A generous admirer of McCartney’s work, Driver surveys McCartney’s entire career to early 2023, commenting on songs, albums, concerts, and the public and critical reception of that work. Discussion of McCartney as part of the Beatles takes up almost a third of the book; the rest is devoted to the musician’s solo projects and his work with Wings and, to a lesser extent, other collaborators. Such an enduring and successful career calls for serious discussion. The legacy of the Beatles is inescapable, and Driver shows how McCartney, who initially tried to steer away from that legacy has come to embrace it and to reshape the Beatles’ narrative (the Anthology project being one example). Driver speaks glowingly even about less successful work. [McCartney’s] phenomenal talent as a writer and musician and his prodigious work ethic are obvious. Live performance and updated marketing are shown to be especially important in recent decades. Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; graduate students; general readers.

Choice Reviews

That Was Me is an engaging and insightful journey through the prolific and awe-inspiring career of Paul McCartney. With focus on Sir Paul’s post-Beatles years, Richard Driver explores the vast output of McCartney, from his homespun solo albums to his more elaborate compositions and productions, and from his videos and tours to his collaborations with his former Beatles and a multitude of other pop stars. The result is a rich history of a pop music master and a fascinating guide for music fans and a highly useful resource for scholars.

Thomas Kitts, co-editor of Popular Music and Society and Rock Music Studies

Richard Driver’s That Was Me: Paul McCartney’s Career and the Legacy of the Beatles provides readers with a comprehensive review of the life and work of popular music’s most acclaimed singer-songwriter. Driver devotes special attention to McCartney’s post-Beatles evolution, a period that has seen the artist make and remake himself in response to a music scene beset by near-constant change. In so doing, Driver reminds us, in powerful fashion, why McCartney’s Beatles-era and solo efforts have stood the test of time.

Kenneth Womack, Professor of English and Popular Music, Monmouth University