Tug Of War (studio album) by Paul McCartney

From indieshins 05/18/2023 08:21

This is the McCartney album I see the most in op-shops, so I sort of assumed it wasn't very good. But no - this is an absolute triumph, one of his greatest post-Beatles efforts. Speaking of his former band, part of the reason for this album being so good is surely because of Paul reconnecting with his old producer George Martin, and also employing Ringo to play drums on second track Tug of War. George Harrison was even meant to appear on Wanderlust, but pulled out of the arrangement. And of course, one of the highlights of the album is Here Today, a heartbreaking tribute to John Lennon, whose murder had interrupted the initial sessions for the album. Martin's production is characteristically excellent, but it also sounds nothing like his work with The Beatles. Instead, it sounds thoroughly modern, without having succumbed to the dating of many of its '80s brethren. This is a plus - Sir George always sought to bring the artist's vision to life, rather than imposing his own sound on them (looking at you, Phil Spector). Really the only songs that feel a bit out of place are the two Stevie Wonder duets. Neither is a bad song, per se, but they don't sound of a piece with the rest of the album - What's That You're Doing? sounds like it belongs on a Stevie album, not a Macca album, and Ebony and Ivory is fine, but a bit maudlin, which is in contrast to the controlled, sophisticated emotionality of the rest of the record. Still, what a great fucking album!

From VictorVale 09/14/2022 12:03

Delicinha de álbum.

Uno de los mejores discos de Paul McCartney tras los Wings, con invitados de lujo como Stevie Wonder y Carl Perkins.

My favourite Paul McCartney album

From Sandinistar 11/12/2018 03:31

A really fun record, with some quality stuff, though I do admit it's lacking in consistency.

Great pop come back of sorts for Macca. "Here Today" is positively heart breaking and if "Ebony & Ivory" seems a bit corny and dated well, it's heart is in the right place.

From Sandrof1969 02/17/2018 15:00

Disco sopra la media tra quelli del McCartney solista, almeno fino ad allora. Come al solito avrebbe giovato un po' di sobrietà in più ma nel complesso la dose zuccherina è abbastanza contenuta.

From junodog4 07/01/2016 02:20

Hasn't aged well, but a good bounce back, and one of the best of 1982.

Tug of war, is usually looked upon as one of Paul McCartney's strongest solo albums. I have to disagree. There's some good stuff here, from the title track to the hearttugging John Lennon tribute, here today. Take it away, is enjoyable but it's nothing special, and both, ballroom dancing, and, wanderlust, are much better on the, give my regards to broad street, album. Off the Stevie wonder duets, ebony and ivory, is corny, but good, and, what's that you're doing, is a good funky track and McCartney's voice just about keeps up with Wonder's. The rest is okay, but it's all just filler really, dress me up as a robber, is nothing and, get it, is just irritating. Not a bad album then, but certainly not as good as some people claim.

Perfect album if you stop after Track 11. Some really great stuff here.