Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Pretty good little interview there, thanks!

Press to Play was one I didn't really care too much for.

My least favorite: Off The Ground. Too heavy on the activism. Didn't care for the "NOW" opening on that tour, either. Certainly, it's a worthy cause, but it really overshadowed the music, in my opinion.

I think each album has some high points, though "pipes of peace" doesn't have much going for it.

I think "back to the egg" and "london town" suffer from late 70's production, not enough crispness, but there are good songs. "LT" hangs together better, for some reason "back to the egg" sounds great in 2-3 song bursts but after that gets real tedious.

"Chaos..." I wish this album had more variety. In it's all serious all the time mood, I think it's a bit one dimensional. I can see where an outside producer who doesn't know much of his solo output might consider McCartney frivolous, and push him in a more somber direction. I just miss his usual "putting on a show" variety.

Dennis, I agree on Off the Ground. Looking for Changes made me want to puke. Too Bad! It was a good rocker.

Golden Earth Girl...yuck! Cosmically Conscious was harmless but enough was enough.

Get Out of My Way and C'mon People were good tunes from that album.

What a fun thread--I've always enjoyed bashing Paul as well; he is an easy target.

It has always seemed like he has been in dire need of an editor. He has such an uncanny ability to write a HOOK, but it seems like he feels the need to use it right away, and not wait perfect it.

This is how one ends up with "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey". If only someone would have said, "you know, Paul, that song is kind of...let's just say it's no 'Mamunia'. Oh, wait, about that one..."

Just MHO--YMMV.

About UA/AH--maybe a good exercise is to take the, what, four solid hooks from that song, and write four less...embarrassing ones.

I don't mean to sound cruel--I think Paul is GREAT. But I don't know anyone else who seems to have so much dynamic range between his best and his worst. Maybe Lou Reed?

How DARE you bash Lou Reed on this thread? But yeah, Paul lost his editor in 1970...

Neil Young would also have that wide dynamic range between his best and his worst.

Dan,

I'm not bashing McCartney at all. I'm a big fan. I am critical of some of his work, but I give him credit where credit is due. I think he has written several songs since the Beatles that were excellent songs. I think he has put out good albums since the Beatles. So don't expect bashing from me. Just honest opinion.

I certainly am not "bashing" McCartney, I think his output since the beatles has been quite good, and oftentimes I think he is unfairly judged.

For instance, I think "uncle albert..." is a brilliant song, and hardly embarassing.

"off the ground" is another album that gets messed up by trying to have "modern" production on it. Played like the title track is a nice rocker, the studio version with its early 90's digital effects just sounds kinda squashed. The activism on the album didn't bother me much either, so he has some beliefs, big deal, one song isn't that much, though I do think "looking for changes" suffers from some clunky lyrics.

The one thing I like about McCartney's lesser albums is that you get the sense that he is trying things.

My .02. Just imagine a world without his contributions. No "My Love"? Sorry, but its in my list of 10 best songs ever. Remember, this is all subjective. He is my musical idol. Lennon did very little for me in the 70s. And McCartney II is definitely his worst album. I do love "One Of those Days" and "Waterfalls".

Simer a Macca basher??? HA HA HA!!! Thats a good one.

John, I agree with you on the song "Off the Ground". It was a very good live track. I enjoyed Hope of Deliverance and the other two I mentioned above from that album.

Rick! You know me very well don't you?

Talk about "wide dynamic range between best and worst"?

Gotta be Brian Wilson.

Examples: "Dang Dang" and "Rollerskating Child" vs "Warmth of the Sun" and "I Guess I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"...

Is it 'Ding Dang' or 'Dang Dang'? Not being a huge BB fan, how many of those not so great tunes of Brian's were written post sandbox in the living room?

Now we return you to the worst of Sir Paul.