From Age To Age, Vol.1 & Vol.2 captures Paul McCartney live across nearly two decades. This homemade compilation from 2003 pulls together various live performances spanning 1985 to 2002, with some bonus singles tacked on at the end of CD2. The tracks came from internet sources decoded from MP3 format to CD audio. CD1 runs 79:26, CD2 runs 79:24, and the sound quality holds up well.
CD1: Live Performances 1985-2002
The first disc opens with Paul at Live Aid on Saturday July 13 & 14, 1985. At Wembley Stadium in London, Paul performs "Let It Be" solo at a piano before a crowd of 90,000. The event, organized by Bob Geldof (who'd arranged "Do They Know It's Christmas?" just eight months earlier), aims to raise funds for starving people in Africa. A simultaneous concert in Philadelphia means the entire event reaches an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide on television and radio. Midway through Paul's performance, a mishap with Queen's technicians kills his microphone for the first half of the song. When his vocals finally ring out, the audience sings along, and Geldof, Pete Townshend, David Bowie and Alison Moyet join him onstage. For the finale, all the Wembley stars reappear to sing "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
The day after Live Aid, Paul records a new studio version of "Let It Be" at BBC TV Centre in Wood Lane, London, overdubbing a fresh vocal on his visual performance. It never gets officially released, though a brief clip appears in the BBC2 Live Aid highlights programme on December 31.
On Monday September 15, 1997, Paul takes the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London for a Montserrat benefit concert. The event, organized by George Martin, raises funds for the British Dependency hit by recent volcanic eruptions. Paul shares the bill with Eric Clapton, Elton John, Phil Collins, Mark Knopfler, Sting and Carl Perkins. George Martin, who owns AIR Montserrat Studios on the island, remarks: "I am delighted that we look set to raise so much money for the long-suffering people of Montserrat. I am very grateful to all the wonderful musicians who will perform in the concert. I'm going to Montserrat in the next few weeks to see for myself where the money raised should be spent to the best effect." The two-hour 45-minute broadcast airs daily on Sky Box Office from September 16-19, with an estimated $1 million raised total. Paul performs a solo acoustic version of "Yesterday" followed by "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight" and "The End" with Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton and Phil Collins on drums. For encores he sings "Hey Jude" duetting on piano with Elton John, joined by Sting, Midge Ure, Carl Perkins and others. The show closes with an all-star jam on "Kansas City"/"Hey, Hey Hey Hey". Heart FM broadcasts the concert live on radio.
On Monday March 15, 1999, Paul gets inducted at the 14th annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Elton John, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Lou Reed, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Bono and Julian Lennon attend. Neil Young gives the induction speech. Accepting the award, Paul remarks: "This is a brilliant night for me but it's sad too. I would have liked my baby to be with me. She wanted this." His daughter Stella joins him onstage, wearing a vest with the slogan "About fucking time!" Paul also says: "By the way, while we're here, you've got me, you've got John in this, what about George and Ringo?"
Later, Paul performs "Blue Suede Shoes," "What'd I Say" and "Let It Be" for the 1,500 guests who paid $2,000 a head. He'd left the stage during performances by Springsteen, Wilson Pickett, The Staple Singers, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill and others doing Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready." When he hears Billy Joel playing the opening chords of "Let It Be," Paul reappears to sing.
The compilation includes extensive material from Saturday October 20, 2001 at Madison Square Garden's Concert For New York City. Paul performs "I'm Down," "Lonely Road," "From A Lover To A Friend," "Yesterday," "Freedom," "Let It Be," and a "Freedom" reprise finale. Later remixed versions of "I'm Down," "Yesterday," "Let It Be" and "Freedom" appear later on the disc.
On Sunday February 3, 2002, Paul performs at Super Bowl with two versions of "Freedom": a short high-pitched version and a long low-pitched version.
The disc closes with Paul at the Liverpool Harrison Tribute Concert on February 25, 2002, performing "Yesterday."
CD2: Tributes and Bonus Tracks
CD2 opens with "Her Majesty" from Queen's Jubilee on June 3, 2002. Then comes "Blackbird," George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "All You Need Is Love," Prince Charles' speech, "Hey Jude," and a "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club" reprise with "The End."
The bulk of CD2 focuses on the George Harrison Tribute Concert from Friday November 29, 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall. George Martin gives a speech, then Paul performs Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (two versions recorded), "For You Blue" (high and low-pitched versions), "All Things Must Pass," and "Something."
The bonus singles section includes "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey" from 1989, "Maybe Baby" from the 2000 film "Maybe Baby," "I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra" from the 2001 album "Brand New Boots and Panties," and "Vanilla Sky" from the 2001 film of the same name.