McGear

Track list

Disc 1

1. Sea Breezes

   Written by Bryan Ferry

   4:50 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

2. What Do We Really Know?

   Written by Paul McCartney

   3:28 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

3. Norton

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   2:37 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

4. Leave It

   Written by Paul McCartney

   3:45 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

5. Have You Got Problems?

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   6:18 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

6. The Casket

   Written by Paul McCartney, Roger McGough

   4:19 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

7. Rainbow Lady

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   3:30 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

8. Simply Love You

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   2:51 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

9. Givin' Grease a Ride

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   5:36 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

10. The Man Who Found God on the Moon

    Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

    6:32 • Studio version

    Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

11. Bonus track on 1992 CD reissue

1. Dance the Do

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   3:54 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

2. Sweet Baby

   Written by Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney / McGear

   3:47 • Studio version

   Paul McCartney : Producer Peter Tattersal : Engineer

From Wikipedia:

McGear is the second solo album by English singer Mike McGear, released in 1974.

History

The album was a collaboration between McGear and his older brother Paul McCartney, who produced the record. All tracks on the album are performed by McCartney’s band Wings, although all lead vocals are sung by McGear (McCartney can be heard singing the ending of “What Do We Really Know?“, on “Givin’ Grease A Ride” and occasional yells and harmony vocals on other tracks). At the time, McGear had just left his group Grimms, and McCartney was waiting for his Apple Records contract to expire. Because of Apple contract issues, McCartney was originally not credited as a performer.

Although the original intent had just been to record a single (“Leave It“), the project mushroomed into an entire album before the single was released. The album was recorded at Strawberry Studios, except for “Leave It“, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. “Leave It” reached #36 in the UK singles chart.

The front cover shows Mike captured like Gulliver, surrounded by little black and white people. Included in the people are pictures of the band members, as well as a childhood picture of Paul and Mike.

When Warner Brothers signed McGear and Badfinger to quite a bit of fanfare, coinciding with McCartney’s Apple contract nearing expiration, there was quite a bit of rumour at the time suggesting that Warners was trying to interest McCartney in signing with them.

Re-release

In 1991, McGear was re-released by Rykodisc in the U.S. with a previously unreleased version of the song “Dance The Do” as a bonus track (a different mix had been issued as a stand-alone single on UK Warner Bros). In 1992, McGear was re-released by See For Miles Records in the U.K. with two bonus tracks, “Dance The Do” and “Sweet Baby,” which had been the B-side of “Leave It.” The liner notes quote McGear as saying that “Sweet Baby” had originally been named “All My Lovin’” but “some other group had already done one with that name.“