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SOUNDS OF THE 60S WITH TONY BLACKBURN - PAUL MCCARTNEY IN 15 SONGS (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 24th May 2026
Radio 2 explores the extraordinary song catalogue from one of our greatest musicians, singers and composers, through his collaborations, work with The Beatles and unparalleled success as a solo artist.
Vernon Kay will introduce the song Paul has to play live. Paul Gambaccini looks through the charts at his first number ones. Tony Blackburn remembers introducing his first solo releases on Top Of The Pops. Liza Tarbuck will explain why Linda changed his life and play the song that makes his feelings plain. Zoe Ball has made the difficult choice about McCartney's definitive album track – it is one of her father Johnny's prized possessions. Mark Radcliffe is amazed that he sat in Abbey Road studios, watching Paul play Blackbird on the original instruments the four lads from Liverpool used under the direction of the late George Martin. Trevor Nelson's choice backs up his claim that Paul could have been in a great soul or funk band. Jeremy is moved by a poignant video. Gary Davies was in seventh heaven on a trip to the cinema when his favourite Bond film had a McCartney theme song. Mark Goodier thinks the 1970s were the best time, thanks to Band On The Run. Bob Harris literally bumps into Paul at the BBC and later introduces a live set that passes the Old Grey Whistle Test. Finally, Dermot O'Leary plays some hidden gems, which make up the perfect end to an album and indeed an amazing era for The Beatles and this country, where Paul's lyrics have definitely stood the test of time.
It's the best of Sir Paul McCartney in 15 Songs.
Photograph by Mary McCartney © 2026 Mary McCartney
The Beatles - Lady Madonna [Apple]
The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand [Apple]
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - Ebony & Ivory [MPL]
Paul McCartney - Another Day [MPL]
The Beatles - Blackbird [Parlophone]
Paul McCartney & Wings - Live And Let Die [MPL]
The Beatles - Yesterday [Apple]
Wings - Maybe I'm Amazed [Virgin/EMI]
The Beatles - Got To Get You Into My Life [Parlophone]
The Beatles - She's Leaving Home [Apple]
Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run [Apple]
Paul McCartney - Pipes Of Peace [Parlophone]
The Beatles - Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End [Apple]
TRACKS OF MY YEARS - PAUL MCCARTNEY (320kbs-m4a/131mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 25th May 2026
Paul McCartney joins Vernon Kay for a special edition of Tracks Of My Years, choosing ten songs that have soundtracked his life.
In a wide-ranging conversation spanning his life and extraordinary career, Paul reflects on his childhood, recalls his earliest musical memories, and discusses the artists and influences that first shaped his love of music. Through his choices, there are stories about The Beatles' relationship with The Rolling Stones and The Kinks as well as recollections of meetings with Elvis Presley, Brian Wilson and Bob Dylan.
Born in Liverpool in 1942, Paul began playing music at an early age, teaching himself Spanish guitar, trumpet and piano and writing the song When I'm Sixty-Four by the age of 16. In 1957, he met John Lennon and was invited to join John's band The Quarrymen, who by 1960 had become The Beatles. They became one of the most influential bands of the time, and Paul wrote a huge number of their songs including Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be and Yesterday to name just a few. After releasing twelve studio albums, they disbanded in 1970, and Paul began a solo career with the self-titled album McCartney that year. He has continued recording music and touring ever since, with a brand new album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, his first in over five years, out on 29th May.
Every week on Tracks Of My Years, Vernon is joined by a special guest who chooses ten songs that have soundtracked their life. Listen on BBC Sounds and watch on BBC iPlayer – just search Tracks Of My Years.
A BBC Audio production for BBC Radio 2.
Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula [EMI]
Little Richard - The Girl Can't Help It [Speciality]
The Beatles - Love Me Do [Parlophone]
Chuck Berry - Maybellene [Music Club]
The Crickets - That'll Be The Day [MCA]
Charlie Rich - Mohair Sam [Mercury Nashville]
Elvis Presley - All Shook Up [RCA]
The Kinks - You Really Got Me [BMG]
The Beatles - I Wanna Be Your Man [Parlophone]
The Rolling Stones - I Wanna Be Your Man [Decca]
The Human League - Don't You Want Me [Now]
Prince & The Revolution - Kiss [Warner Bros]
The Beatles - The Long And Winding Road [Apple]
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain [Warner]
Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man [Columbia]
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows [EMI]
The Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice [EMI]
Paul McCartney - Days We Left Behind [Capitol]
John Lennon - Imagine [Calderstone]
THE DOCUMENTARY - PAUL McCARTNEY: BEATLES AND BEYOND (320kbs-m4a/115mb/50mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 30th August 2025
The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs celebrates the life and legacy of Sir Paul McCartney, from his Liverpool roots to Beatlemania and beyond.
It's a musical journey that moves from the late 1950s to McCartney's skiffle start with John Lennon in The Quarrymen, all the way through to his long solo career, taking in Mersey Beat; the rise of the Fab Four to 1960s icons; and Wings' 1970s success.
We learn how The Beatles could only have come from Liverpool, and how a visit to McCartney's old grammar school led to a significant legacy: the formation of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).
Joining Susanna to celebrate McCartney's musical career are author of recent biography Fly Away Paul, Lesley-Ann Jones; veteran songwriter and member of 10cc, Graham Gouldman; LIPA founding principal and chief executive, Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty; Beatles historian and author, David Bedford; lifelong Beatles enthusiast Jean Catharell; BBC Radio Merseyside broadcaster Paul Beesley; Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge; plus two LIPA alumni - award winning composer Hannah Peel, and singer-songwriter and guitarist Natalie McCool.
Plus, an intimately familial contribution from McCartney's younger brother, Mike McCartney.
Presenter: Susanna Hoffs
Producer: Lewis Borg-Cardona
Editor: Steve Levine
A Magnum Opus Broadcasting production for BBC World Service
(Photo: Sir Paul McCartney in front of a self-portrait hanging on a wall. Credit: Mike McCartney)
THE NEW ELIZABETHANS - JOHN LENNON / PAUL MCCARTNEY (320kbs-m4a/26mb/11mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 22nd May 2023
James Naughtie examines the lives and impact of the men and women who have given the second Elizabethan age its character.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were two young men from Liverpool whose dazzling talent created first a band, then a cultural phenomenon and finally became a short hand for vast social change.
The New Elizabethans have been chosen by a panel of leading historians, chaired by Lord (Tony) Hall, Chief Executive of London's Royal Opera House. The panellists were Dominic Sandbrook, Bamber Gascoigne, Sally Alexander, Jonathan Agar, Maria Misra and Sir Max Hastings.
They were asked to choose: "Men and women whose actions during the reign of Elizabeth II have had a significant impact on lives in these islands and/or given the age its character, for better or worse."
Producer: James Cook.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in July 2012.
*** Broadcast on 4 Extra to mark the 60th anniversary of the Beatles first universal chart number 1, From Me To You, in May 1963.
THIS CULTURAL LIFE - 3. PAUL MCCARTNEY (320kbs-m4a/96mb/42mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 23rd October 2021
Paul McCartney talks to John Wilson about his key influences and inspirations. In a candid conversation, in which he discusses his relationship with John Lennon, the break-up of The Beatles and his six decade career, he reveals some of his most formative artistic experiences and his creative process.
Producer: Edwina Pitman
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS (320kbs-m4a/125mb/54mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
In this podcast series Paul McCartney talks about his life and song-writing through the prism of 10 key lyrics from The Beatles plus his solo recordings.
This is a unique insight into the life and art of Paul McCartney from his book The Lyrics, read by the man himself. Produced by John Wilson.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 1. ALL MY LOVING (320kbs-m4a/19mb/8mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul McCartney reveals how he wrote All My Loving, the song which helped take The Beatles from 'the next big thing' to global superstars in 1963.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 2. YESTERDAY (320kbs-m4a/18mb/7mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul remembers how in 1965, at the age of 22, he wrote Yesterday - now regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 3. ELEANOR RIGBY (320kbs-m4a/14mb/6mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul reveals the musical and lyrical inspirations behind his 1966 song Eleanor Rigby, a study of loneliness.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 4. GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE (320kbs-m4a/14mb/6mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul offers candid insight to the creation of Got to Get You into My Life, a track from The Beatles' 1966 album Revolver, which he describes as 'my ode to pot'.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 5. PENNY LANE (320kbs-m4a/9mb/4mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
The sights and sounds of Liverpool are evoked as Paul remembers the 1967 Beatles single Penny Lane.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 6. JUNK (320kbs-m4a/9mb/4mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul discusses Junk, a song he originally wrote for The Beatles in 1968, but which was first released on his debut solo album McCartney in 1970.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 7. TOO MANY PEOPLE (320kbs-m4a/15mb/7mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul recalls how his friendship with John Lennon turned fractious after The Beatles split. He addressed the issue on the song Too Many People, recorded for his 1971 album Ram.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 8. HERE, TODAY (320kbs-m4a/9mb/4mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
After the murder of John Lennon in 1980, Paul remembers the loss he felt and how he reconnected with his friend in the song Here, Today.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 9. PRETTY BOYS (320kbs-m4a/9mb/4mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul explores the inspiration behind Pretty Boys, a song from his most recent album McCartney III.
PAUL MCCARTNEY: INSIDE THE SONGS - 10. YOU TELL ME (320kbs-m4a/10mb/4mins)
BBC Radio 4 podcast: 25th October 2021
Paul looks back in wonder in the song You Tell Me, a song about memory and experience from the 2007 album Memory Almost Full.
PAUL IS DEAD (320kbs-m4a/63mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 30th July 2021
In 1969, with The Beatles in financial and creative turmoil, a strange rumour swept the world. It began with a phone call to a US chat show - Paul McCartney had been killed in a road accident and replaced by the winner of a look-a-like competition, William Campbell an orphan from Edinburgh. And there were clues that could only be revealed by playing the Beatles records backwards.
It sounds unlikely, but millions of fans believed it.
We speak with the man who took that phone call, the hoaxer who developed the myth, and an expert on folklore who sees uncanny parallels with ancient myths about changelings and the darker side of fairies.
What does this odd tale tell us about The Beatles' place in our cultural history?
The programme includes out takes, clips from interviews and rarer versions of Beatles songs.
Produced by Matt Thompson
A Rockethouse production
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2014.
**** NOTES ON THE MUSIC USED IN THE PROGRAMME****
Wherever possible or appropriate, raw sounding demo or instrumental recordings from The Beatles Anthology albums were used. For ultra lush mixes, the remixed versions from The Beatles' Love album were used. Interludes and chit chat were from the Let it Be Naked - Fly on the Wall CD which contains out takes from the Let It Be film recordings.
Timings refer to the actual programme start.
0.00 Yesterday (alt acoustic version) (Disc 1, Track 7 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
1.08 Ballad Of Paul (Track 24 - Beatlemaniacs!!! The World of Beatles Novelty Records)
1.17 I Am The Walrus (no overdubs) (Disc 2, Track 14 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
1.37 Revolution 9 (Disc 2, Track 12 - The Beatles, The Beatles)
1.53 Ballad Of Paul (Track 24 - Beatlemaniacs!!! The World of Beatles Novelty Records)
3.17 I'm Looking Through You (Unissued version) (Disc 1, Track 15 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
4.07 Revolution 9 (Disc 2, Track 12 - The Beatles, The Beatles)
4.17 Revolution 9 (reversed by programme producer)
5.25 The Fool On The Hill (Demo) (Disc 2, Track 15 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
6.33 A Day In The Life (take1/2) (Disc 2, Track 5 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
8.16 Strawberry Fields Forever (Track 8 - Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles)
8.24 I'm Only Sleeping (Rehearsal) (Disc 1, Track 22 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
9.02 Fly On The Wall (In rehearsal) (Disc 2, Track 1 - Let It Be...Naked, The Beatles)
9.12 Revolution 9 (Disc 2, Track 12 - The Beatles, The Beatles)
10.57 Glass Onion (Remix) (Track 3 - Love, The Beatles)
11.12 Glass Onion (Disc 1, Track 3 - The Beatles, The Beatles)
12.07 Eleanor Rigby (Strings Only) (Disc 1, Track 21 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
13.34 Strawberry Fields Forever (Remix) (Track 13 - Love, The Beatles)
14.54 Strawberry Fields Forever (Remix) (Track 13 - Love, The Beatles)
16.47 I'm Looking Through You (Disc 1, Track 15 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
17.33 John, Paul, George & Ringo (Track 1 - Beatlemaniacs!!! The World of Beatles Novelty Records)
18.13 Within You, Without You (Instrumental) (Disc 2, Track 11 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
21.21 Your Mother Should Know (Take 27) (Disc 2, Track 16 - Anthology 2, The Beatles)
23.18 Fly On The Wall (Paul on piano) (Disc 2, Track 1 - Let It Be...Naked, The Beatles)
23.54 Fly On The Wall (Anyone Seen John) (Disc 2, Track 1 - Let It Be...Naked, The Beatles)
25.15 Octopus's Garden / Sun King (Remix) (Track 16 - Love, The Beatles)
PAUL MCCARTNEY - IN CONCERT MAIDA VALE 2013 (320kbs-m4a/128mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 2 broadcast: 22nd September 2019
An exclusive concert set from Maida Vale in 2013 performed by Paul McCartney. Featuring classic tracks from his entire career including Eight Days A Week, Jet, and Hey Jude.
The Beatles - Eight Days A Week [Apple]
Paul McCartney - Save Us
Paul McCartney & Wings - Jet [Parlophone]
Paul McCartney - My Valentine
Paul McCartney - 1985
Paul McCartney - Another Day [Parlophone]
Paul McCartney - Everybody Out There
Paul McCartney - New [MPL Communications]
Paul McCartney - Queenie Eye
The Beatles - Lady Madonna [EMI]
The Beatles - Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! [Parlophone]
Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run [Parlophone]
The Beatles - Back In The U.S.S.R [EMI/Apple]
The Beatles - Hey Jude [Apple]
MASTERTAPES - PAUL MCCARTNEY (320kbs-m4a/130mb/56mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 28th May 2016
Paul McCartney joins John Wilson at BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss songwriting, his solo career in the years immediately after The Beatles and to answer questions from the audience. He also reflects on his recent collaborations with Kanye West, as well as recalling working with George Martin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and - inevitably - John Lennon.
Producer Paul Kobrak.
DESERT ISLAND DISCS: PAUL MCCARTNEY (128kbs-m4a/39mb/41mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 26th December 1984
Roy Plomley's castaway is Beatle Paul McCartney.
Favourite track: Beautiful Boy by John Lennon
Book: Linda's pictures by Linda McCartney
Luxury: Guitar
Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen
Benjamin Britten - Courtly Dances (From Gloriana)
Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula
John Lennon - Beautiful Boy
The Coasters - Searchin'
Little Richard - Tutti Frutti
Country Ham - Walking In The Park With Eloise
