Here’s some news for Beatles fans.

This coming weekend (10 & 11 April) marks the 40th anniversary of Paul McCartney formally announcing the break-up of the Beatles. He was about to release this album:

"McCartney" April, 1970

McCartney issued a press release in the form of a self-interview that was inserted into early promo copies of his first-ever solo album. It went something like this (I’ve highlighted the most telling question that signaled the Lennon/McCartney partnership was over – forever):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FROM: Paul McCartney
DATE: April 9, 1970

Q: “Why did you decide to make a solo album?”

PAUL: “Because I got a Studer four-track recording machine at home, practiced on it (playing all the instruments)- liked the results, and decided to make it into an album.”

Q: “Were you influenced by John’s adventures with the Plastic Ono Band and Ringo’s solo LP?”

PAUL: “Sort of, but not really.”

Q: “Are all songs by Paul McCartney alone?”

PAUL: “Yes, sir.”

Q: “Will they be so credited: McCartney?”

PAUL: “It’s a bit daft for them to be Lennon/McCartney-credited, so ‘McCartney’ it is.”

Q: “Did you enjoy working as a solo?”

PAUL: “Very much. I only had me to ask for a decision, and I generally agreed with me. Remember, Linda’s on it too, so it’s really a double act.”

Q: “What is Linda’s contribution?”

PAUL: “Strictly speaking, she harmonizes, but of course it’s more than that, because she’s a shoulder to lean on, a second opinion, and a photographer of renown. More than all this, she believes in me- constantly.”

Q: “Where was the album recorded?”

PAUL: “At home, at EMI (no. 2 studio), and at Morgan Studios. (Willesden!)”

Q: “What is your home equipment– in some detail?”

PAUL: “Studer four-track machine. I only had, however, one mike, and as Mr. Pender, Mr. Sweathenham and others only managed to take six months or so (slight delay) I worked without VU meters or a mixer, which meant that everything had to be listened to first for distortion, etc, then recorded. So the answer– Studer, one mike, and nerve.”

Q: “Why did you choose to work in the studios you chose?”

PAUL: “They were available. EMI is technically very good and Morgan is cozy.”

Q: “The album was not known about until it was nearly completed. Was this deliberate?”

PAUL: “Yes, because normally an album is old before it even comes out. (aside) Witness GET BACK.”

Q: “Why?”

PAUL: “I’ve always wanted to buy a Beatles album like people do and be as surprised as they must be. So this was the next best thing. Linda and I are the only two who will be sick of it by the release date. But we love it really.”

Q: “Are you able to describe the texture or feel of the album?”

PAUL: “Home, family, love.”

Q: “How long did it take to complete- from when to when?”

PAUL: “From just before Christmas, until now. ‘The Lovely Linda’ was the first thing I recorded at home and was originally to test the equipment. That was around Christmas.”

Q: “Assuming all the songs are new to the public, how new are they to you? Are they recent?”

PAUL: “One was from 1959– ‘Hot As Sun.’ Two are from India– ‘Junk’ and ‘Teddy Boy.’ And the rest are pretty recent. ‘Valentine Day,’ ‘Momma Miss America’ and ‘Oo You’ were ad-libbed on the spot.”

Q: “Which instruments have you played on the album?”

PAUL: “Bass, drums, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, piano, organ, mellotron, toy xylophone, bow and arrow.”

Q: “Why did you play all the instruments yourself?”

PAUL: “I think I’m pretty good.”

Q: “Will Linda be heard on all future records?”

PAUL: “Could be. We love singing together and have plenty of opportunity for practice.”

Q: “Will Paul and Linda become a John and Yoko?”

PAUL: “No, they will become a Paul and Linda.”

Q: “Were you influenced by their work?

PAUL: “No.”

Q: “Will they or who will receive the first copies?

PAUL: “The press.”

Q: “What has recording alone taught you?”

PAUL: “That to make your own decisions about what you do is easy, and playing with yourself is very difficult but satisfying.”

Q: “Who did the cover?”

PAUL: “Linda came up with and took the photos, and she and I designed tha album cover.

[The following question was not part of the original press release, but appears in some sources on the web.]

Q: “Is it true that neither Allen Klein nor ABKCO have been nor will be in any way involved with the production, manufacturing, or promotion of this new album?”

PAUL: “Not if I can help it.”

Q: “Did you miss the other Beatles and George Martin? Was there a moment when you thought, ‘I wish Ringo were here for this break?'”

PAUL: “No!”

Q: “Assuming this is a very big hit album, will you do another?”

PAUL: “Even if it isn’t, I will continue to do what I want, when I want.”

Q: “Are you planning a new album or single with the Beatles?”

PAUL: “No.”

Q: “Is this album a rest away from the Beatles or the start of a solo career?”

PAUL: “Time will tell. Being a solo means it’s ‘the start of a solo career…’ and not being done with the Beatles means it’s just a rest. So it’s both really.”

Q: “Is your break with the Beatles temporary or permanent, due to personal differences or musical ones?”

PAUL: “Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don’t know.”

Q: “Do you foresee a time when Lennon/McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?”

PAUL: “No.”

Q: “What do you feel about John’s peace effort? The Plastic Ono Band? Giving back his MBE? Yoko?

PAUL: “I love John and respect what he does, but it doesn’t really give me any pleasure.”

Q: “Were any of the songs on the album originally written with the Beatles in mind?”

PAUL: “The older ones were. ‘Junk’ was intended for ‘Abbey Road,’ but something happened. ‘Teddy Boy’ was for ‘Get Back,’ but something happened.”

Q: “Were you pleased with ‘Abbey Road’? Was it musically restricting?”

PAUL: “It was a good album. (No. 1 for a long time.).”

Q: “What is your relationship with Klein?”

PAUL: “It isn’t. I am not in contact with him, and he does not represent me any way.”

Q: “What is your relationship with Apple?”

PAUL: “It is the office of a company which I partly own with the other three Beatles. I don’t go there because I don’t like offices or business, especially when I am on holiday.”

Q: “Have you any plans to set up an independent production company?”

PAUL: “Yes, McCartney Productions.”

Q: “What are your plans now? A holiday? A musical? A movie? Retirement?”

PAUL: “My only plan is to grow up!”

Well, all this coming weekend ABC Digital Radio in Australia will be marking the anniversary with a continuous stream of special programs and documentaries (many sourced from the BBC and never before heard in this country) celebrating the music and the history of the band. If you have a digital radio and you live in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth you can hear the special programs on your radio. If you don’t have digital, or don’t live in any of those places you can still hear them streamed on the internet.

This is from the ABC Radio press release:

ABC Beatles: Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 April

On the 40th anniversary of Paul McCartney’s announcement that his songwriting partnership with John Lennon was over, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is presenting a weekend of very special digital radio broadcasts to celebrate the band from Liverpool that changed the course of popular music.

On ABC Digital Radio (and online), beginning at 8am (Eastern Australian Time), Saturday 10th April and continuing until midnight Sunday 11th April, ABC Beatles will give listeners the opportunity to hear rare and exclusive material drawn from the depths of the BBC Radio archives. The broadcast will include an in-depth history of the band, interviews and recordings from their visits to BBC studios and documentaries never broadcast in Australia.

There will be online streaming links (Windows Media & Real Audio) via this page.