Tug Of War (Remixed 2015)

Paul McCartney

Released on 4/26/82 by Paul McCartney Catalog
Main artists: Paul McCartney
Genre: Rock

Digital booklet

Available in

24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

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

More info

Tug Of War (Remixed 2015)

Paul McCartney

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From $10.83/month

Tug Of War (Remixed 2015)

Kenneth Sillito

00:04:23

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