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The persistent interest is understandable, however, based not only on nostalgia but also on a sense of what is happening once again with Beatles records. Even as McCartney brings the crowds to their feet at his concerts, five old Beatles songs are in the British Top 20. Capitol is gearing up to release an upbeat anthology of Beatles goldies in two weeks, and plans to spend a million dollars on promotion alone, the largest campaign in the company's history. Along with TV ads, Capitol plans to bedeck the country's leading record stores with Beatles banners and posters and, accordingly, has purchased 110 miles of clothesline.
It does not seem sufficient to hang such a big dream on. Lawyers for the four Beatles had uncommonly long, closed meetings most of last week in Los Angeles, and were adamant about discussing none of the details. A West Coast promoter and part-time Barnum named Bill Sargent has offered the group $50 million for a reunion. Said Paul: "The only way the Beatles would come together is if we wanted to do something musically." The others say nothing. It has been this way since the group disbanded, brush fires of hope fanned a little, then stamped out.
A reunion would be particularly wrenching for McCartney just as he is enjoying his first full success since the breakup. It might not be easier for anyone else either. Jenny Brandt, a 17-year-old McCartney fan, said it best as she waited to get into the Philadelphia concert. "Wings is doing good on its own, even though it'll never be the same as the Beatles. But I don't want them to get back together. It would be a super-let down. They could never produce the music they once did. It's a different era, and they've changed in different ways."
Some years back, of course, Paul McCartney put it well, too: let it be.