BEATLES--THE NEXT GENERATION

Julian Lennon debuted as a young tyke on father John’s 1975 “Walls and Bridges” album and in the ‘80s had several hits of his own. His half-brother Sean Lennon has recorded several times with mom Yoko Ono. Zack Starkey has drummed on dad Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band tours.

Now Paul McCartney’s 19-year-old son, James, is making his recording debut, playing acoustic guitar on a song on his recently knighted dad’s upcoming album, “Flaming Pie.” That brings the total of performing Beatles sons to a fab four. The word in Beatles circles is that James’ debut is not a launch of a career, but merely a familial gesture.

McCartney fils, by accounts of those close to the situation, is an accomplished guitarist. The number he plays on, “Somedays,” is a sentimental ode to hearth and home, according to those who heard it previewed last week at a Beatles festival in New Jersey.

“It’s very personal and very appropriate,” says Matt Hurwitz, publisher of the L.A.-based Beatles-oriented magazine Good Day Sunshine. “It doesn’t sound like a Sean thing, an attempt to showcase him. This is probably the most personal record Paul has made in a long time, from what I’ve heard about it. So it makes sense to me that he had James on it.”