“I kind of went in first of all as lead guitarist really, because I wasn’t bad on guitar. But when I got up on stage at the very first gig I totally blew it. I was just too frightened; it was too big a moment with everyone looking at the guitar player. I couldn’t do it. That’s why George was brought in.
And when Stu (Sutcliffe) said he was going to stay in Hamburg, it was like, uh-oh, we haven’t got a bass player. And everyone sort of turned around and looked at me.”
~Paul McCartney
While George Harrison has always been identified as the lead guitarist for the Beatles, McCartney’s switch to bass guitar certainly didn’t mark the end of his guitar playing within the group.
Not only did he contribute rhythm guitar on many songs, he also tackled the lead guitar on several others. I have selected nine of those songs so while you may have always thought you were listening to George on them, it was actually McCartney.
To make it more fun, I am not listing the song titles because if you don’t recognize them, you probably shouldn’t be here. 🙂
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
The McCartney Lead Guitar Medley
McCartney played lead guitar and bass on all songs except…
Song 9 (John Lennon played the thunderous bass)
Harrison played rhythm guitar on all songs except …
Song 2 (Rickenbacker intro)
and Songs 6 and 7 (did not play on them)
Asked the girl what she wanted to be …. I think I am gonna be a star. She’s gotta a ticket to ride and nobody in all the world can do what she can do. He want’s to be a paperback writer so he can pay the tax man. Love you forever and ever, take these broken wings and learn to fly, you were waiting for this moment to be free. Lay down and surrender to the void, I;m coming down fast but don’t let me break you.
Penny, I thought the “wants to be a paperback writer so he can pay the tax man” was brilliant!
Nice job! ❤