With a little imagination, it might have been a Southern gentleman sitting with his children ‘round his feet on the front porch of his plantation home.

In reality, however, it was former Beatle Paul McCartney, his wife, Linda, and a host of newsmen in a highly informal press conference.

McCartney, was right at home with his surroundings. "I’ve got a farm in Scotland," he informed his audience. "You’re not the only people who have farms, you know. Back in Scotland, we’re country people in our own way."

The tune they had decided to record was "Eloise," written by McCartney’s father some 20 years ago. The elder McCartney about 70, is an amateur musician who claims he can’t write, but "thinks up" songs.

The song may be released as a single and included in an album called "Cold Cuts," McCartney said.

THE ENGLISH MUSICIAN incorporated the Music Row sidemen into another "country flavored" song called "Sally G" which he wrote after an inspiring visit to a country music club in Printer’s Alley.

The songs will be combined with more of McCartney’s material which he had previously found no use for. "We had a lot of tracks that were going to be wasted and just thrown away," he said. "But I thought there was some good stuff on them, so we just cleaned them up, and then I did the stuff here so we could make them up into a record."

He quickly quashed some rumors that the family had plans to settle in Nashville, or even the United States. "No, thank you," said McCartney. "I’m British to the core.

McCARTNEY’S WIFE is the former Linda Eastman, daughter of a prominent New York attorney. The father-in-law now handles McCartney’s financial affairs. Tree Publishing, a client of Lee Eastman’s assisted in details of McCartney’s visit to Nashville.

"Orginally we were not going to record here. We were going to rehearse and see if the new band members blended with a view of going on a tour, possibly to Australia. We came here because it is a musical surrounding. It’s not much good going into a desert. There’s nothing to spark you up."

Although McCartney said there had been no change in the membership of his band at present, several sources yesterday said guitarist Jimmy McColloch had run afoul of the law here and had been dismissed from the group. The wayward musician reportedly has been asked to leave the country. McCartney confirmed the trouble with police yesterday, without going into much detail. "I’d rather not bring that up here," said McCartney.

Nashville sources also said McCartney is dissatisfied with his band generally and will dismiss them to return for recording sessions with strictly Nashville musicans. McCartney’s manager, however, termed this report "rubbish."

He said he hoped to begin on an American tour next year. If it develops, there are definate plans for a Nashville concert. "We couldn’t skip Nashville," said McCartney. "We have too many friends here."

The McCartney’s vistied the homes of Chet Atkins, and Johnny Cash. Also, they visited the old and new Grand Ole Opry Houses, several Nashville resteraunts, Printers’ Alley music clubs and several drive-in movies.

"We’ve been to the drive-in a couple of times," McCartney said with a grin. "That’s about our level. We’re very drive-in-type people."

Both Paul and Linda were dressed casually for the press conference. While reporters arriveing on time were detained at the front gate of the residence, the couple had buzzed past, smiling and waving on a newly purchased motor cycle.

The family’s younger members, three girls, were asked to remain inside during the interview though they slipped outside to play in the yard toward the end. Mrs. McCartney said the children had most enjoyed the Nashville sunshine.

"They’re always running around naked streaking,’ she laughed. Her husband interupted, "Remember that night they went over to Johnny Cash’s house? Heather (their 11 year old daughter) was playing with Johnny’s son and some animals in the barn.

When Heather came back with us, she was talking Southern." He mocked a drawl. "Those chickens are really beautifull."

The Putnam farm, which was rented for $2,000 per week while the owners vacationed, is located on the road between Lebanon and Gladeville.

The family’s plans are to return to New York, maybe today, where they will stay for a few days before returning to London and their Scotland farm. Yesterday evening, however, McCartney’s manager wsa trying to locate a camper for Paul and Linda to travel about in.

McCartney said his immediate plans include "releasing another album sometime soon. Beyond that, I don’t know. I could, for all I know, write the great rock ‘n roll epic. And then I could do nothing." 

Taken from The Tennessean July 18, 1974 page 67. (Continued on page 70 under headline: "Paul & Linda: Gentle")