The Beatles

This is one of Paul’s great slices of upbeat pop, from the “Revolver” album – it was also a huge hit later for Earth, Wind & Fire.

Here is a terrific live performance by Paul at The White House for then-President Obama!

The Beatles released the greatest music of all time, and the “Revolver” album is an amazing collection of great pop hits, ballads and experimentation…see more about the 50th anniversary of this masterpiece here:

9 – “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac

Talk about a cultural phenomenon!

Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours was an instant commercial success when it was released in February 1977, selling over 10 million copies worldwide within just a month of its release.  It ultimately became the 9th best selling album of all time!

There were 4 top ten hits, from the #1 “Dreams”, to “You Make Lovin’ Fun” and of course “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow”!

“Go Your Own Way” was also a smash hit, with instantly recognizable lyrics:

“Loving you
Isn’t the right thing to do
How can I ever change things
That I feel?

If I could
Baby, I’d give you my world
How can I
When you won’t take it from me?

You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way”

Here they are performing it in 1977:

The album is a masterpiece from start to finish!

For fans of 90’s brit rock, if you needed some Damon Albarn and Blur, well I’ve got that as well:

8 – “Girls And Boys” by Blur

This hit song is taken from Blur’s 3rd studio album ‘Parklife’ released in 1994 – enjoy!

Some of you may know that I love British rock, especially by bands with one word names, like Coldplay, Doves, Elbow, Keane, Athlete, Oasis and more!

See them all here:

Next up: the biggest selling duo in music history is getting the kind of press you never want to get:

7 – “Go Solo” – Daryl Hall and John Oates

The title of this song is prophetic: they have made headlines recently for a very acrimonious breakup – that follows decades of smash hits!

Daryl Hall and John Oates have so many mega-hits, like “She’s Gone”, “Kiss On My List” and “Sara Smile”, but in the early 80’s, this song turned up as an album cut on their big hit “H2O” – here is the video:

They have indeed now “gone solo”, as a new legal battle seems to ensure they will never work together again – here are the details:

Next up, a look at one of the greatest James Bond 007 theme songs, by one of music’s true Icons:

6 – “Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey

The third film in the 007 series started off with a big, bold and brassy theme song that cemented James Bond as the coolest guy in the world…and Bassey as one of our greatest vocalists…here she is performing the song live:

“Goldfinger” is considered one of the greatest Bond films, and themes as well, and since I am reviewing every single 007 film in order on my blog, here’s what I had to say about “Goldfinger!”

Next is one of Steely Dan’s most perfectly realized pop/jazz/blues albums:

5 – “Gaucho” by Steely Dan

After the phenomenal success of “Aja” at the end of the 70’s, Steely Dan cemented their new blues/jazz funk on their next album from 1980, and the title track is a great example of their sound.

Here’s an audio only version of the song, so beautiful I chose to include it without video:

Fans of the band were stunned to lose Walter Becker – here is a look at the band he founded with Donald Fagen:

OK, I want to prove I can love new music as well. like this hauntingly beautiful song by Billie Eilish:

4 – “Getting Older” by Billie Eilish

This was the opening track of her second studio album, Happier Than Ever from 2021.

It’s kind of funny to know that she was 20 years old when she sang about “gettin’ older” but her lyrics are terrific and voice sublime…take a look:

Sine this song, Eilish and her brother became the youngest “two time” Oscar winners in history for their original songs for the James Bond film “No Time To Die” and this year’s “Barbie” song “What Was I Made For?”

Next up, two guys who look born to wear LONG beards as part of a trio that rocked out the 80’s with a unique sound!

3 – “Gimme All Your Lovin'” by ZZ Top

The 80’s were a decade for big hair bands like Def Leppard and Motley Crue, and for southern style rock thanks to ZZ Top!

For 51 years, this Houston-based band rocked out with vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, Drummer Frank Beard and Bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill!

This is a perfect example of their sound and swagger!

Next up, one of music’s most unique and gorgeous songs of all time, thanks to Singer/Songwriter Brian Wilson:

2 – “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys

When Wilson closed himself off and began to write, magic happened – this is perhaps his most famous song among many, like “God Only Knows”, “Surfin’ Safari”, “California Girls” and more.

“I-I love the colorful clothes she wears
And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
I hear the sound of a gentle word
On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air

I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me the excitations (oom bop bop)
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations (good vibrations, oom bop bop)
She’s giving me the excitations (excitations, oom bop bop)…”

Enjoy this original video of the song with the band:

Finally, a classic Bruce Springsteen song that looks back at someone’s “glory days” that have passed him by:

1 – “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen

The lyrics say it all…looking back on better times with regret…

“I had a friend was a big baseball player back in high school (yeah)
He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool boy
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar, I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks, but all he kept talking about was

Glory days
Well they’ll pass you by, glory days
In the wink of a young girl’s eye, glory days
Glory days”

Here is the music video:

The boss rules!

If you want to see previous installments of my series, why not drop in on these “F” songs?

If you are hungry for more great music, how about the “A” list?

Yes, Aerosmith is classic rock with a big “A” – one of several great songs or bands with that letter – here are more:

And if you love to surf, then you’ll love the music from the “B” list:

Timeless classics from The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Bowie of course – all right here:

Finally, here is a great song starting with a “C” from a “C” band as well!

See more great songs with a “C” right here:

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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Music, Pop Culture, The Beatles

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