TS: Paul McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" vs "Press to Play"

http://youtu.be/EkfdG1K_suM

Is that old or contemporary? Sounds like something Macca would do on tour now, or have playing over footage to set the mood before a show. Just going on the quality of his voice there.

'Ballroom Dancing' was always more than a bit crap though, IMO. I've never liked it.

Good question !
Apparently it's from the dvd deluxe reissue. I would guess it's old but not sure...

'Ballroom Dancing' was always more than a bit crap though, IMO. I've never liked it.

No, I get that, but there is something about the plinky plonky Abba groove and melody that I've liked -- plus his vocal when he jumps up an octave is just outstanding.

Love this demo version of "My Brave Face." McCartney and Costello sound like they're having so much fun harmonizing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-zrV_wIH34

Looking forward to this reissue. I'm still put off by the fact McCartney is skipping over albums in this remaster campaign.

he's listening to them to the first time

Hillmen! Hillmen! Hillmen! Hillmen!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

I think most of 'Press To Play" is glorious ( first time listener) and "Talk More Talk" is an earworm.

Ursa major….. ursa minor…..

I played PRESS TO PLAY for the first time ever, a few months ago, and I recall being struck by just one song (whatever it was).

PIPES OF PEACE, I think it's been longer since I heard but it has to be better -- the title track alone is a masterpiece.

PIPES OF PEACE also contains a song that I now recall is called 'average person' which is a remarkable Macca attempt to get at the ordinary life that was no longer his.

'only love remains' must be the good one on PRESS TO PLAY.

A very divisive album this “Press To Play”. Where many hear absolute crap I hear Macca and technology playing beautifully off each other. Lyrically possibly a banal mess but I’m kinda wowed by the machine slickness. Even the wailing sax on some of this feels right. At least moreso than the occasional wailing electrig gtr solos.

He plays a few of those wailing electric guitar solos too.

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.

This is a fine headphone album.

Tracks 1-4 are a wonderful run.

yeah "Good Times Coming" is quietly a major standout for me. the transition into the chorus gets stuck in my head all the time.

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 true
They 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 true
Ooh...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 true
Ooh...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 true
Don't you know it isn't true?
It's not true...

LET THE SUN SHINE IN
SHINE IN SHINE IN
LET THE SUN SHINE IN ON YOUUUUUU

“Press To Play” any day. At least the first half.

“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.

HOWEVER ABSOID

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.

I’ve always loved The Man and The Other Me, which I think has an ingenious lyrical conceit.

dustbin lid?

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.

Not the dustbin lid, though I enjoy that too in a weird kind of way.

"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....

tell me to PRESS!