If you didn’t know that Paul McCartney’s brother was a musician, that was likely very much intentional. Peter Michael McCartney produced music under the name Mike McGear, possibly to distance himself from any preconceived notions of nepotism related to his older brother, The Beatles’ Paul McCartney.
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Though, McGrear’s music career was more or less short-lived. He only released two solo albums during his career, the final of which was the 1974 rock album McGear. And while that album was indeed a solo effort, it was also a collaborative project that featured quite a bit of help from his older brother, as well as Wings and a few other guest artists.
It’s a shame that McGear didn’t get as close to musical fame as his brother. There is quite a bit to love about this particular album. McGear’s musical style was unique and distinct, with a humorous edge to it. Sadly, it was just a little bit too underground to appeal to the mainstream masses. And with the shadow of his brother cast over him, it’s not exactly surprising that McGear didn’t really make it big in the industry.
Still, he went on to find success and happiness as a photographer and actor. I doubt McGear was too bummed about his music career not taking off. That being said, there is quite a bit to love about the album McGear, and I think it’s certainly worth revisiting.
Mike McGear’s Collaborative Album With Brother Paul McCartney Is Still Sorely Underrated
You might remember at least one song from this album. “Leave It” was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and was a pretty successful single, all things considered. It hit No. 36 on the UK Singles chart.
The meat of the album is nothing to sneeze at, either. The record’s opener is a stellar cover of a Bryan Ferry tune. Linda McCartney lends her talents to more than a few tracks with her backing and harmony vocals, as well as her work on the synthesizer. Likewise, McGear’s two daughters also lend backing vocals to “The Man Who Found God On The Moon”. The Halle Orchestra also appears on the album.
What’s particularly endearing about this album is that McGear himself said that he enjoyed the process of recording it with his big brother. McGear said in the liner notes of the 2018 reissue of the album that “the whole process was magical” and recording the album was “a truly collaborative process with my older brother.”
While McGear might not be of the same caliber as Paul McCartney’s self-titled solo releases, it’s still a real gem. And if you’re a diehard McCartney fan, this album is one to have tucked away in your collection.
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images
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