Tucked away in the depths of side two of the first disc of The Beatles (1968) is “Blackbird”, a quiet, unassuming acoustic number that in truth ranks as one of the album’s best songs. Like many tracks on “The White Album”, “Blackbird” is a showcase for one Beatle instead of the entire group. In fact, Paul McCartney is the only band member to perform on the track at all, aided only by tapping his shoes on the floor.
“Blackbird” serves not only as a great example of a lone Beatle carrying a performance on his own, it acts as a showcase for Paul’s playing ability. Unlike the archetypal Paul acoustic ballad “Yesterday”, “Blackbird” underplays Paul’s fine singing voice in deference to his instrument. Here, Paul demonstrates his dexterity as a guitarist, combining melody, harmony, and rhythm parts by utilizing a blend of plucked double-stops and intermittent strumming. The fluidity of his playing is wonderful; not once does it feel like Paul is simply outlining chord changes to support his words. Instead, his playing entwines with his singing, creating a beautiful ode of encouragement that’s understated in its joy.
Enjoy that gem with Paul and his 1967 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar.
