Paul McCartney 6-Part Documentary Series, ‘McCartney 3,2,1’: Watch Trailer
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Rubin and McCartney from the teaser clip
Hulu has announced an original documentary series McCartney 3,2,1, a six-episode “music event” that features “intimate and revealing examinations of musical history from two living legends, Paul McCartney and producer Rick Rubin.” All six episodes will premiere on July 16, 2021, on Hulu. It comes from Endeavor Content. Watch the official trailer, released on July 7, below.
Some brief details of each episode from the program notes follow the trailer.
101: “These Things Bring You Together”: McCartney shares stories from the early days, shedding new light on his relationships with John Lennon and George Harrison. Welcoming an outside musician into the studio impacts one of The Beatles’ most famous songs.
102: “The Notes That Like Each Other”: McCartney talks about his unique approach to musical composition, influences from Bach to Fela Kuti and some of the innovations that made his music altogether unique.
Be a fly on the wall watching McCartney listening to The Beatles’ “And Your Bird Can Sing.”
103: “The People We Loved Were Loving Us!”: McCartney pays tribute to some of the artists that influenced The Beatles. He discusses the band’s trip to India and the expansion of The Beatles’ music and consciousness.
104: “Like Professors in a Laboratory”: McCartney and Rubin discuss musical experimentation and The Beatles drive to break boundaries. The episode features segments on Ringo Starr and “fifth Beatle” producer George Martin.
105: “Couldn’t You Play It Straighter?”: McCartney talks about finding his place in the band and the evolution of The Beatles’ sound and identity. This episode also focuses on a few of his iconic contributions to the band.
106: “The Long and Winding Road”: McCartney and Rubin discuss McCartney’s songwriting evolution, his creative partnership with John Lennon, and his development as a solo artist.
“Never before have fans had the opportunity to hear Paul McCartney share, in such expansive, celebratory detail, the experience of creating his life’s work – more than 50 years of culture-defining music,” said Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment, in the May 17 announcement. “To be an observer as Paul and Rick Rubin deconstruct how some of the biggest hits in music history came to be is truly enlightening. It is an honor that Paul chose to return to Hulu to share this one-of-a-kind series.”
In the series, McCartney sits down for a rare in-depth one-on-one with Rubin to discuss his groundbreaking work with The Beatles, the emblematic 1970s arena rock of Wings and his 50-plus years as a solo artist. The series “explores music and creativity in a unique and revelatory manner, and gives a front-row seat to Paul and Rick in an intimate conversation about the songwriting, influences, and personal relationships that informed the iconic songs.”
McCartney first teased the series on Dec. 16 two days before the release of his recent solo album, McCartney III. At that time, McCartney released the trailer on YouTube, then identified as Paul McCartney x Rick Rubin – A Documentary Series Event. McCartney’s website noted, “Keep your eyes peeled in 2021 for more information.”
The roughly one-and-a-half-minute teaser, shot entirely in black-and-white, features the musician and the acclaimed producer discussing a number of Beatles songs, accompanied by archival footage. At various times the sounds of “Lovely Rita,” “Paperback Writer,” “Come Together,” and others, are heard.
“It feels as if the bass is doing what an orchestra would do,” says Rubin in the clip. “You can actually control the band with the bass,” responds McCartney, as he demonstrates his point.
Towards the end, following the sound of the orchestra in “Live and Let Die,” McCartney says “that was one of the greatest music moments of my life,” although it’s not entirely clear from the clip’s editing whether he was, indeed, referring to the 1973 Wings single.
Watch the teaser clip for Paul McCartney x Rick Rubin – A Documentary Series Event
Rubin is an eight-time Grammy Award winner and has produced or collaborated with such acts as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Johnny Cash, the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Mick Jagger, and Adele, among many others.
Related: McCartney is also writing a 2021 book about his songs, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI’ll be waiting for a DVD release of this Doc.It would be nice if Paul releases the much awaited and most sought after LP on CD from 1979…….”.Cold Cuts and Hot Hitz” featuring the Wings lineup from”Back to the Egg” album. Never say never! M F
I can’t wait to see this. Hopefully its only about the music . I love docs that play the music tracks that refreshes the artists memories , much like those classic album series did.
We’ve seen Paul solo three times. He is so professional, always giving the audience what they want. His concerts consistently run 3 hours with no intermission. Thankfully we have Hulu so that date is on NY list of must-watch. I read Mark Lewisohn’s book, part 1 of the trilogy on the Beatles. I’ve been waiting to read the next which focuses on the Beatlemania years. It was supposed to already have been released, but so far no. Judging from the 1st volume, it is quite comprehensive, but Lewisohn does meticulous fact-checking so I’m sure that’s what is causing the delay. The final book will deal with the breakup and after….which I’m hoping I’m still alive to read when it drops.