Paul McCartney Album: “Hope of Deliverance”

I've listened to them all, and this one just does it for me. It's been out 11 years, and I've never once gotten tired of listening to it. A perfect pop song. You won't regret it.

As time marches on and some perspective is put on the "Off The Ground" album, the song "Hope of the Deliverance" is definately one that has aged well. It is a finely-crafted song and fits comfortably into McCartney's canon of pop hits.

Each single from "Off The Ground" contained a handful of very nice b-sides. Compiling them together (as done on the rare Dutch "Off The Ground: The Complete Works" package) warrants a whole other album's worth of material. As previously noted by reviewer Paul Allaer, this batch of 3 is the best of the set.

"Big Boys Bickering" is a staunch politial protest song. I'm not up on my 90s history of Parlimentary law, but I'm sure some inaction and snobbery on the part of the Lords and Ministers of Parliament triggered this lambast as the lyrics suggest.

"Long Leather Coat" is another activist-charged song. It is co-written by Linda and is another in her series of animal rights songs (see "Cow" and "White Coated Man"). Paul does the singing this time though. It definately has a harder edge and a strong rock feel to it. There is also a nice throwback with some Wings-era mellotron.

"Kicked Around No More" is not like the others and is a more laid back, almost cool jazz-infused piece. Think of songs like "Someone Who Cares" from the album "Tug of War" or "Distractions" from "Flowers in the Dirt". It is very relaxing and enjoyable. It's certainly one of my favorites.

This single is not only a must for collectors, but for anyone who is a fan of Paul McCartney. It is a nice batch of songs and well-accessible to a general audience. There is no fluff here.

Paul McCartney found true international success for the last time with the 1993 album "Off the Ground". The album was preceeded by this single.

"Hope of Deliverance" (4 tracks, 16 min.) starts off with one of Paul's best songs in memory. It is reminiscent of "Deliver Your Children" from 1978's "London Town" album, just a georgous, dreamy track with superb vocal harmonies. "Big Boys Bickering" is a laid-back tune, with country influences, really nice. "Long Leather Coat" is a rockabilly tune and works really well. "Kicked Around No More" is perhaps the best tune of the 3 B-sides, a pensive tune that could've/should've been on the album (replacing, say, the dreadfull "Biker Like an Icon").

Off all the singles from "Off the Ground", this is the one to get: great title tune, and superb B-sides. Not to be missed by any Macca fan!