McCartney II

[The Big Guy]

Released in 1980.

[Kylenz]

Oh boy! Again, I was so lucky to still be a kid to dig this one. It was my Christmas present for 1980! I earlier had the Coming Up single with Lunchbox on the b-side and also the live version of Coming Up. Still no real knowledge of The Beatles music apart from the Let It Be album and what I knew from the radio. So, with the 'advantage' of diving into this totally blind and open, I loved this album straight away. Paul himself has a childlike approach to it all. Temporary Secretary was my favourite from the beginning and still is to this day. Darkroom was my other big fave and still is my 2nd fave to this day! Everything else is still great in all their differing weird and wonderful ways.

I recently came across the bootleg of the 'missing McCartney II' or whatever they call it. People say "oh it would have been an amazing double album" but no I think it would degrade the album so much that no one would ever want to listen to it. No one would ever listen to Coming Up or Waterfalls or One Of These Days or On The Way if they have to endure 20 minutes of Secret Friend or All You Horseriders. Sometimes demos are left in vaults for good reason! I feel the proponents of people with these ideas actually don't like the album in the first place. The same argument is often applied to Red Rose Speedway and all the outtakes could have made a double album - the problem is, it just dilutes the punchbowl (and not with just water if you get my drift!).

McCartney II is still a charming and engaging album. Not everyone's cup of tea - either you like it or hate it. For me, it will stick with me forever.

[Borris]

Nice review Kyle. I too find this a charming slight album, Paul isn't trying to make a ground breaking record, but I find it entertaining, Coming Up, temporary Secretary, Frozen Jap all charming slight numbers. But I really love Waterfalls don't know why.

It's not the kind of album you rave about and recommend as a great album, a must listen, but rather one that when you discover someone else that likes it you share a secret smile.

[Kylenz]

Thanks! Yes, it's not the 'go-to' album if I was to recommend a McCartney album, as it polarises so many people, but I'd have something like 'Temporary Secretary' on a compilation and hopefully surprise the listener with its uniqueness.

The only other track from the new wave era that sounds kind of like this, would be something like 1981's 'Homosapien' by Pete Shelley, the way it combines the electronic rhythms with acoustic guitars strumming away.



That song had the distinction of being the first track to use the 'Linn drums', which became so prevalent in the 80s on many famous songs (1999 by Prince comes to mind). The producer, Martin Rushent, went on to produce 'Dare' for The Human League, featuring the classic 'Don't You Want Me'.