Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Tug Of War & Pipes Of Peace coming! (Part Two)

Get the facts straight: ... inspired by a lovers spliff with Linda. Spliff, not tiff. ...

 

Maybe the tiff was over an uneven split of the spliff, with one of the hogging it too much (most likely while watching hogs out the window). Now try to quickly repeat several times: "The tiff was over the slit of the spliff", preferably to the next stranger you encounter.

 

I agree. It was almost there! I wonder, in some alternate universe, how this album would feel if they used the solo Paul version on the album and also nixed "What's That You're Doing," leaving both Wonder contributions strictly to a single. It's a slightly different album, and one we can easily re-create.

 

I just gave this a listen. The main riff played on the keyboard in this video (starting at 0:27) gives me a beautiful sense of childlike wonder and happiness, paired with a bittersweet sadness. I don't know why. This is a special version to me.

 

Makes me think, had it been a more minimal solo number and not released as a single we'd probably be here discussing it as one of Paul's most under-rated ballads.

 

Very interesting. Wow. Good point.

 

LOL sure - if it weren't for the unknown other singer, the input of untested producer George Martin, and the rest of the words, it would have been an underrated classic!

There are a ton of McCartney mega-hits you couldn't get away from on the radio that I don't despise. Obscurity wouldn't have helped lift this plopper out of the bowl.

 

No need to imagine. McCartney sings it as a duet with an average white person on Tripping the Live Fantastic.

Alternate universe Steve Hoffman board thread: "What was Paul thinking leaving the Stevie Wonder duets off of Tug of War?"

 

Yep, this was exactly the reply I expected. Still, each to their own. I still think it's a good melody beneath the sugar-coating.

 

I totally agree. It also made me realize that the weak points of the song are the lyrically-weak and melodically-weak verses. The chorus is quite beautiful and moving especially when stripped of the over-production.

 

Fixed that for ya.

 

Keep in mind that he probably knew Ebony and Ivory would be a smash hit, especially having Stevie on it. He might have thought it would help sales of the album, which I have no doubt it did.

But I agree that some of the outtakes have a certain charm that's missing from the final version of the song.

 

I really appreciate the lower key style of Paul's demo also and although I don't care for the song as officially released at all, I can see an alternate universe where I might have liked the song.
My problem is with the song's chorus. The song starts out as nice ballad but then the annoying cha-cha chorus kicks in and ruins whatever chance the song had for me.

 

Absolutley love it, a great catchy song with a timeless message to boot!

McCartney's bass playing is top notch as well, just wish it was recorded more up front and louder.

 

Ha! I liked it better than both! Have always had an affinity for that song and don't understand the haters.

 

I'll take that and raise you this:



Of course, I think the song is totally incredible.

 

You're making me feel OLD! Stop it!

 

Today I heard "Say Say Say" on the radio in a store. Coincidence??

 

Ok - Ebony and Ivory is a song many people seems to hate. Guess it all started back in the eighties when it was named one of the worst songs ever

I never really understood the negativity over that particular song. It got a true classic melody, it s very well performed and was a megahit. Yeah the words of course- of course a bit on the schmaltzy side but imo no more so than more heralded message-songs like -dare I say Imagine
Paul and Stevie made a fine performance of this classic a few years back in their "White house" gig
Ebony and Ivory certanrly ain t my favouritr Macca song but ut surely ain t the worst either
I rather like it myself

 

If you like 1982, you'd have loved being around in 1973, when pop/rock radio still played lots of Beatles tracks religiously and had hit songs/albums from all four solo ex-Beatles. Your hourly radio airplay list at the time looked something like this:

Beatles song
somebody's hit
somebody's hit
George Harrison track
somebody's hit
somebody's hit
somebody's hit
Paul McCartney track
somebody's hit
Ringo Starr track
somebody's hit
somebody's hit
Beatles song
somebody's hit
John Lennon track

(Yes, even with commercials and chatter, you could fit 15 or so of those three-minute hits into an hour-long segment. Ah, them's was the days.)

 

My recollection is that in 1981 the radio was filled with Lennon tunes. Nice but also very sad. In 1982, everyone knew there'd be no more Beatles songs so it was a relief that Paul's album was so good and not a turd. Anything he put out probably would've received a lot of exposure. I'm just glad it was an album I really liked.

 

Together alive, bro!

 

Great news! Amazon.com now have both Pipes of Peace and Tug of War deluxe editions at $67.98 each.

Pipes of Peace: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0131KAIW0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Tug of War: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0131KAIS4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Early pre-order price for Pipes of Peace was at $79 (for some reason) until today.

Got my War and Peace deluxe editions pre-ordered!

 

I wonder what this week's free track will be. Must be due soon.