Disco de Paul McCartney: “McCartney”

When Paul McCartney released his first solo album and the first true solo studio album by a Beatle in 1970, it was almost universally panned. While it certainly doesn't matchup with any of the Beatles albums, it has aged better than alot of the music of the time. Mr. McCartney recorded the album at his farm and its greatest asset is the simple, down-home feel that permeates it. You can almost picture the newly married and new father just tooling around the house and living the country life and whenever the mood struck him, laying down a new track. He plays all the instruments and other than some backing vocals by Linda, sings all the songs. There are several instrumentals on the album and a couple of songs like "Man We Was Lonely" that are basically just a couple of lines sung over and over, but "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a true gem. The song ranks up there with anything he's done in his solo career and a wouldn't be slighted by songs in the Beatles catalog. Other standout tracks include the sweet "Every Night", "Singalong Junk" & "That Would Be Something".

From the outset I'd like to say, emphatically, that my problem is not with the contents of this album. It not only contains some very interesting McCartney music, it conjures memories of a very exciting time as a young Beatle fan: the anticipation of a solo album by one of the two main songwriting Beatles. Enough said on that.

While the CD counterpart of this re-issue is quite good, this vinyl release-like it's predecessor, Band On The Run-is a major disappointment. As a remaster, there is barely any difference at all from the original vinyl release (my original copy happens to be in mint condition hence, I'm able to make a very fair comparison between the two).

The primary disappointment, however, is with the vinyl pressing itself. Here's one for the irony files: my original pressing has next to no pops and clicks whatsoever while this brand spanking new re-issue is full of them-as is my 180g of Band On The Run.

Now we get to the packaging; a very attractive cover package in and of itself but, unfortunately, not a very practical one. Again, as with BOTR, the paper grade utilized for the jacket is too thin to house a heavy vinyl, double album set.

Secondly, pulling the albums/inner sleeves out of the jacket is quite an ordeal; the fit is so tight that you have to endlessly rock the record back and forth in order to pull the thing out of the cover. Taking the record itself out of the sleeve is just as painful. Again, to due an overly tight fit, one ends up soiling the edges of the disc in the effort to take it out.

These are not minor complaints. They completely take away from the pleasure of the "vinyl experience". Perhaps the people over at Hear Music/Concord/Starbucks don't have too much knowledge or care on the subject. There are very specific reasons as to why some of us still love the vinyl medium. Thank goodness there are a handfull of classic album re-issue companies who, indeed, have an understanding of what it's "all about". Hear Music is very clearly not one of them.

Hopefully, Paul's current label will get enough complaints which will serve as incentive to improve their product. In past interviews, Paul has stated how, as a child, he used to save his pennies to buy a quality record by his favorite artists of the day.

Times haven't changed much, Paul. For those of us who have lived our lives through your music, it's just as important to purchase that quality record; and if you're a completist such as myself wanting all configurations available, it's just as hard saving those pennies. I hope SOMEONE is listening.

This is a McCartney solo album in every way. Not only did he write all the songs himself, but he also did every instrument on the album. This is probably still my favourite McCartney solo album just for the loving simplicity of the songs. Here is a man who has just found not only the love of his life and every single song on this album reflects that. Highlights on the album are "Every Night" (my favourite track), "OO You", "Momma Miss America", "Man We Was Lonely", "That Would Be Something" and "Maybe I'm Amazed". This is a terrific album from a man who embraces love songs that I feel are far from being "Silly". And I would take this album over "Imagine" anyday.

Paul McCartney's 1970 solo debut is a groundbreaking masterpiece of home recording. With The Beatles facing their ultimate demise, Paul began recording this album in the privacy of his own home using a four-track tape machine and playing all the instruments himself. With the exception of some backing harmonies from Linda McCartney, this album is entirely a Paul effort from the music all the way down to the cover artwork.

The music itself is an eclectic mix of Paul's melodic pop, acoustic folk, heavy rockers and experimental instrumentals. The opening track, the short love song "The Lovely Linda" was recorded by Paul to test his four-track. If you listen carefully, there is a door squeaking in the background.

"That Would Be Something", "Every Night" and "Man We Was Lonely" are fun simple songs with childlike 'sing-along' choruses.

"Junk" and "Teddy Boy" are leftovers from previous Beatles albums. Both of these tracks stem from the "White Album" and "Let It Be" periods. Because these two tracks were vetoed by the other three Beatles, Paul made fresh recordings of these songs for this album. "Singalong Junk" is an instrumental reprise of "Junk" and shows off the songs exquisite and simple melody.

"Oo You" is a solid heavy blues rocker which has a sound that crosses between Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin. Paul gives heavy vocal delivery on this track recalling his musical heroes Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

"Maybe I'm Amazed" is consider by many to be the hit off this album. Although it was not released as a single until 1976, this song is truly a standout and is still one of Paul's all-time best songs. Definitely a classic piece of pop songwriting.

The instrumental tracks on this album are quite varied and show Paul's willingness to experiment with new and unusual sounds. "Valentine Day" is a short improvised piece with a slight blues influence. "Hot As Sun" is also short and has a bright pleasant melody harmonized with two lead guitars. "Glasses" is probably Paul's most experimental piece released at the time. It consists soley of the sound of water glasses being rubbed at the tops creating eerie ghost-like tones. The track ends with a fragment of an unfinished song which was initially called "Suicide". "Momma Miss America" sounds as if it were two different pieces put together. The first part features Paul's steady drumbeat and has a heavily piano-based motiff. The second part is more bluesy and features Paul delivering some stellar lead guitar.

The closing track "Kreen-Akrore" is also quite experimental and features a tribal drumbeat, jungle sounds, odd harmonized vocals, solid guitar work and even a drum solo. Quite a finale to an adventerous album.

Although it garnered some negative criticism when it was first released, "McCartney" has gone on to be one of the most revolutionary albums ever made, one of the first to be made entirely at an artist's home as opposed to a recording studio. It is definitely a work of genius. Paul's talents as a multi-instrumentalist are at the forefront here.

This album definitely can be used as a guide for musicians who would like to make their own record at home. If Paul McCartney can do it, anyone can.

A highly recommended CD.

When McCartney appeared in May 1970 it was roundly savaged for not being Son Of Abbey Road. Two decades later we can accept it for what it is: a low-key, homemade album of considerable charm. Paul plays pretty much all the instruments, with the accent being on acoustic guitars, and there's a kind of folkish air about it that's immediately appealing. If I have a criticism, it's that there's not a lot of truly great *songs* here (exception: the five-star classic Maybe I'm Amazed). Then again, maybe that's not the point. Like Dylan's Nashville Skyline or The Kinks' Village Green, it's the *mood* of the album that casts a magic spell over you, rather than any individual track. Terribly underrated. Several of the songs -- Teddy Boy, Every Night, Junk -- began life as Beatles cast-offs, and one -- Hot As Sun -- dates back to the early days of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting team. Fittingly enough, Paul included a fair whack of this album in his 1991 Unplugged set.