Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
there's no shame in not being able to fit in your nightshirt you wore when you were 5 yrs old
are you some kind of woods nymph?
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In this thread I rank my favorite post-Beatles Beatles songs: 291-1. (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter krista4
- Start date
are you some kind of woods nymph?
krista4
Footballguy
I changed my estimate to 5-7 years old, if that matters.
It's so short! But I remember it was big on me as a kid. I guess that's how growth works.
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
artist's rendering of me in my 5-7 yr. old nightshirtI changed my estimate to 5-7 years old, if that matters.
It's so short! But I remember it was big on me as a kid. I guess that's how growth works.
Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
Fact check from Biology.com says memory and growth are not correlated.I changed my estimate to 5-7 years old, if that matters.
It's so short! But I remember it was big on me as a kid. I guess that's how growth works.
Personally, I am skeptical of their data tho.
Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
prosopis
Arizona Chupacabra
krista4
Footballguy
Well, it was a nightshirt, so it was oversized, and I was maybe seven, and...I have no excuse.
krista4
Footballguy
Raging weasel
Footballguy
I haven't listened to it in about 20 years but I used to like Back to the Egg, especially side 1. In my defense I smoked alot of pot back then.
krista4
Footballguy
I don't think it's awful. Many of the songs aren't huge misses for me, even though I ended up with only one song on the countdown. It's scads better than Press To Play.
I didn't mention, because why, that the two sides of the record were named after egg prep styles. So you particularly liked "Sunny Side Up" more than "Over Easy."
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Unfortunately I remember this one, as it got a lot of radio play at the time for some reason. It's "happy person pretends to be angry and fails miserably at it."
krista4
Footballguy
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I even thought Press, which also got some radio play, was better than it, because at least it wasn't doing the fake anger thing.
No, Morton, I did not think Spies Like Us was better than it.
krista4
Footballguy
Might have been worth a mention. I'll admit that "Getting Closer" might have been ranked lower, except every time it came up and I thought about putting it up, I knew I'd have to do another ---INTERLUDE--- first and then I'd choose something else. So by the time I had to write it, I was cutting corners.
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From what I remember about that album I agree that it isn't awful but there is so much better to listen to from him that I never got the urge to go back listen to it as an adult.
krista4
Footballguy
On a totally unrelated front but because this is my virtual diary, it seems... My house closing is scheduled for 12/2 and seems to be on track, but in the midst of that I somehow convinced my mom and stepfather also to move. They live an hour away from me and, in their mid-70s, think it's better to be closer to me for care-giving as necessary and also closer to better healthcare and hospitals. They're on one of the most beautiful places (Olympic peninsula) on the planet but would need AirCare for anything major. So I've spent umpteen hours recently trying to help them find an appropriate house near me, with restrictions such as their (understandably) wanting one level or (less understandably) being cheapskates, which is hard as where I live is much pricier.
Saturday we found what seemed the near-perfect place (nothing is going to be just right), and we spent days putting together the strongest offer we could before the "offer review date" today. Like every house here right now, though, it has multiple offers that are all beyond asking price - in this case, six of them - and the seller postponed the decision from today to tomorrow. Please please send all your best juju that they "win" and can move here!
Saturday we found what seemed the near-perfect place (nothing is going to be just right), and we spent days putting together the strongest offer we could before the "offer review date" today. Like every house here right now, though, it has multiple offers that are all beyond asking price - in this case, six of them - and the seller postponed the decision from today to tomorrow. Please please send all your best juju that they "win" and can move here!
Man of Constant Sorrow
Footballguy
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
Raging weasel
Footballguy
I remember the sided thing now. I listened to the actual album and the centers of each side were pics of the egg styles.
Morton Muffley
Footballguy
heckmanm
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
Good morning! Let's rock!
38. Paul McCartney and Wings - Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five (Band On The Run, 1973) Spotify YouTube
(Paul #16)
This song began with just that one lyric: "No one ever left alive in nineteen hundred and eighty-five," which Paul said he had buzzing around in his head for months. While critics tried to connect this to Paul somehow predicting apocalyptic doom relating to Orwell's 1984, Paul's explanation was more simple: it rhymed. While this song certainly sounds dated (OH was not a fan during the listening party), it's so awesome I don't care. The piano riffs start this song off dramatically, and it builds strength from there. It builds so well that it feels like a bit of a descent into madness to me, which enhances the sense of relief when we hit the ethereal bridge. Paul uses an unusual vocal on the verses that might be a turn-off to some, and sometimes I fall into that category, but it fits the chaos of the song. The ending, which forms the finale of the album Band On The Run, is phenomenal, starting with a big guitar solo that is then accompanied by a driving drum part and then that huge orchestral arrangement, which gets stronger and more tumultuous until it's nearly overwhelming and then BAM, it stops and is followed by that little "Band On The Run" reprise. Shake it don't break it!
38. Paul McCartney and Wings - Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five (Band On The Run, 1973) Spotify YouTube
(Paul #16)
This song began with just that one lyric: "No one ever left alive in nineteen hundred and eighty-five," which Paul said he had buzzing around in his head for months. While critics tried to connect this to Paul somehow predicting apocalyptic doom relating to Orwell's 1984, Paul's explanation was more simple: it rhymed. While this song certainly sounds dated (OH was not a fan during the listening party), it's so awesome I don't care. The piano riffs start this song off dramatically, and it builds strength from there. It builds so well that it feels like a bit of a descent into madness to me, which enhances the sense of relief when we hit the ethereal bridge. Paul uses an unusual vocal on the verses that might be a turn-off to some, and sometimes I fall into that category, but it fits the chaos of the song. The ending, which forms the finale of the album Band On The Run, is phenomenal, starting with a big guitar solo that is then accompanied by a driving drum part and then that huge orchestral arrangement, which gets stronger and more tumultuous until it's nearly overwhelming and then BAM, it stops and is followed by that little "Band On The Run" reprise. Shake it don't break it!
Morton Muffley
Footballguy
One more of my top ten goes down. Only three left. Is it possible that we have NO overlaps in our top ten?
Not surprised there isn't much overlap as my top 10 does NOT contain:
- Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
- Band on the Run
- Jet
- Live and Let Die
- Silly Love Songs
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krista4
Footballguy
Was this #1, 3, 6 or 9?
I assume one of your top 10 must be Maybe I'm Amazed, since that is another consensus top 10 pick, and you didn't call it out above. I came into this thinking my Paul top songs were oddball, but your top 10 is going to be even more oddball than mine.
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Morton Muffley
Footballguy
Yes, I absolutely embraced the spirit of MY favorites AND didn't worry about recency bias (which doesn't mean my top ten is filled with recent stuff, but DOES mean that there are probably some over-played Paul songs that just don't rank as highly for me). I really just sat down and asked myself: "which would I rather listen to right now?" and that's how I crafted my top 100. And yeah, my top ten is probably a bit oddball, but then so am I. And while it wasn't intentional, I feel like my top 25 contains most of what anyone would consider his top 15-20.Was this #1, 3, 6 or 9?
I assume one of your top 10 must be Maybe I'm Amazed, since that is another consensus top 10 pick, and you didn't call it out above. I came into this thinking my Paul top songs were oddball, but your top 10 is going to be even more oddball than mine.
And for ALL those keeping track (i.e. just you Krista!) Nineteen Hundred And Eight-Five comes in at #6 on my list.
Morton Muffley
Footballguy
Wonderful! So happy for you all. Seems like it's been a pretty good week in the life of Krista - all things considered. And that makes ME happy.
krista4
Footballguy
37. Paul McCartney and Wings - Jet (Band On The Run, 1973) Spotify YouTube
(Paul #15)
Let's stay in the same neighborhood; on any given day, I might switch my order of preference between this and "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five." What I like better about this one is (1) that buzzing Moog held on one note that creates a bassline and makes it sound dark and foreboding, (2) the deep, more complex and harder-rocking sound, (3) Paul's vocal isn't using a weird affect, and (4) the fact that it was named after his Labrador puppy. What I like less about this one is (1) nonsense lyrics that aren't that fun, (2) that sax-out-of-nowhere ending, and (3) woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Either way, these are a couple of Paul's most powerful rockers, and this one hit #7 on the US charts as the first single from Band On The Run.
(Paul #15)
Let's stay in the same neighborhood; on any given day, I might switch my order of preference between this and "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five." What I like better about this one is (1) that buzzing Moog held on one note that creates a bassline and makes it sound dark and foreboding, (2) the deep, more complex and harder-rocking sound, (3) Paul's vocal isn't using a weird affect, and (4) the fact that it was named after his Labrador puppy. What I like less about this one is (1) nonsense lyrics that aren't that fun, (2) that sax-out-of-nowhere ending, and (3) woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Either way, these are a couple of Paul's most powerful rockers, and this one hit #7 on the US charts as the first single from Band On The Run.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I took this in the Beatles/solo Beatles draft.37. Paul McCartney and Wings - Jet (Band On The Run, 1973) Spotify YouTube
(Paul #15)
Let's stay in the same neighborhood; on any given day, I might switch my order of preference between this and "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five." What I like better about this one is (1) that buzzing Moog held on one note that creates a bassline and makes it sound dark and foreboding, (2) the deep, more complex and harder-rocking sound, (3) Paul's vocal isn't using a weird affect, and (4) the fact that it was named after his Labrador puppy. What I like less about this one is (1) nonsense lyrics that aren't that fun, (2) that sax-out-of-nowhere ending, and (3) woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo. Either way, these are a couple of Paul's most powerful rockers, and this one hit #7 on the US charts as the first single from Band On The Run.
krista4
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
36. John Lennon and Yoko Ono – (Just Like) Starting Over (Double Fantasy, 1980) Spotify YouTube
(John #8)
This was the first single released from Double Fantasy (chosen by John as fitting based on his five-year absence from music) and the last in John’s lifetime. It had peaked at #6 on the US charts before his murder, but thereafter it reached #1, where it remained for several weeks. It might sound a bit light or un-serious compared to the other songs in my John top 10, but I love it for its great sense of fun. John’s vocal style was a purposeful cribbing Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and others at different points in the song, and the music is likewise beautifully vintage in its feel with the punchy keyboard and retro-style backing vocals. I like John’s Elvis voice better than Elvis’s, and you know I love the “look out!” at 2:44. It has a catchy, earworm melody that even I can sing along with, though I often take over the backing vocal “la-di-da”s and “doot-doot”s instead. A bright, upbeat song that was lovely to hear from John at that stage in his life.
John songs on the countdown that begin with a Tibetan prayer bell (running total): 2
(John #8)
This was the first single released from Double Fantasy (chosen by John as fitting based on his five-year absence from music) and the last in John’s lifetime. It had peaked at #6 on the US charts before his murder, but thereafter it reached #1, where it remained for several weeks. It might sound a bit light or un-serious compared to the other songs in my John top 10, but I love it for its great sense of fun. John’s vocal style was a purposeful cribbing Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and others at different points in the song, and the music is likewise beautifully vintage in its feel with the punchy keyboard and retro-style backing vocals. I like John’s Elvis voice better than Elvis’s, and you know I love the “look out!” at 2:44. It has a catchy, earworm melody that even I can sing along with, though I often take over the backing vocal “la-di-da”s and “doot-doot”s instead. A bright, upbeat song that was lovely to hear from John at that stage in his life.
John songs on the countdown that begin with a Tibetan prayer bell (running total): 2
krista4
Footballguy
I'm going to be out-of-pocket and/or likely drunk starting at noon tomorrow through sometime on Sunday afternoon. Therefore I'm going to post some extra picks tonight, and y'all can catch up whenever you have time. I don't want to fall behind pace to get this done before Thanksgiving.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
krista4
Footballguy
Thought of this last night!
I think I'm so focused on finishing the countdown right now (plus coordinating two house purchases, two moves, and two house sales) (oh, and working) that I'm going to wait until after I'm done. It will serve as a fitting coda.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
DMT -- 1.01 -- A Day in the Life
ElDiablo -- 1.02 -- Hey Jude
Pip -- 1.03 -- Tomorrow Never Knows
Sheep -- 1.04 -- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Revo -- 1.05 -- I Am the Walrus
Lucky -- 1.06 -- Let It Be
TheGaffer -- 1.07 -- Here Comes the Sun
Johnny -- 1.08 -- Something
Swampdragon -- 1.09 -- Ticket to Ride
Mith --1.10 -- I Want to Hold Your Hand
Mith -- 2.01 -- Polythene Pam
Swampdragon -- 2.02 -- Blackbird
Johnny -- 2.03 -- Yesterday
The Gaffer -- 2.04 -- Day Tripper
Lucky -- 2.05 -- Paperback Writer
Revo -- 2.06 -- Revolution
Sheep -- 2.07 -- Strawberry Fields Forever
Pip -- 2.08 -- I Want You (She's So Heavy)
ElDiablo -- 2.09 -- Eleanor Rigby
DMT -- 2.10 -- In My Life
DMT -- 3.01 -- Penny Lane
ElDiablo -- 3.02 -- Come Together
Pip -- 3.03 -- Get Back
Sheep -- 3.04 -- Helter Skelter
Revo -- 3.05 -- Help!
Lucky -- 3.06 -- Dear Prudence
TheGaffer -- 3.07 -- (You've Got to) Hide Your Love Away
Johnny -- 3.08 -- Across the Universe
Swampdragon -- 3.09 -- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Mith --3.10 -- And Your Bird Can Sing
Mith -- 4.01 -- You Never Give Me Your Money
Swampdragon -- 4.02 -- The End
Johnny -- 4.03 -- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
The Gaffer -- 4.04 -- She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
Lucky -- 4.05 -- Maybe I'm Amazed
Revo -- 4.06 -- Hey Bulldog
Sheep -- 4.07 -- Rain
Pip -- 4.08 -- Taxman
ElDiablo -- 4.09 -- Happiness Is a Warm Gun
DMT -- 4.10 -- A Hard Day's Night
DMT -- 5.01 -- I Should Have Known Better
ElDiablo -- 5.02 -- All You Need Is Love
Pip -- 5.03 -- With a Little Help from My Friends
Sheep -- 5.04 -- We Can Work It Out
Revo -- 5.05 -- I've Got a Feeling
Lucky -- 5.06 -- Can't Buy Me Love
TheGaffer -- 5.07 -- Savoy Truffle
Johnny -- 5.08 -- I Saw Her Standing There
Swampdragon -- 5.09 -- It Won't Be Long
Mith -- 5.10 -- Drive My Car
Mith -- 6.01 -- I Feel Fine
Swampdragon -- 6.02 -- Back in the USSR
Johnny -- 6.03 -- Working Class Hero
The Gaffer -- 6.04 -- Nowhere Man
Lucky -- 6.05 -- All Things Must Pass
Revo -- 6.06 -- What Is Life
Sheep -- 6.07 -- Hello Goodbye
Pip -- 6.08 -- If I Needed Someone
ElDiablo -- 6.09 -- Golden Slumbers
DMT -- 6.10 -- Please Please Me
DMT -- 7.01 -- Two of Us
ElDiablo -- 7.02 -- Oh! Darling
Pip -- 7.03 -- She's a Woman
Sheep -- 7.04 -- Got to Get You into My Life
Revo -- 7.05 -- The Long and Winding Road
Lucky -- 7.06 -- Instant Karma (We All Shine On)
TheGaffer -- 7.07 -- My Sweet Lord
Johnny -- 7.08 -- I'm Only Sleeping
Swampdragon -- 7.09 -- Live and Let Die
Mith -- 7.10 -- She Said She Said
Mith -- 8.01 -- I'm Looking Through You
Swampdragon -- 8.02 -- She Loves You
Johnny -- 8.03 -- And I Love Her
The Gaffer -- 8.04 -- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Lucky -- 8.05 -- It Don't Come Easy
Revo -- 8.06 -- Band on the Run
Sheep -- 8.07 -- You Won't See Me
Pip -- 8.08 -- Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
ElDiablo -- 8.09 -- Michele
DMT -- 8.10 -- Lady Madonna
DMT -- 9.01 -- Because
ElDiablo -- 9.02 -- The Night Before
Pip -- 9.03 -- Martha My Dear
Sheep -- 9.04 -- Don't Let Me Down
Revo -- 9.05 -- Mean Mr. Mustard
Lucky -- 9.06 -- Love Me Do
TheGaffer -- 9.07 -- You're Gonna Lose That Girl
Johnny -- 9.08 -- Fool on the Hill
Swampdragon -- 9.09 -- Boys
Mith -- 9.10 -- Anytime at All
Mith -- 10.01 -- Good Day Sunshine
Swampdragon -- 10.02 -- Handle with Care
Johnny -- 10.03 -- From Me to You
The Gaffer -- 10.04 -- Carry That Weight
Lucky -- 10.05 -- Isn't It a Pity
Revo -- 10.06 -- Your Mother Should Know
Sheep -- 10.07 -- I'll Follow the Sun
Pip -- 10.08 -- I'm Down
ElDiablo -- 10.09 -- Imagine
DMT -- 10.10 -- Here, There and Everywhere
DMT -- 11.01 -- No Reply
ElDiablo -- 11.02 -- Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Pip -- 11.03 -- The Word
Sheep -- 11.04 -- Revolution #1
Revo -- 11.05 -- The Ballad of John & Yoko
Lucky -- 11.06 -- Let Me Roll It
TheGaffer -- 11.07 -- Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
Johnny -- 11.08 -- If I Fell
Swampdragon -- 11.09 -- Money (That's What I Want)
Mith -- 11.10 -- Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Mith -- 12.01 -- Think for Yourself
Swampdragon -- 12.02 -- Twist and Shout
Johnny -- 12.03 -- Magical Mystery Tour
The Gaffer -- 12.04 -- End of the Line
Lucky -- 12.05 -- Eight Days a Week
Revo -- 12.06 -- Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
Sheep -- 12.07 -- Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
Pip -- 12.08 -- Jet
ElDiablo -- 12.09 -- Lovely Rita
DMT -- 12.10 -- I'm So Tired
DMT -- 13.01 -- For No One
ElDiablo -- 13.02 -- Cry Baby Cry
Pip -- 13.03 -- #9 Dream
Sheep -- 13.04 -- Sun King
Revo -- 13.05 -- The No-No Song
Lucky -- 13.06 -- Old Brown Shoe
TheGaffer -- 13.07 -- When I'm 64
Johnny -- 13.08 -- Girl
Swampdragon -- 13.09 -- What's That You're Doing?
Mith -- 13.10 -- Getting Better
Mith -- 14.01 -- Good Morning Good Morning
Swampdragon -- 14.02 -- Please Mr. Postman
Johnny -- 14.03 -- Jealous Guy
The Gaffer -- 14.04 -- Rock and Roll Music
Lucky -- 14.05 -- Mother Nature's Son
Revo -- 14.06 -- Whatever Gets You Through the Night
Sheep -- 14.07 -- Photograph
Pip -- 14.08 -- Let It Down
ElDiablo -- 14.09 -- Fixing a Hole
DMT -- 14.10 -- Grow Old with Me
DMT -- 15.01 -- Love You To
ElDiablo -- 15.02 -- Baby You're a Rich Man
Pip -- 15.03 -- I Want to Tell You
Sheep -- 15.04 -- Sexy Sadie
Revo -- 15.05 -- Back Off Boogaloo
Lucky -- 15.06 -- Beware of Darkness
TheGaffer -- 15.07 -- All My Loving
Johnny -- 15.08 -- (Just Like) Starting Over
Swampdragon -- 15.09 -- Veronica
Mith -- 15.10 -- Octopus's Garden
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
I'm in the same boat if we ever do a Neil draft.Oh, I forgot it was a mixed Beatles/post-Beatles draft. We should do something like that here. Except everyone would know what my picks are going to be.
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
I knew I’d win you over eventually.After starting out with exactly half the number of songs that Paul had (142-71), George has now caught Paul in songs remaining.Paul - 14; George - 14; John - 8.
simey
Footballguy
This song is bittersweet for me. It reminds me of the excitement of John having a new song out, and it was a good song. He was back, and this happy sounding song was on the radio constantly. The album would be released a month later, and we know what happened three weeks after that. I remember those feelings like it was yesterday.
krista4
Footballguy
35. Coming Up (McCartney II, 1980) Spotify YouTube
(Paul #14)
A song even John loved! After publicly criticizing most of Paul’s post-Beatles work, John called this one “a good piece of work” and that it stuck in his head and drove him “crackers.” As far as John’s concerned, I think that means he loved it. Paul, as he is wont to do, took the praise even further: “ heard a story from a guy who recorded with John in New York, and he said that John would sometimes get lazy. But then he’d hear a song of mine where he thought, ‘Oh, ####, Paul’s putting it in, Paul’s working!’ Apparently ‘Coming Up’ was the one song that got John recording again. I think John just thought, ‘Uh oh, I had better get working, too.’ ”
I mean, it could be true.
As we previously discussed, the version that most of us might remember from childhood is not the album version that I’m selecting here, but a live version performed by Wings in 1979. The solo album version was released as the single in the UK, but after a few weeks with that version as the a-side in the US, it was replaced in airplay with the b-side live version. Oddly enough the live version replaced the album version in the US as #1 on the charts, the only time that had happened, and remained at the top for much longer than the album one had been there. I have charts and graphs available for a small fee if any of this is too confusing.
The live version many of us grew up with in the US is richer and not quite as wacky as the studio version, which due to my unnecessarily complicated, self-imposed rules is the one I am selecting here. But still wacky. This song is wacky! One of the wackiest bits, of course, is the use of the vari-speed machine to speed up Paul’s vocal, and then he also added an echo to give it that crazy effect. The use of these processes on the vocal are the stated reason that Columbia wanted the live version instead for the US single, claiming that “Americans like the sound of Paul McCartney’s real voice.” I don’t want to imply, though, that the wackiness of the song is its only or greatest appeal. This a fantastic song musically with inventive guitar and bass lines that combine with Paul’s better-than-usual drumming to provide a deep and satisfying groove, especially in the connections between each chorus and the next verse. And the lyrics are upbeat and fun, with a purpose rather than simply silliness.
Paul matched the wackiness and whimsy of the song with the wackiness and whimsy of the official video for it, where Paul and Linda play a dozen different roles, some of them meant to be stereotypes and some based on real musicians such as Ron Mael of Sparks and Paul McCartney of the Beatles. The “band” in the video was called the “Plastic Macs” in tribute to John.
OH has mixed feelings on this one: "That song is so weird. The varied speed vocoder thing. They make those machines, where it will take any signal now, that can speed it up – I mean, you can probably do all that just on your phone now, but in analog-type studios it took some extra effort and maybe a new box. I more admire it than I enjoy it. I don’t like listening to it, except as this complex, layered thing with really weird noises. I have no idea what it’s about other than Paul McCartney ####### around with a bunch of #### in his studio. But it doesn’t have to be more than that, and it’s kind of amazing to me that the guy who was in one of the best rock combos of all time was like '#### it, I’ll do this bedroom, home taping studio, synth pop, new wave stuff.' It was a really poppy Tubeway Army. Gary Numan is essentially deemed a genius for using a lot of those same techniques. It feels very accomplished and actually sounds good for what it is."
(Paul #14)
A song even John loved! After publicly criticizing most of Paul’s post-Beatles work, John called this one “a good piece of work” and that it stuck in his head and drove him “crackers.” As far as John’s concerned, I think that means he loved it. Paul, as he is wont to do, took the praise even further: “ heard a story from a guy who recorded with John in New York, and he said that John would sometimes get lazy. But then he’d hear a song of mine where he thought, ‘Oh, ####, Paul’s putting it in, Paul’s working!’ Apparently ‘Coming Up’ was the one song that got John recording again. I think John just thought, ‘Uh oh, I had better get working, too.’ ”
I mean, it could be true.As we previously discussed, the version that most of us might remember from childhood is not the album version that I’m selecting here, but a live version performed by Wings in 1979. The solo album version was released as the single in the UK, but after a few weeks with that version as the a-side in the US, it was replaced in airplay with the b-side live version. Oddly enough the live version replaced the album version in the US as #1 on the charts, the only time that had happened, and remained at the top for much longer than the album one had been there. I have charts and graphs available for a small fee if any of this is too confusing.
The live version many of us grew up with in the US is richer and not quite as wacky as the studio version, which due to my unnecessarily complicated, self-imposed rules is the one I am selecting here. But still wacky. This song is wacky! One of the wackiest bits, of course, is the use of the vari-speed machine to speed up Paul’s vocal, and then he also added an echo to give it that crazy effect. The use of these processes on the vocal are the stated reason that Columbia wanted the live version instead for the US single, claiming that “Americans like the sound of Paul McCartney’s real voice.” I don’t want to imply, though, that the wackiness of the song is its only or greatest appeal. This a fantastic song musically with inventive guitar and bass lines that combine with Paul’s better-than-usual drumming to provide a deep and satisfying groove, especially in the connections between each chorus and the next verse. And the lyrics are upbeat and fun, with a purpose rather than simply silliness.
Paul matched the wackiness and whimsy of the song with the wackiness and whimsy of the official video for it, where Paul and Linda play a dozen different roles, some of them meant to be stereotypes and some based on real musicians such as Ron Mael of Sparks and Paul McCartney of the Beatles. The “band” in the video was called the “Plastic Macs” in tribute to John.
OH has mixed feelings on this one: "That song is so weird. The varied speed vocoder thing. They make those machines, where it will take any signal now, that can speed it up – I mean, you can probably do all that just on your phone now, but in analog-type studios it took some extra effort and maybe a new box. I more admire it than I enjoy it. I don’t like listening to it, except as this complex, layered thing with really weird noises. I have no idea what it’s about other than Paul McCartney ####### around with a bunch of #### in his studio. But it doesn’t have to be more than that, and it’s kind of amazing to me that the guy who was in one of the best rock combos of all time was like '#### it, I’ll do this bedroom, home taping studio, synth pop, new wave stuff.' It was a really poppy Tubeway Army. Gary Numan is essentially deemed a genius for using a lot of those same techniques. It feels very accomplished and actually sounds good for what it is."
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I bet "Coming Up" is your favorite Paul? I could see you loving that groove.
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
I agree and assume you are talking about Costello because he has the best voice of any singer named Elvis.
