Tug Of War
by Paul McCartney

McCartney's second best behind Ram.

Not a bad song here, and most are quite exceptional. Best tracks are Tug of War, Take it Away, Here Today (best song off the album), Ballroom Dancing, The Pound is Sinking and Dress Me Up as a Robber.

Proof that McCartney's 80s career wasn't a complete waste. (Edited)

From indieshins 05/18/2023 08:21 | #297053 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

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 Take It Away. 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! (Edited)

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. (Edited)

From bigeyedfish 05/20/2014 00:59 | #112339 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Solid work. Ebony and Ivory is a bit goofy but its melody is truly stunning, First true tracks are really great. Sure, it's pop, but that doesn't make it bad. (Edited)

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. (Edited)