Paul McCartney's weakest period ofsongwriting

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by jwb1231970, Dec 1, 2017.

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  1. Chemguy

    Chemguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Western Canada
    The OP cites 69-70 as weak, except for 4 songs. Those 4 songs would constitute a hall of fame career for anyone else!

    So I don’t agree with that, to say the least.
     
  2. 905

    905 Senior Member

    Location:
    Midwest USA
    There is none. The mid-eighties had for instance Footprints.
     
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  3. joelee

    joelee Hyperactive!

    Location:
    Houston
    I wouldn't call it his weakest songwriting but through the 90's Paul tried to keep up with the times when he should have stuck with his many strengths. After Anthology was completed he got back to his strengths with Flaming Pie and has been on a roll ever since.
     
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  4. The Elephant Man

    The Elephant Man Forum Resident

    The OP also states that 'The Long and Winding Road' was huge. I always considered that a weaker
    (and kind of schlocky) McCartney song. Give me 'I've Got A Feeling' and I'm happy.
     
  5. Brian Kelly

    Brian Kelly 1964-73 rock's best decade

    WILD LIFE through 1972. Tomorrow is the only excellent song from this time. Big Bop is the nadir of his songwriting.
     
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  6. Diamond Star Halo

    Diamond Star Halo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Vancouver
    As a solo artist: 1983-86
    As a Beatle : 1963
     
  7. I don't even consider 'The Long and Winding Road' one of Paul's stronger songs. I used to think it was, but over time I've come to think of it as a relatively weak song for Paul. It just seems huge due to the Phil Spector additions. I appreciate hearing it 'naked' on Anthology 3 (in fact, that's my go-to version), but when you listen to this song in its Anthology 3 state, it seems a bit underwhelming - both as a song and as a performance. In my opinion, Phil's additions were over-the-top and could have been dialed back a bit, but at least they liven up the song and make it seem more grandiose than it was when Paul finished working on it.
     
  8. CBS 65780

    CBS 65780 "Could I do one more immediately?"

    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    1972. Mary was three and Stella was only born Sept. '71, so you gotta give a guy a break. He was likely busy with other things. Even Beatles have to be dads sometimes!
     
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  9. Fullbug

    Fullbug Forum Resident

    Location:
    Seattle
    Maybe the week he was in a Japanese jail.
     
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  10. rjp

    rjp Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    from band on the run until now.

    except for the sporadic genius that pops up a couple of times on just about every album.
     
  11. peteham

    peteham Senior Member

    Location:
    Simcoe County
    Sweeping generalizations make me so sleepy...
     
  12. Dillydipper

    Dillydipper Space-Age luddite

    Location:
    Central PA
    I'm gonna say, the 11 minutes before he fired up that Casio to record, "Wonderful Christmastime" while shouting, "Linda..? What rhymes with, 'Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong'...?"
    "Hmmm, lemme think that one over...hmmm...'Ding dong, ding... dong-ding-dong'..."
    "Hey, you're right - not only does that rhyme, but it's right in the meter of the first line!"
    "Uh, hon, I was just-"
    "Thanks, babe!"
     
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  13. 1980-1988
    ...save for the great "Tug Of War" (1982)... and things picked back up in 1989 with "Flowers In The Dirt"
    His weakest work is "Pipes Of Peace" ('83), but both "McCartney II" ('80) & "Press To Play" ('86) aren't far behind (all of these have some terrific songs amidst the weaker overall work)...
    ...and "Give My Regards To Broad Street" ('84) too...
     
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  14. California Couple

    California Couple dislike us on facebook

    Location:
    Newport Beach
    Paul McCartney's weakest period of songwriting would be anything post Beatles. There were a few good songs on his first and on RAM but after that it was rare. Nothing Faul did then except "Maybe I'm Amazed could match his Beatle period.
     
  15. rjp

    rjp Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    coupled with reality........it could be a very restful sleep.
     
  16. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    Cherry picking albums after Venus&Mars...
    London Town.

    Nothing in the eighties /nineties
    21stC Two great albums MAF& Chaos.
    But ..thru the decades brilliant 45's.
     
  17. SixOClockBoos

    SixOClockBoos The Man On The Flaming Pie

    Keeping in with the years, it probably has to be 1972. Ireland, Mary Had A Little Lamb and other songs contribute to that. Probably the only great song from that year was My Love.
     
  18. bherbert

    bherbert Forum Resident

    Location:
    South Africa
    I would say everything after Ram.
     
  19. jmxw

    jmxw Fab Forum Fan

    Although, I would say Dear Friend is pretty good, too.

    Bip Bop & Mumbo are probably among the weakest. But I love them both. Especially the latter. [sorry Arnie, I gotta go with the screamer...]

    Worst: I Am Your Singer, Mary Had A Little Lamb [although it had a great little b-side], Give Ireland Back To The Irish [maybe]

    So... Hey MPL, how soon can we get that Deluxe Edition box for Wildlife? :righton:
     
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  20. jmxw

    jmxw Fab Forum Fan

    Umm... actually, My Love was 1973, so...
     
  21. Jack

    Jack Senior Member

    1974-1997. Flaming Pie, return to form.
     
  22. Arnold Grove

    Arnold Grove Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Written and played live in 1972. But not released until 1973.
     
  23. nikosvault

    nikosvault Forum Resident

    Location:
    Denmark
    The last 44 years?
     
  24. Arnold Grove

    Arnold Grove Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Junior's Farm/Sally G was 1974. So how about making it 43 years? ... ;)
     
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  25. Terry

    Terry Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee
    I have no words.
     
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