Today's BSBdG's go out posthumously to Linda Eastman McCartney, who would have been 62 today. It's debatable as to whether or not she should have had as prominent a position in Sir Paul's musical endeavors in the 70s and 80s as she did; myself, I think she was always a well-meaning amateur but her often off-key vocals added a haunting quality to the BVs in Paul's songs, and I liked that very much. I'll always recall with amusement seeing McCartney perform in 1990, with Linda, along with Paul (Wix) Wickens, on keyboards, and noting (along with everyone sitting around me) that she wasn't pressing down on the keys! And she was set up directly in front of us, so there was no mistaking. Apparently Wix was handling most of the keyboard duties, leaving Linda to ooh and aah and shake her tambourine, and mime playing the keybs.
But-Linda was a hell of a photographer. I went to see the traveling exhibition that made the rounds a few years ago, and was blown away. She took some of my favorite photos of the Fabs, most notably the session at John's Twickenham estate just before their breakup. You can go here to see the majority of what was featured at the exhibition.
She was also a tireless advocate of vegetarianism and animal rights, and Paul sure seemed to love the hell out of her, and she was the subject of a lot of great (and some not-so-great) songs...so happy birthday, Linda McCartney, wherever you are.
