Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles struggles are the focus of the Prime Video documentary “Man on the Run” (Photo Credit: Linda McCartney/Paul McCartney under exclusive license to MPL Archives LLP).
(“Man on the Run” trailer courtesy of Prime Video and Paul McCartney)
People of a certain age might believe that Paul McCartney began his musical career at the top, staying on top ever since.
But as the Amazon Prime documentary “Man on the Run” shows, icons endure their low moments and doubts, too.
But the real legends outrun the haters and naysayers, overcoming the downturns of their careers.
As a result, “Man on the Run” becomes as inspirational as it is informative, containing self-reflective moments from the former Beatle that everyday people can use as they pursue their dreams.
Many musical icons have similar stories, it seems.
Although much younger, Michael Jackson’s career began like a comet when The Jackson Five’s first four singles hit number one on the pop charts.
In fact, their second single, “ABC,” knocked The Beatles’ final number one, “Let It Be,” out of the top spot.
But like McCartney, Jackson’s momentum eventually ran out as he got older, the group changed record labels, and changed their name to The Jacksons.
After many industry executives wrote The Jacksons and their lead singer off as has-beens, the group once again became one of the biggest acts in pop music in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
And as the 1980s continued, Jackson eventually became the biggest star in the world.
No wonder the two became friends for a time and collaborated on several singles.
The impressive documentary “Man on the Run” makes it clear that McCartney did not cause the breakup of The Beatles, although he received much of the blame for it around 1969 and 1970.
Bandmate John Lennon decided to leave the group.
However, no official announcement came from the group that “Beatlemania” was officially over until McCartney spilled the beans while promoting an album of his own.
In fact, before McCartney emerged as a solo star, many fans believed that he had died because, upon getting married to Linda McCartney and starting a family, he lived almost like a recluse on a remote farm in Scotland.
Instead of making hit records and appearing on television shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the former Beatle seemed at peace tending to sheep and fixing the roof on his old farmhouse.
But when he finally emerged from seclusion, all hell broke loose because fans had to blame someone for his leaving the biggest group in the world.
The hostility McCartney received from fans for the breakup of The Beatles is like that of another member of The Jackson Five, the group’s second lead singer and bass player, Jermaine Jackson.
In the “Motown 40” documentary, entertainment executive Suzanne dePasse called The Jackson Five’s fame, “Beatlemania in chocolate.”
But when his brothers moved from Motown Records to CBS Records, Jermaine Jackson stayed at Motown to become a solo artist, after marrying Hazel Gordy, daughter of Motown CEO Berry Gordy.
Jackson Five fans blamed Jermaine Jackson for “breaking up” The Jackson Five, and his first few solo albums after leaving the group flopped.
Seemingly, fans would not support him as a solo artist while The Jacksons struggled to gain their footing as adult stars.
It was not until The Jacksons scored a hit with “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” that Jermaine scored a massive solo hit single with “Let’s Get Serious.”
Likewise, McCartney’s first solo albums flopped initially.
But “Man on the Run” shows how one thing can define a person’s life for so long that they do not know how to rebound when that thing is taken away from them.
Life is often about comfort.
Many people are comfortable in their jobs, even if it prevents growth and more happiness.
Many people are comfortable in their routine, even though they might find more prosperity and fulfillment with a new routine.
While people often search for comfort, sometimes that comfort is snatched from people through no fault or decision of their own.
That is what happened to McCartney when Lennon decided to leave the group, while not announcing to their fans that he had left the group.
The question for McCartney was similar to that of The Jacksons: could he create hits on his own, away from the winning formula of the past?
“Man on the Run” shows how perseverance and staying true to one’s vision will eventually lead to reaching potential.
With his wife Linda, the former Beatle eventually found his groove with his new band “Wings.”
After starting at the bottom of the totem pole like any new band, the Wings eventually found massive success and were able to separate their catalog from that of The Beatles.
While McCartney envisioned members of Wings being equals and being a family, everyone knew he was the star attraction of the group.
And like Michael Jackson, he eventually had to become a full-fledged star outside of a group or band to become the true icon that he is.
Who knows if the word beautiful has ever been used to describe a documentary?
But the country landscape in “Man on the Run” is stunning, serene and peaceful.
Who could blame the McCartney family for setting up shop in such a scenic location to escape the fame?
“Man on the Run” obviously has a retro vibe with all the archival video footage that will transport viewers back to the 1970s.
Throughout the film, the voice of McCartney and contemporaries like Mick Jagger tell the story of the musical giant without trying to make him more mythical than he is.
Non-diehard fans might not know all the music in the documentary, but legendary talent is undeniable.
“Man on the Run” does not skip over controversies, which makes McCartney’s story both inspirational and relatable.
And that relatability is the one thing that separates him from Jackson for now, as Jackson’s story will soon hit the big screen.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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