This was Paul's third solo record, and his eleventh album after the Beatles era (the majority of his records had been with Wings). You'll hear a number of other big names on the record, his wife Linda, Ringo drums on a few songs, Carl Perkins, Eric Stewart, Stevie Wonder and others. And the record is produced by no one less than George Martin. Stevie Wonder sings duets with Paul on two songs, What's That You're Doing? and the big hit Ebony And Ivory. The first song is better, in fact Ebony and Ivory is probably the album's most boring song, shame that it became the super hit that represents the entire record.
Lennon was murdered in the middle of the recording, which led to a pause for a couple of months for everyone involved to recover mentally. The song Here Today is written about / to Lennon, it finishes side A and is the album's most low-keyed song. Tug of War is an album with no weak tracks, and a nice variety. Of course, Paul knows how to write songs, and here he excels. Lot of people experienced this record as a bit of a come-back for Paul, since the previous records had apparently been a bit so-so. Lots of songs were recorded during the studio sessions, and there wasn't room for all of them, instead some of them appeared on the following album Pipes of Peace.
So if you're into nice and easy-going songs, with no deep anxiety or pitch black desperation, Tug of War is probably a good listen. Suicidal blackness and difficult musical creations don't seem to be Paul's thing. Sometimes that may be a bit boring, but here it works great.
Tracklist
Side A
1. Tug of War 4:22
2. Take It Away 4:14
3. Somebody Who Cares 3:19
4. What's That You're Doing? 6:19
5. Here Today 2:27
Side B
1. Ballroom Dancing 4:07
2. The Pound Is Sinking 2:54
3. Wanderlust 3:49
4. Get It 2:29
5. Be What You See 0:34
6. Dress Me Up as a Robber 2:41
7. Ebony and Ivory 3:46
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