The Big Guy
« on: September 15, 2007, 11:59:17 PM »
Released in 1973.
Kylenz
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2007, 10:02:02 PM »
This is actually my favourite Paul McCartney album. We all have a sentimental favourite after all. The medley is fantastic. More people need to listen to those medley songs as the world is becoming a predatorial blood lust society - nobody cares about good old fashioned romance anymore. There's nothing wrong with having a string of of silly love songs to round off the album. Favourite song would have to be Little Lamb Dragonfly.
mervap
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2007, 10:27:31 PM »
As a young Beatles fan, I was a Lennon fanatic...and never gave Macca his due. Thus, all of Macca's solo work before "Band On the Run" was summarily dissed as a bunch of crap. I never got this on CD until about 2 months ago...I have been such a fool! This is a positively charming album with a lot going for it. The only weakness I see, and this is just me, was "Loup"...I understand other folks like it....that's cool. The ending medley is a fine piece of work with some great harmonies...I'm just glad I found this new guy....Macca before "BOTR"!
"If Love is blind, how will it ever find a way?"
Kylenz
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2007, 10:53:33 PM »
Loup brings a shade of darkness with the light - the yin and the yang. I think it's good that Paul decided to explore a bit of prog with his Wings bandmates, it has just the right balance with the tribal intro, then in comes the funky bass / drums with the chant element there, and of course you have that spooky Moog in there, I think it's well-crafted and has aged not too badly. It could've been much worse - imagine if he decided to bring in Ian Anderson to do a guest extended flute solo and then have Keith Emerson noodle away on an organ for 8 minutes. I think Paul brought a lot more originality and tactfulness to the table, avoiding the traditional prog trappings of the time. I know Loup is a sore point with many Red Rose Speedway owners, but it's like Revolution 9 on the White Album - it wouldn't be Red Rose Speedway without it!
mervap
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2007, 04:06:27 AM »
I find "Loup" to be much more listenable than "Rev. #9". Good call there.
"If Love is blind, how will it ever find a way?"
chris
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2007, 09:07:08 PM »
i think this is a good album. not a great one. but paul clearly took obvious care making this album. this was a prelude to the superior band on the run (to follow shortly) and you can see the baby steps it took to get from point B to point C.
sometimes i'd rather run and hide...than stay to face the fear inside...
EddieV
« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2007, 02:17:37 PM »
The first 6 songs on this album are very strong!!
I´m having a soft spot on Only One More Kiss, which for me is special. From Loup the album seems to disintigrete a little. Well I guess Paul had some good intensions with the medley. I have never dug that!!
All in all after Wild Life it was a step in the right direction
And that is why...
lampie1970
« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2007, 03:14:27 PM »
This one is actually my favorite, too, for many many reasons, not the least of which is sentimental. He sings a lot in what I call his "warm honey" voice (ok...some of you can go puke...) like the verses of "Hey, Jude" or "Pipes of Peace", he's not straining and he's not screaming he's just singing and it just resonates...
Derek
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2011, 04:47:52 PM »
This is not one of my fav Mac albums, but i do have an idea for the bonus disc for a special edition. Along with "Live & Let Die" and obvious hit singles and b-sides from this period, i would also like to hear Paul's demo of a song he written for Ringo called "Six O' Clock".
Borris
Johnny & the Moondogs
Posts: 73
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2011, 05:02:17 PM »
I like this album, it's a bit ponderous sounding, but it has something of an experimental air about it, it is very true to Paul's personality, sounds to me like some one happily doing there own thing and I always like that.
Kylenz
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2011, 07:36:39 AM »
it's a bit ponderous sounding
I would argue that yes in the case of Loup and the closing track Power Cut (where the final words are repeated to fade) you're probably right. But all the other tracks have good energy to them, or a certain cosy-up-to-the-fire warmthness to them - and sometimes a combination of both!
One of the underappreciated tracks on this album would be Single Pigeon. The piano melody and the chords are gorgeous - it would make a good Beatles tune in the vein of Good Day Sunshine. The horns sound like they came straight from 1966 too!
This may be an unpopular viewpoint amongst classic rock afficionados, but Pink Floyd were recording Dark Side of the Moon in the same studio while Macca was recording Red Rose Speedway. I actually think RRS is a million times better than DSOTM. It would have to be one of the most boring and overrated 'classic albums' ever made. With the exception of 'Money', every track begs to send me to sleep. I really don't get the appeal of post-Syd Barrett Pink Floyd. DSOTM - now
that's a ponderous album! Or maybe you just have to be on drugs to like it.
Anyway.. RRS has life, charm, warmth, variety, punch, sweetness, melody, everything you want in a classic album. Dark Side of the Moon has.. Money.. and ... one slow dreary dirge after another. I would go further and say that even 'Wild Life' and 'Wings At The Speed of Sound' are infinitely better than DSOTM!
Borris
Johnny & the Moondogs
Posts: 73
« Reply #11 on: January 02, 2012, 05:01:51 PM »
This may be an unpopular viewpoint amongst classic rock afficionados, but Pink Floyd were recording Dark Side of the Moon in the same studio while Macca was recording Red Rose Speedway. I actually think RRS is a million times better than DSOTM. It would have to be one of the most boring and overrated 'classic albums' ever made. With the exception of 'Money', every track begs to send me to sleep. I really don't get the appeal of post-Syd Barrett Pink Floyd. DSOTM - now
that's a ponderous album! Or maybe you just have to be on drugs to like it.
Anyway.. RRS has life, charm, warmth, variety, punch, sweetness, melody, everything you want in a classic album. Dark Side of the Moon has.. Money.. and ... one slow dreary dirge after another. I would go further and say that even 'Wild Life' and 'Wings At The Speed of Sound' are infinitely better than DSOTM!
Well I don't think there is much in common between RRS & DSOTM. I'd say DSOTM is a much more creative effort, it is fantastically well sequenced, well constructed and a real achievement, it has sold bucket loads over a long period of time, I think it deserves to be called a classic. Having said that I actually don't like it much, it has such a defeatist message "You wake up to find ten years have got behind you no one told you when to run you missed the starting gun..." as you say there is no warmth or sweetness in it. This album seems to represent a waking up with a hangover after the Summer of Love. I'd much rather listen to RRS too.
Kylenz
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2012, 04:03:54 AM »
Yeah, it seems to be one of those drug albums, the people who like it always seem to say 'oh but try it with weed!'
