On 30 May 1966, the Beatles released ‘Paperback Writer’ – a fortnight after ‘Paint It Black’ by the Rolling Stones and only days before Bob Dylan released ‘I Want You’ as a single. Paul Simon wrote and recorded (with Art Garfunkel) ‘A Hazy Shade of Winter’ not long after.

Yes, yes, what bliss it was in that dawn etc. But anyone predicting back then that, exactly 60 years later, all four artists would still be releasing new music and touring to large and appreciative audiences would have been laughed clean out of the Bag O’Nails. Even when glossy monthly music magazines such as Q started appearing in the 1980s, 40 was regarded as the dark side of the moon for the foundational pop stars of the 1960s. Now that they are continuing to do it into their eighties, what can we reasonably expect them to offer?

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Well, with The Boys of Dungeon Lane, released last week, Paul McCartney has at least made a pretty solid solo Paul McCartney record. From its title down, the album has been smartly branded as the sound of the once and for ever Beatle, who turns 84........

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