It seems hard to believe that Paul McCartney, who decades ago wrote a song looking into the future about turning 64, is celebrating his 83rd birthday today (June 18).
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It’s not an exaggeration to call McCartney the most famous rock star on the planet. In his twenties, the singer, songwriter, and musician conquered the music world as a member of The Beatles. Of course, his prolific and successful career continued with his 1970s band Wings and his subsequent solo work.
Sir Paul is still performing and recording today. He played his most recent concerts in January 2025, a trio of intimate concerts at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. McCartney also revealed in a December 2024 Q&A that he planned to finish a new studio album this year.
Besides all of the amazing music McCartney has made with his own bands and projects, he has also appeared on recordings by many other famous artists. In honor of his birthday, here are four songs by fellow Rock & Roll Hall of Famers that you may not have known feature McCartney:
“Carolina in My Mind” – James Taylor (1968)
In 1968, James Taylor became one of the first artists to be signed to The Beatles’ Apple record label. The company issued the singer/songwriter’s self-titled debut album, which was released in the U.K. in December 1968 and the U.S. in March 1969.
The album features Taylor’s original version of his classic song “Carolina in My Mind.” McCartney played bass on the track, while his Beatles bandmate George Harrison contributed backing vocals.
The song was released as the first single from James Taylor, but only enjoyed minor success in the U.S. It initially peaked at No. 118 on the Billboard singles chart, but later climbed to No. 67 when it was rereleased in 1970.
Taylor’s best-known version of “Carolina in My Mind” is a rendition he recorded in 1976 for his Greatest Hits compilation. McCartney does not appear on the 1976 recording.
“My Dark Hour” – Steve Miller Band (1969)
“My Dark Hour” is a song that appeared on the Steve Miller Band’s third album, Brave New World, which was released in June 1969.
McCartney contributed backing vocals, drums, bass, and guitar to the track, while Miller sang lead and played all other instruments. The collaboration came about on a day in May 1969 while Steve and his band were recording at Olympic Studios in London at the same time that The Beatles were there working on some mixes.
That day, McCartney had gotten into an argument with his bandmates over the other three Beatles’ desire to sign Allen Klein as Apple’s financial manager. McCartney refused to sign the agreement, and the others left the studio in anger.
Miller happened to be at the studio without the other members of his band that day. Producer Glyn Johns, who was working on the Miller Band’s album, suggested that Steve and Paul collaborate on a track. The result of the late-night session was “My Dark Hour.”
McCartney appeared in the album’s credits under the pseudonym Paul Ramon.
The song was released as a single from Brave New World, but it only reached No. 126 on the U.S. chart.
“Night Owl” – Carly Simon (1972)
“Night Owl” is a song written by James Taylor that Carly Simon covered for her classic third album, No Secrets. The album was released in November 1972, a few weeks after Simon and Taylor were married. James’ version of the blues-inspired song was featured on his self-titled debut album.
Carly’s rendition featured backing vocals by McCartney and his first wife, Linda.
No Secrets also included Simon’s chart-topping signature tune “You’re So Vain,” which featured uncredited backing vocals by another famous British singer—The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger.
No Secrets spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in early 1973.
“On the Wings of a Nightingale” – The Everly Brothers (1984)
The Everly Brothers were a huge influence on the early Beatles, as well as on many other famous acts.
In 1984, the often-contentious siblings, Don and Phil, reunited to record there first studio album in more than a decade. The album, titled EB84, kicks off with the soaring “On the Wings of a Nightingale,” a song written specially for The Everly Brothers by McCartney. Paul also contributed guitar to the track.
“On the Wings of a Nightingale” was a huge hit, but it was the duo’s most successful single since 1970. It peaked at No. 50 on the Hot 100 and No. 41 on the U.K. singles chart.
(Photo by Mary McCartney)
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