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Post by Kapitan on Mar 27, 2023 20:04:27 GMT
Ebony and Ivory is one of those songs that was so popular that everybody hates it! You Light Up My Life, anyone? Here Today was very moving back in the day, and it's not a bad song at all, but it's not one of my favorites now. I definitely don't hate it: I actually rated it the same as "What's That You're Doing" and I think one more song, though I can't recall which (a 6/10). It's just my least favorite of this album, which overall I like quite a bit. However, I do dislike the synth sounds on E&I. I wrote when we rated the albums that I wished they'd either used actual horns and strings, or maybe organs, or something. The tone choices (and options, for that matter) in that era with synths, especially when imitating real instruments, just were terrible (for my taste). And I can't deny it's a corny song. But that's just Paul.
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Post by kds on Mar 27, 2023 20:44:10 GMT
I think when we talked about Tug of War in the Beatles albums thread, I mentioned that you'd think that a song - Ebony and Ivory - with two legends, tackling a social issue like race, might be a little less....Paul-ish. It's by no means a bad song, but I always thought it could've been better.
It's at least better than Paul's collaborations with Michael Jackson and Brian Wilson.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 27, 2023 23:13:35 GMT
Ebony and Ivory is one of those songs that was so popular that everybody hates it! You Light Up My Life, anyone? Here Today was very moving back in the day, and it's not a bad song at all, but it's not one of my favorites now. I was a big fan of MTV back in 1982. I used to tape the videos on my VCR. And, I'm not kidding, MTV played "Ebony And Ivory" every hour. I think it was a combination of MTV not having enough videos yet (seriously, they were still relatively new), and the artists on the channel weren't much bigger than Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. It's funny but I thought both of them were so old then. Anyway, I didn't care for "Ebony And Ivory". I was a picky fan even back then and I thought the two of them together could've/should've come up with something better than "Ebony And Ivory".
And "Here Today"...I was glad that Paul chose to write a song about John, but honestly, "Here Today" didn't touch me or blow me away like I had hoped or, frankly, expected. Don't get me wrong, "Here Today" is a good song and I do like it, but Paul has written deeper and...better...ballads, IMO.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 1, 2023 2:38:13 GMT
Okay, we move on to 1983 and Pipes of Peace.
Pipes of Peace Say Say Say The Other Me Keep Under Cover So Bad
The Man Sweetest Little Show Average Person Hey Hey Tug of Peace Through Our Love
Once again, there was a 12 inch single released around the same time, the Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson collaboration Say Say Say. The 12 inch included an extended remix of the hit song, along with an instrumental mix, and the non-album solo Paul track Ode to a Koala Bear.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 1, 2023 11:38:16 GMT
I didn't buy Pipes Of Peace. I was turned off by "Say Say Say", and I didn't exactly boycott the album, but then "Pipes Of Peace" followed and I was wary. I thought Paul was losing his edge, not that he was an "edgy" artist, but, come on, he was still Paul fu--ing McCartney!
I've since made my peace with "Pipes Of Peace" (no pun intended, it's grown on me), but "Say Say Say"? No. My favorite song? "So Bad". Yes, Paul got to me with that one. It's not an all-timer, but I think it's a good ol' Paul melody, and I like the tender way he sings it.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 1, 2023 11:56:31 GMT
My favorite here is probably "Sweetest Little Show," though I like "So Bad" too.
For worst, "Tug of Peace."
I know I said it at the time we were rating these albums, but for me this is where Paul's solo career gets really spotty. Some good things, sure, but it feels like he was wandering in the wilderness trying this and that and rarely (in my opinion) living up to himself.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 2, 2023 12:30:43 GMT
Catch-up post:
Ram
Best - "Smile Away" Worst - "Ram On (Reprise)"
McCartney II
Best - "One of These Days" Worst - "Front Parlour"
Tug of War
Best - "Wanderlust" Worst - "Be What You See (Link)"
Pipes of Peace
Best - "Through Our Love" Worst - "The Man"
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Post by B.E. on Apr 2, 2023 12:54:54 GMT
I know I said it at the time we were rating these albums, but for me this is where Paul's solo career gets really spotty. Some good things, sure, but it feels like he was wandering in the wilderness trying this and that and rarely (in my opinion) living up to himself. To me, this is Paul's worst era. Perhaps made worse by its abruptness. Tug of War was a very good album, then he follows it up only a year later with the worst album of his career. And not just to-date, I mean his entire career. Arguably, Kisses on the Bottom is worse, but if we're talking albums of originals? This is dead last for me. It really is a head-scratcher. And it's not just the production or his choice of collaborators, it's the songwriting. All of a sudden, all of his songs were bland, indistinct, uninteresting, unimpressive...if it wasn't for his voice, I doubt I'd even recognize his music! At least Press to Play has a few tracks that rise above mediocrity and are recognizably Paul McCartney. I still picked a 'best' for Pipes of Peace, but only in the spirit of the thread. Aside from a moment in "Through Our Love", there's nothing here I'd miss.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 2, 2023 12:58:22 GMT
I think this one is better than Press to Play, which might be my pick for the worst. But honestly, there is competition for me in the years ahead. Pipes of Peace is pretty bad compared to most of what came before it, though. (McCartney II is worse, I think.) Then again, I'm one of those guys who is ALWAYS saying "if only you took this from John, that from George, that from Ringo...then you'd have something!"
It isn't fair to the musicians themselves, but I just can't help it.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 2, 2023 13:14:33 GMT
I always thought Paul was surprised or maybe even caught off guard at the acceptance and welcoming he got from the MTV audience. Even with somebody with Paul's notoriety or ego - and I don't say that as a shot at Paul, but he knew who he was/is - there was still some question if he, or any of the older rockers, could fit in the younger crowd in the early/mid 1980s. And when he did, I think he got reinvigorated. He embraced MTV and the new scene. We all know how he was always thinking about or creating...something. Now he could really jump back into the game again, maybe even rushing to get stuff out.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 2, 2023 19:50:47 GMT
Catch-up post: RamBest - "Smile Away" Worst - "Ram On (Reprise)" McCartney IIBest - "One of These Days" Worst - "Front Parlour" Tug of WarBest - "Wanderlust" Worst - "Be What You See (Link)" Pipes of Peace Best - "Through Our Love" Worst - "The Man" I'm with you on those picks except the stinky, smelly feet song. Oh man, I can't even make myself listen to the stinker that is Smile Away. I made my own cdr of Ram omitting Smile Away, 3 Legs, and Monkberry Moon Delight, replaced them with Another Day and Oh Woman, Oh Why. I did the same with Tug of War. Replaced What's That You're Doing with Rainclouds and I'll Give You a Ring.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 2, 2023 19:57:46 GMT
I love Pipes of Peace. I think it's his last great album. Maybe a step below Tug of War, but at least there's no songs I have to skip over.
Best: Say Say Say (ducks to avoid flying pots and pans) I liked Michael Jackson's music in this era. I even liked The Girl is Mine, because I was fighting for the affections of a girl at the time. Say Say Say is clearly the better of the two songs, though. I was surprised The Man wasn't released as a single, but maybe Paul didn't want to appear to be leaning too heavily on Michael's popularity. I know this happened when Michael recorded a duet Jermaine around this time.
Worst: Tug of Peace. It's really a nothing song. Not offensive, not something I have to skip over, but it's filler. Even the instrumental Hey Hey has more to offer.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 2, 2023 20:36:38 GMT
I love Pipes of Peace. I think it's his last great album. Maybe a step below Tug of War, but at least there's no songs I have to skip over. Which songs/tracks do you think are great? Personally, I think every subsequent album (and previous album, including Wild Life) has higher highs than Pipes of Peace.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 3, 2023 5:11:52 GMT
I love Pipes of Peace. I think it's his last great album. Maybe a step below Tug of War, but at least there's no songs I have to skip over. Which songs/tracks do you think are great? Personally, I think every subsequent album (and previous album, including Wild Life) has higher highs than Pipes of Peace. Pipes of Peace, Say Say Say, The Other Me, Keep Under Cover, Through Our Love, Average Person. There isn't anything here I have to skip over. Is it Rubber Soul? Band on the Run? Abbey Road? No, but it's an album I always enjoy when I put it on. For me, the quality really took a dive with Press to Play. Flowers in the Dirt was better than Press, but then things took another dive with Off the Ground.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 5, 2023 2:01:03 GMT
If you want 10 minutes of pure agony, look for the 12 inch version of No More Lonely Nights (playout version). As if the album version wasn't bad enough! I got the 12 inch single a couple of years ago. The b-side features a remake of Silly Love Songs with the Toto guys - not bad - and the hit version of No More Lonely Nights. Yes, I am going to do Give My Regards to Broad Street.
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