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Like 1970's McCartney, 1980's McCartney II functioned as a way for Paul McCartney to clear the decks: to experiment and recalibrate in the aftermath of his band falling apart. This means 1982's Tug of War is, in many ways, the very first Paul McCartney solo album, a record recorded not at home but in a studio, a record made without Wings and not co-credited to Linda, who nevertheless is present as a backing vocalist. McCartney recognized this album as something of a major opportunity, so he revived his relationship with Beatles producer George Martin and brought in several heavy-hitters as guests, including his hero Carl Perkins, his Motown counterpart Stevie Wonder, fusion star Stanley Clarke, prog rock refugees Eric Stewart and Andy Mackay, and his old bandmate Ringo Starr, whose presence was overshadowed by "Here Today," an elegy written for the murdered John Lennon. Tucked away at the end of the first side, "Here Today" is bittersweet and small when compared to all the show pieces elbowing each other for attention throughout Tug of War: the grave march of the title track, the vaudevillian "Ballroom Dancing," the stately drama of "Wanderlust," and sincere schmaltz of "Ebony and Ivory," the Wonder duet that helped turn this album into the blockbuster it was intended to be. As good as some of these numbers are -- and they are, bearing an ambition and execution that outstrips latter-day Wings -- much of the charm of Tug of War lies in the excess around the edges, whether it's the rockabilly lark of the Perkins duet "Get It," the later-period Beatles whimsy of '"The Pound Is Sinking," the electro-throwaway "Dress Me Up as a Robber," or the long, electro-funk workout of "What's That You're Doing?," a track that's a fuller collaboration between Paul and Stevie than "Ebony and Ivory." Such crowd-pleasing genre-hopping finds its apotheosis on "Take It Away," a salute to eager performers and the crowds who love them, which means it summarizes not only the appeal of Tug of War in general -- it is, by design, a record that gives the people old Beatle Paul -- but McCartney in general.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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John Underwood, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Harvey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Laurie Lewis, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Mccartney, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Denny Laine, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Sillito, Violin, Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Electric Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Denis Vigay, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Essex, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - David Ogden, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Galina Solodchin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Willison, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Halling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Campbell Maloney, Snare Drum, AssociatedPerformer - George Turnlund, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Rennie, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alexander Kok, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Alan John Peters, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nicholas Reader, Bassoon, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Gadd, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - George Martin, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ringo Starr, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Gadd, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Martin, Producer - Denny Laine, Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - STANLEY CLARKE, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Adrian Brett, Panpipes, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Drums, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Stevie Wonder, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Mackay, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Wonderlove, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
John Underwood, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Harvey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Laurie Lewis, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Denis Vigay, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Essex, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Rothstein, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Ian Jewel, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Galina Solodchin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Willison, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Halling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bernard Partridge, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Turnlund, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Rennie, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alexander Kok, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Alan John Peters, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Peter Marshall, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - David Willis, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Mccartney, Drums, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Denny Laine, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Ringo Starr, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Barclay, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Spedding, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Brymer, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - David Ogden, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Raymond Swinfield, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Whittle, Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd, under exclusive license to Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Mccartney, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Denny Laine, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - STANLEY CLARKE, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
John Underwood, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Harvey, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Laurie Lewis, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Mccartney, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Denny Laine, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, Brass Band, AssociatedPerformer - Ringo Starr, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Denis Vigay, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Kenneth Essex, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - David Ogden, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Galina Solodchin, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Willison, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Adrian Sheppard, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Peters, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Patrick Halling, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - George Turnlund, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Rennie, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Alexander Kok, Cello, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Carl Perkins, Electric Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Sound Effects, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Denny Laine, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Mattacks, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd, under exclusive license to Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals, Synthesizer, Sound Effects, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Stevie Wonder, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Synthesizer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd, under exclusive license to Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd, under exclusive license to Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals, Synthesizer, Sound Effects, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Stevie Wonder, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paddy Moloney, Uilleann Pipes, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Mccartney, Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Denny Laine, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Paul Mccartney, Drums, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - George Martin, Producer - Linda Mccartney, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Stewart, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Coe, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
Albumbeschreibung
Like 1970's McCartney, 1980's McCartney II functioned as a way for Paul McCartney to clear the decks: to experiment and recalibrate in the aftermath of his band falling apart. This means 1982's Tug of War is, in many ways, the very first Paul McCartney solo album, a record recorded not at home but in a studio, a record made without Wings and not co-credited to Linda, who nevertheless is present as a backing vocalist. McCartney recognized this album as something of a major opportunity, so he revived his relationship with Beatles producer George Martin and brought in several heavy-hitters as guests, including his hero Carl Perkins, his Motown counterpart Stevie Wonder, fusion star Stanley Clarke, prog rock refugees Eric Stewart and Andy Mackay, and his old bandmate Ringo Starr, whose presence was overshadowed by "Here Today," an elegy written for the murdered John Lennon. Tucked away at the end of the first side, "Here Today" is bittersweet and small when compared to all the show pieces elbowing each other for attention throughout Tug of War: the grave march of the title track, the vaudevillian "Ballroom Dancing," the stately drama of "Wanderlust," and sincere schmaltz of "Ebony and Ivory," the Wonder duet that helped turn this album into the blockbuster it was intended to be. As good as some of these numbers are -- and they are, bearing an ambition and execution that outstrips latter-day Wings -- much of the charm of Tug of War lies in the excess around the edges, whether it's the rockabilly lark of the Perkins duet "Get It," the later-period Beatles whimsy of '"The Pound Is Sinking," the electro-throwaway "Dress Me Up as a Robber," or the long, electro-funk workout of "What's That You're Doing?," a track that's a fuller collaboration between Paul and Stevie than "Ebony and Ivory." Such crowd-pleasing genre-hopping finds its apotheosis on "Take It Away," a salute to eager performers and the crowds who love them, which means it summarizes not only the appeal of Tug of War in general -- it is, by design, a record that gives the people old Beatle Paul -- but McCartney in general.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:12:58
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Paul McCartney
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Paul McCartney Catalog
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd ℗ 2015 MPL Communications Inc/Ltd
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