Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S. Live 2002 [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

The indefatigable McCartney took to the road again at the age of 60 and with a cracking quartet of young musicians (love that "percussion power-house" of a drummer that is Abe Laboriel,JR.) belts out some fabulous new incarnations of Beatles and Wings classics.The set-list is astonishing when you simply read it through in black and white and fills you with renewed awe and appreciation of the great man's astounding legacy of lyrics.In fact,trying to isolate "highlights" from the concert is a futile exercise because there is not a dull moment throughout,and in nearly 3 hours of footage,that's an awful lot of moments ! If you were to twist my arm,though I would rave about the surging dynamism of "Back in the USSR,"Can't buy me love","Maybe I'm amazed","Band on the Run" and "Live and let Die".On the other more contemplative side of the coin we get intensely moving versions of "Here,there and everywhere","Something","My Love","Let it be" and the really touching tribute to John Lennon,"Here today".Also,there is a magical performance of "Blackbird" - a good candidate for my favourite song of all time- where Paul seizes his courage in both hands and sings it just to the accompaniment of his own acoustic guitar.Here,and throughout he is in fabulous voice and if that's what a vegetarian diet can do for a body,then pass me the spinach and squash !

The atmosphere of the concert is electric and as one used to the reactions of rather more reserved British audiences,I really found it delightful the way the American fans lost all their inhibitions and collectively sang,cried and danced themselves silly all the way through ! Fantastic to see that it wasn't just rows and rows of baby-boomers down there and that teenagers,children and near babes-in-arms made up a goodly proportion of the capacity crowds.Utterly sweet and charming it was to see a little girl of about 7 years old clapping along (and smiling from ear to ear !) to "All my loving".That song may have been written 40 years ago now,but that wee lassie provided ample and concrete proof that it's appeal is absolutely timeless and each generation that comes along will simply rediscover the immortal and intrinsic qualities of such songs for themselves.

I really enjoyed the back stage and behind the scenes clips that were interspersed between the songs and it gave me some great insights on exactly how such a mammoth undertaking as this tour can be transported from city to city with consummate professionalism and minimal loss of life and limb ! Great too to learn a little more about Heather Mills,who has done so much to bring Paul up and out of the deep,dark night of mourning for Linda.She seems like a really feisty North of England lass and if you were not aware that she had suffered an amputated leg after a horrific road accident,then you could never,ever tell,because she moves (and still looks) like the fashion model she once was.
One annoying thing about these clips though was the "unfinished" story of the young lady who was an evident "Macca-maniac".She tells us that she had just lost her job and had come down to the concert venue,even though she couldn't afford the price of admission.No doubt appearing on her idol's DVD is some considerable recompense in the end but we are never told if someone took pity on her and she actually got into the auditorium.I really and sincerely hope she did and if anyone out there can tell me the outcome,then I'd be most grateful,because the suspense is killing me !

As I type this review Sir Paul is currently taking Europe by storm with his "Back in the World" tour and I can't wait until he comes home to the UK so I can be a part of this tremendous experience in reality.In the meantime,all you folks out there can revel in the glorious "virtual reality" of this magical chronicle where one of the greatest musical figures of our time takes his big,booming,Beatle's heart and wheel-like,joyfully rolls it across and to America.