Sir Paul McCartney's Solo Albums Discussion Club

Macca

Feel free to discuss your thoughts on Macca's SOLO CATALOGUE.

No Trolls allowed!

 

Let's Get started with

McCartney (1970)

McCartney - Front cover McCartney - Rear Cover
McCartney - Front Cover McCartney - Rear Cover
McCartney - Inner Gatefold

April 17, 1970

Paul McCartney
McCartney
UK #2 (32 wks)
US #1 [3 wks] (47 wks) ▲2

 

Isn't that what our whole forum is about?
Hey, I'm game. I'll chime in later. You should post the song list and album cover, plus your own comments when introducing each album - like Shawn (bartels76) does. Check out the Neil Young thread.

 

Im having trouble posting the cover photo. Can anyone help me out? How can I post pictures here?

 

Side 1
Track Composer Recording Information Time

The Lovely Linda McCartney The recording Paul first used to test his new home recording set-up. 0:43

That Would Be Something McCartney Paul plays acoustic guitar, tom tom, cymbal and bass on this song he wrote in Scotland. 2:37

Valentine Day McCartney Paul plays guitars (acoustic and electric), drums, and bass on this ad-libbed song. 1:40

Every Night McCartney Paul plays acoustic guitar, drums and bass, on this song he wrote while on holiday in Greece. 2:29

Hot As Sun McCartney Paul plays guitars, drums, organ, percussion, and bass.
He is quoted as saying he wrote this in the late 50's, but left this until 1970 to record at Morgan Studios. 1:28

Glasses McCartney Paul manages to play multi-tracked "wine glasses" on this piece which includes one of those wonderful uncompleted pieces that Paul does so well. Called "Suicide", Paul recently has said he wrote this with Sinatra in mind ! 0:48

Junk McCartney This track was first started with the Beatles in India, and completed in London during the "White Album" sessions as can be heard on Anthology 3.
This solo version was recorded by Paul at his home, using acoustic guitars and bass, with overdubs of percussion and xylophone at Morgan Studios. 1:53

Man We Was Lonely McCartney Paul plays guitar, drum, and bass, with the steel guitar sound actually being a Telecaster being played with a drum peg. 2:55

Side 2

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Oo You McCartney Paul plays electric guitar, tambourine, cowbell and "Aerosol spray" ! ... on this tune recorded at Morgan Studios. 2:47

Momma Miss America McCartney Paul plays guitars, piano and drums on another ad-libbed piece recorded at home. 4:03

Teddy Boy McCartney Like "Junk" this is another track we are all familiar with as being started with the Beatles in India, and recorded during the "Let It Be" 1969 sessions ... as a multitude of bootlegs testify.
Paul completed this version at Morgan Studios playing guitar and bass. 2:22
Singalong Junk McCartney This is the original take for "Junk" on which Paul plays guitar, piano and bass. He overdubbed more instruments plus a Mellotron at Morgan Studios. 2:34

Maybe I'm Amazed McCartney The tour-de-force of the album recorded at Abbey Road, Paul plays guitars, piano and drums.
Although not released as a single, Paul made a promotional film for this track which was broadcast on ITV on 19th April 1970. Produced by David Putnam, it features still photographs of Paul, Linda and Heather.

Rod Stewart, another of my favourite artists (who I have seen many many times) recorded this, and made it part of his stage show, performing a great live version. 3:47

Kreen - Akrore McCartney This final song was inspired by a T.V. production about a Brazilian native tribe. The first take included just the drum track. Paul added guitars, piano, organ and some heavy breathing. This was tracked at Morgan Studios where sound effects were added, including a bow and arrow sound. 4:08

 

Here's the cover of the first McCartney Album.

 

Look under "Manage Attachments". It's pretty much self explanatory.

I've uploaded the first McCartney for you.

 

Thanks very much. Where can I find the manage attachments?

 

What is your Personal Top 10 Solo McCartney Albums?

Heres mine:

(Note the First 5 is interchangeable in their Rankings)

1 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
2 Flaming Pie
3 Ram
4 Band On The Run
5 Flowers in the Dirt

6 Tug of War
7 Run Devil Run
8 Back to the Egg
9 Venus and Mars
10 Press to Play

Honorable Mentions:

11 McCartney 1
12 McCartney 2
13 Working Classical

Favorite Live Albums
1 Wings Over America
2 Unplugged
3 Back In The World

His "Worst Album" (Just not my cup of tea, although I like some of the tracks) Heck If you add The Mess,Give Ireland Back to the Irish and Mary had a little lamb, its not bad at all.
1 Wild Life

 

Hahah.

What the heck - I'll rate them out of four stars just for the heck of it - never did it before. Let's see what I come up with... I shall include Wings stuff, too. I will skip live albums and "weird" projects like "Thrillington".

McCartney - 3 1/2
Ram - 4
Wild Life - 2 1/2
Red Rose Speedway - 3
Band on the Run - 3 1/2
Venus and Mars - 4
Wings at the Speed of Sound - 3
London Town - 3 1/2
Back to the Egg - 3 1/2
McCartney II - 3
Tug of War - 4
Pipes of Peace - 3
Press to Play - 2 1/2
Flowers in the Dirt - 3 1/2
Off the Ground - 3
Flaming Pie - 3 1/2
Driving Rain - 1 1/2
Chaos and Creation - 3 1/2

OK - my breakdown!

Perfect:

Ram
Venus and Mars
Tug of War

Near Perfect:

McCartney
Band on the Run
London Town
Back to the Egg
Flowers in the Dirt
Flaming Pie
Chaos and Creation

His worst album:

Driving Rain

My opinions. I give McCartney II a much higher grade than I'd guess most forum members would (I consider the album for the listening experience, successfullness of what Paul attempted, and quality of tunes). I also give Back to the Egg a much better rating than what the critics see in it apparantly... but I think a lot of forum members agree that this is one of his most underrated.

I also stand by my opinion that "Venus and Mars" is Wings' best all-around album. If an alien came down and asked what Wings were all about, this is the album I would give. The variety and quality is superb. A must-have for all music lovers.

I would probably bring "Ram" and "Venus and Mars" with me if I could only bring two albums Paul ever touched. Unless the "White Album" counted as one - then I would have to really consider dropping "Venus" QUITE reluctantly! (P.S. - I've always considered "Venus" Wings' "White Album" in terms of quality and variety!).

Jeff

 

I love McCartney's first album. I'm glad he did it, even though it has gotten a lot of negative press over the years. I love that he played all the parts himself and just did it his way. The "recorded at home" feel of it is pretty cool, though it looks like he spent a lot of time tracking at Morgan Studios. Is "Maybe I'm Amazed" the only one he did at Abbey Road? Throughout the album we get unfinished songs, leftover Beatles tunes, and one man band instrumentals. Linda harmonizes here and there. People can say what they want about it, but it's got some of Paul's best solo songs on it..."Maybe I'm Amazed", "Every Night", "Junk" and "Teddy Boy". My favorite instrumental on the album is "Momma Miss America."

The front cover photo is simply one of the best in rock. If anything Paul always came up with great album covers (well, for the most part anyway, I know a few that aren't so great).

Is this thread going album by album?

 

McCartney & BOTR.

 

Yes, indeed we will be going album by album.

What is your top 10 Macca albums?

What is your Fav Macca Live Album?

What do you consider is Macca's Worst Solo Album?

 

If we go album by album, its probably best to restrain ourselves from lists. It will cause the whole discussion to veer off track. If its a free for all, then it doesn't matter. These album by album threads require some babysitting. Shawn is the master. He's been doing the Neil Young thread since the beginning of August. Things are just starting to wind down, and the discussion is veering in different directions.

A McCartney "album by album" is a good idea, but the due to the nature of McCartney's work and the strong feelings some on our forum have, I think there more structure the better. Anyway, just my thoughts.

 

Well, I think "Ram" is his best solo-effort and "Band on the run" Wings best album.

 

Im delighted that Paul McCartney is having a creative renaissance beginning with Flaming Pie,Run Devil Run,Driving Rain and Now Chaos and Creation.

Each and every album has a different sound, a different flavor if you will and also great songwriting.

Nigel Godrich is such a talented producer and I give him credit for doing such a great production job.

I would love for Paul to team up with someone like Rick Rubin for his next studio album.

 

Here is the back. When were the McCartney remasters released? I picked up the DCC in a used store a few years ago for $20 (or less)

 

That's one of my all-time favorite Macca pic.

Tom Cruise mimicked the baby in the jacket photo just recently.

The UK Paul McCartney Collection Remasters came out back in 1993. The albums were remastered by Peter Mew. Overall, the sound quality is better than the original cd issues.

I have always wondered why they didnt remaster the Wings Over America for the remasters.

Speaking of remasters. It's high time for new Macca Remasters, since the original remasters were never issued in the USA.

 

I don't have 10 favorite Macca albums, but I'll list what I do like.

Ram
McCartney
Back To The Egg
Band On The Run
Wings Over America
At The Speed of Sound
Wild Life

In that order.

 

I think this forum's favorite album is "Back To The Egg." That's my favorite.

 

How many days will we spend on each album? I have reviews of all of them written, but the disc is at my office, and will chime in as I can.

JcS

 

2 Days Per Solo Album. Starting today with McCartney (1970).

I understand forums like this tend to get broadsided with other topics....thats ok. thats ok, at least we do have a central topic per day.

 

McCartney

Paul McCartney
Studio album
April 17, 1970

UK Number 2 (32 wks)
US Number 1 [3 wks] (47 wks) ▲2 Million Album Sold

 

This should be fun.

 

What I like about McCartney's first solo album is the personal nature. For some time now, it has seemed that "the thing to do" when one hits big and is able to "make their personal mark" is to sell out and make a project somehow more trendy, safer and yet more pretentious than ever. The pressure is on! - to sell.

Here Paul was, one of if not the most famous man alive, center of an unfathomable focus of attention, the incredible phenomena that was the Beatles crashing and burning around him, engaging in his big break! And what does he do? He sits down with us in his musical living room as it were. Just some guitar here, another instrument there. He'll just play it himself. Some song, some whimsy, some intent. It's an album version of "Introducing Paul, a human being who loves and makes music, just... making music at home." Commercialism? Not. How brilliant, how precious, and how very refreshing.

Steve's DCC and the older LPs capture it very nicely.