My Love - Paul McCartney & Wings (1973) 9/10/22

Paul McCartney has a well earned reputation for perfectionism.

Sometimes he drove the other Beatles to frustration and anger by dictating exactly what he wanted from them on his songs...right down to the notes of their solos.

It was a contributing factor to the Fab Four's breakup.

A while later, when he formed Wings, he did the same thing. In fact, some Wings songs only featured Paul and and Linda without the rest of the group.

That said, you really can't argue with his success...but with today's "Great Song of 1973," someone DID argue...with surprising results!

"My Love" was a very personal song for Paul. He wrote it as an expression of his love and affection for Linda.

He commissioned an arrangement that required a 50-piece orchestra, with Wings guitarist Henry McCullough playing a solo.

Paul had the whole solo written out, but Henry took one look at it and asked if he could play something else.

Paul was dumbfounded. In fact, he was so surprised, he actually agreed to let Henry take a shot at it.

Henry adlibbed his own solo in ONE TAKE...and when it was all said and done, Paul was so impressed, he tore up the solo he had written, and went with Henry's version.

When the song was released as a single from the Album "Red Rose Speedway," the critics were pretty harsh, calling it "too sentimental and inconsequential."

But this time, they were wrong. Big time. "My Love" was a worldwide hit, charting in 9 countries...and reaching #1 in both the US and Canada!

Paul was happy, Henry was ecstatic...and millions of people enjoyed --and continue to enjoy--"My Love:" a tribute to Linda that Paul still plays in concert to honor her memory, and a "Great Song of 1973!"