Paul McCartney, Wings - Back to the Egg
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CD Details
Artist: Paul McCartney, WingsEdition: Music CD
Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1993-08-16
Music Label: EMI Europe Generic
Soundtracks:
- Reception
- Getting Closer
- We're Open Tonight
- Spin It On
- Again and Again and Again - Paul McCartney, Laine, Denny
- Old Siam, Sir
- Arrow Through Me
- Rockestra Theme
- To You
- After the Ball/Million Miles
- Winter Rose/Love Awake
- The Broadcast
- So Glad to See You Here
- Baby's Request
- Daytime Nighttime Suffering [*]
- Wonderful Christmastime [*]
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae [*] - Paul McCartney, Marks, Johnny
Music reviews of Back to the Egg
Music Review: Better than the reviews
Rating: 4 Stars
Okay--the Beatles were greater than the sum of their parts, and with McCartney's solo work, it's pretty clear how he benefited from being in that band--mostly from Lennon and George Martin's production. McCartney has written some of the best "tunes" around, but he has a tendency to knock off lyrics that seem pretty good, but then he'll throw in a word like "salamander," and you just go, wtf--or another one you'll remember... turn on your 'motor' of love? Or one part of a song will be catchy and interesting, and then he'll get to the chorus, and once again, wtf? He needed someone to say "everything you write isn't perfect--maybe try a different word there." Or suggest the next place to go, musically speaking. Macca went straight from the Beatles to creating Wings because he valued the band dynamic. However, he never benefited from it because he never picked people who were his musical peers, so he ended up with Linda and a succession of Ringos when he really needed another Lennon (yes, I know there's only one Lennon, and he wasn't perfect either as his inconsistent solo work proves--I'm just saying Macca didn't have anyone around him who could challenge him musically. As a result, his solo work is hit-or-miss, and even most of his really good solo songs could've been masterpieces if he'd had anyone who could've done that for him).
That said, Back to the Egg is a better album than most of the reviewers say. Yes, it has fluff, and "again and again and again" can start to grate on you, but most of the fluff is tuneful and listenable. The good songs, however, are really catchy, and a number of them could be Beatleworthy (with some Lennon fixes in there, that is)--To You, So Glad to See You Here, Spin it On, Arrow Through Me, and the little medley near the end. My Baby's Request is another period piece McCartney likes so much--like Honey Pie. And of course, Getting Closer, which is one of my all-time favorite Macca rockers (except for the wtf "salamander" line--the "cattle beware of snipers" is another one). Plus, on the reissue, you get Daytime and Night-time Suffering and Wonderful Christmastime, both of which would've made the original release stronger. Another strength this album has is that it's mostly rock oriented, and it doesn't sound dated like a lot of stuff sounds from this period. The only synth song is Arrow Through Me. The reissue's been remastered, and whoever was at the console really cranked up the midrange for some reason--but you can eq that down a notch or two and be fine.
But my point here is this--if you go to Allmusic or some other critic site, they give Macca albums like Red Rose Speedway, Venus and Mars, McCartney II, and London Town four stars. I've owned them all, and they're pretty much unlistenable, except for a radio song or two. (Red Rose is the worst--its radio song is that smaltzy bit of tripe "My Love"--my love does it good? Whoa whoa whoa whoa? Maybe it was better in 1973.) Venus and Mars actually has some good tunes, but most of them are on Wings Over America, and the arrangement's a lot better on that album. I understand where those critics are coming from--looking at an album like you would critique a novel--the total package, and I buy their claims that these albums were influential on later artists--I particularly see that with Ram, which still holds up pretty well. On the other hand, Egg doesn't seem like a congealed statement, or introduce a new "sound" or approach to making an album--but it IS loaded with a lot of catchy songs. It's not true that mediocre McCartney is better than most artist's best work, although some feel that to be the case. But when Macca's good, there's no one better. I suppose that's why I keep buying his stuff, hoping for at least one or two gems amid the shmaltz and half-finished ideas. Back to the Egg is an exceptional Macca album in that regard. With a couple of exceptions, it's just an enjoyable listen.
Description of Back to the Egg
Digitally remastered reissue of their top 10 1979 EMI album featuring the hits 'Getting Closer' and 'Arrow Through Me', plus 'Old Siam, Sir' and 'Rockestra Theme', as well as threebonus tracks: 'Daytime Nighttime Suffering', 'Wonderful Christmastime' and 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reggae'. 17 trackstotal. 1993 EMI release.The promising career of this final edition of Wings was cut short in 1980 when Paul McCartney, perhaps just a bit too elated to be returning to Japan for his first performances since the Beatles' legendary visit 14 years earlier, was arrested by Japanese customs officials with a substantial stash of marijuana in his luggage. But though it's anchored by the muscular drumming of Steve Holly and the solid guitar work of the classically trained Laurence Juber (who's since carved out a comfortable niche as studio ace and innovative acoustic stylist), it's too often McCartney's songwriting that's the band's weakest link. Ostensibly upbeat numbers such as "Spin it On," "Getting Closer," and the big rock of "Old Siam, Sir" just can't overcome the MOR leanings of much of the rest, including "Arrow Through Me." The star-laden "Rockestra Theme" (featuring Pete Townshend, Ronnie Wood, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Dave Gilmour, and Ronnie Lane) is rollicking fun, but still not enough to surmount the artistic Battle of the Two Pauls; the Little Richard-inspired rocker and the Manilow-esque balladeer who too often gets the upper hand here. This CD also features the strong B-side "Daytime Nighttime Suffering," a track which may unintentionally comment on the other two "bonus" cuts here, the misfired McCartney holiday singles "Wonderful Christmastime" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae." --Jerry McCulley
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