― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 20:25 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 21:12 (eighteen years ago) link
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 21:24 (eighteen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 21:25 (eighteen years ago) link
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 21:42 (eighteen years ago) link
After all, two major hit singles were pulled from it. Plus he was at a career stage where more or less everything he touched turned into gold commercially. I mean, "Tug Of War" was a huge seller in 1982, and he followed the "Pipes Of Peace" with two big hit singles in late 1984 as well (one of which, "No More Lonely Nights", is among his better solo moments while the other one "We All Stand Together" must be the definite nadir of his solo output).
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 23:38 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 00:50 (eighteen years ago) link
"Flaming Pie", and "Young Boy" in particular, was way bigger Stateside btw.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 18:37 (eighteen years ago) link
Interestingly, George Harrison didn't continue on after his two most new wave albums: Somewhere in England and Gone Troppo ("Blood from a Clone," "All Those Years Ago," "Wake up, My Love," "I Really Love You," and "Wrack My Brain" from Ringo's album). I see Cloud Nine as being more bland than these two albums in the same way that I see post-new wave McCartney as being more bland.
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 19 December 2005 23:30 (eighteen years ago) link
― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Monday, 19 December 2005 23:58 (eighteen years ago) link
AFAICT the real evolution in McCartney over the course of the 80s is the decline and fall of electric guitar from his arsenal; when it appears it tends to be as an overproduced lead, and to a forced rock effect, with "Move Over Busker" being only the most obnoxious example. (See also "Looking For Changes.") He's sounded a lot more natural, if less avant-garde, on his last few outings - acoustic, classicist pop with folky flavorings. Now I'm just off on a complete tangent, and that still leaves Run Devil Run to be accounted for, but it's time I got back to the kitchen...
― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 01:37 (eighteen years ago) link
― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 01:37 (eighteen years ago) link
What happened? Is it silly to wonder whether Lennon's death somehow took it out of him?
― Mitya (mitya), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 04:07 (eighteen years ago) link
If you want to discuss McCartney's slump in the 80s, by all means do, but leave his singles out of it - there were assuredly some duds, but probably not any more than there were in the 70s...
― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 20 December 2005 04:59 (eighteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:07 (eighteen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 28 May 2006 21:06 (seventeen years ago) link
"Pretty Little Head", "We All Stand Together" and "Temporary Secretary" must be the three worst McCartney singles ever.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 28 May 2006 21:18 (seventeen years ago) link
― pleased to mitya (mitya), Sunday, 28 May 2006 21:29 (seventeen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 28 May 2006 21:39 (seventeen years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 29 May 2006 01:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 29 May 2006 02:30 (seventeen years ago) link
Press to Play released 25 years ago this week!
― a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 September 2011 16:32 (twelve years ago) link
It's definitely one of my favorites of his, maybe my favorite as a kid. Pipes is alright enough, certainly not a nadir, esp compared to the shittiness of Off the Ground or the boringness of his career in the 00s.
Is the hatred for "We All Stand Together" a britishes thing? I understand it would be annoying if I actually heard it frequently, but I used to love that Rupert short and I've always thought it was a great kids song.
― dj roombahton (zachlyon), Thursday, 1 September 2011 20:14 (twelve years ago) link
"Press To Play" is still weird. But then, it still has "Only Love Remains", which is one of his best ever ballads, even including the Beatles ones.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Thursday, 1 September 2011 22:53 (twelve years ago) link
While "Pipes Of Peace" is still kinda ZZZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzZZ
Personally, I don't think any of these albums are great - "Press To Play" is pretty much unmemorable for the most part, and I've never liked the production. I never really feel like listening to it, although it's a more interesting record than "Pipes Of Peace", for better or for worse. "Pipes Of Peace", on the other hand, has two salvageable tracks on it for me - the title track and 'So Bad', which I quite like. So, to answer the question, "Pipes Of Peace". Although, I feel that these two albums, alongside "Wings At The Speed Of Sound" and "Wild Life", represent the worst end of McCartney's solo career. "Off The Ground" gets a bad rap, but I prefer everything that McCartney did from "Flowers In The Dirt" onwards compared to a lot of stuff he did in the '70s, even.
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 13:54 (twelve years ago) link
I posted this on the Thriller thread. I grew up with Frog Chorus (had it on video and we'd watch it over and over as children). It came with two quite interesting b-films:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRg8wxZym6k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prH0Y4ex_m0
The first one was credited to Suzy & the Red Stripes. The latter completely crazy and every frame was hand drawn (amazingly).
― It was a Thursday night. I was working late... (dog latin), Monday, 5 September 2011 14:09 (twelve years ago) link
The thing with the (much-maligned) "We All Stand Together", is that if you could strip away all the orchestration and 'frog noises', and just have McCartney sitting there playing it on an acoustic guitar, it really isn't a bad song in itself. It's a much better children's song than "Yellow Submarine" or "All Together Now" is.
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 14:23 (twelve years ago) link
I like it.
― It was a Thursday night. I was working late... (dog latin), Monday, 5 September 2011 14:29 (twelve years ago) link
I'm glad that people do. I've often found "We All Stand Together" is used among people who haven't heard much of McCartney's solo work to dismiss his entire output, though - which is a bit frustrating.
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 14:46 (twelve years ago) link
"Off The Ground" gets a bad rap
"Off The Ground" is OK IMO. Out of his most recent work, I have more of problem with "Driving Rain", which save for an excellent title track and a couple of nice ballads doesn't really contain all too much of value.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Monday, 5 September 2011 16:18 (twelve years ago) link
I like quite a lot of the material on "Driving Rain", but it would have been even better (in my opinion) if the album wasn't quite so long and McCartney had taken the "one man band" approach with the material rather than letting a slick, seasoned LA session band get their hands on it. I would have bumped 'Spinning On An Axis', 'Back In The Sunshine Again' and 'Riding Into Jaipur' from the album completely (I don't see 'Freedom' as part of the album and never have). 'Lonely Road', 'From A Lover To A Friend', 'She's Given Up Talking', 'I Do', 'Your Loving Flame' are all some of my favourite recent-period McCartney tunes, and 'Heather' may be the best thing on there - just don't expect any live airings of it anytime soon! ;)
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 16:30 (twelve years ago) link
"And I will dance to a runcible tune."
― timellison, Monday, 5 September 2011 20:24 (twelve years ago) link
It's one of McCartney's Edward Lear-isms, isn't it?
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
I agree with Turrican about Driving Rain only I would put She's Given Up Talking in the dud column and mention Your Way as one of the better tracks. From a Lover to a Friend is especially nice but not a great choice for a single.
As for the original thread question I'd say both albums are pretty uninspired but the period production of Press to Play makes it a somewhat more interesting misfire if that makes any sense. Maybe i should give these two another listen...
― ColinO, Monday, 5 September 2011 20:51 (twelve years ago) link
"She's Given Up Talking" hit me kind of hard. There was a girl in one of my elementary school classes that didn't say a word the whole year.
― timellison, Monday, 5 September 2011 21:08 (twelve years ago) link
Colin, you've nailed the thing on the head better than I could - as much as I don't like the production on "Press To Play", it is the production that makes the record interesting - especially now that we're viewing it from a standpoint far away from its release. I do agree with you about 'From A Lover To A Friend' not being a great choice for a single - it's far too introspective (personal, even) for that. But then again, just exactly who WAS buying Paul McCartney singles in 2001 aside from the faithful?
'She's Given Up Talking' is great, though... it would have snuck in nicely on Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, and I'm sure Nigel Godrich would have done great things with it if he'd got his hands on it... it seems like the kind of sombre tune he excels at producing.
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 21:31 (twelve years ago) link
"Press" is one of my top ten Macca solo singles.
I wrote this a long time ago.
― Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 September 2011 21:35 (twelve years ago) link
Oh god, I forgot about that one. Yeah, it is a decent enough tune and I'd probably like it if it was on "Flowers In The Dirt" or something - but the version on "Press To Play" sounds so cold.
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 21:40 (twelve years ago) link
Precisely why I like it -- this fool and his producer messing around with the expensive Fairlights he just bought. The Linda harmonies are daft in the best way.
― Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 September 2011 21:41 (twelve years ago) link
Who was the producer on "Press To Play" again? Hugh Padgham?
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 21:48 (twelve years ago) link
yep
― Anakin Ska Walker (AKA Skarth Vader) (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 September 2011 21:51 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah... it's a bit odd, because I thought he did a fantastic job on XTC's "English Settlement", and I thought the drum sound he got for Copeland on The Police's "Synchronicity" was excellent, so I do usually like his productions, just not this particular one!
― Turrican, Monday, 5 September 2011 21:56 (twelve years ago) link
one of those things where i can't comprehend someone else enjoying it (besides my mother) -- i just dread "off the ground," it actually makes my head hurt just thinking about it (let alone hearing it). awful, awful music, only point where i've ever truly wanted to punch him in the face to get him to stop.
― dj roombahton (zachlyon), Tuesday, 6 September 2011 05:19 (twelve years ago) link
Padgam was still very much a Steve Lillywhite protege at the time of those. Not so much anymore by the time he got to "Press To Play" and other 1983 works of his like "Invisible Touch" by Genesis.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 6 September 2011 06:58 (twelve years ago) link
Off the Ground has some seriously great songs (Looking for Changes, Mistress and Maid, The Lovers that Never Were) that I wouldn't admit to enjoying in public. Soooo much dross though.
Driving Rain is just awesome, although I agree almost completely with Turrican's rejections (Freedom puts all music everywhere to shame). Chaos and Creation is mostly good and Memory Almost Full is average.
― Autumn Almanac, Tuesday, 6 September 2011 08:59 (twelve years ago) link
Hey, Autumn. Yeah, those songs you've mentioned are some of my personal highlights of Off The Ground too... The Lovers That Never Were especially, which I think is up there as one of McCartney's best solo tunes!
― Turrican, Tuesday, 6 September 2011 13:23 (twelve years ago) link
"Off The Ground" first and foremost has "Golden Earth Girl" and "C'Mon People", which are both Paul at his best. Some of the "rock" songs I can do without, but "The Lovers That Never Were" is just as great as most of his other Costello-collaborations.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 6 September 2011 13:25 (twelve years ago) link
"Chaos and Creation" is not just "mostly good" IMO. It's just plain great, verging on fantastic. His best solo work since "Tug Of War" and his second best overall.
― Hongroe (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 6 September 2011 13:26 (twelve years ago) link
I like both "Golden Earth Girl" and "C'Mon People", but personally I don't really feel that they're the best tracks on the album, let alone McCartney at his best.
I do agree with you about "Chaos And Creation In The Backyard", though - it is truly fantastic and one of McCartney's best ever solo albums. Up there with "Flowers In The Dirt" for me.
― Turrican, Tuesday, 6 September 2011 13:32 (twelve years ago) link
The weird machine reggae verses of "Good Times Coming" with those occasional ghostly pads/samples(?) floating in is just WOW. The use of gritty Emulator sampling thruout this album is superb, btw.
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Monday, 26 April 2021 12:41 (two years ago) link
This is a fine headphone album.
Tracks 1-4 are a wonderful run.
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Monday, 26 April 2021 12:42 (two years ago) link
yeah "Good Times Coming" is quietly a major standout for me. the transition into the chorus gets stuck in my head all the time.
― Bobo Honk, real name, no gimmicks (Doctor Casino), Monday, 26 April 2021 12:43 (two years ago) link
I always forget that “It’s Not True” and “Tough on a Tightrope” were CD bonus tracks on Press To Play. The latter is quite good. The former is a really weird defense of Linda: Some People say she's a bad girl Some people think she's a fool Some people tell me she's no good But I'm telling you It's not true, it's not true, it's not trueThey say that my girl's a mad girl No saying what she might do Some people tell me she's crazy. But I'm telling you It's not true, it's not true, it's not trueOoh...ooh...ooh...They've been talking to the fellas Ooh...ooh...ooh...Have they never heard of jealousy? Ooh...ooh...ooh...If she helps me write the melody I'll let the words take care of themselves.It's not true, it's not true, it's not true It's not true, it's not true, it's not trueOoh...ooh...ooh...They've been talking to the fellas Ooh...ooh...ooh...Have they never heard of jealousy? Ooh...ooh...ooh...If she helps me write the memories I'll let the words take care of themselves.Some people say she's a loser Some people tell me that she's through Some people say I don't love her But I'm telling you It's not true, it's not true, it's not true What they're saying about her isn't trueDon't you know it isn't true?It's not true...
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 6 May 2021 23:13 (two years ago) link
LET THE SUN SHINE IN SHINE IN SHINE INLET THE SUN SHINE IN ON YOUUUUUU
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 11 December 2021 20:57 (two years ago) link
“Press To Play” any day. At least the first half.
― SQUIRREL MEAT!! (Capitaine Jay Vee), Saturday, 11 December 2021 21:16 (two years ago) link
“Good Times Coming/Feel the Sun” was the first thing that struck me listening at the store when I bought this used when I lived in Austin in the late 90s. I had forgotten the little keyboard solo, bass groove section tho which is kind of a hilariously funky breakdown. The title of “Move Over Busker” has always reminded me of Buster, the Phil Collins movie. Which seems appropriate for this record. Not sure if I mentioned it on this thread or elsewhere but Paul’s panoramic drawings in the sleeve notes of who is doing what where in the stereo mix really captures the aesthetic of PTP.
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 11 December 2021 22:02 (two years ago) link
HOWEVER ABSOID
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 December 2021 16:25 (two years ago) link
gave Tug of War a listen again this morning for the first time in many years, there are some unforgivable production choices on this, amazing to think of how deeply Martin allowed Take It Away to go into schmaltzland. however I liked Ballroom Dancing more than I remembered. Pound is Sinking and Wanderlust are still the standouts.
Pipes of Peace has the title track and Say Say Say going for it and not really anything else.
― akm, Sunday, 12 December 2021 20:55 (two years ago) link
I’ve always loved The Man and The Other Me, which I think has an ingenious lyrical conceit.
― Alba, Sunday, 12 December 2021 21:04 (two years ago) link
dustbin lid?
― akm, Sunday, 12 December 2021 21:29 (two years ago) link
mazing to think of how deeply Martin allowed Take It Away to go into schmaltzland.
wau, hard disagree! The fadeout with the horn section and the Paul-Linda-Eric Stewart harmonies are goose-pimply.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 December 2021 21:33 (two years ago) link
Not the dustbin lid, though I enjoy that too in a weird kind of way.
― Alba, Sunday, 12 December 2021 21:43 (two years ago) link
"Average Person" kinda sucks but is also a weird little earworm, especially the "Yes, dear, you heard right" segment. Also, the "I know for sure, one day I'm gonna be a super..." breakdown is wonderfully strange, just unfortunately pasted in to this more stately Tug of War soundscape which doesn't work for me. If it overall had a little more of a homemade 'pressed sandwich of weird synth sounds' McCartney II vibe, all horn-ish synths and imitation kazoo noises, I'd be on board! The more spacious production with the pianos and booming drums... bleah.
I dunno, I guess I should appreciate Macca once again trying to marry his really weird musings to a 'normal' pop-rock song, but....
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 12 May 2022 14:48 (one year ago) link
tell me to PRESS!
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 June 2022 22:04 (one year ago) link