Ever since I was a teen boy, Paul McCartney has always been my favorite member of the Beatles.

The first 45-rpm single that I bought with my own money was “Penny Lane” by the Beatles, which was primarily written by McCartney. Lyrics of the song describe the author’s fond childhood memories of living in Liverpool, England, when he was nicknamed “Macca.”

The John Lennon/McCartney co-written song became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 during March 1967, and Sir Paul provides lead vocals on the track. “Penny Lane” is my second favorite Beatles song of all time.

While I do love the musical collaborations of George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr on Beatles’ recordings, I always come back to the fact that Sir James Paul McCartney is the person that I most admire from the legendary British band.

With this month’s musical musings, I will be counting down what I consider to be the pre-eminent top 40 singles that Paul McCartney charted on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 70s.

I utilized “The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits” by Joel Whitburn for chart positions with all of McCartney’s singles. Below are the criteria that I used for Sir Paul’s countdown:

• A song had to reach #20 or higher in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 from the years 1970 through 1979.

• Singles recorded by the Beatles in the 60s but charted on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 70s were excluded from the countdown.

• All McCartney album tracks played on top 40 radio during the 70s were omitted for countdown consideration.

When I surveyed all the top 20 McCartney hits from the 70s, there were 5 different descriptions of names listed on Apple Records 45-rpm singles associated with Macca.

• Paul McCartney

• Wings

• Paul & Linda McCartney

• The Beatles

• Paul McCartney & Wings

I want to highlight 3 Beatles songs that were recorded in the 60s and became hits during the 70s. All three singles are outstanding tracks but weren’t eligible to be included on my McCartney countdown.

• Let It Be—The Beatles:  Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1970

Recorded in January 1969, it was the first single released from the “Let It Be” album. Ranked at #20 on Rolling Stones’ “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” listing.

• The Long and Winding Road—The Beatles: Reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during June 1970.

This was the second single from the “Let It Be” album.  It was in the top 10 on Billboard’s singles chart during the debut of Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 show and was first aired on the fourth of July weekend 1970.

• Got To Get You Into My Life—The Beatles: Reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 August 1976

Originally a track from the Beatles’ “Revolver” album in August 1966, it was released 10 years later in 1976, six years after the breakup of the British band.

• Maybe I’m Amazed: Played on Top 40 radio stations in 1970.

One other song that I want to highlight is an outlier track from the self-titled “Paul McCartney” debut solo album released during May 1970. This original studio version was not released as a 45-rpm single.

Consequently, McCartney’s superb love song was excluded from my countdown below. However, I do love Paul’s original version of “Maybe I’m Amazed.”  I declare it as my #1 favorite album track in the 70s by the British superstar.

Before starting the countdown, here are 6 other McCartney 70s hits that fell just outside of my top 10 songs in the category.  These singles are not ranked and placed in a random order:

• Venus and Mars/Rock Show

• Goodnight Tonight

• Let ‘Em In

• Hi Hi Hi

• My Love

• Helen Wheels

Now without further ado, the best Paul McCartney superb hits of the 70s countdown:

10.  Silly Love Songs

Positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot 100, Number 1 Biggest Song of 1976

Co-written by Linda & Paul McCartney.  I know some folks didn’t like this upbeat, catchy love song when it was released. However, I am a fan of Macca’s rebuttal to John Lennon and other harsh music critics. The song is ranked as the #1 biggest single of 1976 by Billboard.

9.    With a Little Luck

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 18^th Biggest Song of 1978

Written by Paul McCartney. One of the last tracks Wings drummer Joe English played on before he left the band.  This synth-pop tune has smooth harmonies. Lyrics express a celebratory feeling of optimism with two people expecting positive outcomes by working together.

8.   Listen What the Man Said

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #1 Hot 100, 42^nd Biggest Song of 1975

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney.  Wings had a couple of guest musicians on this track: Dave Mason is on guitar while soprano saxophonist Tom Scott lays down superb melodies with his instrument. The track is another splendid love song by the British superstar.

7.  Another Day

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #5 Hot 100, 60^th Biggest Song of 1971

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney.  It was Sir Paul’s debut single as a solo artist following the Beatles’ break-up during April 1970. Originally recorded for McCartney’s “Ram” album. Subsequently, it was left off the 1971 project and instead became a stand-alone 45-rpm single.

6.  Jet

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #7 Hot 100, 77^th Biggest Song of 1974

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney.   This was the second single released from “Band on the Run” in the U.S.  “Jet” is a pleasing up-tempo rocker with marvelous guitar riffs, and the tune features excellent saxophone playing by Howie Casey.

5.  Maybe I’m Amazed

Peak Position on Billboard Chart: #10 Hot 100 in 1977

Written by Paul McCartney.  Regarded as one of Sir Paul’s finest love songs. It’s a live recording from the album “Wings over America.”  This rendition of “Maybe I’m Amazed” is a cover of McCartney’s original masterpiece version of the track from 1970 that was not released as a 45-rpm single.

4. Junior’s Farm

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #3 Hot 100, 88^th Biggest Song of 1975

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney, the fast-paced rock ditty was a non-album single. Lyrics of the song came from McCartney’s life living on a Scottish farm with his family.  Jimmy McCulloch made his Wings debut with the band playing lead guitar on the tune.

3.  Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 22^nd Biggest Single of 1971

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney. The second 45-rpm single was released after the breakup of the Beatles. It utilized the concept of combining separate short song fragments together. Producer George Martin added the orchestral arrangement, and the selection won a Grammy Award in 1971.

2.  Live and Let Die

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts:  #2 Hot 100, 56^th Biggest Song of 1973

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney.  “Live and Let Die” is the theme song of the 1973 James Bond film of the same name. George Martin produced this track, and he employed the London Symphony Orchestra for instrumentation. The song won a Grammy Award in 1973.

1.  Band on the Run 

Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 22^nd Biggest Song of 1974

Co-written by Paul and Linda McCartney. The musical structure from the “Band on the Run” single is brilliant.  Continuous switching of tempos with three distinct music segments, the song flows into a musical masterpiece.

McCartney and Wings provide outstanding, three-part harmonies throughout this track. It blends pop, rock, and country genres of music. The single won a Grammy Award for “Best Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.”

Six years ago, I ranked “Band on the Run” as the #1 best top 40 single of 1974. And now without a doubt, I also rate the Wings’ epic story song as the number 1 best Paul McCartney superb hit of the 70s.

That wraps up what I consider to be my favorite Paul McCartney superb hits of the 70s. I completely understand that my listing of tracks in this category was written from my point of view and is subjective.

If you were creating a similar register of excellent 70s Paul McCartney 70s singles, your tabulation might be totally different. What do you consider to be the best preeminent HR tracks from 1970 to 1979?

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and comments below on what you consider to be the best Sir Paul McCartney superb hits from the 70s. Rock on!

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