For the next few days we’re going to look at some of the best solo tracks by the four Beatles after that legendary group broke up. Let’s start with one of the first of these solo tunes, Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed.”
McCartney wrote “Maybe I’m Amazed” in 1969 during the Beatles’ breakup, shortly after he and Linda were married. Here’s what Sir Paul remembers about writing the song:
“I wrote ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ in my early days with Linda. I was sitting in London, playing my piano, and the song kind of wrote itself—reflecting my feelings towards her. It’s remained a favourite of mine.”
Paul McCartney initially recorded “Maybe I’m Amazed” for his 1970 debut solo album, McCartney. He didn’t release it as a single at that time, even though it was a standout track on that album and became a staple of his live performances. McCartney played all the instruments on this version, recorded at Abbey Road studios the day after Valentine’s Day (February 15) in 1970.
In 1976, a live version of “Maybe I’m Amazed” was included on Wings Over America, the three-disc live album released by McCartney and his post-Beatles band, Wings. That live track was released as a single in February of 1977 and went to #10 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. The band on this tour included McCartney on lead vocals and piano, his wife Linda McCartney on backing vocals and organ, Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar, Denny Laine on bass, and Joe English on drums.
“Maybe I’m Amazed” is an amazing tune, an earnest and brutally honest love song. Like almost all of McCartney’s songs, it’s also got a terrific melody. (Nobody writes catchy melodies like Sir Paul.) It’s one of McCartney’s best solo tunes—and one of his most memorable songs, period. It’s truly a love song for the ages.
Which leads us to our daily bonus video of the day, the original “music video” (actually a series of slides) for “Maybe I’m Amazed,” created back in 1970. It’s definitely of its time.
