Paul McCartney’s solo journey ranks among the most impressive in rock history. Very few artists manage—not only to part ways with a legendary band, but also to build a solo body of work that earns genuine critical respect. McCartney is one of those rare cases. Although many of his solo projects are highly regarded, there is one entry in his discography that often stirs ambivalence: the 1984 soundtrack/album Give My Regards to Broad Street.
To set the scene, Give My Regards to Broad Street functions not just as an album, but as a musical film, written by McCartney and featuring him in the lead role. While McCartney did win a Golden Globe for the movie, it wasn’t embraced by critics or the general public. The album, meanwhile, underperformed in the United States, peaking at No. 21 on the Billboard 200—a modest showing by Paul McCartney standards.
The album’s lead and standout single was “No More Lonely Nights,” which became its only major hit. It climbed to No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. A significant part of what made that track special is the guest appearance of David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. He contributed the soaring guitar solo parts that many consider central to the song’s emotional impact.
McCartney has spoken of Gilmour in glowing terms, saying that he called him up and asked if he could play on the track, believing the song suited him. (“I’ve known him since the early days of Pink Floyd … Dave is a genius of sorts … so I was pulling out all the stops.”) Without Gilmour’s contribution, it’s possible “No More Lonely Nights” wouldn’t have connected so strongly—or charted so high—but that kind of counterfactual is hard to prove. Still, his presence no doubt pushed the song into greater prominence.