Paul McCartney - Driving Rain (2001)

It's not a bad album, it's just not that good - underproduced, undeveloped, lengthy, and hastily written. Add to that the clipping and compression that were popular at the time and even the better parts sound messy. Rightly or unrightly, we have high expectations for McCartney and this one just doesn't measure up. Metacritic has it at 75, which is about 20-30 points too high.

The recording sessions for this album introduced McCartney to guitarist Rusty Anderson and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., who continue to be a part of McCartney's touring band.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #26
• Billboard Top Album Sales: #26

Tracks: 16 tracks over 67 minutes and I believe it would have worked much better as a 10-11 track album. Save the remaining tunes as bonus cuts on the inevitable anniversary reissue. The better tracks are From A Lover To A Friend (#24 AC), and I Do. Your Loving Flame (#19 AC) sounds like a Wings track, while track 6, Tiny Bubbles, is the cut that sounds most like classic late '70s/early '80s McCartney pop. After the tragedy of 9/11, McCartney added an unlisted track to the end of the album entitled Freedom (#97 pop, #20 AC) which was released as a charity single. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Egypt Station (2018)	Press To Play (1986)
New (2013)	Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)
Memory Almost Full (2007)	Pipes of Peace (1983)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)	Tug of War (1982)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)	London Town (1978)
Wingspan Sampler (2001)	Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Flaming Pie (1997)	Band On The Run (1973)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)	Ram (1971)
All The Best! (1987)

Paul & Linda McCartney - Ram (1971)

While some albums come close, I've never heard an "all killer, no filler" McCartney solo/Wings album. However, at the very least, every McCartney solo album contains a few fantastic pop songs. This one fits that description, to be sure. It's not a coherent album by any means and took a drubbing from critics because of it. And even though the influences are readily apparent, this thing really gets under your skin after a few listens then continually rewards repeated spins. It's no Band On The Run or Speed Of Sound, but that's a high mark. The fact that Linda plays such a big role doesn't bother me as much as it does some people. Sure, she wasn't in the same league as Paul as a musician, but he obviously loved her so powerfully that he didn't care and I find that sort of love to be a very admirable trait in a person.

Press of the time:

• Record World: "The quality of the album will be debated around the world"
• Billboard: "A good part of the fun is McCartney's light, clever arrangements and superb rhythm changes."
• CashBox: "McCartney has written better material during his Beatle days."
• Rolling Stone: "unbearably inept"
• Stereo Review: "McCartney has some musical talent, but on this regrettable album it is clutching at straws, not knowing which way to go, and ends up going nowhere."
• Robert Christgau (C+): "most of the songs are so lightweight they float away even as Paulie layers them down with caprices."

In its 2020 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone ranked Ram at #450:

In its day, Paul McCartney’s second post-Beatles album was widely disliked; John Lennon dismissed it as 'muzak,' and Ringo Starr said the lack of good songs made him 'sad.' In retrospect, it’s a modest, goofy, loose-limbed outing about domestic pleasures, full of eccentric, pastorale tunes like 'Heart of the Country' and 'Munkberry Moon Delight.' The loopy pastiche of whimsical song fragments 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' became Paul’s first post-Beatles Number One hit. 'I was in a very free mood,' he said.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #2
• CashBox: #2

Tracks: let's rank 'em!

1. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey: a #1 tune in the US, this track is a patented McCartney medley where he stitches a couple of songs together (see also: Band On The Run, Good Times Coming/Feel the Sun, and many others. Hell, see also the incomparable side two medley of Abbey Road) 
2. Too Many People: this was the b-side to the Uncle Albert single and there must have been a radio programmer in Odessa that loved the b-side because I remember hearing it on the radio as a child. An early diss track, it takes a few shots at John Lennon. 
3. Ram On/Dear Boy/Ram On (Reprise): these gotta be Paul's tribute/knockoff/homage to Brian Wilson, right?
4. Eat At Home: a silly but fun rocker as if Buddy Holly was a country picker.
5. The Back Seat Of My Car: a quality album closer, this thing starts of as typical McCartney piano ballad, moves to some orchestration (arranged by George Martin), has an upbeat section before returning to the orchestration with a little upbeat coda tacked on to the end.
6. Heart Of The Country: a folk-pop tune with a touch of Carl Perkins in which the lyrics perfectly match the music. 
7. Long Haired Lady: after a horrible start (which needlessly repeats itself mid-song), this thing eventually settles into a comfortable soft rock feel, including with an attempt to duplicate the sing-along playout of Hey Jude.
8. Smile Away: a straight-ahead rocker with a noticeable '50s influence
9. 3 Legs: a bluesy little number which completely works as a straight acoustic blues, but falls apart at the ending with an inexplicable change of feel.
10. Monkberry Moon Delight: this raw stomper doesn't do much for me, although the chorus is miles better than the verse. Goes on a bit longer than it probably should.

From my personal collection

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Egypt Station (2018)	All The Best! (1987)
New (2013)	Press To Play (1986)
Memory Almost Full (2007)	Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)	Pipes of Peace (1983)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)	Tug of War (1982)
Wingspan Sampler (2001)	London Town (1978)
Flaming Pie (1997)	Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)	Band On The Run (1973)

Paul McCartney - Press To Play (1986)

Note: This release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD. The CD I listened to was the imported 1993 reissue in The Paul McCartney Collection which added 2 bonus tracks.

The album was produced with Hugh Padgham (The Police, Genesis, Phil Collins) and features writing collaborations with 10cc's Eric Stewart on 8 of the 13 tracks. Big name friends such as Collins and Pete Townshend lend a hand on drums and guitar on track 9, Angry. If you're imagining hook-filled pop tunes with inane lyrics and lots of gated drum sound, you're not far off. I once read a piece about McCartney that stated by he had become "an ace jingle writer" by this point in his career and there's some truth to that oversimplification. The album also includes some attempts at old timey rockers and experimental noodling plus a beautiful ballad. I'm not sure if this is an overlooked, underrated McCartney album or if I just listened to it quite a bit in the fall of 1986 and the nostalgia is kicking in. I like it better than the critics, but it's got its fair share of filler, particularly on what was side two of the LP.

Press of the time:

• High Fidelity: "Here we have a 44-year-old former Beatle...trying to adjust to the '80s."
• CashBox: "some of his most compelling work in years"
• Billboard: "a grab bag of styles"
• Record Mirror (2 out of 5): "Musical progression, where are you?"
• Smash Hits (5 out of 10): "utterly, utterly average"
• Spin: "It's his best album in six years, but we want better."
• Rolling Stone: "one of the sturdiest LPs of McCartney's post-Beatles career."
• Los Angeles Times: "basically just another in a long line (over 12 years!) of post-'Band on the Run' letdowns by a once almost unimaginably creative artist."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #30
• Billboard CD: #12
• CashBox: #22
• CashBox CD: #10
• Rolling Stone: #18

Tracks: Let's rank 'em and count 'em down!

13. Pretty Little Head
12. However Absurd
11. It's Not True
10. Footprints
9. Angry (#44 rock)
8. Tough On A Tightrope
7. Move Over Busker
6. Press (#21 pop)
5. Stranglehold (#81 pop)
4. Talk More Talk
3. Write Away
2. Only Love Remains (#9 adult contemporary)
1. Good Times Coming/Feel The Sun

Bonus tracks: Spies Like Us (#7 pop) and the 1987 UK single Once Upon A Long Ago which I once described as "a nice ballad (think Billy Joel meets 10cc with an electronic violin solo)" and Phil Ramone produced the thing so there's your Joel comparison. Spies Like Us is as corny as the movie it was written for. That one doesn't hold up to repeated listenings, but both bonus tracks are good additions to the CD package.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: During the fall semester of 1986, I lived alone in a room in a mostly empty section of my college dormitory. It was quiet, peaceful, and a welcome change of pace from usual dorm shenanigans - it was time to get down to business, get the needed credits, and get the hell outta here [spoiler alert: that wouldn't happen for another two years]. At some point in the latter half of the semester, I caught a nasty bug and was pretty much bedridden for a full week. I must have listened to this album on repeat during that week and put it away for good after I was well because I don't remember hearing these tunes for many, many years. Move to the third decade of the 21st century, CDs are readily available, inexpensive and yada yada yada it was time to revisit the thing.

I kept waiting for this thing to be released as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, but since it doesn't look like that will ever happen, I opted for this import with the bonus tracks.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Egypt Station (2018)	All The Best! (1987)
New (2013)	Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)
Memory Almost Full (2007)	Pipes of Peace (1983)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)	Tug of War (1982)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)	London Town (1978)
Wingspan Sampler (2001)	Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Flaming Pie (1997)	Band On The Run (1973)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)

Wings - London Town (1978)

Note: the CD I listened to was the imported 1993 reissue in The Paul McCartney Collection which added 2 bonus tracks.

Generally regarded as one of the lesser albums put out by Wings, but that's only because it is unfairly compared to other McCartney/Wings releases and, perhaps subconsciously, Beatles albums. Hardly fair to compare this release to Revolver or Band On The Run, but I guess that's human nature. This album certainly doesn't measure up to those classics. Nevertheless, it sold platinum and almost topped the charts in the spring of 1978, bested only by the mega-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It's not bad at all, there are some examples of classic McCartney harmonies and chord progressions combined with his innate sense of melody. McCartney was also blessed with a good voice; I think his vocals were at their best in the late '70s and that includes his work here.

Back in 2018, I placed the chart-topping single With A Little Luck as my fifth favorite song of 1978, writing

this tune, with it's opening electric piano, positive lyrics, and easily singable melody, is easily the highlight of the album. There's also a lot of synth pads for 1978. It transports me back to '78, one time so suddenly I actually welled up for no immediately discernible reason. Music, right?

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau: B
• High Fidelity: "There are probably fewer hit-bound tracks on this fifty-minute disc than on Wings's last several, but it may be a far better album because of that."
• CashBox: "Overall, a brilliant collection"
• Record World: "more subdued than his previous albums"
• Billboard: "McCartney still has a flair for writing clean, intelligent rock'n'roll"
• Record Mirror: "Forget the new wave - this is the true sound of the medium wave"
• Rolling Stone: "Even the best songs here...sound as if Wings were only half trying"
• Stereo Review: "There's only one problem, Paul. You keep releasing these terrible albums."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #2
• CashBox: #2

Tracks: With A Little Luck (#1 pop, #5 adult contemporary) is worth the price of admission by itself, but I also like all the tunes on what was side one (tracks 1-8 on CD). That includes the other singles released from the album: I've Had Enough (#25 pop) and the title track (#39 pop, #17 AC). I also dig the Supertramp-ish track Morse Moose And The Grey Goose as well as Name And Address, a rockabilly throwback that would make Carl Perkins proud.

Bonus tracks: Also included is the double A-side single from 1977, Girls' School (#33 pop) and Mull Of Kintyre (#45 adult contemporary). The former is a fun, energetic rocker, albeit one with disturbing lyrical content. Of the latter, I've previously written "Mull Of Kintyre sounds like an old Scottish pub singalong waltz, complete with bagpipes. Not bad, but not for me." But what do I know? The single was Wings' biggest hit in Britain and is one of the best selling singles of all time in the UK, where it became the 1977 Christmas number one and was the first single to sell over two million copies nationwide.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Egypt Station (2018)	Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
New (2013)	All The Best! (1987)
Memory Almost Full (2007)	Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)	Pipes of Peace (1983)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)	Tug of War (1982)
Wingspan Sampler (2001)	Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Flaming Pie (1997)	Band On The Run (1973)

Paul McCartney - Wingspan: Hits and History Special Advance Sampler (2001)

The US 10 track, promotional, special advance sampler for the 2001 double CD release of the Wingspan compilation.

Tracks: 10 tracks, 43 minutes

	Year	US	UK
Listen To What The Man Said	1975	1	6
Band On The Run	1974	1	3
Another Day	1971	5	2
Live And Let Die	1973	2	9
Jet	1974	7	7
My Love	1973	1	9
Silly Love Songs	1976	1	2
No More Lonely Nights	1984	6	2
Maybe I'm Amazed	1970	*	*
Venus And Mars/Rockshow (Single Edit)	1975	12
*original studio version included here. Live version from Wings over America peaked at #10 in the US and #28 in the UK in 1977.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. In fact, I have no idea how this CD got on my shelves. If you broke into the house or placed it on the shelf during a party, thanks much.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Egypt Station (2018)	New (2013)
Memory Almost Full (2007)	Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)	Flaming Pie (1997)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)	All The Best! (1987)
Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)	Pipes of Peace (1983)
Tug of War (1982)	Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Band On The Run (1973)

Paul McCartney - Give My Regards To Broad Street (1984)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 1993 "Paul McCartney Collection" reissue with two bonus tracks. UK import.

Paul McCartney wanted to write a screenplay and because he's Paul McCartney and mostly funded it himself, somebody let him. So here we get McCartney as actor, screenwriter, and musician, not necessarily in that order. The movie is currently sitting at 21% on the Tomatometer.

I think the goal of the movie was to produce a sort of musical in which all the songs are loosely held together by a weak narrative thread - in this particular case, hunting down the lost master tapes of a new album. It looks like Paul chose the soundtrack music as if he was creating a concert setlist: a mix of old favorites along with a few new tunes. If anyone had gone to a McCartney concert in '84 and he had played this album from top-to-bottom, there would have been few complaints. Beatles! Wings! Latest hit! Ringo on drums! Fab! However, as a stand-alone album, critics - and to a certain extent record buyers - didn't care much for the re-recordings. To be honest, they never bothered me much and there's actually a few bits I enjoy as much as the originals.

With Purple Rain, Prince had spoiled us as to how good movie soundtracks could be in 1984. So compared to Paul's previous output and Prince's smash soundtrack, I can see where this release would be a disappointment to some. At times it is simply a vehicle to deliver the No More Lonely Nights single (and its reprise...and Playout Version...and Extended Version...and Special Dance Mix), but for what it is, I think it delivers.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone (★★½): "one of the saddest declines in contemporary pop"
• Billboard: "success will hinge on the response to a de facto hits collection"
• CashBox: "over all, the results are effective"
• Smash Hits (6 out of 10): "a pleasant nostalgia trip"
• Stereo Review: "what's here is as disposable as any pop product of the last twenty years"
• Record Mirror (★★★): "Maybe it worked better on film"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #21
• CashBox: #13
• Rolling Stone: #27

Tracks: here's the breakdown - 4 new tunes (plus all the variations on No More Lonely Nights), 6 re-recorded Beatles tunes, 4 re-recorded Wings/solo Paul tunes, plus incidental music and dialogue scattered throughout. No More Lonely Nights was a worldwide top ten smash, and I recently read a description of that record as Paul's "last great single." Hard to argue that point. (Spies Like Us would somehow peak on the charts at #7 in 1985; I wouldn't characterize that single as "great"). It's a characteristically beautiful McCartney ballad and while much is made about David Gilmour's fantastic guitar solo, not enough is said about Eric Stewart's thick, overdubbed background vocals that, not surprisingly, sound like they were lifted from a 10cc tune. The other original tunes here are easily forgettable as evidenced by the fact that I had indeed forgotten them over the past few decades until finding this CD. Actual dialogue heard at the end of track 7:

Paul: "Uh....Should We Try 'Not Such A Bad Boy'?"
Band: "Do We Have To?"

And sure, the earlier, original recordings are preferable, but the re-recordings here aren't as bad and superfluous as the reviews might have you believe. I like the little added bits such as the screaming trumpets at the end of Ballroom Dancing, the harmony vocals on The Long And Winding Road, and the oh-so-easy segue between Yesterday and Here There And Everywhere.

The incidental music can be a bit of a slog, particularly the 7 minutes of Eleanor's Dream and the 1940ish final track, Goodnight Princess.

Bonus tracks: For the die hard fans and/or completists out there. 8 minute version (Extended Version) and 4 minute version (Special Dance Mix by Arthur Baker) of No More Lonely Nights. Dance mixes of a ballad. Originally available on picture disc. Because Eighties. I had no idea these even existed prior to purchasing this disc.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I don't remember how I originally came across a copy of this one back in '84 or '85. My best guess is that a friend had purchased a cassette which I dubbed on my Fisher stereo. I remember the arrangements being different, but I hadn't heard the album since probably 1985.

I didn't see it in a theater, but I think I saw the movie on VHS in the late '80s; can neither confirm nor deny.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Egypt Station (2018)
New (2013)
Memory Almost Full (2007)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
All The Best! (1987)
Pipes of Peace (1983)
Tug of War (1982)
Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Band On The Run (1973)

Paul McCartney - Egypt Station (2018)

By request! (In this particular case, "by request" means that a reader actually bought this CD for me as a gift. Thanks!)

I know next to nothing about this album except that Sir Paul has been promoting the crap out of the thing with talk-show bits, pop-up concerts, carpool karaoke, etc. Plus, I'm a huge fan and McCartney is our greatest living songwriter (who else would be in the running? Stevie Wonder, maybe?). I notice it's on Capitol, which is the first McCartney album on that label in a while. The packaging is unique - a 6 panel accordion-type case with graphics on one side, lyrics/credits on the other.

When folded up, the whole thing is held together with a green piece of elastic.

Note: the cover art and album title are both taken from an art piece Sir Paul created years ago.

It worked out where I was able to get this at Target because their version included two bonus tracks.

Enough rambling - let's slip this thing into the tray and listen.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: To be determined

Tracks:  (keep in mind these are first impressions, admittedly not the best way to write about an album)

1. Opening Station: synth pads and train station noise; serves as an intro into...
2. I Don't Know: a melancholy piano-based ballad. And I wasn't caring much for it until the chord progression hit me at the 56 second mark. And a great bridge. Classic McCartney. ✔
3. Come On To Me: great guitar riff, then the backbeat kicks in. And Muscle Shoals horns fill out this grinding stomp. ✔
4. Happy With You: acoustic ballad/love song in the vein of Blackbird (it's no Blackbird, but what is?), complete with a lilting flute line over the chorus. Not a fan of the drums, which are 1) unnecessary, and 2) up way too much in the mix. What could have been with good production. Shame.
5. Who Cares: This guitar rocker is the first filler track of the album. Decent riff and a chorus custom made for audience participation, but not much to talk about beyond that.
6. Fuh You: In which Paul wants to sound like Imagine Dragons. The current single, getting more attention for the allegedly raunchy lyrics, but I don't care much about that. I like how the string part pushes things forward. Not very McCartneyish, but I like it anyway. ✔
7. Confidante: I thought this simple guitar folk tune was more filler, but the more it went on, the more I enjoyed it. This time the producer was smart enough to get out of the way. ✔
8. People Want Peace: More about the message than the music. McCartney's homage to Lennon's Peace A Chance?
9. Hand in Hand: Another ballad. Good, not great, but I dig the chorus good enough. ✔
10. Dominoes: the first song I've heard on this disc that could have been on a '70s album from Wings. And that's a good thing. This will probably be the song that's stuck in my head when I'm done. ✔
11. Back In Brazil: Fender Rhodes intro gives way to an odd '80s-synth/LinnDrum Latinish pastiche that I just can't seem to groove to. ✘
12. Do It Now: Another piano ballad; I like how they double the piano on harpsichord. Nice vocal harmonies and there's a lot going on in the production/arrangement. I'm pretty sure I like it, but it's gonna take a few more listens before I can render a verdict.
13. Caesar Rock: This doesn't seem to know what it wants to be, but McCartney has had lots of "patchwork" hits (Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Jet, etc) and I like this so that's all that matters. ✔
14. Despite Repeated Warnings: The fourth or fifth piano ballad - so that's what this album is about. And Sir Paul is getting preachy and political when all I really want is silly love songs. But wait, this thing just switched gears (see "patchwork" reference above). We're faster and more upbeat. Now I'm waiting for it to go to the next section. And there it is - a Live And Let Die tribute! One more switch - the coda brings it full circle back to the beginning ballad. That was a manic trip. Another song I'll need to hear a few more times.
15. Station II: a reprise of the first track
16. Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link: Predicting a 3-parter here. Digging the syncopated groove of the Hunt You Down Section (more cowbell!), not digging the odd meter of Naked, and digging the slow bluesy, modal guitar solo of C-Link. 
17. Get Started (bonus track): Now here's a happy little tune in classic McCartney style with a great send-off coda. The silly love song I've been waiting for. Worth going to Target just for this one tune. ✔
18. Nothing For Free (bonus track): Two good bonus tracks? There's something you don't hear every day. Not as good as Get Started, but this one's got a catchy bass line and some fun production effects. ✔

Now that I've heard the album, I'll take a peek over at Metacritic and see their rating. 76. In the same neighborhood as relatively recent releases New (77) and Chaos And Creation (78). 76 seems a little high right now, but maybe some of these tracks will grow on me with repeated listenings.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Here's how I got the CD yesterday (file under: it's a great time to be alive): I was sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office, passing the time by texting friends. One friend asked me if I was going to pick up this new CD while I was out and about. I explained that I'm currently in the process of purchasing a house/new blog headquarters and all discretionary spending has been suspended, meaning there would be no CD purchases for a few months. This friend bluntly stated, "I will not read a single review until CDP comes through." (Stop it, you're making me blush.)

Said friend then ordered the CD online and told me to stop by the local Target on my way home. I did and here we are. Less than an hour from idea to holding the disc in my hand. Amazing and thank you. I've said it before, this silly self-indulgent blog has allowed me to meet some wonderful "online friends" and that's been the best part of continuing CDP.

Previously revisited for the blog:
New (2013)
Memory Almost Full (2007)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
All The Best! (1987)
Pipes of Peace (1983)
Tug of War (1982)
Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Band On The Run (1973)

Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (2007)

Not Sir Paul's best effort. The first release on Sixbucks' Starbucks' Hear Music label, Metacritic has it at 69/100 which is more than I'd give it, but even then it's better than Starbucks' coffee.

"This collection is filled with half-baked ideas and shallow reminiscences, a pair of dated rockers, and one meditation on mortality that manages to be maudlin and bubble-headed at the same time. It smacks of Wings at its goofiest." - The Boston Globe, June 4, 2007

Cool jewel case, but what's this nonsense all about?

A 10 page liner note booklet and 6 of those are pics of McCartney? I'd rather have lyrics at hand. And no track listing to be found anywhere. It's almost as if they'd rather we downloaded files instead of buying a CD.

Say it ain't so.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #3
Peak on the US Billboard Digital Albums chart: #2
Peak on the US Billboard Top Rock Albums chart: #1
Peak on the US Billboard Tastemaker Albums chart: #3

Tracks: Best songs are Dance Tonight. Gratitude, and That Was Me. Not-the-greatest songs include You Tell Me, Mr. Bellamy, and House of Wax.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
New (2013)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
All The Best! (1987)
Pipes of Peace (1983)
Tug of War (1982)
Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Band On The Run (1973)

Paul McCartney - Pipes of Peace (1983)

Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by the 2015 2 CD "Archive Collection" remaster.

Sometimes called a companion peace to its predecessor, Tug of War (many songs were recorded at the same sessions), I actually like this record a little better than Tug. It's more poppy and cohesive to my ears. All produced by George Martin. Many critics disagree with me (see below) but so what? There's beautiful ballads, throwbacks to the previous decade, and a #1 duet with MJ that had a creepy, incestuous video.

The 2015 remastering sounds great on my CD deck; your mileage may vary. Could the material have fit on one disc? Yes, but that's par for the course on these archive collection releases. Actually, I'm glad the bonus tracks are on a separate disc - most of the time I just want to spin the original album anyway and the fact it is on its own CD makes that much easier.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone (★★): "mediocre McCartney"
• Trouser Press: "cute to the point of being sickening"
• Billboard: "another pop-minded collection of ballads and midtempo rockers"
• Stereo Review: "Disappointing"
• Smash Hits (5 out of 10): "It has its moments"
• High Fidelity: "an off-hand effort"
• RPM: "a hit on the day of release"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #15
• Billboard Rock: #34
• Billboard R&B: #49
• CashBox: #12
• Rolling Stone: #8

Tracks: All of what was Side 1 (tracks 1-5) is a winner, particularly the title track. Side 2 (tracks 6-11) has some filler (The Man, Tug of Peace) but a solid listen.

Bonus tracks: the 33 minute bonus disc contains 5 demos (like most demos, they only need to be heard once, if that). This is followed by a needless 2015 remix of Say Say Say which confirms that they got it right the first time. That's followed by Ode to a Koala Bear (b-side to Say Say Say), Twice in a Lifetime (a film theme) and an instrumental track. In other words, nothing to see here; move along. Why wasn't the Jellybean Benitez remix of Say Say Say included?

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: This got a fair amount of play during Christmas break of my senior year in high school, so it's become more of a cold weather album for me. Also, my high school jazz band played a cheesy arrangement of Say Say Say which the world could have done without.

Previously revisited for the blog:

New (2013)	All The Best! (1987)
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)	Tug of War (1982)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)	Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
Flaming Pie (1997)	Band On The Run (1973)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)

Wings At The Speed Of Sound (1976)

Note: the CD I listened to was the double disc 2014 "Archive Collection" reissue.

So I got this in the mail yesterday and it's practically all I've been listening to since, so I thought I'd go ahead and write it up. For all you audiophiles: yes, the remastering sounds great and if you're a fan of the album, you should spring for this reissue. The problem with this particular edition isn't the sound, it's the lack of liner notes (we get lyrics and that's it) and the almost pointless bonus disc.

We all know that Wings was Paul McCartney's joint, but on this album, he attempted to truly embrace the band concept - every band member sings lead on at least one track and the group records two songs written by band members other than McCartney. As a result, it's a little uneven, but it's a fine album - cleverly arranged, recorded, and produced. As mentioned in the 1976 Rolling Stone review below, "McCartney, like almost no one else, seems able to play the studio as an instrument." And while that's true, there still more than few memorable pop melodies to be found here. After all, we're talkin' 'bout Sir Paul. So, like most post-Beatles McCartney releases, most of the critics panned it and the fans loved it. Put me in the latter group.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone: "lacks melodic sparkle"
• Stereo Review: "occasionally brilliant nonsense presided over by a master of dazzle."
• Robert Christgau (B-): "The only substantial talent in this group is bassist-producer Paul McCartney"
• Billboard: "a solid collection of listenable songs"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #1 for seven non-consecutive weeks
• CashBox: #1 (6 consecutive weeks)

Tracks: The top track is, and has always been, Silly Love Songs. Other favorites include Let 'Em In, The Note You Never Wrote, She's My Baby, Beware My Love, and Warm And Beautiful. And while they've never sounded better on this edition, I usually skip Wino Junko and Cook Of The House.

Bonus disc: At only 22 minutes in length, this disc is light on material, but there are two points of interest that should be heard at least once: an alternate take of Beware My Love with John Bonham on drums and a version of Must Do Something About It with Paul on lead vocals. The rest are demos, which are the musical equivalent of eating an empty taco shell.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: the singles from this album were all over the radio during the summer in which I turned 10. Even though I lived in the hot, hot West Texas desert, I spent most of that summer outdoors terrorizing my neighborhood, usually with my transistor AM radio in hand, blaring tunes like the ones found here. My usual mode of transportation at that time was my Mr. America bicycle (with sweet banana seat) that I had gotten at Christmas a few years earlier:

Previously revisited for the blog:
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
All The Best! (1987)
Band On The Run (1973)

Various Artists - MOJO Presents Songs In The Key Of Paul (2013)

Free with the November 2013 issue of MOJO magazine, this compilation disc is promoted as "a collection of McCartney inspired power pop perfection." Perfection? That's a little much, but it does start out strong and only has a few skippable tracks.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks:

Artist	Title
Robyn Hitchcock	Let Me Roll It
Redd Kross	Hazel Eyes	✔
Flamin' Groovies	Shake Some Action	✔
The Nerves	When You Find Out	✔
Nick Piunti	It All Comes Down	✔
Squeeze	Pulling Mussels From A Shell	✔
Jim Noir	Tea
Kelley Stoltz	I Am Your Singer	✘
Cotton Mather	Lily Dreams On
Kevin Tihista	On My Way	✘
Chris Stamey & Yo La Tengo	The Summer Sun
The Golden Dogs	Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Euros Childs	Good Time Baby (Talk To Me)
Nick Capaldi	First Of The Runaways	✔
David Ellis	Wake Up Smiling	✔

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  The magazine was an impulse buy in October 2013 for three reasons: 1) McCartney, and 2) I needed something to read on the plane, and 3) free power pop CD.

Paul McCartney - New (2013)

I'm excited about this release, so I'm going to "live blog" this one on the first playing. Somehow, I've managed to avoid any reviews of this album thus far, so I'm going in with an open mind (well, as open as I can be considering I've been a fan of McCartney's as long as I can remember). Evidently, there's more than one version of the album (which I consider a slap in the face from the record companies. Thanks, Starbucks). I got the 12 track model from my local Hastings yesterday for $10.99. Taking the cellophane off the cardboard gatefold sleeve and sliding the disc into the tray...

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  it won't chart until next week, but Billboard is predicting a top 5 entry. [update: the album peaked at #3]

Tracks:  (keep in mind these are first impressions, admittedly not the best way to write about an album)

1. Save Us: I'm not wild about Paul Epworth's production on this one, but a catchy wordless chorus saves it. Good opening track. ✔
2. Alligator: Classic McCartney songwriting harkening back to his '70s work; this song wouldn't have been out of place on Back To The Egg. Another great chorus and an outstanding bridge. Evidently, the alligator is a metaphor for something? ✔
3. On My Way To Work: The plodding minor key accompaniment, accordion, and booming drums don't do much for me. ✘
4. Queenie Eye: Best song so far. Great chord progressions over a solid back beat and eighth note piano accompaniment. I almost described this one as "Beatlesque" but that should go without saying, right? ✔
5. Early Days: I keep waiting for this folky song to get going, but it never quite does, it just drones along. ✘
6. New: Another winner with characteristic McCartney downward bass lines and falsetto cooing. I'm digging the sax parts, too. There's even a ending custom made for Glee-type a capella covers. ✔
7. Appreciate:  I really like the sound of this one. This song is the best example I've heard of someone updating McCartney's sound for modern ears. Let me check out the producer on this one. Giles Martin, George's son. There ya go. ✔
8. Everybody Out There: I was turned off from the opening guitar licks. It's not a particularly bad song, it just pales in comparison to what comes before it. ✘
9. Hosanna: Not a particularly strong song, but I'm digging the ethereal sound of it (if that makes any sense). Still, it's one of the weaker tracks. ✘
10. I Can Bet: Another strong chorus that will be stuck in my ear all week. How does he do it so consistently? Paul's ear for melody continues to amaze. It's great to hear an analog Moog synth again. ✔
11. Looking At Her: The rare McCartney song in which the verse is better than the chorus. We'd better turn this thing around and finish strong. ✘
12. Road: To me, this one has an '80s feel that I dig. Almost like it was produced by Lol Creme or another one of the 10cc guys. ✔
13. Scared: Not really a hidden track (which I abhor), but it's needlessly unlisted. A nice closing ballad with Paul accompanying himself on piano with some beautiful, unexpected chord changes. ✔

Now that I've heard the album, I'll take a peek over at Metacritic and see their rating. 77. I'm good with that.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (2005)
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
Flaming Pie (1997)
Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
All The Best! (1987)
Tug of War (1982)
Band On The Run (1973)