New Macca!
Even though Paul McCartney turns 84 years old in June, he is still making music!
McCartney just announced his new studio album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, set for release on May 29, 2026. Produced by Andrew Watt, this 14-track project is his first solo album in five years and is described as a highly personal, introspective work, featuring the new single “Days We Left Behind“.
Here is that song:
While pretty, I’m a bit concerned by the somewhat shaky vocals…I can understand why considering his age, but it does seem a bit weak as some reviews have noted.
The album is named after a Liverpool street in the neighborhood where he grew up. A new documentary about the years after he left The Beatles, called “Man On The Run”, also premiered recently. Here is the trailer:
This documentary is very honest and candid: both he and former members of the band discuss the ups and downs of his life after being a Beatle.
Wings was hugely popular, with hits like “Band On The Run”, Silly Love Songs” and many more – but the documentary also shows how difficult it was for the other band members to be in his shadow…worth a watch!
All of that reminded me of one of the funniest moments in Paul’s career: when he had a secret song on a great 80’s rock film – AND another great comedy tried to sell us on a Wings song he never wrote!
Paul McCartney’s Secret Soundtracks!
I love finding interesting trivia about Paul McCartney and Wings, and here are two songs that were “secret” to me until now!
In the 70’s, Wings released hit albums and toured the world many times over – but they also had time to write some songs for other people, in this case a “hidden” song on the great movie “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School!”
“Rock n’ Roll High School”
This raucous comedy from 1979 has a soundtrack that includes classic songs from The Ramones, Todd Rundgren, Devo and Alice Cooper – but it also includes a Wings song!
The romantic theme song heard under the credits, “Did We Meet Somewhere Before?” is sung by Paul McCartney and Wings.
According to wikipedia:
“McCartney wrote it as the theme to ‘Heaven Can Wait’ (1978), but Warren Beatty decided not to use it. Allan Arkush, the director, then swung a deal whereby he was able to use the song for only $500 provided McCartney did not receive screen credit.”
See the track listed above on Paul’s never-released “Hot Hits Cold Kutz” outtakes compilation? Some of these songs have turned up on compilations and special edition releases, and even on these bootleg “cold cuts” compilations, but I’d never heard of this one until now.
Here is an audio-only track:
There are many of these “Cold Cut” compilations, but I’ve never come across any of them – but I did post a story about some of the songs that exist in this “bootleg” world – and the story of Paul’s plans to release this collection in the past – you can see those videos and story here:
I also recently heard another Wings song – used as a plot point in a film!
“Love Take Me Down” From “Role Models”!
Did you know that this great 2008 comedy has a Wings song in it?
A running gag in the film is a song entitled “Love Take Me Down (to the Streets)”, which is claimed by a camp counselor to be one of the many hit songs by Paul McCartney and Wings.
In the film, Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott meet a Counselor at the support group “Sturdy Wings” – you can see the logo…remind you of anything?
“Role Models” Obsession With Wings!
I love this movie, because it takes Paul McCartney and Wings and turns it into a running gag in the film. The counselor they meet starts singing a song as they wait for the meeting to begin – the song is called “Love Take Me Down (To The Streets)”.
Rudd immediately corrects him that it’s not a Paul McCartney and Wings song – “it’s not anyone’s song” he says, but he is ignored – here is a clip of that first scene, then a followup when they are all at camp and the Wings gag plays again:
I love that the movie has fun with a Wings song the guys know so well.
During the credits, the song is played again – and listed on the film soundtrack as being performed by “Not Wings.” The song was written by Charles Gansa, a composer who worked on the film, and A. D. Miles, who plays Martin in the film.
It was written to imitate the style of Wings – and is actually performed by Joey Curatolo, a Paul McCartney “soundalike” from the Beatles tribute band Rain.
So there you go, an obscure Wings song – and one that’s “fake Macca”.
I have also posted about a lot of songs written by Paul that were given to other Artists:
Some were minor pop tunes, and a few classic songs were massive hits – see them here:
The documentary shows the band Wings breaking up, but not before they performed for a huge charity vent – and he played his “Rockestra Theme” with an all-star band!
See more here:
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, documentary films, Memoirs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, The Beatles
johnrieber 
A very informative piece, John, which I enjoyed very much. That new song is lovely, and I’m now looking forward to the album.
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Shared on Twitter, John. (Enough said. 😊)
Best wishes, Pete.
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