A new live album from Paul McCartney is really nothing new at all anymore. Ever since he began playing the old Beatles tunes again, Macca's been cranking the live CD and DVD packages out at what seems to be a near annual rate.
What makes Good Evening New York City something special though, is probably more its historical value than anything else. That, plus the fact that in addition to the usual setlist with "Hey Jude," "Band on The Run," "Live And Let Die" and the rest, McCartney offers up some rarely played choice cuts, as well as versions of newer songs that rock more than they really have any right to.
The occasion of Good Evening New York City is last summer's three-night stand inaugurating New York's Citi Field, some 45 years after the Beatles played the site of the former Shea Stadium.
In this 2 CD/1 DVD package — it's also available in a deluxe edition with a bonus disc of Macca playing Let It Be style on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theatre — the eternally young McCartney and his crack band are captured in a nearly three-hour, 33-song set that is a trip down memory lane.
From the Beatles to Wings to the Fireman, no base was left uncovered on this night at the new ball park — not bad for a guy well into his sixties. I can't imagine anyone who was actually there leaving the stadium feeling they got anything less than their money's worth on what I'm quite sure was a pricey ticket.
Although the exact same setlist is captured on both the two CDs and the single DVD, there are some interesting differences here. The CDs feature none of the in-between song banter seen and heard on the DVD for one thing, so it plays more like a non-stop performance on the audio portion.
![Paul McCartney: The Space Within Us [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LW98mCObL._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I think this is the exact set played at Coachella
2 - Tom Johnson
"I'm Down" is included "intact" on the bonus DVD, but anyone buying this would probably be foolish not to buy it anyway - $19.99 at Best Buy next week? How could you pass that up?!
I am a little annoyed, however, to read that they left out the banter on the CD. That's just part of the show, and I want to hear it. Yes, every time I listen to it. I'll buy it anyway, but I'll shake my fist and grumble about it!
3 - Glen Boyd
I get what you're saying Tom, although it doesn't bother me as much. The impression I got was that they were trying to go for a purer experience focusing strictly on the music. Anyway, the banter is all there on the DVD -- and the bits about Harrison and the ukelele are priceless (I forgot to mention that in the review, so thanks for the opening there).
-Glen
4 - Mark Saleski
they should put that sucker through protools again and remove all of that annoying applause .
also, fix any other musical-type errors.
yeesh.
5 - Glen Boyd
huh?
6 - Mark Saleski
just a comment on the removal of the between-song chatter...which i think is totally wrong.
7 - Glen Boyd
OK, Gotcha. I've been so focused on the magic of the disappearing and reappearing picture, you'll have to forgive me if I seem distracted.
-Glen
8 - Glen Boyd
Now ya see it, now ya don't.
9 - Carl Fitzgerald
Hi,can you just put my mind at rest on one thing,are all the talking heads and fan interviews slotted in between the songs as on previous macca dvd's?i really hope not,is the dvd a straight concert from start to finish,band chat while on stage is fine of course.Mccartneys previous dvd's have been ruined by all the needless chat from fans,these should be in the extras area.I long for a macca dvd with just the music and an uninterupted concert experience.
10 - Glen Boyd
Compared to the previous DVDs, you can more or less rest easy. None of the music is interrupted as on the others (note my comments on "Hey Jude").
It's pretty much the straight concert experience, with the exception of the splicing on "I'm Down." But even that kinda works in this case oddly enough.
Lotsa crowd shots as usual yeah, but unlike others, not a note is missed.
-Glen
11 - Curt
Macca is the greatest ever, thank god we still get anything from him much less a great record like electric arguments I treasure every second of sound we get from him , thanks Paul !!!!!!!!!!!
12 - Carnen Roche
I saw the same show at the Hardrock Cafe, with only 2500 people. Very intimate. I was a tennis court away. It is nice to see the DVD to see the mega delux screen, I was too close to Paul.... for the seond time.:)The concert was great and Paul looked happy, His 'girlfriend' was near me too.:) She was dancing away. Love the new DVD and CD set. But I liked "The Space Withus US" and hearing everyone's and including Pres.Clinton 2 min. interveiws of how great Paul is. Hope he returns soon.
Carmen, Las Vegas, NV
13 - Gray
Why is it autotuned?