FOT Forum
FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: yesno on March 29, 2008, 12:01:17 PM
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What Paul McCartney solo/Wings albums are worth listening to?
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I really like McCartney and Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. Everything else is really hit and miss in my opinion and I don't miss much just having Wingspan.
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RAM is one of my favorite records of all time. McCartney (the one with "Maybe I'm Amazed") is great, too. For Wings, Band on the Run is amazing, but Wild Life is a bona fide overlooked classic! Beyond that, I agree with Gilly - I'm fine with the Greatest Hits.
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Ted has called it all the way down the line. RAM is only second to ALL THINGS MUST PASS in solo Beatledom, but WILD LIFE is the shambling secret of the whole catalog! I shall play something from it on Tuesday to make my point - what would you like to hear, TL?
Tom.
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Ted has called it all the way down the line. RAM is only second to ALL THINGS MUST PASS in solo Beatledom, but WILD LIFE is the shambling secret of the whole catalog! I shall play something from it on Tuesday to make my point - what would you like to hear, TL?
Tom.
Why, thank'ee, Tommy! The title track is my fave, but it's long and slow, so maybe "Mumbo" for it's immediacy?
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I'm right there with the love for McCartney, RAM, Band on The Run and Wild Life, but I also think Venus & Mars is pretty great and think most of Red Rose Speedway (outside of "My Love," which I could live without hearing again, and "Loup") is really underrated. I love "Big Barn Bed" on Red Rose Speedway.
I have a soft spot for a lot on Back To The Egg and have listened to Tug of War and McCartney II a ton, but I'm not sure I could actually recommend McCartney II to anybody who's not already a fan. It's after Tug of War where I think you can skip about the next 14 years and not miss anything.
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What is the thinking man's take on Flaming Pie, Chaos and Creation, and Memory Almost Full?
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I am glad somebody mentioned Back To the Egg. In terms of production style, it's not dated well, so neophytes would have trouble dealing with it, and about 5 of the 14 tracks are more like sketches than fully-formed songs, but McCartney's really adventurous on there in terms of song-writing ideas. I always thought the end of Arrow Through Me reached almost Weather-Report style proportions, bouncing back and forth between 8/8 and 6/8 with that tenor saxaphone riding on top of the riff. But when I play it for Andy from Knoxville, for example, not three seconds get out before he says "80's CHEESE".
Brat.
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What is the thinking man's take on Flaming Pie, Chaos and Creation, and Memory Almost Full?
I'm not much of a critic but Chaos and Creation rivals McCartney (debut) for my favorite Paul album. I didn't like the other two very much though. I pulled out my Ram LP today and that is pretty solid. I'll listen to Wild Life tonight. My dad gave me all of his albums which consists of everything the Beatles put out until about 77-78 a few years back and I still haven't listened to much of the Harrison and Ringo stuff other than Ringo and All Things Must Pass. Well, I tried listening to Beaucoups of Blues once but couldn't get through the first side.
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My favorite review of Ram:
This record sounds like winding up a box for forty-five minutes and right when it's supposed to pop- you get raped by a sweaty, amped-up, recently worked-out Carrot Top shoving a ram's horn up your ass.
Brian Teasley
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Yes, but I think he was referring to GG Allin's Ram
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That is my least favorite review of RAM.
Tom.
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you can thank Henry Owings
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But when I play it for Andy from Knoxville, for example, not three seconds get out before he says "80's CHEESE".
Brat.
I read this while taking a drink and I laughed so hard I choked. Thanks for almost killing me. With laughter.
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Here's a bad (meaning negative) review of Wild Life from allmusic.com (it's by Stephen Thomas Erlewine and is rated 2 1/2 stars):
The irony of the first Wings album is that it seems more domesticated than Ram, feeling more like a Paul 'n' Linda effort than that record. Perhaps it's because this album is filled with music that's defiantly lightweight -- not just the cloying cover of "Love Is Strange" but two versions apiece of songs called "Mumbo" and "Bip Bop." If this is a great musician bringing his band up to speed, so be it, but it never seems that way -- it feels like one step removed from coasting, which is wanking. It's easy to get irritated by the upfront cutesiness, since it's married to music that's featherweight at best. Then again, that's what makes this record bizarrely fascinating -- it's hard to imagine a record with less substance, especially from an artist who's not just among the most influential of the 20th century, but from one known for precise song and studiocraft. Here, he's thrown it all to the wind, trying to make a record that sounds as pastoral and relaxed as the album's cover photo. He makes something that sounds easy -- easy enough that you and a couple of neighbors who you don't know very well could knock it out in your garage on a lazy Saturday afternoon -- and that's what's frustrating and amazing about it. Yeah, it's possible to call this a terrible record, but it's so strange in its domestic bent and feigned ordinariness that it winds up being a pop album like no other.
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My favorite review of Ram:
Brian Teasley
Holy moly.
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I am glad somebody mentioned Back To the Egg. In terms of production style, it's not dated well, so neophytes would have trouble dealing with it, and about 5 of the 14 tracks are more like sketches than fully-formed songs, but McCartney's really adventurous on there in terms of song-writing ideas. I always thought the end of Arrow Through Me reached almost Weather-Report style proportions, bouncing back and forth between 8/8 and 6/8 with that tenor saxaphone riding on top of the riff. But when I play it for Andy from Knoxville, for example, not three seconds get out before he says "80's CHEESE".
Brat.
I really like that record! I listened to it this summer while on tour, it was great for tedious driving through some of the less sightly parts of the US. I was dismayed that when I called in during "getting to know you," I was forced to say Paul was my least favorite Beatle. It's not that I don't like him, but in my head I was thinking: "okay, George is my favorite, then John, then Ringo...." I was sad that I had to throw Paul under the bus, but I had no other choice.
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Thanks to this thread, I bought Ram this weekend and I loved it. I had Band on the Run and loved it but when I was listening to the Beatles all the time, I bought the hype of John Lennon being the genius and MacCartney being the guy who wrote Yesterday, so enjoying him always seemed like a guilty pleasure and I didn't look at his post-Beatles work.
It's strange becase I've thoroughly explored Lennon's post-Beatles career and it's one great album (thats not a joy to listen to) and lots of very spotty albums. Two albums in to looking at MacCartney and its already better. How did Lennon sell his version of Beatles history to critics so well?
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How did Lennon sell his version of Beatles history to critics so well?
The same way Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix did.
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Thanks to this thread, I bought Ram this weekend and I loved it. I had Band on the Run and loved it but when I was listening to the Beatles all the time, I bought the hype of John Lennon being the genius and MacCartney being the guy who wrote Yesterday, so enjoying him always seemed like a guilty pleasure and I didn't look at his post-Beatles work.
It's strange becase I've thoroughly explored Lennon's post-Beatles career and it's one great album (thats not a joy to listen to) and lots of very spotty albums. Two albums in to looking at MacCartney and its already better. How did Lennon sell his version of Beatles history to critics so well?
There's an essay in HERE (http://www.amazon.com/Psychic-Soviet-Other-Works-Svenonius/dp/0965618390/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206975514&sr=8-1) that will answer that question.
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I liked Flaming Pie and Run Devil Run.
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Thanks to this thread, I bought Ram this weekend and I loved it. I had Band on the Run and loved it but when I was listening to the Beatles all the time, I bought the hype of John Lennon being the genius and MacCartney being the guy who wrote Yesterday, so enjoying him always seemed like a guilty pleasure and I didn't look at his post-Beatles work.
It's strange becase I've thoroughly explored Lennon's post-Beatles career and it's one great album (thats not a joy to listen to) and lots of very spotty albums. Two albums in to looking at MacCartney and its already better. How did Lennon sell his version of Beatles history to critics so well?
He died (I'm kidding).
I disagree. Plastic Ono Band is obviously the best, but there are others. People knock Double Fantasy, but I love that record, especially "Watching the Wheels" and "Kiss Kiss". And he got pretty diverse putting out an album like Rock n' Roll. I love how it sounds like a Buddy Holly record.
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Walls and Bridges is a good, underrated solo Lennon album. "Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)" from that and "Out the Blue" from Mind Games might be my favorite solo Lennon songs. Big fan of "Watching the Wheels", here, too.
Overall, though, I think pre-80s slump McCartney had more strong albums than the rest of them in their solo careers. Ringo's first album is great. I'd put All Things Must Pass at #2 for their solo albums, behind RAM, and after that, Harrison actually has a lot of great songs that almost never get played (I can list some favorites, if anybody cares), but like Lennon, not all his albums hold up all the way through.
I'd say Lennon has the critical view on his side over McCartney because people expected something "important" from the most famous musicians in the world, and Lennon delivered them angry, painful, confrontational music out of the gate. As people go back and actually listen to what McCartney was putting out in the '70s, without the burden of expectations, I think his reputation will improve, especially for the lo-fi ones that have been praised in this thread, many of which could probably be put out today and get a lot of praise.
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I don't remember if it was brought up here before, but I'm sure some of you listened to that worst of the solo Beatles show Pseu Braun and Gaylord did a couple of months ago:
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/26056
The inclusion of "Arrow Thru Me" appears to be a mistake (I should hope), but "Temporary Secretary"... wow...
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Even though it's glossy, there's quite a few songs to recommend Tug of War, as well, but you have to not mind visiting Tweeville (I fontasize of living there.)
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I was forced to say Paul was my least favorite Beatle. It's not that I don't like him, but in my head I was thinking: "okay, George is my favorite, then John, then Ringo...." I was sad that I had to throw Paul under the bus, but I had no other choice.
Ahem.
[youtube]xgwjQNWqHW8[/youtube]
Dark clouds in my head disappear
The sky is turning blue, now you're here
We've come a long way, day after day, (we still got a long way to go)
You've got to pay your dues, if you want to sing the blues
But, no matter what you choose, choose love
The Long and Winding Road, is more than a song
Tomorrow Never Knows, What Goes On
To live your life right, you've got to let in the light, and let all the darkness go
You've got to pay your dues, if you want to sing the blues
But, no matter who you choose, choose love
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I was forced to say Paul was my least favorite Beatle. It's not that I don't like him, but in my head I was thinking: "okay, George is my favorite, then John, then Ringo...." I was sad that I had to throw Paul under the bus, but I had no other choice.
Ahem.
[youtube]xgwjQNWqHW8[/youtube]
That's not fair. That'd be like me pulling out "Memory Almost Full" if I didn't like Paul. Ringo was awesome with the Beatles, so let me love him just a little bit more than Paul (who was also awesome) and don't judge.
EDIT: Actually, it wouldn't be like me pulling out "Memory Almost Full" because that just came out. I still love Ringo, and I don't care who knows it.
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Ringo's awesome to see live. He still has a ton of fun with it even though he's been singing the same 10 songs forever, and you get to some other guys you might never have been able to see either. I wouldn't spend 50-60 dollars a ticket but if he's playing at a venue like a State Fair where tickets are considerably cheaper. I was able to see him at Taste of Minnesota for free.
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You should judge Ringo by what he was: a drummer. By all accounts, he was one of the best drummers in rock.
He was too famous to just be a drummer in a band after the Beatles.
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You should judge Ringo by what he was: a drummer. By all accounts, he was one of the best drummers in rock.
He was too famous to just be a drummer in a band after the Beatles.
I think the moment that my love affair with Ringo began was when he was playing the toy drum kit in this one Beatles video (I believe it's "Your Mother Should Know") He's such an adorable man, and a fantastic drummer. He holds it down. Plus, how can you not love "Octopus' Garden?" Seriously!
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I think this is the first time I've ever heard Ringo praised for his drumming abilities. He wasn't bad like some people say, but excellent? I don't know about that.
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I actually think Ringo is awesome as a Beatle too and I think his drumming is great as a Beatle. I only brought up that awful song because I was so disappointed that he would stoop that low (especially after I knowingly went down to Bryant Park at 5:30 in the morning to hear him play it live, repeatedly, for Good Morning America a few Summers ago). The song is made up of Beatles lyrics strung together. And I thought we were talking generally about picking one to throw under the bus. Sorry to offend, I like Ringo too.
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I actually think Ringo is awesome as a Beatle too and I think his drumming is great as a Beatle. I only brought up that awful song because I was so disappointed that he would stoop that low (especially after I knowingly went down to Bryant Park at 5:30 in the morning to hear him play it live, repeatedly, for Good Morning America a few Summers ago). The song is made up of Beatles lyrics strung together. And I thought we were talking generally about picking one to throw under the bus. Sorry to offend, I like Ringo too.
It's hard to pick your least favorite Beatle. They're all so wonderful.
I chose to go with Paul in part because I had recently heard "Memory Almost Full". Did anyone else get really uncomfortable when they heard that song "Vintage Clothes"?
I did.
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Agreed. You can't dislike Ringo (unless, perhaps, you know him personally,) but you don't go to him for music, at least not since 1972 or 3. But his first "best of" disc has one brilliant fun pop bit after another. Actually, I remember telling my college roommate when Madness got hot that I think I liked them because their attitude and sound reminded me of the post-Beaucoup of Blues Ringo singles.
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LOVE McCartney II. I'm on record as calling it the unheralded treasure of the Wings (well, just-post-Wings) era.
Is Run Devil Run any good? I've heard conflicting reports.
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Interesting. I don't know diddly about musicianship but I always suspected that Ringo was better than most people gave him credit for.
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LOVE McCartney II. I'm on record as calling it the unheralded treasure of the Wings (well, just-post-Wings) era.
Is Run Devil Run any good? I've heard conflicting reports.
I really like the takes on Run Devil Run; it may have been the last display of any spark in the old boy.
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I just noticed this topic. Last year my friend Furnstein decided to start a blog dedicated to discussing solo-McCartney gems. I wrote about "Power Cut" from Red Rose Speedway and I don't think anyone else has ever posted anything. If anybody is inclined, I'd love to keep this discussion going. There's lots to say. The blog is at
http://powercutpaul.blogspot.com/
Here is what I wrote:
The topic on the table is overlooked solo McCartney tracks, or particularly good songs on otherwise unexceptional records. My thoughts turn to "Power Cut," last track of the medley on the second side of Red Rose Speedway. Go get your copy off the shelf and drop the needle.
POWER CUT
There May Be A Powercut
And The Candles Burn Down Low
But Something Inside Of Me
Says The Bad News Isn't So
I May Never Tell You
But Baby You Should Know
There May Be A Miracle
And Baby I Love You So
Baby I Love You So
Baby I Love You So
. . . and then the phrase "Baby I love you so" repeats over and over again, over which Paul does his inimitable rock and roll shouting of incomprehensible non-words. He's always doing that over codas. Then, guitars come in with a reprise of all the previous melodies from the medley: Hold Me Tight, Lazy Dynamite and Hands Of Love.
A few thoughts:
- The simple, repetitive chord change that this song is built on is CLASSIC MCCARTNEY. Happy and sad at the same time. Catchy without being facile. Melancholy yet jaunty.
- The solo is played on what sounds like one of those little tiny toy kid pianos.
- The coda, with the shouting and the overlaid guitar melodies is INSANE.
- Paul's lyrics are meaningless, even if you are willing to work with him. This plays into the old McCartney stereotype (strong melody/weak lyrics), but only if you're looking for Lennonesque wordplay or candor. Why don't you just get off your high horse and admit that "There may be a power cut" is an amazing phrase.
WAIT A MINUTE! I just realized something for the first time. He's talking about the electricity going off, in a storm. That's what he means by "power cut." That's why there are candles burning down low. OK, so the lights go out, they put on candles, and then Paul just starts telling you (the listener?) that he loves you so.
I guess that doesn't redeem the song, but it's something I never got before. I thought when he said "Power Cut" he meant "great song." The lyric transcription above has it as, "There may be a power cut," but I'm pretty sure Paul sings "I may be a power cut." Listen and judge for yourself. I think he also says "I may be a miracle," which is certainly true.
Here is my transcription of the shouting at the end:
"Maybe I'm a miracle . . . and I love ya . . . and I love ya . . . and I do! yeah because . . . now maybe I'm a bongo . . . we'll a love you . . do babba do . . . maybe lunga . . . lunga bongo . . . YEAHHHHHHHH! YEAHHHHHH! Oh yeah!! . . . [incomprehensible]"
This is a great song! I love it.
-Doug O'Donnell
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LOVE McCartney II. I'm on record as calling it the unheralded treasure of the Wings (well, just-post-Wings) era.
Is Run Devil Run any good? I've heard conflicting reports.
I really like the takes on Run Devil Run; it may have been the last display of any spark in the old boy.
Hi all,
First time poster here...Dave, I love you on the show, but I have to disagree with "last display of any spark." Chaos and Creation is a fantastic album, and Memory Almost Full has some pretty killer stuff on it too.
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I think this is the first time I've ever heard Ringo praised for his drumming abilities. He wasn't bad like some people say, but excellent? I don't know about that.
I would just suggest listening to a bunch of Beatles stuff from different eras and really paying attention to the drums. On Meet the Beatles, his right hand on both ride and hi-hat works faster than Marky Ramone, and by the time you get to Sgt. Pepper's and beyond, it's almost less about specific playing "ability" than it is about what interesting (and effective - if they were just interesting, it'd only be "interesting") choices he makes: when to play, what to play, how to play it - very smart, very percussive, and dare I say, "largely unsung yet groundbreaking?" Yes - I dare say it!
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At a flea market today one stall had a bunch of Paul related stuff. I just know Band On The Run and the hits and have heard Tom mention the madness of II on the Show a few times so I opted for that. Playing it now. Pretty crazy stuff.