LISTENING TO WHAT THE MAN SANG

A debut guide examines the life and works of former Beatle and prolific music icon Paul McCartney by diving into his song catalog.

Lifelong McCartney fan Styburski begins his book with an introduction explaining his love of the songwriter and the Beatles as well as acknowledging the already extensive writings on the band that exist. But he posits that many McCartney-focused features rarely explore his body of work beyond the 1960s and often pay little attention to the quality of the man’s music itself. “So many of us have loved the Beatles for so long,” the author asserts, “that we might forget…that their lives wouldn’t be of interest if we hadn’t fallen first and foremost for their songs.” What follows is Styburski’s own attempt to engage “the casual fan” in a primer on the context, reception, and legacy of McCartney’s enormous catalog. In neither chronological nor alphabetical order, but rather in a relaxed and organic progression, the volume dives into not just the Beatles’ hits, but also songs from McCartney’s time with the band Wings, his solo work, and his collaborations with artists like Elvis Costello and Michael Jackson. The book also dissects more obscure offerings that have enticed McCartney devotees for decades. Along the way, Styburski injects anecdotes (alternatively cheeky, self-deprecating, and deeply sincere) about his own life and connection to the music he’s dissecting. With a pleasant voice and surprising wells of empathy, the author clarifies the details and nuances of McCartney’s tumultuous relationships with his ex–band mates as well as figures like his former wife Heather Mills and record label executive Allen Klein without ever coming across as uncharitable or overly protective of the guide’s subject. Also discussed with great care are the tragedies that have shaped the musician’s songwriting over time, from the death of his mother to the murder of John Lennon and the loss of McCartney’s first wife, Linda. Throughout, Styburski gives readers an unbiased and thoughtful analysis of McCartney’s personality, his flaws, and, most of all, his influences and growth as both a songwriter and industry legend.

A charming, approachable, and thoroughly researched exploration for McCartney fans and novices alike.