There’s something
about the simplicity of this song that I can’t get enough of.
Macca’s first
solo album is famed for its primitive sound and production, which came about as a result of it being mostly recorded at home with a very basic set-up. There's an
honesty and directness that's striking compared to the intricately produced
Abbey Road (or the over-the-top Let it Be). While there are still big
moments - Maybe I’m Amazed is the most obvious - it’s the intimacy that
comes across the most, of the kind McCartney didn’t revisit so consistently
until 1997’s Flaming Pie or 2005’s Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, a good
twenty-seven / thirty-five years later.
While Paul’s
debut album got a tough press when it was released, which wasn't helped by the recent breakup of The Beatles
and the subsequent sniping from John, George and Ringo, it’s a far more solid
affair than you'd imagine when listened to in retrospect; yes, some of it's a little throwaway
and half-finished, but this may have had something to do with Macca’s need to
clear the decks and not take things too seriously when faced with such a difficult backdrop. The result is a straightforward uncluttered collection of songs of which
That Will Be Something is a highlight. Even George spoke its praises
contemporaneously, which is surprising considering his low regard for Paul at
the time. I just love the he rhythm he builds with just an acoustic, bass and drums
and the percussive sounds of his voice. He also does one of his best Presley-style vocal turns; what’s not to like?