NFL cheap shots

The recent NFL annual draft has given me the occasion to air a grievance I've long held.

"With the 23rd pick in the first round of the National Football League draft, the Dallas Cowboys select...a neck, for owner Jerry Jones."

Hey Jerry...all that money you have...and all that money you've spent on plastic surgery [very effectively I might add...you did want to look like a deranged and updated version of Howdy Doody, right?]...couldn't you see clear to buy yourself a freakin' neck?

I dislike Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys.  As a sports fan, I find his conceit extremely grating.  I mean after all, if you made your millions in oil, you're probably qualified to be a judge of talent in young men aspiring to play football, right?

Ya, I know, he owns the team so he can do what he wants with it.

Still...he's an arrogant prick with "short-guy" syndrome.

I generally prefer that my sports team owners resign themselves to writing the checks and sipping a nice, cool glass of "shut the hell up" in the background.

"There's more than "hits?"" [1999-2008]

Herewith find the third and final installment of my guide to Paul McCartney's best overlooked work.  Of course it's all very subjective, but again, more than anything, the purpose is just to turn someone on to a great song.

With a catalogue as large as Sir Paul's, it's tough to make a short list:  he simply has too many albums to do that.

Feel free to let me know what you think.

Peace,

Reg


1999.  Run Devil Run.

Everybody knows:  possibly No Other Baby

What you should know:  Lonesome Town and especially Movie Magg

Comment:  Coming a year after longtime wife Linda's death, another back-to-basics excursion seemed natural.  While the album is pleasant enough, and a decent listen, it certainly doesn't try for greatness.  As a result, none is achieved.  Kudos, however, for his authentic rockabilly hiccup on Movie Magg.  It's worth the price of admission.

2001.  Driving Rain.

Everybody knows: Freedom, maybe From A Lover To A Friend

What you should know:  Heather, Rinse The Raindrops and Magic

Comment:  Perhaps inspired by his romance with peg-leg, McCartney sounds more adventurous than he has in years.  Not everything works, but it's fun to hear him try.  Another good, but not great album, this one initiates a major late career renaissance.  Ever since this album, Paul has been far more willing to avoid formula: and we're all the better for it.

2005.  Chaos And Creation In The Back Yard.

Everybody knows:  Fine Line, maybe Jenny Wren

What you should know:  English Tea, Too Much Rain, Riding To Vanity Fair, This Never Happened Before and I've Only Got Two Hands

Comment:  Very nice.  Most thoroughly satisfying album by Paul in ages.  From what I've read, producer Nigel Godrich twisted McCartney's tit somewhat on this set and Paul, as he usually does, rises to a challenge.

2007.  Memory Almost Full.

Everybody knows:  Dance Tonight and maybe Ever Present Past

What you should know:  End Of The End

Comment:  Perhaps inspired by his break-up with peg-leg, McCartney sounds more adventurous than he has in years.  Not everything works, but it's fun to hear him try.  Yes, that is a cut-and-paste, with a tweak, from two albums ago.  I lot of people like this one a lot.  I'm ok with it, though it seems pretty dense to me.  One thing I hate about it is an apparent production choice leaving lots of what I refer to as digital "swish" in it.  And no, I'm not listening to a shitty pirated download copy, I have the damn disc.  Swish.

2008.  Electric Arguments.

Everybody knows:  Sing The Changes

What you should know:  Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight, Two Magpies, Travelling Light, Light From Your Lighthouse and Dance 'Til We're High,

Comment:  Wow, this is a great album.  That it comes at this juncture in his life makes it all the more special.  The third CD release under his Fireman alias, this is the first one to deviate from the ambient/dance blueprint laid out previously.  Continuing his experimentation of the past decade, McCartney effortlessly mixes the best qualities of his music in creating something that sounds completely like himself and yet, unlike anything he has attempted before.  A must have.

"There's more than "hits?"" [1983-1997]

This is part two of my admittedly hurried assessment of Paul McCartney's better music once you take away all the overexposed hits.

1983.  Pipes Of Peace.

Everybody knows:  Say Say Say [unfortunately] and possibly So Bad

What you should know:  Pipes Of Peace and So Bad

Comment:  Of all Paul's releases, this is one of his two or three least enjoyable.  Much too slick and WAY too much Michael Jackson.  Other than "Pipes Of Peace" and "So Bad," I don't care for much on here.

1984.  Give My Regards To Broad Street.

Everybody knows:  No More Lonely Nights

What you should know: every single one of his Beatle and solo reinterpretations and Not Such A Bad Boy.

Comment:  The great divide.  Critics panned the crap out of it, saying he coasted--I guess.  I absolutely love this album.  The Beatle songs he revisits sound very warm and intimate.  Paul always hated what Phil Spector did to "The Long And Winding Road," and here Paul takes an opportunity to reveal something closer to his original idea.  Mac also revisits tracks from his solo catalogue here:  and they almost all improve.  Take this album for what it is:  an interesting reminder of what it means to be the greatest pop composer ever approaching middle age.

1986.  Press To Play.

Everybody knows:  Spies Like Us [non-album track], Press, Only Love Remains and maybe Stranglehold

What you should know:  Good Times Coming/Feel The Sun, Footprints, Move Over Busker, Angry, However Absurd, It's Not True, Write Away, and Tough On A Tightrope

Comment:  Another album that most critics didn't really care for.  Even Paul himself is on record as saying he doesn't care for it.  I like it a lot: it's one of my top five Macca albums.  Of course, there's no objectivity here: this album always rekindles memories of being sixteen, driving around in my first car, listening to this cassette and enjoying the first flush of freedom that comes with having both wheels and raging hormones.

1988. Choba B CCCP.

Everybody knows: probably nothing.  Initially this was a Soviet-only release and was belatedly released in the U.S. three years later sans single support.

What you should know:  Kansas City, I'm In Love Again, Bring It On Home To Me, and Crackin' Up.

Comment:  Low-key and rootsy, these tracks are all a good time.  Listen especially for Crackin' Up, one of only two tracks in the set where Paul plays guitar and not bass.  A splendid reminder that he indeed started out on guitar, his picking crackles with energy.

1989.  Flowers In The Dirt.

Everybody knows:  My Brave Face, Figure Of Eight, This One, Put It There

What you should know:  Rough Ride, You Want Her Too, We Got Married and the non-album track Flying To My Home

Comment:  Generally hailed as a return to form, it is indeed a very good album...but not a great one.  The second half in particular lags.  The collaborations with Elvis Costello sound vital and the David Gilmour guitar work on "We Got Married" sounds like, well, David Gilmour.  A little synth heavy in places, but satisfying.

1993.  Off The Ground.

Everybody knows:  Hope Of Deliverance, Biker Like An Icon

What you should know:  Off The Ground, Mistress & Maid, Golden Earth Girl and the non-album track Cosmically Conscious

Comment:  The synths aren't quite as thick here, compared to its' predecessor, and as a result it sounds earthier.  A good listen, but not a classic.  By this time, this was a "typical" album for Paul in that he effortlessly seemed to turn out very good, but not great, work.

1997.  Flaming Pie.

Everybody knows:  The World Tonight

What you should know:  Young Boy, Calico Skies, Really Love You and especially the gorgeous Beautiful Night.

Comment:  Perhaps energized by his experience with the Beatles Anthology project, this album has spirit that several previous albums lacked.  This is a very good album, maybe a great one.  Appearances include Jeff Lynne, Ringo and Steve Miller.  Highly recommended.

"There's more than "hits?"" [1970-1982]

A number of blogs I check regularly have recently posted homemade Paul McCartney compilations.  While always fun to look at, they inevitably invite "why is/isn't this song..." arguments.  


Ten years ago, when CD burning was just coming into vogue, I made a trio of discs which I referred to as "McCartney's Hidden Gems."  The purpose was to illuminate some of Sir Paul's better, yet overlooked, work: basically really good album tracks.


Music is such a wonderfully subjective thing.  You might hate what I like.  I might hate what you like.  With that in mind, I tend to come down on the side of Paul's more melodic stuff.  If you lean similarly, you might enjoy this list as well.


This list will chronologically detail what I consider to be his best "non-hits."  I will cover his entire discography, excepting his classical, live and ambient work.  I hope this list helps at least one person find some "hidden gems" from Macca that they can enjoy.  I will try to list no more than four from each album: some merit more, others less. 


1970.  McCartney.


Everybody knows:  Maybe I'm Amazed.


What you should know:  Hot As Sun, Every Night, Junk, Teddy Boy and Oo You.


Comment:  Released while the Beatles crumbled, Mac played all the instruments on his first solo album.  Many of the tunes were rehearsed during the Beatles last year and they sound like it: tuneful, concise, catchy pop songs.  I love this record. A very logical follow-up after being in a fairly successful band that nobody could top.


1971.  Ram.


Everybody knows: Another Day [single released from the sessions], Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey


What you should know:  Too Many People, Ram On, Monkberry Moon Delight, and Dear Boy.

Comment:  Returning to a band setting, Paul naturally sounds melodic as ever, but doesn't quite have the same caliber of bandmates to bounce ideas off of.  It shows.


1971.  Wild Life.


Everybody knows:  maybe nothing, this one kinda slipped under the radar.


What you should know:  Wild Life, Tomorrow, and Dear Friend


Comment:  It's not a bad album, but very few of the tracks would have made the cut on a Beatles release.  A bit more listless than we'd like to expect from Sir Paul.


1973.  Red Rose Speedway.


Everybody knows:  My Love, Live And Let Die [not from the album, but released around the time]
What you should know:  Big Barn Red, One More Kiss, When The Night, and Medley [which closes the album].


Comment:  Pretty but somewhat shallow.  Mac was gathering his footing and consolidating his strengths.  Keen observers could sense him building up to something.  Well, in hindsight they could.


1973.  Band On The Run.


Everybody knows:  Band On The Run, Jet, Helen Wheels [non-album track]

What you should know:  Bluebird, Mrs. Vandebilt, Let Me Roll It, No Words, Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five, and Country Dreamer [non-album track].

Comment:  Jackpot.  Universally regarded as Paul's best album, there really isn't a weak track among the bunch.  Very fun to listen to, in particular the title track, which he never quite nailed in concert.

1975.  Venus And Mars.

Everybody knows:  Listen To What The Man Said, Venus And Mars/Rockshow, perhaps Letting Go

What you should know:  You Gave Me The Answer, Medicine Jar, and Call Me Back Again

Comment:  Similar to his first album in that it's tough to follow a classic.  I've always found this one a bit overrated, but it's still a good listen.

1976.  Wings At The Speed Of Sound.

Everybody knows:  Silly Love Songs, Let 'Em In

What you should know:  She's My Baby, Beware My Love, and San Ferry Anne

Comment:  Tuneful, but the decision to let all band members take a lead vocal wasn't wise--and it never happened again.  Points off for "Cook Of The House," which helped make this just an average release.

1978.  London Town.

Everybody knows:  With A Little Luck, perhaps London Town or I've Had Enough

What you should know:  Cuff Link and Name And Address

Comment:  Very mediocre.  Consistently better than its' predecessor but lacking the high points.

1979.  Back To The Egg.

Everybody knows:  Arrow Through Me, Getting Closer, Rockestra Theme

What you should know:  Old Siam Sir, Again And Again And Again, Winter Rose/Love Awake, and Baby's Request

Comment:  The final Wings album, this was his sharpest set of tunes since Band On The Run.  It didn't sell well, but I consider it sort of underrated.

1980.  McCartney II

Everybody knows:  Coming Up

What you should know:  On The Way, Frozen Jap and One Of These Days

Comment:  Similar to his first self-titled album in that he played all the instruments, but lacking the fistful of quality songs leftover from that other group he played in.  Not Wings.

1982.  Tug Of War.

Everybody knows:  Ebony And Ivory, Take It Away, and probably Tug Of War

What you should know:  Somebody Who Cares, What's That You're Doing, Here Today, Ballroom Dancing and Wanderlust

Comment:  A great album.  Paul plays better with better players [Stevie Wonder, Carl Perkins, Ringo and George Martin all make appearances].   There's a nice feeling of space in all theses tracks.