- Audio CD (11 Aug 1995)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Toshiba
- ASIN: B00005GKJ0
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,077,266 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Paul's first solo outing is very much a home-grown affair with him singing and playing everything (apart from a few harmonies by Linda). The expectations were high, and while not everything clicked, there was enough good stuff for the legend to continue. "That Would Be Something", "Man We Was Lonely", "The Lovely Linda" and "Teddy Boy" all make the grade, but everything is eclipsed by "Maybe I'm Amazed", which remains one of his most enduring songs, up there with anything the Beatles released (and which would have sounded quite at home on Let It Be). --Chris Nickson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album on vinyl when I was about 15 (in 1982 or so) - having already exhausted the Beatles back catalogue, I set about moving onto the solo releases - but isn't that what everyone does? - and I absolutely loved it.
Twenty or so years later, I still think it's a great little record. If you like Paul McCartney, then you'll love this album - every song exemplifies the man, and his capacity to write superb pieces of music, the occasional wonderful lyric, but more than any of that, this record presents Paul as a soon to be solo Beatle, proving to himself, and everyone else, that he COULD do it on his own, no matter how terrifying that prospect was at the time.
Other reviews will cite the classic songs such as 'Maybe I'm Amazed' as the reason for buying this, but for me 'Junk' and 'Every Night' are comparable, and certainly Junk is one of the most poignant songs that has EVER been written. Even tracks like 'The Lovely Linda' - throwaways to some - offer a quirky insight into McCartney's mindset at that time, and the strength of the relationship he had with Linda was defined forever.
Yes, there are elements of home 'doodling' on some tracks, but so what? It isn't indulgence, it's called 'talent', and he was more than capable of playing whatever instrument he needed (and had done so on a number of occasions within the Beatles - listen to his demo of 'Come And Get It' as an example). But this was the first time that he didn't have to answer to anyone other than himself, and this collection of songs demonstrates the excitement and fun that he generated by playing and recording everything himself. It's mostly a very upbeat record, with the odd nervous glance at the future thrown in for good measure.
But regardless of what anyone else has said about McCartney's 'form' at this time, this was a man very much on top of his game. He'd done his best to drag the Beatles through the mire that was the Get Back sessions (and pick up the Day By Day series of Nagra tape rolls if you can), saw the Abbey Road project through to completion, and now he took time out to relax and think about the future. Place yourself in his shoes... you're in the biggest band in the world... a band that has been your life for 13 years? And then it's over... how frightening is that?
That the public were probably expecting more supposedly Beatlesy material is not McCartney's fault nor problem. But none of these tracks are out of kilter with what he wrote for Abbey Road and Let It Be, and many of these songs were presented to the Beatles during those sessions, but held back/rejected.
To sum up, this is a wonderfully warm and intimate record, made by a music genius... one of the few that we have left. If you've never heard it, buy it and cherish it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Paul McCartney's first solo release after leaving The Beatles is a simple, charming, homemade album, with some tracks emitting an unfinished demo-like aura which, strangely enough, is the appeal of this real gem in Paul's back catalogue. I bought this album for the first time nearly 20 years ago and it has been a regular visitor to my CD player ever since. There are many things about this release which make it so likeable - there are classic McCartney compositions such as the gorgeous "Every Night", the beautiful "Junk" and the timeless, impeccable "Maybe I'm Amazed", which remains one of the greatest love songs ever written by any artist. There are also tracks which are the sound of McCartney letting go, jamming and making music for music's sake, such as the fantastic "Momma Miss America" and the catchy, bluesy "Oo You".
Paul raids a couple of his previously written or unfinished compositions such as "Hot As Sun", an instrumental written in the late `50s, and "Teddy Boy" which was written in 1968 but never appeared on a Beatles release (apart from the "Anthology"). The rest are experimental, enjoyable glimpses into Paul's newly found creativity as a solo artist. The whole album is an interesting statement from somebody who has found a new, unwanted artistic license to do anything he pleases - and "McCartney" is his response. I readily admit that I love this album, despite the flaws and the indulgences, but the warmth and playfulness Paul's 1970 release radiates more than compensates for the one or two moments which don't quite work.
This album is probably one of the greatest responses to the people who criticise Paul's post-Beatles output without knowing the depth of his catalogue. Some of the tracks gained exposure thanks to Cameron Crowe's great film, "Jerry Maguire", which featured "Singalong Junk" and "Momma Miss America" but this fantastic slice of McCartney remains one of the best kept secrets in Paul's closet. If you want a real treat, then invest in this album, but be warned - it may make you want to buy everything that Paul has ever released. I know I did - and I didn`t regret it.
Paul raids a couple of his previously written or unfinished compositions such as "Hot As Sun", an instrumental written in the late `50s, and "Teddy Boy" which was written in 1968 but never appeared on a Beatles release (apart from the "Anthology"). The rest are experimental, enjoyable glimpses into Paul's newly found creativity as a solo artist. The whole album is an interesting statement from somebody who has found a new, unwanted artistic license to do anything he pleases - and "McCartney" is his response. I readily admit that I love this album, despite the flaws and the indulgences, but the warmth and playfulness Paul's 1970 release radiates more than compensates for the one or two moments which don't quite work.
This album is probably one of the greatest responses to the people who criticise Paul's post-Beatles output without knowing the depth of his catalogue. Some of the tracks gained exposure thanks to Cameron Crowe's great film, "Jerry Maguire", which featured "Singalong Junk" and "Momma Miss America" but this fantastic slice of McCartney remains one of the best kept secrets in Paul's closet. If you want a real treat, then invest in this album, but be warned - it may make you want to buy everything that Paul has ever released. I know I did - and I didn`t regret it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Paul McCartney's debut solo album is refreshingly lo-fi, a collection of do-it-yourself stripped back home recordings that for the most part sound more like demo's than fully-worked up songs, and therein lies it's charm. Admiteddly not all of these songs hold up so well in isolation, and some feel more like fragmented sketches than complete works, but taken as a whole this works brilliantly at stripping away the then overbearing myth of the Beatles and getting close to an artist enjoying the process of writing and recording music. With Paul performing all the instruments and fully half of the album consisting of instrumentals this is as far away from commercial considerations as you can get: 'McCartney' is a ramshackle and uneven record, but also a very charming and honest one. A great debut.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pauls break up album
This is a historically important record. From a man who rarely ever gives anything away in interviews, this is a clear document of where Paul truly was at the end of the Beatles. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Ziggywatters
Home recordings
Paul McCartney's first solo album is a low key affair. Apart from some harmony singing from Linda, Paul did all the singing and played all the musical instruments himself. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Andrew Banks
A pretty lousy effort
At least considering Paul's actual talent. "Maybe I'm amazed" is a really good song. A few of the other songs are semi-good. But as a whole album, it doesn't really work. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Unsmart
Brilliant Album
This has to be one of McCartney's best albums and unlike Lennon and Harrison, McCartney made it on his own at home.
Published on 19 Sep 2009 by A. L. Parker
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Anyone who is very much into the Lennon/Harrison side of the Beatles don't often appreciate fully the McCartney side of the group. I am one of those. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by street-legal
Singalong and Junk
Appearing just before 'Let It Be', this was McCartney's first solo album which he produced himself and rush-released. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2008 by A. Walker
Maybe I'm Amazed At The Way I Really Need You
"Baby Im amazed at the way you love me all the time
Maybe Im afraid of the way I love you
Baby Im amazed at the the way you pulled me out of time
Hung me on a... Read more
Maybe Im afraid of the way I love you
Baby Im amazed at the the way you pulled me out of time
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How it should have stayed !
Paul McCartney's first...and easily finest...post Beatles solo album offers us a frustrating vision of what might have been if.... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2006 by Arthur Dooley
Home Grown Genius
Don't even begin to compare this album to 'Abbey Road' as that album is possibly McCartney's peak as a Beatle or otherwise which is a pretty difficult standard for ANYONE to match... Read more
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