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Post by B.E. on Oct 2, 2021 12:33:30 GMT
I've landed on a seven for Back to the Egg. I was tempted to go 8, as the album is enjoyable, but as I said, I think the back end is somewhat, I don't know, it's just there. For an album with only a 41 minute run time, I find myself thinking about what I'm going to listen to next during those last three songs. I don't disagree with the overall sentiment, but I think one of those last three songs, "So Glad To See You Here", is an overlooked highlight of the album. I think it fits right in with the strong rockers of Side 1.
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Post by B.E. on Oct 2, 2021 12:45:06 GMT
If the album has a weakness, it's the lyrics. Most of them don't seem to be ABOUT anything. "Winter Rose/Love Awake" has a nice lyric that one writer compared to the sentiment in "Let it Be". A lot of Paul's lyrics on BTTE just seem sloppy, like "say you don't love him, my salamander" - which I heard as "say you don't love him, my gal Amanda". "Radio play me a song with a point". Well what is the point? So I'm deducting at least one point for weak lyrics. For whatever reason, Denny has been demoted from the co-writer status he had on London Town. I think that was a mistake. I think Denny is generally a better lyric writer than Paul. Denny has just one song on this album, "Again and Again and Again" and I can at least understand what he's singing about. Personally, the lyrics have never stood out to me as being a problem, or worse than what came before or after - they work just fine with me. Actually, the only questionable line, IMO, is from "Again and Again and Again": Now you don't wanna stay in my school, you don't wanna be the one that's cool. I don't know who wrote that line, but I feel a little silly singing it (and I say that because this song is one of my favorites to singalong to on the album).
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Post by B.E. on Oct 2, 2021 13:06:17 GMT
Strong 7 for me. And in fact, I think this album had an 8 hidden inside it, were there some editing and re-sequencing. My main gripes relate mostly to trying to follow the concept (which almost always detracts from an album more than it adds to one, in my opinion): the very existence of the not-a-song-but-not-not-a-song opener "Reception;" the even less necessary "The Broadcast;" the inclusion of "Rockestra Theme;" and the strange sequencing of the final few tracks especially. There isn't a fully fleshed-out song that I dislike on the album. I'm at a strong 8, but you pretty much nailed it, I think. Drop "Reception", "The Broadcast", and, ideally, replace "Baby's Request" with a more suitable closer to this pretty hard rockin' album (something more in the vein of "Beware My Love" or "Morse Moose and the Grey Goose", stylistically). That's not a knock on "Baby's Request", he could have found another use for it somewhere. I'd still keep "Rockestra Theme". I think it fits and it ends right as it's about to get tedious, IMO. At this point, the only weak-ish tracks remaining for me are "Winter Rose/Love Awake" and "To You", but with the right sequencing, they don't weaken the album at all. Paul's vocal on "Winter Rose" is surprisingly bad, though, IMO. I don't know, it just stands out to me in a bad way; whereas, I absolutely envy his voice throughout the rest of the album. In fact, I was thinking, if I could have anyone's vocal ability, it would be Paul circa ('76-79). And if I had to pinpoint it, it would be this album. And if I have to pinpoint it further still, it would be "After The Ball/Million Miles". Absolutely one of my favorite tracks/performances of all-time! I love it! One other thing...as much as I like/appreciate "With A Little Luck" and "Arrow Through Me" both songs stick out a bit on their respective albums. Not terribly so, but the textures/mood/style whatever just take me out of the flow of both albums. I'm glad "Arrow Through Me" is on the shorter side, though (plus, I just like it more).
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Post by B.E. on Oct 2, 2021 13:12:32 GMT
“Spin it On” is great, one of my favorite Wings songs so far, for sure. I love it. It is like punk rockabilly.
I love the excursion. It shows Paul doing something a little different, something more current (punk) and killing it, but it also doesn't feel out-of-place amongst the other rock songs. Again, Paul's voice is just incredible. He's got that legendary frontman ROCK voice going - which is something that others are known for, but because Paul is known even more as a songwriter, and singer of ballads, and bass playing, he isn't really thought of in that vein. I see it all the time on YouTube reactions, when they hear Paul's rock voice, they are blown away. Understandably, when they think of him, they think of "Yesterday" and the like.
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Post by B.E. on Oct 2, 2021 13:24:22 GMT
By the way, this album keeps growing in my estimation. Looking at my previous ranking, I had it at #7 (among Paul's solo albums) below both Venus and Mars and Flaming Pie. I'm not sure that will hold. Flaming Pie, at least, will probably be demoted.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 2, 2021 13:58:05 GMT
If the album has a weakness, it's the lyrics. Most of them don't seem to be ABOUT anything. "Winter Rose/Love Awake" has a nice lyric that one writer compared to the sentiment in "Let it Be". A lot of Paul's lyrics on BTTE just seem sloppy, like "say you don't love him, my salamander" - which I heard as "say you don't love him, my gal Amanda". "Radio play me a song with a point". Well what is the point? So I'm deducting at least one point for weak lyrics. For whatever reason, Denny has been demoted from the co-writer status he had on London Town. I think that was a mistake. I think Denny is generally a better lyric writer than Paul. Denny has just one song on this album, "Again and Again and Again" and I can at least understand what he's singing about. Personally, the lyrics have never stood out to me as being a problem, or worse than what came before or after - they work just fine with me. Actually, the only questionable line, IMO, is from "Again and Again and Again": Now you don't wanna stay in my school, you don't wanna be the one that's cool. I don't know who wrote that line, but I feel a little silly singing it (and I say that because this song is one of my favorites to singalong to on the album). I don't mind the lyrics at all, either. For me, McCartney lyrics tend to be the same as Beach Boys lyrics, which is to say they aren't the main reason I'm listening. So once I know I'm not listening to a Bob Dylan, a John Darnielle, a Joanna Newsom, etc., then I'm more than happy to accept that I'm listening to the moon in June ... just silly love songs. And in fact, once I am in that territory, I'd far, far rather have them be pedestrian than ambitious: I usually think overextending is worse than cliche in that respect, if the song itself is otherwise strong.
On Back to the Egg, I wasn't struck by terrible lyrics. I mostly just wasn't struck by the lyrics one way or the other.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 3, 2021 13:18:37 GMT
Four voters rated Back to the Egg an average of 7.5.
I'll update the first post in the thread with that result, and soon we will move on with our next album. Thanks to all who participated.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 3, 2021 13:49:21 GMT
Paul McCartney, McCartney II (1980)
In May 1980, Paul McCartney--and not Wings, but Paul McCartney himself--was the first former Beatle to release a new album in the new decade. McCartney II was his second pure solo album, and just like on its spiritual predecessor, McCartney, he performed everything himself.
McCartney did not seem to have planned for the album to have come out when and as it did back when he made the recordings. As what turned out to be the final Wings album, Back to the Egg was released in summer 1979 but with time to spare before their subsequently planned tour, he went to Scotland and messed around. By the time he had finished the sessions in July '79, he had over 20 songs.
Then he joined Wings for their brief UK tour. However, as the world tour was kicking off, he was arrested for marijuana possession on his way into Japan. The tour was canceled, and he spent nine days in jail before being allowed to go home. By February '80, he was back in Scotland considering his options.
McCartney chose to release the previous summer's recordings as a solo album, which became McCartney II. The album was preceded by the single "Coming Up," released in April. The single topped the US charts and reached #2 in the UK. (The second single, "Waterfalls," also reached #9 in the UK but otherwise the album's singles fared poorly.)
As usual, critical reception was poor. The album went gold in both the US and UK, though, peaking at #3 and #1, respectively. It was McCartney's first #1 album in the UK since Venus and Mars half a decade earlier.
Please discuss and rate Paul McCartney's McCartney II.
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Post by jk on Oct 3, 2021 14:29:13 GMT
Thanks for the link, Cap'n. I gave it a listen ages ago and enjoyed it. (I must listen to it again in the coming days). I do remember making the profound observation that McCartney II is to Paul what Trans is to Neil.
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Post by kds on Oct 3, 2021 15:17:05 GMT
Oh Jesus. I knew this day would come, but there was really no way to prepare for it.
I'll give it a listen tomorrow for the first time in ages to determine if its a one, two, or maybe, just maybe, a three.
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Post by lonelysummer on Oct 3, 2021 19:53:01 GMT
Finally! I've been waiting for this album's week since we started the thread. I really like McCartney II, but it took me a long time to understand why. Naff synth sounds, straight-up stupid use of audio effects and a set of dumb lyrics... why do I like this? Well, looking from my perspective now, it's obvious. McCartney II is, for the most part, a very fun listen and filled with some incredibly catchy songs. Side A is immaculate. Coming Up is a great, groovy opener and sets the tone perfectly. Temporary Secretary is one of the dumbest songs in existence but also one of my favorites by an ex-Beatle. I genuinely love this song. On The Way is an unexpected moment on the tracklist, a nice little blues number. Waterfalls might be my least liked one on this side because it drags a little. It's a good melody and song, but it could either have a little more action or be shorter in length. Then there's Nobody Knows... a strong candidate to my favorite song of this album. It sounds great and it's so damn infectious. That brings us to side B, which, save for a couple of tracks, is almost the opposite of side A. Front Parlour and Frozen Jap have to be the most unforgivable things in Paul's solo catalogue. As I said, the synth sounds are naff throughout the whole thing, but on this case, these songs lack the charm of the better songs on the album. And so does Summer's Day Song, which not only was placed in between the two terrible instrumental tracks, it has probably the worst, most disposable. generic 50 dollar Casio keyboard synth patch on the album. I can't stand it. This 3 track run takes some points away from McCartney II. Good thing there another two songs I really like right after this 10 minute shit-show. Bogey Music is another of my favorites. I love the messy guitar playing, and really don't mind the weird vocal effects. Darkroom is another cool song, not as good as the top tier on the album, but still a cool song. Unfortunately, the album closes with a weak track. Now take this review, and turn it upside down. Everything you like is what I don't like. I'll explain. For starters, I was expecting a sound similar to McCartney, his first solo album - acoustic guitars, natural drums, organs, some great electric guitar playing. The only thing that came close was the closer, One of These Days - probably my favorite song on the album. The songs that want to rock on this album - Bogey Music, Nobody Knows - can't hold a candle to the rockers on Back to the Egg. Some of the songs are just annoying - please bury Temporary Secretary forever! What is this noise? On the Way is one of the few songs to feature actual guitar and drums, but it's so dreadfully slow, so lacking in energy. This style might work for B.B. King, but I just find myself wanting to speed it up. Waterfalls is a decent tune that needs to be seriously trimmed. Actually, hearing these two songs back to back reminds me of John Lennon saying he thought Paul sounded depressed on this album. Summer's Day Song has a beautiful melody, but it feels like half a song. Paul couldn't be bothered to write more lyrics for it. Front Parlour and Frozen Jap are enjoyably lightweight. They pass by easily enough. I really did want to like this album. Paul McCartney, solo again after 10 years fronting a band? Sounds like a great idea. The clincher, though, is the hit single. Here in the US, fans and radio preferred Coming Up as performed by Wings on their UK tour. In fact, it was the last #1 single by Wings. The solo version sounds, in comparison, strange. It sounds like a demo for a proper studio version. I can't rate this album any higher than a 5. And that's being generous. Probably a 4 for me. Fortunately, things would get better.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 3, 2021 20:04:26 GMT
A contemporaneous interview.
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Post by B.E. on Oct 3, 2021 21:27:49 GMT
@robesimo, given your review, I'm curious what rating you'd give the album.
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Post by lonelysummer on Oct 4, 2021 5:16:15 GMT
A contemporaneous interview.
I have this on an album. It came out near the end of 1980. The Nice Price series.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 4, 2021 11:25:07 GMT
I remember May 1980 very well. It was a new decade. It was a new summer. I had a new girlfriend. I just got out of college and got a job (and some money!). At that point, other than Shaved Fish and Rock 'n' Roll (which I found cheaply), I wasn't buying solo Beatles' albums. But I liked "Coming Up" a lot. So, because I had basically stopped buying 45s, I decided to buy McCartney II.
I didn't regret the purchase. I immediately liked the album and continue to give it the occasional listen. I like the "homemade" aspect. It makes it more personal. I like the quirkiness; quirky Paul is sometimes good. I'm not the biggest synthesizer fan but Paul used them effectively. It's a good mixture of songs - rockers, ballads, blues, pop, and instrumentals. The feeling I get is that Paul wasn't out to blow minds. He wasn't trying to do another Band On The Run....or Back To The Egg. It's almost reminiscent of Brian Wilson's trifecta of Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, and Friends. Music to cool out to.
McCartney II favorites include "Coming Up" (I prefer the album version), "One Of These Days", "Temporary Secretary" (I love the intro where the drums come in), "Waterfalls" (it does go on too long; I prefer the single version), "Nobody Knows", and "Summer's Day Song" (which I still think is about Brian Wilson ). Paul uses a lot of different voices/vocals; he sings well. I think the album sounds good, nice and clear. I like the album cover, too. McCartney II isn't a great album, but it's a good album. Obviously I don't have all of Paul's solo albums, but through this thread and just listening over the years, I'm familiar with most of them. And, McCartney II is a personal favorite. I'm going with a strong 7, almost an 8.
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