Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson 1984 Cancelled Single : " The Man "

Arnie,
I think that in the good old Beatles tradition (albums were albums, singles were singles), Paul didn't want to release a single from "Ram" (and was perhaps keeping some of the album's outtakes for specific single releases) and let Apple (or rather EMI) do the track selection. A clue to this is that none of the songs for which a promo film was made ("3 Legs" and "Heart Of The Country") were released as single a-sides.

Also, those 3 singles were issued in other countries as well:
Australia, New Zealand and Chile issued both "Eat At Home" and "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" as singles;
Japan issued "Eat At Home" as a single;
Yugoslavia issued "The Back Seat Of My Car" as a single...

 

Maybe Paul didn't know which song was a hit song, so covered all bases by releasing 3 singles. Either way, I'd be surprised if the decision was made by anyone other than Paul. For me, 'Back Seat Of My Car' is the best song, but surprisingly stalled at #39(!) in the UK. I'm very surprised that 'Uncle Albert' made #1 in the US.

 

Thanks. If it was EMI and Capitol Records who decided, then I guess they each picked whatever they thought would work.

General question with regard to Apple in 1971: Did Paul have to get approval from Apple, and hence Allen Klein (who was still running Apple at this time, right?), to release anything? I mean: Paul was suing the other Beatles to dissolve their partnership, but still was obligated to release his material through Apple for a few more years? Who had the final say in what got released and when? Maybe Paul would talk to Neil Aspinall, who then had to ask Klein (since I doubt Paul would even talk to Klein at this point in time). It really must have been a weird time. No wonder Paul sued. If he hadn't, he'd have to keep releasing his solo stuff on a company run by someone who he hated, and he would only get 1/4th of the profits (via Apple) on that solo album. Of course, he got 1/4th of the profits on All Things Must Pass and Imagine too, but that must have been weird as well. Arnie

 

I doubt it, to be honest.
the song is almost unknown, even for fans of Jackson.

In my opinion, it was a radio single in some European countries.

 

Arnie,
Here's one of the most unusual couplings of "Ram" tracks, made in Venezuela.
And I have no idea if this is "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" in full or really just "Uncle Albert".

Actually, Peru had a commercial 7" single for "The Man". When McCartney fans discovered this and tried to get this rare import, there was general disappointment because the b-side wasn't the elusive "Blackpool" but the not rare at all"Through Our Love".



There was hope with this Mexican promo, then...
But nope, it features "The Man", or rather "El Hombre", on both sides!

 

It is a great song and one of the rare McCartney songs with lyrics that make sense.

A pending pot bust on a boat.

When you write what you know - you usually do your best, Paul.

 

Along with Wanderlust No More Lonely Nights and Once Upon A Long A Long Ago are great McCartney ballads.

 

wow, thanks for the information. surprising that the song was not released in Europe then it's usually more commercially promising.

 

Oh, I thought "The Man" was just more drek ... sorry.

 

^ Anyone? Thanks in advance, Arnie

 

Good questions. I think though that since Paul was an owner he could do whatever he wanted. The only restriction was on release date (as far as I know). I don't think Klein had any creative input at all on what singles were released, etc.

 

However the labels that distributed Apple might had some input. The famous story of A&R man Al Coury convincing Paul to add Helen Wheels to Band on the Run lp and also choosing singles to release. No Klein input on that.

 

Yes, that applies too. It's also a shame that Neil Aspinall died and never gave any in-depth interview or anything about his workings at Apple in the early-mid 1970s. I'm guessing that Paul was inclined to only deal with Neil whenever something came up with an Apple-related matter, so it would have been interesting to get Neil's first-hand thoughts. Oh well... Maybe the last volume of Lewisohn's biography set will focus on this time period. I hope the book's chapters don't end in 1970. Arnie

 

Me too!

 

I love Paul McCartney's two George Martin produced albums, "Tug Of War" & "Pipes Of Peace". They are together with "Ram" and "Band On The Run" my favourite McCartney recordings! The solo demo of Micheal Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine" that can be heard on the CD single that came out before Thriller 25 is magical. I wish the two could have collaborated more than they did.

 

Say Say Say did enough damage in that regard. The prevailing opinion among kids at my school was that McCartney was kind of a middle-aged Rockwell. If he'd released another single with Jackson, it would have really looked pathetic.

Have to agree with this. It's the kind of lightweight pop with doggerel lyrics that I never enjoy from either McCartney or Jackson.

 

It is not known, thanks to whom these songs became hits.
Say, say, say - the biggest hit MJ in the U.S. charts ... not Billie Jean, Beat it or Don't stop.

 

I assume you're basing this on Billboard's arcane and somewhat arbitrary points system based on weeks a song is at number one and in the top ten, twenty, forty, and one-hundred (detailed here). But Billie Jean was number one one week longer than Say Say Say. And more importantly, Billie Jean, Thriller, and Beat It all outsold Say Say Say, which to me makes them bigger hits.

 

I would be surprised if he ended in 1970, I think that he will have a fair amount about what happened afterwards.

 

"The Man" is a great song. Michael's vocals are stellar, as usual ! If it had been released, it would have been a massive hit !

 

Another scrapped McCartney Single Was
Distractions/ Lindiana From 1989
Figure Of Eight Wasc Issued Insted

 

...and I hope you all own the album "Las Pipas de la Paz".

 

Sure !

 

I am bringing this back up as I just read your post about a possible single release to tie into the POP remaster. I think it would be awesome. Any more rumors?

Now that I know that was Linda on the refrain, I am going to have to go back and listen. I know she is not technically good but always loved how her voice blended in with Wings and on Paul's solo albums.

 

Yeah, not so much, IMO. Never been a favorite of mine.