Is it possible to be Beatled out? Sometime I think so. I grew up working in classic rock radio, where the Fab Four have long been revered. I mean, they’re revered everywhere, but it was especially prominent during the heady days of the early 2000s, at least for me. The ubiquitous nature of the band means that, while I would never call myself a Beatles expert, I also know a lot about the band. That means, I haven’t watched all the documentaries that have come out over the last few years, including Peter Jackson’s Get Back or the remaster The Beatles Anthology on Disney+. It also means I don’t put that band on as much as I used growing up, other than Abbey Road, which is pretty hard to get tired of. And, for the record, as I’m writing I’m listening to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, and damn, it sounds good in Dolby Atmos.
All this to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how engaged I found myself watching Man on the Run, the new documentary from director Morgan Neville tracing Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles life during the 1970s, including his life with wife Linda and the formation of his band, Wings.
When it comes to The Beatles, it’s hard to not get caught up in the mystique of the band and their impact on popular culture. Man of the Run doesn’t shy away from that, but it does an admirable job of bringing the man behind some of the greatest the music ever created down to earth. Though this is certainly Paul McCartney’s story, the significance of his relationship with John Lennon post-Beatles is one of the key pieces of the film. John came out of The Beatles surefooted, cocky, and confident, thanks to the success of his Imagine album, while Paul’s initial run of new music (his self-titled debut and Ram) didn’t hit with audiences and critics, which the film makes no bones about. However, the film makes a great effort to highlight the duo’s brotherhood, even though it was strained during the early part of the 1970s.
Watching McCartney put together a new band in Wings is fascinating stuff, and nowhere near as poured over as the Fab Four’s history, which helps make Man on the Run such an engaging watch. I learned a lot about McCartney and how he desired to be part of a gang, rather than be strictly a solo act. In the process though, he tried to ignore who he was and where he came from, something the majority of musicians who came in and out of Wings never could.
Along with the history of Wings during the 1970s, Man on the Run tells the story of Paul and Linda McCartney’s romance. This was the highlight of the film for me, watching this legendary couple be so in love with another. And contrary to a lot of naysayers, Linda’s voice sounded great beside Paul’s, certainly on the studio work they recorded together.
While there’s nothing groundbreaking about Man on the Run, it certainly serves its purpose of highlighting McCartney’s post-Beatles genius. If you’re remotely interested in that work, you won’t be disappointed; in fact, don’t be surprised to find yourself pulling out you copy of Band on the Run once the film finishes.