SCREWED UP VIDEOS FOR TODAY, THINKING THAT "TUG OF WAR" WAS ALREADY PUBLIC BUT IT WAS JUST FOR MEMBERS... SO "PIPES OF PEACE" ALBUM REVIEW IS ALSO PUBLIC AT ruclips.net/video/g7R8xQ4JAmQ/видео.html
I remember buying Tug Of War whilst on a trip to Berlin (Saturn was the name of the store) and as soon as I got back home I played it and loved it instantly. Somebody Who Cares and Take It Away are my favorites!
This had always been one of my favourites. And the archive edition reminded me just how good. Below Ram and Band On The Run, but above most of the rest. And it's good to see that a lot of Macca fans love 'The Pound is Sinking' as much as I do. One of Paul's best vocals.
This and Off the Ground are my favorite McCartney albums. This was the first album of Paul’s that ever bought and inspired me to buy the rest of his albums.
I think this is one of the best series you've done, Larry. Like you, I went years without listening to McCartney, but I am recently revisiting a lot of his music. I will say one thing, we NEVER agree on album covers. So far, every album cover you hate I love, and vice-versa.
One of the greatest in PM's catalogue. What a vocal! George Martin knew how to record Paul's voice properly. The songs are strong, the album flows smoothly from start to finish, with gorgeous opening and great closing. And there is a concept which is even expressed in the cover artwork: the contrasting colours red and blue speak allegorically for black and white. A happy go lucky song changes to a sad one and vice versa. And what our life is if not a constant struggle between all kinds of contradictions!
There is a lot of melancholy on this album in the wake of John's passing. I always heard the title song as being about his relationship with John too. Production by George Martin...Top 5 Macca for me, wich doubled my disappointment with Pipes of Peace.
Here Today is absolutely awesome and so freaking emotional, when he sings "I'm holding back the tears no more" I don't hold 'em back either. But of lately, I really got into Pound is Sinking and it's so addictive, now I can't decide anymore which of the two masterpieces is the best song on Tug of War :(
I really like the structure of your latest reviews (personal stories, critetia, rating, songs, ranking). Maybe you could say the rating after you talk about songs but that's of course your thing, just a tip to make it more exciting.
Tug Of War is a great album Larry,one of Paul's very best with great production from George Martin and yes Here Today is very touching,Tug Of War is a great song and Take It Away rocks as does Ballroom Dancing,two fun songs and Somebody Who Cares is a very nice song,What's That You're Doing? is pretty funky but The Pound Is Sinking is just an OK song to me,nothing special and probably my least favorite song on the album,Wonderlust is epic with a great arrangement and great production from George Martin,Get It is fun and Dress Me Up As A Robber though the guitar playing on it is outstanding is not my favorite song either,Ebony And Ivory is simply a great under appreciated song and the Tug Of War album cover?,sorry Larry I like it very much. Bob.
I also like this as a proper second-tier Paul album. Paul sure had Georg Martin put in a lot of orchestra. It sounds very good, but where’s the rock&roll? Like the Rutles sang, “why don’t we do it in the middle of the road?” I’m very curious to hear other fans reactions. I think this album is a big disappointment to us who were buying Paul’s stuff after buying Beatles records as kids. Maybe it sounds cool as an item in an old catalog. Carl Perkins! I love Gotta Get It! Kids, Carl Perkins wrote & recorded Blue Suede Shoes, Kansas City, Honey Don’t, Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby. Check out his concert with Eric Clapton & George Harrison etc. Heck, Larry, this might make a neat reaction video. The rockers worship Carl Perkins and his rockabilly guitar twang. This song need more Perkins guitar, less Paul. Take it off the back porch and rock out! The Stevie Wonder duos leave me flat. The Beatles sound is largely a happy but bad copy and re-working of soul. Stevie Wonder is soul. Whatever went on in that studio, it didn’t make magic. Wanderlust is marvelous. Brian Wilson makes it even sweeter on The Art Of McCartney. All in all, pleasant. Not exciting.
What I find interesting on Tug Of War (and Pipes of Peace for that matter) is that a lot of the material was intended for the next Wings album. Originally Wings probably wouldn’t have recorded their tracks with George Martin as producer - but I’m glad that Paul called him in for this album. GM lends the material a gloss and polish that was mostly missing from the Wings albums, which sometimes felt a bit too home spun. BTW Ebony and Ivory was the very first single I bought when I was 10!
1. RAM 2. Band On The Run 3. Tug Of War 4. Venus And Mars 5. McCartney II 6. Wings At The Speed Of Sound 7. Back To The Egg 8. London Town 9. McCartney 10. Red Rose Speedway 11. Wild Life (but I have to say i'm not so much into most of the albums, so its more of the first impression)
I really like 'Take it Away' on this album. The bass line is one of his best in terms of groove, melodic line and sound. The lyrics tell a story and it all fits together nicely. Lots of syrup on this album in terms of production and lyrics, but overall its better than some of his other stuff. Some good McCartney is better than no McCartney, that's for sure.
"Tug Of War" only gets a "B"?. I know... don't take it so seriously. It's hard! ha! But, a "B"? It gets a straight "A" from me. What a great album! There was a time when "Ebony And Ivory" was in my Top 20 songs of all time. And that was before I became familiar with most of Stevie Wonder's great works. I know what you mean about "Here Today". When I saw Paul's "Back In The U.S." live DVD the first time, "Here Today" got me really emotional. The song got Paul himself emotional during his Amoeba Records in-store concert. I had a moment where I got out of Paul's music as well. I dropped out after "Off The Ground". But, came back with "Chaos And Creation In The Backyard". That album kind of reminds me of "Tug Of War", "Flowers In The Dirt" as well. I'm amazed "Flowers In The Dirt", "Flaming Pie" or "Chaos And Creation" didn't bring you back into the fold. I, amazingly passed on "Flaming Pie" at the time of its release (1997). Even being nominated for Album Of The Year at the Grammy Awards, didn't make me care much for it. I just didn't like its singles very much. I finally got it in late 2015, and was very surprised at the quality of the album. And I got the recent 2 CD set.
I know we beg to differ, but really love this album and imho is a lot better then McCartney II ! A few of the songs are memory songs for me though cause I first heard Ebony and Ivory in my dad's 1976 Chevy Vega when I was 5 years old. The Pound is Sinking, Wanderlust, and Here Today are brilliant! An A- for me.
I very much like the fun outtake The Unbelievable Experience. I wish he could have made that into a real fun pop tune and put it on the album in a proper way. I feel there was a potential in that outtake demo. There are only two songs I don't like on the album and those are Ballroom dancing and Get it. I have no complaints on the rest of the songs. Take it away is my favorite. What bugs me with those archives is he misses a lot of outtakes. There are a lot more outtakes out there than what gets put into those archives. Red rose speedway is a fine exception, no complaints there.
Good album.Great George Martin production.The title track is fabulous. Take It Away sounds like it could have been on Back to The Egg.Irresistible Macca at his catchiest.Here Today is a great song.I'm less enamoured with Side 2 although I like Wanderlust and Pound is Sinking.Sadly, I've always hated the saccharine of Ebony and Ivory (sorry Larry!).
I like Here today of course, but here I put Tug of War and Wanderlust way higher. I think i could put any of those 2 songs in a top 10 Paul McCartney songs of all time. Especially Wanderlust.
I absolutely adore this album. The songs are sublime - wanderlust, tug of war and here today are awesome, some of his best ever. The only song I hate is 'What you're doing'. This should have been ditched and perhaps I'll give you a ring been a good replacement.
Larry, that was quite a good rating "B". I think this album is at least an "A" and is miles and miles ahead of Wild Life ! There is not one song on Wild Life that can come even close to Tug of War. Not one, in my "narrow-minded" opinion. I will vouch for 98 per cent of Paul's albums a splendid, except 2 -- Wild Life and Pipes of Peace - ..Tug of War as you have stated well, has some pretty good songs and the production is Beatle material. Here Today and Ebony and Ivory, Ballroom Dancing..etc,,,,all are fantastic except for the song with Stevie Wonder " Girl I like what You're Doin'" ..that one is somewhat disappointing and to me that is the weak link on the album and I would rate Band On the Run and Venus and Mars and possibly Back to the Egg higher than Tug Of War album. But, this is your Review, not mine !! Our feeling toward this album and McCartney's career in the Eighties, I was more into Paul than you for sure. You give an honest and sincere take on McCartney's Legacy in music very seriously ! I commend you for that Larry !! Because I have followed and loved McCartney from beginning to end and in between decades, I have a bias toward Paul that you do not and I commend you for that. To me, when I first heard the beginning notes of Tug of War, to the very end, I just loved this album to pieces and for a long, long time ! So my view is more on emotion and bias. Yours is just plain honesty. As you said, it is just a Review. And as we go along in life, our attitude changes toward songs and albums. If I was to choose just three McCartney albums and I was on and Island for 10 years. What albums would I take with me? I would choose 1. McCartney (the cherries album), 2. Venus and Mars 3. Flowers in the Dirt Those ones definitely I do not get bored at all !!! Take care Friend.
DJ Reid, Thanks for sharing your view, I enjoy learning why someone enjoys this over that. I’m a life-long Paul fan from the Ed Sullivan Show, but like Larry, quit between Wings Over America and Flowers in the dirt. I have filled in the missing albums with used records and CDs. I can’t rank 1,2,3, but I can group my tops 5, my #6-10, mid tier, and “oh, no.” Wild Life, Broadstreet, and Press To Play are my entire “oh, no.” list. . My dilemma is choosing my top 5 Paul albums. I know four, in chronological order, are Ram, Band On The Run, Flowers In The Dirt, and Flaming Pie. #5 has lots of possibilities, Egypt Station, Memory Almost Full, Red Rose Speedway, Off The Ground... I don’t know, may never decide.
@@robranney-blake8731 Out of respect for Larry's amazing channel, I will keep it rather brief. You could tune into my Channel, DJ Reid and see my videos and comment. I will be featuring Paul McCartney 70's albums in September and Bruce Cockburn's in October. You would be most welcome to watch and comment if you like, Rob. I would be delighted to have you sub..on my channel. To be brief, to me, being the "loyal to the end" McCartney fan, for one thing, I am not gullible. There were things in Paul's career that I rather took offense to, but I keep that private. The reason I do keep some thoughts "private" is that when you are a "friend" or "fan" or even a "foe", there are things to "keep to yourself" ! That is the privilege I have in a Democracy. Not just to have "freedom of speech' (which is diminishing, unfortunately), but also to have "freedom to keep our thoughts to ourselves without being "forced" to say something. That also is democracy to keep your family, workplace people, neighbours and personal relationships "private" as well as your "thoughts'. But for me, Rob, I have to admit I have changed my opinion throughout the decades of Paul's songs and album. I am a very "loyal" McCartney fan, there is no doubt. I do defend his albums and his talents more than the "average" fan, because the music "critics" have been brutal to McCartney and Linda and Wings and solo career time and time again !! When I played RAM album with my parents upon release (they didn't like me playing Beatles records too much) and when my parents heard RAM, they were so surprised and loved the songs. The music critics were making fun of Paul's song and lyric as trivial nonsense and mocked Linda's harmonies. The critics were silenced when Band on the Run and future Wings albums were released, but Linda really was spurned and criticized. In short, if I were to choose a fifth album, it would either be Back to the Egg album, or even better, Venus and Mars, and if you are really love Paul McCartney you may even choose McCartney I album, the first solo album. I think his first solo album still stands up as one of his best. It seems you like the later albums, and if you prefer you may even take Egypt Station as a top 5. I am seriously thinking of replacing RAM as top 5 and putting Egypt Station in its place. The reason; is, the songs are better !! The album concept is even more exceptional than RAM as good as that album is !! Take care Rob.
Generally I think, a great album; can't really hear Ebony and Ivory anymore, a good bit too sweet and overproduced 80s style... Here Today is of course an emotional and lyrical highlight but possibly my favorite here is Wanderlust... almost hymn-like in a way, I reckon it would sound wonderful in a choir arrangement! The Pound is Sinking is also a cool medley type song, almost a throwback to Abbey Road and some amazing vocals on that one. There are quite a few leftovers and some pretty good B sides from these sessions that are worth checking out (Rainclouds, I'll Give You a Ring...) BTW the intro to "Dress Me Up" was used as the theme tune for a satirical program called "Verona" in the mid/late 80s here in the Netherlands. Actually my first exposure to the song...
i bought the vynyl album about a yr ago i like the album better than i did pipes of peace some so so songs but theres always a song on any album i got sick of ebony and ivory good song just i think burn out on song over al i think i would put probably 5 or 6 i think i like it better than you did but thats why i watch these different opinons a good thing
It's an okay album, not one I play a lot. It's funny that I like the horns on 'Ballroom Dancing' but hate them on 'Ebony and Ivory'. I don't know if you ever saw the SNL parody of that with Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra and Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder: ruclips.net/video/0h2jZtuRuic/видео.html
Ehh, this album is just Paul through the motions to me I'm afraid. With that being said, it's not like there's anything that's stick out bad but musically it's mostly fluff, the kind of songs at Paul could put out in his sleep. Two songs that I would say that hold up very well though is What's That Your Doing and Here Today. Paul and Stevie sound great on Whats That, and the track features some killer keyboard work with an irresistible drum groove. Here Today is one of Paul's most heartfelt lyrical deliveries and quite a few twists and turns to make it a pretty great track. There's a couple fun tracks thrown in there like Ballroom Dancing (admittedly one of the DUMBEST songs Paul ever wrote but I can't deny that in the right frame of mind it does the job), The Pound Is Sinking (also kinda dumb but Paul's voice is in excellent form here). Outside of that, the album is just average Paul without any quirk. The title track honestly might be my least favourite just on the merits of the horrible "pushin and pullin" bit but it's a bit of a dreary number anyway. There's individual moments of catchiness within the songs but as a unit they're merely agreeable. This goes to number 10 just above London Town. 6/10
Paul definitely needed John & George 2 help him with his songwriting (What he did with The Beatles is light years ahead of his solo work, 2 me) Post Beatles Paul only has 1 album i like as a whole... Tug of War (Stevie Wonder) & about half of Band on the Run (4 bad songs)... Neither on the level of The Beatles albums... Whereas Johns albums Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Double Fantasy & about half of Mind Games are on The Beatles level... John has Beatle level songs on all his solo albums... Paul's Maybe Im Amazed, Band On The Run, With A Little Luck a few of the few of his solo songs that are as good his Beatles songs ... The song "New" is the only Paul song i like since his 80's work (Free As A Bird & Real Love are John's songs, FourFiveSeconds is Rihanna's Song)... Paul's Beatles input is overrated as far as compared 2 John the TRUE Creative Genius of The Beatles (Paul's a REVISIONIST & John's under attack 2 this day for caring about humanity from the FBI's useful idiots)... All 4 Beatles are important they knew nobody's replaceable themselves (much like Led Zeppelin)... As Paul's love of money grew his music diminished & it broke up The Beatles... John suggested they both give up 2 songs each per album, but Paul couldn't let George have a equal amount of songs (What a douche he knew George since they were in school) John's like i'm out then (this matches John's character) Empathy, a real friend...
This is just my opinion. I actually like the Album cover. The content is missing a lot. Here Today is ok. I really dislike Ebony and Ivory. It’s a “Silly Love Song” . 😂 The Album overall..... 2
SCREWED UP VIDEOS FOR TODAY, THINKING THAT "TUG OF WAR" WAS ALREADY PUBLIC BUT IT WAS JUST FOR MEMBERS... SO "PIPES OF PEACE" ALBUM REVIEW IS ALSO PUBLIC AT ruclips.net/video/g7R8xQ4JAmQ/видео.html
I love “ballroom dancing” and “the pound is sinking.”
Had fun in the live stream! I love tug of war
I remember buying Tug Of War whilst on a trip to Berlin (Saturn was the name of the store) and as soon as I got back home I played it and loved it instantly. Somebody Who Cares and Take It Away are my favorites!
This had always been one of my favourites. And the archive edition reminded me just how good. Below Ram and Band On The Run, but above most of the rest. And it's good to see that a lot of Macca fans love 'The Pound is Sinking' as much as I do. One of Paul's best vocals.
One of his very top-tier solo albums for me. Have always loved it. Great songs and consistent quality throughout.
This and Off the Ground are my favorite McCartney albums. This was the first album of Paul’s that ever bought and inspired me to buy the rest of his albums.
Happy to see your face, Canadian Studmuffin!!!! :) Love this vid!!!!!!
I think this is one of the best series you've done, Larry. Like you, I went years without listening to McCartney, but I am recently revisiting a lot of his music. I will say one thing, we NEVER agree on album covers. So far, every album cover you hate I love, and vice-versa.
I enjoy this album. Take it away is a fave of mine. Lifts the spirts. 😌🎸
I like that one too, probably my favorite off the album.
One of the greatest in PM's catalogue. What a vocal! George Martin knew how to record Paul's voice properly. The songs are strong, the album flows smoothly from start to finish, with gorgeous opening and great closing. And there is a concept which is even expressed in the cover artwork: the contrasting colours red and blue speak allegorically for black and white. A happy go lucky song changes to a sad one and vice versa. And what our life is if not a constant struggle between all kinds of contradictions!
There is a lot of melancholy on this album in the wake of John's passing. I always heard the title song as being about his relationship with John too. Production by George Martin...Top 5 Macca for me, wich doubled my disappointment with Pipes of Peace.
Here Today is absolutely awesome and so freaking emotional, when he sings "I'm holding back the tears no more" I don't hold 'em back either. But of lately, I really got into Pound is Sinking and it's so addictive, now I can't decide anymore which of the two masterpieces is the best song on Tug of War :(
Emotions comes with age when U-was talking about the song Here Today & I agree with what U-said about the song after A-few yrs. has gone by
I really like the structure of your latest reviews (personal stories, critetia, rating, songs, ranking). Maybe you could say the rating after you talk about songs but that's of course your thing, just a tip to make it more exciting.
I thought it was a great album and I loved Tug Of War, Ebnoy and Ivory plus I love Here Today and Wanderlust, this is brilliant this Macca ranking
Tug Of War is a great album Larry,one of Paul's very best with great production from George Martin and yes Here Today is very touching,Tug Of War is a great song and Take It Away rocks as does Ballroom Dancing,two fun songs and Somebody Who Cares is a very nice song,What's That You're Doing? is pretty funky but The Pound Is Sinking is just an OK song to me,nothing special and probably my least favorite song on the album,Wonderlust is epic with a great arrangement and great production from George Martin,Get It is fun and Dress Me Up As A Robber though the guitar playing on it is outstanding is not my favorite song either,Ebony And Ivory is simply a great under appreciated song and the Tug Of War album cover?,sorry Larry I like it very much. Bob.
I also like this as a proper second-tier Paul album. Paul sure had Georg Martin put in a lot of orchestra. It sounds very good, but where’s the rock&roll? Like the Rutles sang, “why don’t we do it in the middle of the road?”
I’m very curious to hear other fans reactions. I think this album is a big disappointment to us who were buying Paul’s stuff after buying Beatles records as kids. Maybe it sounds cool as an item in an old catalog.
Carl Perkins! I love Gotta Get It! Kids, Carl Perkins wrote & recorded Blue Suede Shoes, Kansas City, Honey Don’t, Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby. Check out his concert with Eric Clapton & George Harrison etc. Heck, Larry, this might make a neat reaction video. The rockers worship Carl Perkins and his rockabilly guitar twang. This song need more Perkins guitar, less Paul. Take it off the back porch and rock out!
The Stevie Wonder duos leave me flat. The Beatles sound is largely a happy but bad copy and re-working of soul. Stevie Wonder is soul. Whatever went on in that studio, it didn’t make magic.
Wanderlust is marvelous. Brian Wilson makes it even sweeter on The Art Of McCartney.
All in all, pleasant. Not exciting.
What I find interesting on Tug Of War (and Pipes of Peace for that matter) is that a lot of the material was intended for the next Wings album. Originally Wings probably wouldn’t have recorded their tracks with George Martin as producer - but I’m glad that Paul called him in for this album. GM lends the material a gloss and polish that was mostly missing from the Wings albums, which sometimes felt a bit too home spun. BTW Ebony and Ivory was the very first single I bought when I was 10!
Nice review. For me it's not a bad album, nor is it a good album. Some decent tracks. The standout for me is Wanderlust.
I thought that "Take It Away" was from Wings😀Liked👍
1. RAM
2. Band On The Run
3. Tug Of War
4. Venus And Mars
5. McCartney II
6. Wings At The Speed Of Sound
7. Back To The Egg
8. London Town
9. McCartney
10. Red Rose Speedway
11. Wild Life
(but I have to say i'm not so much into most of the albums, so its more of the first impression)
myself I would put the album in the top 5 I think lol. same with me , as the 80s went on i also drift away from paul.
I would tug the album at or near the top. Excellent album.
I really like 'Take it Away' on this album. The bass line is one of his best in terms of groove, melodic line and sound. The lyrics tell a story and it all fits together nicely. Lots of syrup on this album in terms of production and lyrics, but overall its better than some of his other stuff. Some good McCartney is better than no McCartney, that's for sure.
Tug Of War is a fantastic album. I'm sorry I don't think there is a bad song on it. Its in my top 5 of his albums.
"Tug Of War" only gets a "B"?. I know... don't take it so seriously. It's hard! ha! But, a "B"? It gets a straight "A" from me. What a great album! There was a time when "Ebony And Ivory" was in my Top 20 songs of all time. And that was before I became familiar with most of Stevie Wonder's great works. I know what you mean about "Here Today". When I saw Paul's "Back In The U.S." live DVD the first time, "Here Today" got me really emotional. The song got Paul himself emotional during his Amoeba Records in-store concert. I had a moment where I got out of Paul's music as well. I dropped out after "Off The Ground". But, came back with "Chaos And Creation In The Backyard". That album kind of reminds me of "Tug Of War", "Flowers In The Dirt" as well. I'm amazed "Flowers In The Dirt", "Flaming Pie" or "Chaos And Creation" didn't bring you back into the fold. I, amazingly passed on "Flaming Pie" at the time of its release (1997). Even being nominated for Album Of The Year at the Grammy Awards, didn't make me care much for it. I just didn't like its singles very much. I finally got it in late 2015, and was very surprised at the quality of the album. And I got the recent 2 CD set.
I know we beg to differ, but really love this album and imho is a lot better then McCartney II ! A few of the songs are memory songs for me though cause I first heard Ebony and Ivory in my dad's 1976 Chevy Vega when I was 5 years old. The Pound is Sinking, Wanderlust, and Here Today are brilliant! An A- for me.
I was still listening to Angst in my pants when this came out 😃
Fine album,side 1 very strong. Side 2 flattens off but still 2very good songs there. So 8/10 for me
You should also rank and review George Harrison's albums, once this series ends. Great video!
Every time I play this I go "Meh, ok, whatever". I've never really got into it.
Pipes of Piece I can play over and over...
My favorite song is Ballroom Dancing his vocals rock.
I very much like the fun outtake The Unbelievable Experience. I wish he could have made that into a real fun pop tune and put it on the album in a proper way. I feel there was a potential in that outtake demo. There are only two songs I don't like on the album and those are Ballroom dancing and Get it. I have no complaints on the rest of the songs. Take it away is my favorite. What bugs me with those archives is he misses a lot of outtakes. There are a lot more outtakes out there than what gets put into those archives. Red rose speedway is a fine exception, no complaints there.
Good album.Great George Martin production.The title track is fabulous. Take It Away sounds like it could have been on Back to The Egg.Irresistible Macca at his catchiest.Here Today is a great song.I'm less enamoured with Side 2 although I like Wanderlust and Pound is Sinking.Sadly, I've always hated the saccharine of Ebony and Ivory (sorry Larry!).
I like Here today of course, but here I put Tug of War and Wanderlust way higher. I think i could put any of those 2 songs in a top 10 Paul McCartney songs of all time. Especially Wanderlust.
So many videos xD
Almost 14 years worth. Sorry. 😁
I absolutely adore this album. The songs are sublime - wanderlust, tug of war and here today are awesome, some of his best ever. The only song I hate is 'What you're doing'. This should have been ditched and perhaps I'll give you a ring been a good replacement.
Larry, that was quite a good rating "B". I think this album is at least an "A" and is miles and miles ahead of Wild Life ! There is not one song on Wild Life that can come even close to Tug of War. Not one, in my "narrow-minded" opinion. I will vouch for 98 per cent of Paul's albums a splendid, except 2 -- Wild Life and Pipes of Peace - ..Tug of War as you have stated well, has some pretty good songs and the production is Beatle material. Here Today and Ebony and Ivory, Ballroom Dancing..etc,,,,all are fantastic except for the song with Stevie Wonder " Girl I like what You're Doin'" ..that one is somewhat disappointing and to me that is the weak link on the album and I would rate Band On the Run and Venus and Mars and possibly Back to the Egg higher than Tug Of War album. But, this is your Review, not mine !! Our feeling toward this album and McCartney's career in the Eighties, I was more into Paul than you for sure. You give an honest and sincere take on McCartney's Legacy in music very seriously ! I commend you for that Larry !! Because I have followed and loved McCartney from beginning to end and in between decades, I have a bias toward Paul that you do not and I commend you for that. To me, when I first heard the beginning notes of Tug of War, to the very end, I just loved this album to pieces and for a long, long time ! So my view is more on emotion and bias. Yours is just plain honesty. As you said, it is just a Review. And as we go along in life, our attitude changes toward songs and albums. If I was to choose just three McCartney albums and I was on and Island for 10 years. What albums would I take with me? I would choose 1. McCartney (the cherries album), 2. Venus and Mars 3. Flowers in the Dirt Those ones definitely I do not get bored at all !!! Take care Friend.
DJ Reid, Thanks for sharing your view, I enjoy learning why someone enjoys this over that. I’m a life-long Paul fan from the Ed Sullivan Show, but like Larry, quit between Wings Over America and Flowers in the dirt. I have filled in the missing albums with used records and CDs. I can’t rank 1,2,3, but I can group my tops 5, my #6-10, mid tier, and “oh, no.” Wild Life, Broadstreet, and Press To Play are my entire “oh, no.” list. . My dilemma is choosing my top 5 Paul albums. I know four, in chronological order, are Ram, Band On The Run, Flowers In The Dirt, and Flaming Pie. #5 has lots of possibilities, Egypt Station, Memory Almost Full, Red Rose Speedway, Off The Ground... I don’t know, may never decide.
@@robranney-blake8731 Out of respect for Larry's amazing channel, I will keep it rather brief. You could tune into my Channel, DJ Reid and see my videos and comment. I will be featuring Paul McCartney 70's albums in September and Bruce Cockburn's in October. You would be most welcome to watch and comment if you like, Rob. I would be delighted to have you sub..on my channel. To be brief, to me, being the "loyal to the end" McCartney fan, for one thing, I am not gullible. There were things in Paul's career that I rather took offense to, but I keep that private. The reason I do keep some thoughts "private" is that when you are a "friend" or "fan" or even a "foe", there are things to "keep to yourself" ! That is the privilege I have in a Democracy. Not just to have "freedom of speech' (which is diminishing, unfortunately), but also to have "freedom to keep our thoughts to ourselves without being "forced" to say something. That also is democracy to keep your family, workplace people, neighbours and personal relationships "private" as well as your "thoughts'. But for me, Rob, I have to admit I have changed my opinion throughout the decades of Paul's songs and album. I am a very "loyal" McCartney fan, there is no doubt. I do defend his albums and his talents more than the "average" fan, because the music "critics" have been brutal to McCartney and Linda and Wings and solo career time and time again !! When I played RAM album with my parents upon release (they didn't like me playing Beatles records too much) and when my parents heard RAM, they were so surprised and loved the songs. The music critics were making fun of Paul's song and lyric as trivial nonsense and mocked Linda's harmonies. The critics were silenced when Band on the Run and future Wings albums were released, but Linda really was spurned and criticized. In short, if I were to choose a fifth album, it would either be Back to the Egg album, or even better, Venus and Mars, and if you are really love Paul McCartney you may even choose McCartney I album, the first solo album. I think his first solo album still stands up as one of his best. It seems you like the later albums, and if you prefer you may even take Egypt Station as a top 5. I am seriously thinking of replacing RAM as top 5 and putting Egypt Station in its place. The reason; is, the songs are better !! The album concept is even more exceptional than RAM as good as that album is !! Take care Rob.
I would rate this LP: B7...
Generally I think, a great album; can't really hear Ebony and Ivory anymore, a good bit too sweet and overproduced 80s style... Here Today is of course an emotional and lyrical highlight but possibly my favorite here is Wanderlust... almost hymn-like in a way, I reckon it would sound wonderful in a choir arrangement! The Pound is Sinking is also a cool medley type song, almost a throwback to Abbey Road and some amazing vocals on that one.
There are quite a few leftovers and some pretty good B sides from these sessions that are worth checking out (Rainclouds, I'll Give You a Ring...)
BTW the intro to "Dress Me Up" was used as the theme tune for a satirical program called "Verona" in the mid/late 80s here in the Netherlands. Actually my first exposure to the song...
Awesome album
I have the same list as you have :D
i bought the vynyl album about a yr ago i like the album better than i did pipes of peace some so so songs but theres always a song on any album i got sick of ebony and ivory good song just i think burn out on song over al i think i would put probably 5 or 6 i think i like it better than you did but thats why i watch these different opinons a good thing
It's an okay album, not one I play a lot. It's funny that I like the horns on 'Ballroom Dancing' but hate them on 'Ebony and Ivory'. I don't know if you ever saw the SNL parody of that with Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra and Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder:
ruclips.net/video/0h2jZtuRuic/видео.html
Awesome plus I mean
Bro you look so much like James Hetfeild
Ehh, this album is just Paul through the motions to me I'm afraid. With that being said, it's not like there's anything that's stick out bad but musically it's mostly fluff, the kind of songs at Paul could put out in his sleep. Two songs that I would say that hold up very well though is What's That Your Doing and Here Today. Paul and Stevie sound great on Whats That, and the track features some killer keyboard work with an irresistible drum groove. Here Today is one of Paul's most heartfelt lyrical deliveries and quite a few twists and turns to make it a pretty great track. There's a couple fun tracks thrown in there like Ballroom Dancing (admittedly one of the DUMBEST songs Paul ever wrote but I can't deny that in the right frame of mind it does the job), The Pound Is Sinking (also kinda dumb but Paul's voice is in excellent form here). Outside of that, the album is just average Paul without any quirk. The title track honestly might be my least favourite just on the merits of the horrible "pushin and pullin" bit but it's a bit of a dreary number anyway. There's individual moments of catchiness within the songs but as a unit they're merely agreeable. This goes to number 10 just above London Town. 6/10
Is calling something a "Straight A" considered homophobic yet?
Maybe that starts next month.
Paul definitely needed John & George 2 help him with his songwriting (What he did with The Beatles is light years ahead of his solo work, 2 me) Post Beatles Paul only has 1 album i like as a whole...
Tug of War (Stevie Wonder) & about half of Band on the Run (4 bad songs)... Neither on the level of The Beatles albums...
Whereas Johns albums Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Double Fantasy & about half of Mind Games are on The Beatles level... John has Beatle level songs on all his solo albums... Paul's Maybe Im Amazed, Band On The Run, With A Little Luck a few of the few of his solo songs that are as good his Beatles songs ... The song "New" is the only Paul song i like since his 80's work (Free As A Bird & Real Love are John's songs, FourFiveSeconds is Rihanna's Song)...
Paul's Beatles input is overrated as far as compared 2 John the TRUE Creative Genius of The Beatles (Paul's a REVISIONIST & John's under attack 2 this day for caring about humanity from the FBI's useful idiots)...
All 4 Beatles are important they knew nobody's replaceable themselves (much like Led Zeppelin)... As Paul's love of money grew his music diminished & it broke up The Beatles... John suggested they both give up 2 songs each per album, but Paul couldn't let George have a equal amount of songs (What a douche he knew George since they were in school) John's like i'm out then (this matches John's character) Empathy, a real friend...
This is just my opinion. I actually like the Album cover. The content is missing a lot. Here Today is ok. I really dislike Ebony and Ivory. It’s a “Silly Love Song” . 😂 The Album overall..... 2