Paul McCartney Album: “Tug of War”

"Tug of War" is the best album that Paul McCartney has produced since the mid-1970s heyday of Wings. It contains two massively successful first rate hit singles in "Take it Away" and the Stevie Wonder duet "Ebony and Ivory." Both feature McCartney's melodic songwriting sensibilities at their best. Other highlights include the fine title track, the John Lennon tribute "Here Today" and another hummable winner in "Ballroom Dancing." The rest of the material also holds its own. McCartney's post Beatles career has been an up and down affair. "Tug of War" most definately is one of the ups.

Tug Of War was the best album that Paul McCartney released in the 80's and one of the best he's ever released. This was his first release after the death of John Lennon and by the album's sound, you can tell he was thinking of the old times. He re-teamed with Beatles producer George Martin and Ringo Starr plays drums on a couple of tracks. The album has the spirit of teamwork as he duets with Stevie Wonder and one of his idols, Carl Perkins. The two tracks with Stevie Wonder are exceptional, "What's That Your Doing" and the number one smash hit "Ebony & Ivory". The former song is basically a Stevie Wonder song with him singing lead and it is easily the funkiest song ever to appear on a McCartney album, while the latter is an unabashed call for racial understanding that contains some marvelous vocal interplay. The album's opening song is the title track and it is a beautiful song with a soaring string section that has George Martin written all over it. That song merges right into one of McCartney's all time best efforts, "Take It Away, which features Ringo on drums. Mr. McCartney must of be feeling the spirit of John Lennon as with "Ebony & Ivory", "The Pound Is Sinking" is another socio-political commentary song and is quite good. "Get It" is his duet with Mr. Perkins and it is a rockabilly number. "Here Today" is his tribute to John Lennon and although the song is not one of his best, the love and feeling he puts into it outweighs any of its deficiencies. The album doesn't always hit as with the silly "Ballroom Dancing" and the typically sappy "Wanderlust", but the overall sound and production is crisp and vibrant and it shows why Paul McCartney is one of the most versatile and great artists in music history.

It might not be Paul's best album, nor necessarily Paul's most enjoyable, but it is one of his bests. First and foremost, it is incredibly well crafted. The reason for this is evident: Paul is now almost forty, with plenty of experience under his belt and because it's his first true album after Wings, he still wants to show he is the best pound per pound Rock musician. Tug of War, Take It Away, Wanderlust, Ballroom Dancing and the Pound is Sinking not only feature Paul playing many different instruments very well, but most important, show a mature, diverse and professional musicianship that surpasses most of his earlier work as a soloist. Tug of War sets the tone for the album. As is any good McCartney song, it constantly changes tempo, is well played, and McCartney's singing is super (especially in the bridge "in years to come..."). The same can be said for the moody Pound is Sinking and piano rock'n roller Ballroom Dancing. In Sinking, the electric guitars and bridge are the most catching parts. In Dancing, the extended solo is very enjoyable. Similarly, Take it Way is superbly well crafted throughout, especially the horns, which add to what is otherwise a very catchy and enjoyable rockabilly. Wanderlust is a wonderful piano ballad with a great melody and lovely intertwining choruses at the end. In all of these songs, McCartney is reaching for perfection in complex sound arrangements and achieves it to a great extent. This is something he tried to do earlier in Red Rose Speedway and later in Flowers in the Dirt with less success and taste. Other songs are also very good, namely, Get It (Carl Perkings is great in this one), Here Today (beautiful tribute to John Lennon that other reviewers focus a lot on) and to a lesser extent, Somebody Who Cares. Unfortunately, the album suffers from Stevie Wonder's contributions (Ebony and Ivory and What's That You're Doing) and McCartney's Dress Me Up as A Robber. These three songs are listenable, but should have been left of this great album. Hence, that's why it doesn't get my five stars.

Paul has had three legitimate classic solo albums: Band on the Run, Flaming Pie and Tug of War. This is by far Paul's greatest album of the 80's and contains several near-perfect songs:

Tug Of War, What's That You're Doing, Here Today and Wanderlust.

The album is made memorable alone by Here Today, Paul's poignant, heartfelt tribut to John Lennon. Any ancillary anger we might have had at Paul for saying, "What a drag" when responding to news that John had been murdered is dispelled by this brilliant song.

Lyrically Paul has some beautiful words on Tug of War and Wanderlust, his melodies are always sweet, catchy and brilliant. This is a fine album all around.

McCartney is is a genius but since the split up of The Beatles he misses the counterbalance of Lennon who spiced up his silly love songs. McCartney's solo albums contain to many throw away songs and only some gems (like Maybe i amazed on McCartney or Dear boy on RAM). But this album is an exception (like Band on the Run and Flaming pie) where everything seems to work out. The lyrics are not pretentious but enjoyable and the music is diverse and catchy. One could call the title song McCartney's Imagine thanks to the excellent production by Martin and the two following songs are little jewels. They are meant to blow you away but have an intimate atmosphere. The B-side is a wonderful trip through pop music. What i so not like: the songs with Stevie Wonder. Ebony and ivory is too cheesy and What you are doing is not in the sphere of the album. What i really like is the song for Lennon Here today. Sincere lyrics and a wonderful melody. This is the most heartfelt tribute to Lennon.

Barry