POLL Those Years Ago: The Beatles Solo Careers Poll Results Thread

McCartney II is pretty much the hipster/Pitchfork readers choice.

Yr starting at the wrong end of the list morris

The first 4 or 5 tracks (and that final track) are great — for a minute I was like, “Is this gonna be a one-guy skewed bedroom-pop classic? — but then there’s some real bloozy shmooz in the middle. I do like a few of the instrumentals. I guess it was a big deal for a guy like McCartney to release an album full of that stuff, showing that he’s not weighed down by his rep?

It also sent me off listening to other stuff that seemed related in my personal taxonomy, like Fred Frith’s Cheap at Half the Price (that’s a lot more “unconventional,” of course).

Nah, he'd already released McCartney ten years prior, which was mostly him pissing about at home. In between those two, it was all stuff with (Paul McCartney &) Wings and Ram (which was billed as a Paul & Linda album) ...

The first album released solely under his name (i.e. not Wings) to have high production values is Tug of War, which was designed to be a blockbuster.

The first Wings album sounds like it was written and recorded in the same amount of time as it takes to listen to it!

Hmm. I tried listening to the first McCartney LP, but it didn’t jibe (“Maybe I’m Amazed” notwithstanding)

Usually I do dig “musician messing around with a multitrack and lots of instruments” type albums

mccartney I is more interesting than mccartney II imo, the later album has some cool stuff but feels way blander than its reputation

It's a mixed bag of stuff - 'Junk' and 'Teddy Boy' were songs that didn't make it onto The Beatles, I think 'Hot as Sun' was written pre-Beatles even (I'll have to double check that) ... most of the songs were just made up as he was recording. 'Maybe I'm Amazed' is the best song on there, IMO, and it's tempting to think of it as an obvious Beatles single had they stayed together.

The reputation of MII comes from its re-release during a particular time: the apogee of Hot Chip, Junior Boys, etc. Lots of stories praising "Secret Friend," for example.

The first McCartney is pretty much McCartney pissing about at home and trying to take his mind off the whole Beatles fall-out, whereas McCartney II was McCartney pissing about at home in between Wings projects and possibly trying to come up with something for the next Wings album. 'Wonderful Christmastime' came out of the same sessions.

Of course, the Japan thing happened and Wings broke up and a solo album was cobbled together from the demos.

one of these days >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> maybe I'm amazed

This isn't the controversial opinions thread.

one of these days >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> maybe I'm amazed

no way. more like
one of these days >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> maybe I'm amazed

otm

like mccartney ii isn’t the best mccartney record or anything but it’s got a lot of cool stuff on it

McCartney II is pretty much the hipster/Pitchfork readers choice.

not Ram?

I agree. It's not the best McCartney album but nor is it down there with his worst (Pipes of Peace, Off the Ground) and it does have some neat stuff on it. 'One of These Days' is a middle table McCartney song at best, though, whereas 'Maybe I'm Amazed' is one of his finest songs.

Ram is another one beloved by hipsters and Pitchfork readers, yeah. I'm glad they haven't discovered Back to the Egg or Flowers in the Dirt yet.

i don’t really give a shit about who particularly prioritizes ram, a great record

iirc it made vh1’s 100 greatest records ever, it’s reputation cant be isolated to pfork in the way mccartney ii’s can

i apologize for enjoying this pbr. i hope the other bar patrons don’t discover the wonders of peroni or modelo especial

man, I've tried to like Ram but can't get beyond the obvious stuff and "Eat at Home." Give me Press to Play and Flowers in the Dirt.

Alfred OTM, and I like Ram!

“One of These Days” is one of those (rare) songs whose melody feels both ingenious/inspired and natural/“inevitable,” if that makes sense.

Like, “someone had to compose this melody sooner or later, it makes perfect sense, and it’s beautiful”

(But also — “it took a great songwriter to do it”)

otm x3

I understand hearing it as middling McCartney. but it's one of those simple, sad, understated songs that, if you they get to you and hit you at the right time, they become favorites, unspeakably beautiful and suddenly offering shelter, inspiration. I had McCartney II for three years and knew the song before I got stuck on it.

“One of These Days” is one of those (rare) songs whose melody feels both ingenious/inspired and natural/“inevitable,” if that makes sense.

― i stan corrected (morrisp), Sunday, January 20, 2019 3:34 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Like, “someone had to compose this melody sooner or later, it makes perfect sense, and it’s beautiful”

― i stan corrected (morrisp), Sunday, January 20, 2019 3:35 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(But also — “it took a great songwriter to do it”)

― i stan corrected (morrisp), Sunday, January 20, 2019 3:40 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This pretty much sums up a lot of McCartney ballads to me. At his best, he makes it sound all so effortless.

i don’t really give a shit about who particularly prioritizes ram, a great record

Of course but I haven't heard every great record played multiple times in different coffee shops.

The echo on Paul’s voice on One of These Days is sublime.

The first /McCartney/ is pretty much McCartney pissing about at home and trying to take his mind off the whole Beatles fall-out, whereas /McCartney II/ was McCartney pissing about at home in between Wings projects and possibly trying to come up with something for the next Wings album. 'Wonderful Christmastime' came out of the same sessions.

Of course, the Japan thing happened and Wings broke up and a solo album was cobbled together from the demos.

I ranked his solo top tens. He had a lot.

Where’s Uncle Albert?

ah yes -- corrected!

'My Love' and 'Live and Let Die' both far too low, but no complaints about anything at the top.

'Spies Like Us' is aural excrement, IMO. The sound of McCartney phoning it in and scraping the bottom of the barrel for a good idea.

I adore "FourFiveSeconds" but it's hard to compare - my faves here are probably "Uncle Albert," "Goodnight Tonight," "Band on the Run," and "Take It Away."

man, I've tried to like /Ram/ but can't get beyond the obvious stuff and "Eat at Home."

we'll never agree about "Uncle Albert."

I can’t do uncle albert

first track is the best probably

ram is fucking amazing

too many catchy tunes, it’s hard to RATE

too many reaching for a piece of cake imo

I didn't like it when I first got it, probably around age fourteen or so, early '80s. I went back and listened to these albums in the late '90s (bought a number of them for cheap again at used record stores) after reading Barry Miles' McCartney book and having my perspective on McCartney changed. I realized how great I thought it was then, but I do wonder why I didn't have the same realization earlier.

I think it has to do with the production. There's something a bit ramshackle-Beatles-White-Album still going on. That works for McCartney's songs on the White Album, where you have variety and they're offset by everyone else's songs, but you have to do a deep dive to appreciate it for a whole album length.

Alfred, ever hear Thrillington? I always say that album reflects really favorably on how good Ram is compositionally.

No, but I should

ram on...give your heart to somebody...sooooooon right awayyyyy

i still don't get how ram was so underrated in this poll. how is "the back seat of my car" not obviously top 5 for instance

Agree - it was my #1.