From GENIUS COMPOSER to POP LIGHTWEIGHT: How the 1970s Rock Press Rebranded Paul McCartney

Dr. Allison Bumsted joins Phoebe and Daphne to discuss how rock journalism in the 1970s re-shaped Paul McCartney’s critical reputation for the next three decades (and beyond). 

Also discussed in this episode: authenticity, gatekeeping, rock aesthetics and rhetoric, hyper-masculinity and the inherent inclusivity of pop.

 

SOURCES

Paul McCartney interviewed on Radio Luxembourg May 12, 1973
Something About the Beatles, “Critiquing the Critics” Episodes 176a and 176b
A Women’s History of the Beatles, Christine Feldman-Barrett (2021)
The Beatles and the Historians, Erin Torkelson-Weber (2016)
Truant Boy: Art, Authenticity and Paul McCartney, Martin Shough (2017)
Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music, Yuval Taylor and Hugh Barker (2007)
“Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader,” Lester Bangs (2003)
“Physical Graffiti” review by Jim Miller, Rolling Stone (March 27, 1975)
John Landau reviews RAM, (July 8, 1971)
Wildlife review by John Mendelssohn, Rolling Stone (Jan 20, 1972)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, written by Allen Evans, NME (May 20, 1967)
“The Jefferson Airplane and the San Francisco Sound,” Ralph J Gleason (1969)
“Just Two Superstars from Middle Rock,” NY Times (Aug 3, 1975)
“Imagine” review by Ben Gerson (Oct 28, 1971)
“The Former Beatle Gets Personal” Paul Gambincini, Rolling Stone (Jan 31, 1974)
“Records: Paul McCartney and Wings” Band on the Run review by Dave Downing, Let it Rock (1974)
Band on the Run review, Jon Landau (1974)
“Paul and Linda McCartney: Bionic couple serves it your way” Lester Bangs, Creem: 34–39 and 72–73 (1976)
“Yesterday, Today and Paul” Rolling Stone, Ben Fong-Torres (June 17 1976) 
"Paul McCartney & Wings" Rolling Stone page 14; Paul Gambaccini (June 21 1973) 
Life Magazine (November 7, 1969)
“Man of the Year” Rolling Stone, Jann Wenner (February 7, 1970)
“Sound effects: Youth, Leisure, and the Politics of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Simon Frith. New York: Pantheon Books (197.)
"Rod Stewart’s Holiday Turkey: Blondes Have More Fun Review" Rolling Stone, Janet Maslin (Feb 8, 1979)
"Every Picture Tells a Story" Review Rolling Stone, John Mendelsohn (July 8, 1971)

 

OTHER WRITERS MENTIONED
Pete Wiley, Robert Christgau, Matt Brennan, Holly Tessler, Leonard Feather, Leroy Jones, Barbara Gardner, Nat Hentoff, Simon Frith, Jim DeRogatis 

 

ALLISON’S LINKS

My social (Inast and Twitter @Allison Bumsted)

Website: www.allisonbumsted.com (I update it with what's happening)

Book Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-85543-7

Chapter Link:: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-85543-7_5 (ask your local library to get a hold of the book!)

 

PLAYLIST
The Mess (live at the Hague) WINGS
Band on the Run PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS
Wildlife WINGS
Too Many People PAUL & LINDA MCCARTNEY
I Am Your Singer WINGS
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey PAUL & LINDA MCCARTNEY
Mama’s Little Girl PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS
Let Me Roll it PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS
Rockshow WINGS