Digital Video Singles • Classic Rock Videos

Paul McCartney’s 1986 performance of Get Back, with Tina Turner, is now available for purchase and download on iTunes.  

“I had never considered going back on tour until I got the royals rocking at The Prince’s Trust concert,” said McCartney.

Get Back: Paul McCartney returns to the stage at the 1987 Prince's Trust Rock Gala

“I joined Tina Turner on stage …and the packed crowd went crazy. I had missed playing live shows but I didn’t realize how much until I did The Prince’s Trust gig. That concert left me feeing so good….”

On June 20, 1986, The Prince’s Trust organized its fourth All-Star charity concert at Wembley Arena to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the organization.

HRH The Prince of Wales and The Trust drew up a list of the artists they wanted to appear and recruited an “All-Star” line-up of 22 legendary performers, eight of whom would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  The All-Star music talent that showed up was spectacular and unprecedented.

It was unclear whether Paul McCartney would perform at the Rock Gala and a capacity crowd of 8000 fans had purchased their tickets before his appearance was announced.  They were rewarded with a finale performance of“Get Back,” where McCartney was joined by Tina Turner, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Midge Ure, Mark Knopfler, Ray Cooper, Howard Jones, Bryan Adams, Mark King, John Illsley and Paul Young.

The YouTube video below was shot at the rehearsal sessions for Get Back, which would be performed that evening on the Wembley Arena stage.

The Prince’s Trust event was Paul’s first indoor concert appearance in six and a half years.  The duet with Tina Turner turned out to be a turning point in McCartney’s desire to tour again.

“I had never considered going back on tour until I got the royals rocking at The Prince’s Trust concert, said McCartney.  “I joined Tina Turner on stage …and the packed crowd went crazy. I had missed playing live shows but I didn’t realize how much until I did The Prince’s Trust gig. That concert left me feeing so good….”

“Get Back” was a song that Paul wrote in Apple Studios during the recording of Let It Be.  “We were sitting in the studio and we made it up out of thin air,” he said, as the number was recorded shortly after he finished writing it.

“I originally wrote it as a political song,” McCartney said.   At this time there was a huge public debate about immigration into Britain and politician Enoch Powell was saying that it would lead to ‘rivers of blood.’ However, the words were misinterpreted in some quarters as racist.

In the end, the song was clearly a call to “get back” to the live, spontaneous, blues-inspired music of the Beatles’ early years.   The single was issued in Britain on April 11, 1969. It immediately topped the charts in Britain and America.

The single, released on Apple records, recognizes the contribution of Billy Preston to the recording, and cites the artists at “The Beatles with Billy Preston.”  This was the only time a non-Beatle was credited on a single recording, and is testament to the role that Preston played on this and all songs recorded for Let It Be, the Beatles’ final album.

The All-Star Music Galas organized by The Trust were designed to raise money and bring its work and activities to people around the world.

The Prince’s Trust is UK’s leading youth charity, giving practical and financial support to 14-30 year olds, helping them tackle problems of employment, education and training. Since its inception in 1976 The Trust has helped over 600,000 young people, overcome their barriers and transform their lives.

Proceeds from this video will support The Prince’s Trust to help change young people’s lives.

iTunes videos from The Prince’s Trust include:  While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison), My Song (Elton John), Tearing Us Apart (Eric Clapton & Tina Turner), Get Back (Paul McCartney), Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting (Elton John), Orangefield (Van Morrison), and You Can’t Hurry Love (Phil Collins).  See www.digitalvideosingles.com for more information.

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Paul McCartney & Tina Turner

“Get Back”

Wembley Arena, London

Prince’s Trust Rock Gala

June 20, 1986

Running Time:  4:01

Featuring: Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Midge Ure, Mark Knopfler, Ray Cooper, Howard Jones, Bryan Adams, Mark King, John Illsley, and Paul Young.

Written by: John Lennon and Paul McCartney