George Harrison Called This Paul McCartney Song ‘Sensational’ Even if He Didn’t Like His 1970s Music
During an interview, George Harrison revealed he liked some aspects of Paul McCartney’s songs but not others. George said one of the songs Paul wrote in the late 1970s was “sensational.” George also revealed what his relationship with Paul was like following The Beatles’ breakup.
How George Harrison felt about working with Paul McCartney
During a 1979 interview with Rolling Stone’s Mick Brown, Brown asked George if he was less musically compatible with Paul than any other Beatle. “Yeah, well now we don’t have any problems whatsoever as far as being people is concerned, and it’s quite nice to see him,” George said. “But I don’t know about being in a band with him, how that would work out.”
George revealed why he felt working with Paul was a challenge. “It’s like, we all have our own tunes to do,” George said. “And my problem was that it would always be very difficult to get in on the act, because Paul was very pushy in that respect. When he succumbed to playing on one of your tunes, he’d always do good.” George said he’d have to perform instruments on 59 of Paul’s songs before Paul listened to one of his songs.
George Harrison felt this Paul McCartney and Wings song stood out on 1 of their albums
Brown asked George what he thought of Paul’s current music. “I think it’s inoffensive,” George opined. “I’ve always preferred Paul’s good melodies to his screaming rock ‘n’ roll tunes.”
George revealed he liked one of the songs from Paul McCartney and Wings’ album London Town, but he didn’t like a lot of the music Paul released around that time. “The tune I thought was sensational on the London Town album was ‘I’m Carrying,’ but all the noisy, beaty things I’m not into at all,” George said. “But then that’s not only with Paul’s music, that goes right across the board. I’m not a fan of that sort of punky, heavy, tinny stuff. I like a nice melody.”
The way the world reacted to the song that served as the A-side of ‘London Town’
Paul McCartney and Wings released “I’m Carrying” as the B-side to their single “London Town.” “I’m Carrying” was not a hit; however, “London Town” became a modest hit. It reached No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for eight weeks. The Official Charts Company reports “London Town” peaked at No. 60 in the United Kingdom and stayed on the chart for four weeks.
The album London Town became considerably more successful. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 28 weeks. According to The Official Charts Company, it reached No. 4 in the U.K. and lasted on the chart for 23 weeks. George wasn’t into all of the music Paul released around this time; however, the public seemed to respond well to London Town.
