McCartney Times

Tony Conley is 57 and became a dad for the first time only four years ago. But he’s had another baby gestating for more than 20 years: “Paul McCartney In The Beatles,” a 350+-page book examining the musicianship of the man destined to be always known as a former member of the Beatles, even though the group broke up a staggering 47 years ago.

Conley — who blogs about music at rockguitardaily.blogspot.com/ — considers McCartney to be the most talented rock star of all time. Since I agree a thousand-fold, it’s hardly a chore to spend two-and-a-half hours over lunch, at East Sac’s One-Speed Pizza, yakking about the onetime Fab Four member with Conley and his longtime friend, fellow musician and self-publishing partner, Breck Phillip.

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Tony Conley, author of “Paul McCartney In The Beatles.”

Ben Fargen, EM Films

The book is scheduled for release in January. An ambitious Indiegogo online fund-raising campaign is in full force, ending just a week from today. The effort had raised about $4,500 as of last week — the publishers’ goal is $40,000 — and has drawn support from local luminaries such as artists Tony Natsoulas, who’s doing a series of sculptured McCartney masks, and Stephen Holland, who’s created an original painting of the now-75-year-old man still known as the “cute Beatle.”

Here’s a taste of the book, which gives you an idea of Conley’s admiration for his subject plus a fandom detail that may be news even to fellow Sir Paul-ophiles:

“June 14, 1965. If this day’s work had been the only day by which to judge Paul McCartney’s abilities as a singer, he would still be known as one of the finest vocalists in rock history. On this day Paul recorded three songs – ‘I’ve Just Seen A Face,’ ‘I’m Down,’ and ‘Yesterday.’ Three songs as different as night and day, and just days before his twenty-third birthday, McCartney displayed his absolute mastery of the art.”

No lie. If you don’t recall all three of those songs (I’m guessing you’ve heard of “Yesterday,” the best-selling rock record of several millennia), allow me to effuse.

Source: Ed Goldman: Author Tony Conley celebrates Sir Paul in new book. Part 1 of 2 – Sacramento Business Journal