Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
McCartney just being McCartney..., 7 Jan 2004
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.
|
|
|
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Notebook of An Amazing Artist,, 1 Sep 2004
After, I must shamefully admit, not having owned this album in over twenty-six years, I picked it up again last week, and the spell was cast hard on me, once again.
This is McCartney circa Let It Be, already convinced that The Beatles were over and that there was plenty of music in him that needed to be let out. And, like a poet's notebook, it has the breadth of themes that you expect from someone who's searching for new languages rather than planning to present a finished, solid statement to the public.
Of course, being Paul, you don't get the benefit of exploring musically without being condemned for not attempting a masterpiece, so many then, and now, may have discarded "McCartney" as self-indulging, inconsistent or a bunch of rough ideas.
Actually, I go on record as saying that it is the "unfinished" or "demo" quality of this album that accounts for part of its immense charm. Furthermore, the apparent freedom Paul gave himself recording these tunes, I believe, has a lot to do with the gems he included here. After all, this is where you'll find the original version of "Maybe I'm Amazed," to this date one of his greatest songs ever.
In addition to such classic, there are several other songs that were or could have been Beatles classics. "Junk" is a gorgeous ballad that reminds you why this man continues to be revered as a sensitive songwriter and singer, "Every Night" is irresistible Pop, and "Man We Was Lonely" and That Would Be Something" are signature McCartney and a preview of what would be so appealing about Ram.
This is a document of an extremely talented young man trying to get to the joy of making music that had eluded him for a long time, weighed down by the tremendous pressure of being in the greatest band that ever was.
Listen to this, or listen again, for what it is, a work of charm, courage, and often breathtaking beauty.
|
|
|
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming and thoroughly likeable, 16 April 2009
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.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
~ Paul McCartney
~ Paul McCartney
~ Paul McCartney
~ Paul McCartney
~ Paul McCartney
