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Sirius/XM Radio to launch Paul McCartney Fireman show with unreleased tracks

A new satellite radio channel devoted to music by Paul Mccartney debuts on Valentine's Day. (Photo by Steve Gullick. Copyright MPL Communications Ltd.)
Update (3/14/09)
  • Friday was the last full day of SIRIUS/XM's Fireman Radio, but the highlights kept coming the last few days. The last few days included Paul's fireside chat with the E Street Band's Little Steven Van Zandt, the American radio premiere of Paul's Liverpool Sound Concert from June 1, 2008, and a repeat of XM's original broadcast of the McCartney "Artist Confidential" originally aired in 2005.

    In addition, the five Rarities Hours included many track never played on the radio before. They included:

    Update (3/12/09)
  • Sirius Radio made a very late announcement Wednesday afternoon of another "fireside chat" on Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio, this time with Little Steven Van Zandt, who's also on Sirius/XM. sooslieu, who heard the chat, said it lasted almost 25 minutes, and was more musical than the one with James Taylor. It was again by phone, though Paul was at home. Topics discussed included the state of popular music, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles in Hamburg. Paul said he liked some contemporary bands, including Snow Patrol. The conversation ended with Little Steven calling "Electric Arguments" "fantastic" and Paul playing some New Orleans piano on the air. It aired once on Wednesday and will be repeated Thursday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET or Sirius 33 and XM 27.

    Update (3/9/09)

  • Evelyn Schwarz of Beatlemania magazine in Germany notes that in the Fireman chat, Paul mentioned his visit to Trident Studios was to recover a voiceover for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.) And not only did he mention Jane Asher, but he also sang a bit of "A World Without Love," a song he gave to Peter & Gordon.
  • The remaining guest DJs this week on Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio on Sirius 33/XM 27: Monday, Mark Lapidos of Fest for Beatles Fans; Tuesday, Daniel Sanjata of "Rescue Me"; Wednesday, New York fireman Tony Ferrante; Thursday, Federico Castillucio of "The Sopranos." The shows air at 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET each day.

    Update (3/7/09)

  • The first Paul McCartney "fireside chat" Friday wasn't earthshaking, but it was interesting on a couple of levels. It wasn't done in a studio -- McCartney, who was in London at the site of the old Trident Studios (where James Taylor recorded), talked to his old buddy Taylor from his car. Taylor was on the road, too. He was in Scotland. McCartney and Taylor reminisced how Taylor got the attention of Apple Records. Taylor sounded a bit nervous or, at the least, not used to having such a huge audience for his phone conversations. It's a casual conversation and the talk uncovered some interesting facts about the Apple heyday. It'll be repeated at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Saturday on Sirius Ch. 33 and XM Ch. 27. You can get more information here.

    Update (3/6/09)

  • Paul McCartney and James Taylor will sit down for a "Fireside Chat" on McCartney’s Fireman Radio channel at 3 and 9 p.m. ET Friday (3/6) and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday (3/7). They'll discuss their past together, including how Taylor was discovered and how McCartney was involved in Taylor’s signing to The Beatles’ Apple Records. A "Fireman Chill Hour," “ will air every night next week beginning at midnight and 4 a.m. ET Monday. (Yes, those times are right.) The "Chill Hour" will feature an hour of uninterrupted music from McCartney's Fireman albums. The channel will also feature an hour of rarities and songs from Paul's vault each day next week beginning at noon ET Monday. Finally, the channel will feature the entire Liverpool Sound concert at 8 p.m. ET March 12.

    Update (3/4/09)

  • Sirius/XM has announced a series of guest DJs for Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio. Here's the schedule: Today, Cousin Brucie; Thursday, New York City fireman Jerry Ayers; Friday, Barbara Walters; March 9, Fest for Beatles Fans' Mark Lapidos; March 11, Rescue Me's Daniel Sanjata; March 11; New York City fireman Tony Ferrante; March 12, Federico Castillucio of "The Sopranos."

    Update (3/1/09)

  • Sirius Fireman Radio will feature guest DJs, including Barbara Walters , Cousin Bruce Morrow and and a real New York City fireman from the Bronxstarting Tuesday. (Thanks to HwyCDRRev.)

    Update (2/24/09)

  • Paul McCartney will be interviewed by journalist Fred Bronson on Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio (SIRIUS channel 33, XM channel 27) Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. (It will repeat Wednesday 2/25 at 10pm ET, Thursday 2/26 at 10am ET and Friday 2/27 at 6pm ET. It can also be heard on DirecTV channel 849 and DISH Network channel 6033.
  • A couple of people have emailed us that the live version of "Ebony and Ivory" we heard came from "Tripping the Live Fantastic" and it's Hamish Stuart taking Stevie Wonder's vocals.

    Update (2/22/09)

  • We spent some time listening to Sirius/XM's Fireman Radio Saturday. Here's part of what we heard when we were listening: "If You Wanna," promo and studio chatter, "Mull of Kintyre," "Tug of War," "Freedom," "Big Boys Bickering" (uncensored), "Ain't That a Shame," promo, "Lovers in a Dream," "Live and Let Die," "Wino Junkie," radio promo, "My Love," "Heaven on a Sunday," "All My Loving" (live), "Auraveda" (from "Rushes") and "1985."
    Other than the live tracks, everything seemed to be commercial versions with no unreleased tracks. It appears the channel is Paul (or someone) trying to play DJ and feature less familiar songs, much like the satellite radio oldies channels. It's a definite change from "Oobu Joobu," where Paul himself ran the show and was in complete control and there were loads of unreleased tracks.
    (Late add: Late Saturday night, a live version of "Ebony & Ivory" came on that sounds unfamiliar to us. It features Paul and a singer who doesn't sound like Stevie Wonder.)
    Will the program evolve as the days go on? We'll be listening and we'll give you regular content reports and opinions. And, of course, the Fireman chats should be of interest. So far no word on when one is coming.
    I'd like to hear from you if you are listening (or not listening) to Fireman Radio and what you think of it. Send your comments to beatlesexaminer@gmail.com and please put Fireman Radio in the subject line. I'll ID you by first name only unless you say otherwise. They'll be featured in a future column.

    Update (2/18/09)

  • Jim Eimont sent us this report on Sirius' Fireman Radio:

    "I decided to take you up on your request to listen to Paul’s Fireman Radio on Sirius and report on what I heard. While I enjoyed listening to all Paul all of the time, I thought that the “treasures” were a bit thin. I remember listening to an amazing live version of “Lady Madonna” performed by Paul and the Brodsky Quartet when "Oobu-Joobu" was around (I’m still looking for that version to this day).

    "On Tuesday- February 17, 2009 between 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM they played the following……….Jet, Used To Be Bad, Medicine Jar (Live), Traveling Light, Coming Up (Live), The World Tonight, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Looking For You, Letting Go, Sing The Changes, Helen Wheels (Crazed Version), Vanilla Sky, Ebony & Ivory, Lonely Road (album version), My Love (Live), Light >From Your Lighthouse.

    "All of the Fireman songs were introduced by Paul. There were a few Paul/Fireman Radio spots in between the songs promoting Paul’s Fireside Chats”.

    Update (2/17/09)

  • Here's s a list of songs from an hour of Sirius' Fireman Radio, thanks to Yer Blogger HwyCDRRev: "Let It In (Tokyo), "Two Magpies," "Eleanor Rigby"/"Eleanor's Dream", "On the Way," ""Band on the Run" (Nicely Toasted Mix), "Blue Jean Bop," "Yesterday" (live), "Sing the Changes," "Ain't That a Shame," "Long Haired Lady," "Here There and Everywhere" ("Broad Street"?), "Front Parlour", "Jet" (live), "Travelling Light," "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five," "Motor of Love," "Good Day Sunshine"/"Corridor Music", "Ebony and Ivory (solo version)." Not a great list from a collector's standpoint, but the few rarities tossed in probably made McCartney fans pleased.
    When we're talking a show for collectors, though, "Oobu Joobu" had a ton of rarities, starting with the theme song. The first show, broadcast Memorial Day weekend in 1995, included soundchecks ("Biker Like A Icon", "We Can Work It Out") and unreleased tracks ("Atlantic Ocean"). Fireman Radio's only been on a short time, but given what's happened so far with Fireman Radio, we suspect a few people are pulling up their copies of "Oobu Joobu."

    Update (2/15/09)

  • The first day of Sirius' Paul McCartney Fireman Radio series was Saturday and none of the reports we heard were overwhelmingly enthusiastic since nothing really rare was played the first day. McCartney did introduce the songs, though. The "fireside chats" -- with Paul's random comments -- are what some people are waiting for. If you heard the show, send us your comments.

    Update (2/14/09)
  • In a promotion for the new Paul McCartney Fireman Radio channel that begins today on Sirius 33/XM 27, Howard 101 is featuring "Paul McCartney Uncensored" at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. We thought the original Stern interview was uncensored. You mean there's more? You can hear the promo here. Sirius/XM has a special page with Paul McCartney clips here.

    Update (2/6/09)

  • A couple of people inquired about times and repeats of segments. Sirius/XM didn't have any information to give us Thursday, but all we can say it it will be 24/7. We'll keep an ear out for further information The real attraction, though, is the phrase "musical surprises from Paul's vault" that was inserted in the press release. And we know a few people who'll be catching up on their sleep between now and Valentine's Day because they'll be glued to the radio a lot from then on.

    (2/5/2009) An exclusive limited-run radio channel devoted to the music of Paul McCartney in celebration of his critically-acclaimed "Electric Arguments" album will premiere Feb. 14 on Sirius/XM satellite radio, the company announced Thursday.

    Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio, named for the alter ego used for the album, will premiere on February 14 and air through March 13 on The Bridge, SIRIUS channel 33 and XM channel 27. The channel will feature interviews with McCartney in which he'll discuss his inspiration behind his Fireman projects.

    The commercial-free channel will feature music from McCartney's post-Beatles catalog and include music from his solo records, Wings albums, the three Fireman albums (1993's "Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest" and 1998's "Rushes," as well as "Electric Arguments"), plus unreleased tracks from McCartney's vault.

    In the series, McCartney will explore each song from "Electric Arguments," and, according to the announcement from SIRIUS, "will pull back the curtain to reveal the creative process behind The Fireman. Never before has McCartney shared so many personal insights into this fascinating chapter in his musical legacy." Each week, McCartney will also include a "fireside chat" where he will discuss music, politics, news and other topics at random.

    "Paul McCartney's Fireman Radio allows all of us the privilege to hear a revealing side of one of the world's biggest artists, sharing his work in a way that is unprecedented in its scale, unduplicated in its intimacy, and completely unique to SIRIUS XM," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio, in the news release announcing the new show.

    An alliance between Sirius/XM and McCartney was hinted at on "The Howard Stern Show" when it was mentioned by Stern after McCartney's appearance on the show Jan. 14 that "Paul is doing something for SIRIUS" but he said he wasn't sure if it could be talked about on the air. Stern's producer replied it shouldn't be. A SIRIUS spokesman would only say, "Paul was in the building for Howard Stern."

    The new show is similar to "Oobu Joobu," a radio series McCartney did in 1995 for Westwood One that featured demos, rehearsals, live performances, and unreleased recordings by McCartney and the Beatles.

    For more information, http:/www.sirius.com or http://www.xmradio.com

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