Paul McCartney - "Tug of War" (1982)

I have mentioned earlier that I've always been a bit hesitant towards McCartney, as he often leans towards the too jolly and feelgood, sometimes bordering on cheesy, kind of music. Both within and without the Beatles. Add that this record was created in the 80's, with everything negative it could mean to the sound. So it wasn't with great expectations that I dove into the LP. But it was a big positive surprise, it's a really great album.

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

Paul McCartney & Wings - "Band On The Run" (1973)

This was McCartney's fifth record after The Beatles, and the third with the Wings. The public hadn't been very impressed with the first albums where Wings participated, so Paul really had to prove himself this time. He had gotten the idea that it would be interesting to do the recording in an exotic place, and therefore chose the EMI studio in Lagos, Nigeria. It might have been a good idea in theory, but it turned out that the studio was substandard, the political situation unstable and Paul and his wife Linda was robbed at knife point of the demo tapes (among other things). And to add salt in the wound, two of the Wings members left the band just before leaving for Nigeria, so it was just a trio involved in the recording - Paul, Linda and Denny Laine. This meant that Paul had to play various instruments on the album, including guitar and drums, which probably wasn't a huge problem for the multi instrumentalist Paul.

Many consider this to be Paul's best solo record, although it was initially received a bit hesitantly by the public, and one of the top creations any of the ex-Beatles did after the band was abandoned. And I can't deny it's a qualitative album, although expectations are (possibly too) high on an ex-Beatle. But personally, I hold his album Ram higher, as it contains more interesting songs. I've always thought Lennon made better and more interesting songs in the Beatles, and while Lennon's solo albums are of mixed quality, they're not always so kind, gentle and easy going. Sometimes McCartney feels a little too nice, happy and playful. His music, including Band On The Run, is somehow music's version of a feel good movie. There are nice harmonies, positive, good songs with catchy hooks, and often a sing along mood. You never get provoked, upset or thoughtful when listening to Band On The Run. It's not really a criticism, but is it something I miss on the album, it's that. Something that challenges a bit more.

Crazy man Ginger Baker lived in Nigeria at this time and offered Paul to record the entire album in his studio. Paul was somewhat doubtful concerning this offer, but ultimately recorded the song Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me) there. After watching the Netflix documentary on Ginger Baker, I suspect it was a wise decision to have a bit of a distance to him. The photo on the cover is the trio that played on the record, together with a bunch of other famous people. Apparently, the photo was taken in low light so the camera needed to have the lens open for about two seconds. This meant that the gang had to stay absolutely still during this time. As they had just come from a party Paul had arranged, everyone was on various drugs, which made the staying still a challenge.

In conclusion, Band On The Run is a good album, and if you like McCartney, it's probably a must have. There's really no bad song on the record, every title has their own unique character, even though I personally sometimes think it's too gentle and cute. Personal favorites are the title track and the closing number Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, which I think sounds like Gnarls Barkley's Crazy.


Tracklist (Helen Wheels was not included on the original release in England, only on the American)

Side A
1. "Band on the Run" - 5:12
2. "Jet" - 4:09
3. "Bluebird" - 3:23
4. "Mrs. Vandebilt" - 4:40
5. "Let Me Roll It" - 4:51

Side B
1. "Mamunia" - 4:51
2. "No Words" - 2:35
3. "Helen Wheels" - 3:44
4. "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)" - 5:49
5. "Ninety Hundred and Eighty-Five" - ​​5:28

Paul and Linda McCartney - "Ram" (1971)

I've mentioned this before, but when it comes to the dynamic duo, Lennon and McCartney, I have always voted for Lennon. Lennon was the revolutionary, the visionary, and the one doing the groundbreaking experimentation. McCartney was a little kinder, a little sweeter, a little cheezier and never crossed the same borders. I'm not an expert on their respective solo careers, and I think none of them ever came up in the same league as in the Beatles years, but I have the feeling that the difference largely persisted. Lennon a bit more progressive and unruly, McCartney it a little more kind and traditional.

If anything of the above is true, perhaps Ram is the exception that proves the rule. Ram is a really good album and a truly pleasant experience. This album came to me when I was around 15 years old in the form of an old classic - a cassette tape. It was my aunt's husband who recorded this album for me, a man in possession of many interesting vinyls and who has actually seen the Beatles live. If I remember correctly it was during their first tour in Sweden. When I got Ram I instantly liked the album (even though it was on cassette). I bought on vinyl later on.

This was Paul's second album after the breakup of the Beatles and the only one where both he and his wife Linda are credited as the artists. After Ram, Wings was formed and a new era began in the McCartney's careers. About half of the songs on Ram have both Linda and Paul as songwriters, the other half have Paul as the sole creator. However, it's Paul who sings on the album and Linda does some backing vocals and harmonies.

Again, it's good songs straight through, sure, some wouldn't end up on an old classic mixtape but there are no direct lows. My two favorites have always been the dreamy Ram On and Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey. But there are a lot of other goodies too, Long Haired Lady is one of the B-side's highlights. As is customary in the case of McCartney, it's relatively easily digested music, but it's digestible music with quality. Quite fun and interesting pieces. Lennon's anguish and bitterness is far away and it's a bit more playful than, say, George Harrison's Everything Must Pass. Shall I compare with some of the Beatles' albums I would say it's Abbey Road that's closest at hand, and some of the songs on Ram perhaps would deserve a place on that record.

The other Fab heard a lot of hidden messages (mean stuff) in the lyrics that were directed towards them, especially Lennon of course. One respons from John was the song How Do You Sleep? which was aimed towards Paul. Paranoia or not, but Paul admitted only that a few lines in opening song Too Many People were directed at John. John also suspected that the picture on the back cover of two beetles mating was referring to how Paul felt that the other Fab had treated him.
In addition to responses from John in the form of mean songs against Paul, there was a kind of war of words between them in the press after the release of Ram. Today's hip hop-related wars of words between rap artists apparently have a history with connections all the way up to the Beatles.

When the album was realeased it didn't receive good reviews, but history has given it right. Today, many believe that Ram is perhaps the highlight of Paul's solo career and a masterpiece. Personally, I recommend it. It's qualitative, easily digested music that is both interesting and exciting. Such music is not easy to neither create nor find in the record stores, but Ram is one of these records.

Tracklist


Side A
1. Too Many People 4:10
2. 3 Legs 2:44
3. Ram On 2:26
4. Dear Boy 2:12
5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey 4:49
6. Smile Away 3:51

Side B
1. Heart of the Country 2:21
2. Monkberry Moon Delight 5:21
3. Eat at Home 3:18
4. Long Haired Lady 5:54
5. Ram On 0:52
6. The Back Seat of My Car 4:26