"I may record here. I don’t know," said the now short-haired singer-composer. "It depends on how things go."

McCARTNEY SAID he chose Nashville for his month’s stay as a rehearsal base for an upcoming tour. He also plans to enjoy himself while here, socializing with the community and horseback riding.

He says he loves country music --- I was raised on it!" However, he confessed that the mellotron (sort of synthesizer) he is seeking for work here is not typically a country music instrument.

McCartney, his wife, and children and manager landed at Metropolitan Airport last night at about 8:30 where, despite a publicity blackout, a crowd of 50 fans waited, alerted by the presence of newsmen and television cameras.

THE McCARTNEY group was the last to deplane, and the entourage was headed by Brian Broolly, who carried their second daughter Mary off the plane.

Behind him McCartney, in a jade green battle jacket and bright picture shirt, emerged smiling with his hand extended in a familiar two-finger salute.

He paused at the bottom of the flight steps to answer questions and pose for photographs before moving on through the terminal to the limousine parked out front. He answered questions briefly, but willingly, and even indulged a few youngsters who were tickled at his accent ("Say ‘elevator’, one boy chanted).

CONCERNING THE threats and lawsuits which have buzzed about the heads of the four former superstars, McCartney said, "We’re getting them all worked out," and suggested that further legal action would be unnecessary.

They were met by Tree International executive Buddy Killen and his assistant Donna Hilley, public relations man Bill Hudson and MccCartney Productions executive Alan Crowder.

McCartney, who was considered "the beautiful Beatle" in the Beatlemania era, is a full-fledged family man these days. He is married to Linda Eastman, daughter of prominent New York attorney Lee Eastman.

(AFTER MEETING Linda and her father, McCartney suggested that Eastman replace Allen Klein in the Apple organization, which led to more friction in the group.)

Eastman is also the attorney for Tree International whose Nashville vice-president, Buddy Killen, arranged the details of McCartney’s visit here.

Linda’s first public role with McCartney, was singing harmony on the "Let It Be" album, although she is now a full member of Wings and writes both alone and with her husband.

SHE DOES a great deal of photography — her pictures often accompany McCartney interviews and albums — and will "someday" have a photography book out she says.

She’s also planning to "someday" release a single under the name "Suzy and the Red Stripes" just for fun. Last night, however, she said she’s more concerned with her involvement in Wings than with releasing a solo record.

The McCartneys have three daughters, 11-year-old Heather (Linda’s child by a previous marriage), 5-year-old Mary and 3-year-old Stella.

McCARTNEY IS the second former Beatle to visit or record in Nashville.

Ringo Starr, the drummer who was stereotyped early on as the backward, awkward Beatle, recorded his second solo album, "Beaucoups of Blues," in late June, 1970 at Music City Recorders on 19^th Avenue South. The album was produced by Pete Drake, Nashville’s "talking guitar man," for the Apple label.

Drake has been the link between Nashville and the Beatles several times. Just before Starr’s jaunt here, Drake had been invited to England to work with Starr and George Harrison.

AT THE TIME Starr recorded his album, Drake reported that Harrison planned to come to Nashville "later in the summer," although Harrison’s visit to Nashville never materialized.

In 1971 Drake went back to England to work on Harrison’s "All Things Must Past" album, and after a brief visit with Harrison in August of 1972 said again that the former Beatle planned to record here, but plans still failed to solidify.

Since the break-up of the Beatles four years ago, McCartney has released four albums, plus a movie soundtrack.

THE FIRST three, "McCartney," "Ram," and "Red Rose Speedway," predictably received mixed reviews and sold healthily.

"Live and Let Die" was nominated for Academy Awards for best song and best motion picture score of the year.

The latest, "Band on the Run" is number two on the charts (Billboard, June 1) and the title cut holds the same slot in the singles ratings.

He has had one television special broadcast in the United States, the hour-long "James Paul McCartney," which aired on the ABC network April 16, 1973.

ALMOST BEFORE the break-up of the legendary band was a fact, rumors of their reuniting began to fly.

The stories have been confirmed, denied, altered and exchanged constantly ever since. The feelings between the group members — particularly between McCartney and the other three — were somewhat harsh in the beginning following McCartney’s being forced to sue Apple for his release.

In recent years, however, the path seems to smoothed to at least occasional appearances together.

AT VARIOUS times Lennon, Harrison and McCartney all contributed to Starr’s latest album, and the physical barrier caused by Lennon and McCarnney’s visa difficulties (Paul could not enter because of a Marijuana conviction and Lennon was fighting to remain in this country) have been eliminated.

In an interview in January of this year, McCartney summarized:

"We couldn’t be the Beatles back together again, but there might be things, little good ventures we could get together on, mutually helpful to all of us and things people would like to see anyway."

However, he said last year night that he didn’t think he would be writing with former collaborator John Lennon ("You know — you break up, you break up") And when asked to comment on Starr’s recent statement that the Beatles would never be reunited, he said, "I don’t know what Ringo said…He’s probably right."

Taken from The Tennessean June, 7 1974 page 1. (Continued on page 12 under the headline "McCartney in Nashville To Rehearse, Relax, Ride")

                                                            -- Staff Photo by Jack Corn