Is "Figure of Eight" Paul McCartney's Most Underrated Single?*

Just a splendid song that is a "grower" for me, even after all these years.

In the run up to the Flowers In the Dirt releases, have been listening to the original release and realizing how much I dug this song and appreciate it even more, now.

I don't have the single, but understand it is nearly two minutes longer than the album cut.

Always loved the live "Tripping" version, as well.




"Figure of Eight"Single by Paul McCartneyfrom the album Flowers in the DirtB-side"Où est le Soleil?"Released13 November 1989Format7", cassette, CDRecorded9 November 1987 - Hog Hill Mill, East SussexGenreRockLength3:25 (album version), 5:11 (single version)LabelParlophoneWriter(s)Paul McCartneyProducer(s)Chris Hughes, Paul McCartney, Ross CullumPaul McCartney singles chronology
"Où est le Soleil?"
(1989) "Figure of Eight"
(1989)

 

I think it's rated pretty well.

 

I actually think it is this one.

 

It's a cute, enjoyable little number but I think it's rated just about right.

 

Arrow Through Me is the most underrated I think.

 

Great song but I prefer the album version.

 

My vote goes to With a Little Luck. Which has the benefit of being shorter than the LP track.

Never played live even, right? How many hits has he never played live? There was Spies Like Us, but that one bites IMO.

 

No. Arrow Through Me is probably his most underrated.

 

It's ok, but doesn't really sound like single material to me.

 

I always liked "Figure Of Eight" but regard it more as a strong album track than a killer single. That being said, the single release was a better version than the album track.

 

It might be AN underrated single to some, but in my opinion it is definitely not the MOST underated single.

In my mind, some of Paul's B-sides are MORE deserving of an underrated status, such as "Daytime Nightime Suffering" and "Back On My Feet".

 

No, the single was the same length as the album track. Only the DJ edit was shorter.

 

I think it's a great track, fantastic single. It was a thrill in 1989 to hear the concert kick off with that song. Don't know about underrated, etc. I like it. Just broke out my CD single with 12" inch and 7" mixes in anticipation of Friday.

 

Going by the ratings on rateyourmusic, I'd say that "Ebony and Ivory" is his most underrated single, followed closely by "Wonderful Christmastime".

 

Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey -- #1 in the USA and never played live.

 

Another one, which you'd figure would have been perfect for a live setting:

Helen Wheels -- #10 in the USA and #12 in the UK

 

Thank the lord

 

I'm probably a little slow on the uptake, but what "ratings" do all these "overrated" and "underrated" threads refer to?



???

 

Underrated by the man himself? Then absolutely.

I don't care for the remixed/re-recorded 45. The album version is so raw, I love it.

 

Interesting. Seems the shorter version was also used on Wingspan and the US All the Best. Never actually owned the 45 but had those two comps so figured that was the single.

 

You might be right.
I love "With A Little Luck"!

In this case I prefer the longer album version

 

We all stand together.

 

Girls' School.
Tucked away and forgotten as probably the most neglected 'other song' on a Double A Side single ever.
Not on Wings Greatest.
Not on All The Best!
Not on Wingspan: Hits & History.
Mull Of Kintyre.
2 million plus shipped.
What if some people bought it for Girls' School? Just a theory....

 

Lord Byron?

 

Which was a crime - it needs to be the full length!