England might have been less shocked to find Buckingham Palace transformed into the Royal Arms Motel. A great British institutionand perhaps the Empire's most far-flung export since the Thin Red Lineseemed in peril. From Liverpool to Piccadilly, the cries of anguish rent the air: "The Beatles are dead!"
The cause of all the gloom was Paul McCartney, the group's supremely gifted songwriter, singer and guitarist, who was just bringing out a solo LP all his own. Entitled McCartney, logically enough, the record package was decorated with color picturesof Paul McCartney. It also contained...