Sir Paul at the Whitehouse

apollo bass · #1 07-28-2010, 08:43 PM

A great special on PBS tonight as Sir Paul was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Reminds us all of what a musical treasure he is. Loved it when the President told the audience Paul was playing the same bass he used on the Ed Sullivan Show back in '64 - and that it was a "cheap" bass. The camera switched to show Paul as he mouthed "about 30 pounds."

Even in today's money that's only about $60 bucks. Of course the President got a laugh when he told the crowd Paul said he thought it might be worth a bit more now. No kidding!

Anyway, a great special with a lot of guest artist performing McCartney songs, like Faith Hill doing Long and Winding Road. Wow! And Paula nd Stevie Wonder doing Ebony and Ivory. A great show.

**peledog** · #2 07-29-2010, 01:10 AM

Enjoyed it immensely.

I think Dave Grohl's performance was a highlight (well, the whole show was a highlight...)

But everyone singing 'Hey Jude' was schweeeet!

Bob C · #3 07-29-2010, 08:04 AM

I enjoyed it too. Some parts of the show were corny, but that is the nature of those events.

I've seen enought live footage of Paul and his band that there weren't that many surprises. BUT his band is always good, and he was in excellent voice.

Agreed, all of the guest performers did a great job. Jack White looked pretty nervous to me. Stevie Wonder can still sing like crazy, Jerry Seinfeld did a killer set, and Emmylou Harris is still HOT.

T. Alan Smith · #4 07-29-2010, 08:24 AM

Pretty cool, but pretty cheezy at times too.

mizzou541 · #5 07-29-2010, 08:30 AM

I enjoyed it...and +1 to Grohl being the highlight.

PJSShearer · #6 07-29-2010, 09:58 AM

30 pounds in 1964 (reoughyl USD85.00 at the time) was at least a couple of weeks wages for a working man, so it wasn't particularly "cheap" at the time.

becker4567 · #7 07-29-2010, 10:03 AM

I don't think it's the same bass. Paul's original Hofner (along with one of George's Gretsch) was stolen out of a closet at the Abby Road studios where they were stored around 1976.

mizzou541 · #8 07-29-2010, 10:14 AM

Jerry Seinfeld: "Well she was just 17, you know what I mean...no Paul I'm not sure I do know what you mean."

MonetBass · #9 07-29-2010, 10:19 AM

We caught the end of the show. Sorry I missed most of it. If it's on again, I'll be recording that.

kenfxj · #10 07-29-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizzou541

Jerry Seinfeld: "Well she was just 17, you know what I mean...no Paul I'm not sure I do know what you mean."

I heard talk of that line. John said "If we're gonna write good songs we can't write bad lines". The trick was coming up with a following line to "Well she was just 17" that didn't use the words "beauty queen".

Tampabass · #11 07-29-2010, 10:28 AM

Jerry sure knows what Paul meant: Jerry started dating the much younger Shoshanna Lonstein when she was just 18 (from 93 to 97).

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizzou541

Jerry Seinfeld: "Well she was just 17, you know what I mean...no Paul I'm not sure I do know what you mean."

BigOldHarry · #12 07-29-2010, 10:59 AM

I do respect Paul... but I've never much enjoyed his music... Nor do I think of him as a "Bassist" so much as songwriter/singer who plays bass...

bassbrad · #13 07-29-2010, 12:08 PM

Blackbird was my favorite moment, as much as the world doesn't need another. Herbie and Corrine Ray did a beautiful version and Herbie found some interesting chords.

Already In Use · #14 07-29-2010, 12:18 PM

Good show!

BIGREDSIX · #15 07-29-2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I do respect Paul... but I've never much enjoyed his music... Nor do I think of him as a "Bassist" so much as songwriter/singer who plays bass...

onestring · #16 07-29-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. Alan Smith

Pretty cool, but pretty cheezy at times too.

I'm as big a Beatles fan as anybody, but that line not only sums up the show but Paul's entire career. Luckily the cool parts are so very, very cool that they handily outweigh Sir Paul's 87% cheese factor.

So Low Bass · #17 07-29-2010, 12:45 PM

I thought the lineup tried to be too much to too many. For example, I don't know what a stand up comic has to do with musicians.

I don't know of a more important 20th century musician... in ANY genre.

nysbob · #18 07-29-2010, 12:50 PM

I liked Elvis Costello's read on Penny Lane.

Chrisk-K · #19 07-29-2010, 01:48 PM

I caught the program when Costello was singing. I was initially confused (Why is he singing with Paul's band???).

I'm not a fan of Grohl but his performance was the highlight.

Steve Clark · #20 07-29-2010, 01:51 PM

Great show. Costello and Grohl were really good. Emmylou was a little disappointing. Really liked Herbie. Seemed that he was working off of a rough, quickly put together chord chart that was ripped out of some notebook. What was it that Lang Lang played? I love watching Laboriel play the kit.