Michael McGear

Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded 3 disc clamshell box set edition of the album, McGear by Mike McGear, featuring 2CDs and a DVD. Originally released in 1974, McGear was the second solo album by Mike McGear (younger brother of Paul McCartney) and was a more “serious” record than his work with the Liverpool satirical trio Scaffold, or his work with Roger McGough on the McGough & McGear album. Recorded at Strawberry studios in Stockport, (the musical home of the band 10cc), the album was produced by Paul McCartney (who also played on the album and co-wrote most of the material with Mike) and featured Linda McCartney and members of Wings, along with guests such as Paddy 'Pipes' Moloney of The Chieftains. The album featurea a selection of tremendous songs such as Rainbow Lady, Simply Love You, Givin’ Grease a Ride and The Man Who Found God on the Moon. McGear also features an inspired cover of the Roxy Music song Sea Breezes, the evocative The Casket and the hit single Leave It. The sessions also spawned a non-album single; Dance the Do (which featured Vivian Stanshall). McGear is charming, eccentric and unique in equal measure and is one of the great unsung albums of its time. Now acclaimed, but unavailable on CD for over twenty years, this long awaited expanded three disc edition reissue of McGear has been compiled with the full involvement of Mike (McGear) McCartney and has been newly re-mastered from the original master tapes. It has an additional 21 bonus tracks, including 13 previously unreleased out-takes and tracks alongside singles appearing on CD for the first time. The set also includes a DVD featuring Mike (McGear) McCartney reminiscing at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, an interview with Mike at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool and the 1974 promotional film for the single Leave It. The set also includes an illustrated booklet with new essay and a poster and is a fine tribute to the eccentric genius of McGear.