On This Day in Beatles History: Filming Begins for James Paul McCartney – 9 March 1973
On Friday 9 March 1973, filming began at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire for the television special James Paul McCartney. The programme was produced by ATV and featured Paul McCartney and Wings, combining live performances, studio segments and interviews that explored McCartney’s musical career following the breakup of The Beatles.
The special was conceived as a major television showcase for McCartney during a period when he was establishing himself as a successful solo artist and bandleader with Wings.
The James Paul McCartney television special
The programme James Paul McCartney was designed to present a broad overview of McCartney’s career and musical influences. Alongside performances by Wings, the show also featured appearances by members of McCartney’s family and highlighted songs from his post-Beatles catalogue.
Filming for the programme began on 9 March 1973 at Elstree Studios, one of Britain’s best-known television and film production facilities. The studio had already hosted numerous major television productions and would later become associated with large-scale entertainment programmes.
Broadcast in the United States and United Kingdom
Once completed, James Paul McCartney was first broadcast in the United States on 16 April 1973, where it aired on American television before its British premiere.
The programme was then broadcast in the United Kingdom on 10 May 1973, giving British audiences a rare opportunity to see Paul McCartney and Wings in a dedicated television special.
Although reactions to the programme were mixed at the time, it remains an interesting snapshot of McCartney’s career during the early 1970s.
Later release and rediscovery
Decades after its original broadcast, the television special received renewed attention when it was included as part of the super deluxe edition of the Red Rose Speedway album, released in December 2018.
This release allowed fans and historians to revisit the programme and view it as part of the broader context of McCartney’s early post-Beatles work with Wings.
Television Special – Quick Facts
Date filming began: 9 March 1973
Programme: James Paul McCartney
Artist: Paul McCartney and Wings
Studio: Elstree Studios
Production company: ATV
First broadcast (USA): 16 April 1973
First broadcast (UK): 10 May 1973
Later release: Included in the Red Rose Speedway super deluxe edition (2018)
Filming Location
Elstree Studios – Hertfordshire
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