Ok, enough of this waiting. I'm doing the review even though I didnt get the chance to really listen to the album like I normally do. I just didnt have the time, but I listened to it in my truck on the way to work to refresh my memory so here goes nothing.
Let Em In - Never one of my favorites, but I have to admit that it sounded refreshing when I first started listening to it. The drums are what I dig the most about this tune (big surprise), but its a nice pop tune that Paul could throw out at will. The piano and Pauls voice is nice and the horns are huge. Like I said, I was digging it until about the 3 minute mark. Thats when I started asking myself if the song would ever end. Its too long and monotonous. It gets boring after awhile. I liked the flute too. Wanted to mention that. Sweet ending also.
The Note You Never Wrote - I dont like this one. Dennys voice does nothing for me on this song. Sounds flat. The song lumbers on and on (way too long again) and sounds like it would be better served on a Billy Joel album. He would have done it better. The guitar solo is excellent though if there's any saving grace here. The backgrounds are nice too. I'll pass on this one.
She's My Baby - Another one that I dont like. The bass is good, but this song sounds like something Paul would have done in the 80's with Micheal or something. It just sounds goofy and irrelevant to me. Its one of those tunes that I listen to and wish it would get out of the way for something else, because I know the something else will be better. Another pass.
Beware My Love - Maybe one of Pauls most overrated songs ever. People seem to latch onto it because its considered a rocker, but its a weak rocker at that. Its sad that I prefer the first 1:20 of the song to the rest. Give me the acoustic and harmonies. The 'Oh Oh Oh's' and 'No No No's' are silly sounding. The guitar has a nice tone and sound and Joe does some nice drumming, but the song does nothing but repeat itself and it does that for over 6 freaking minutes. I'll never understand the laurels this song receives. Pass.
Wino Junko - Here's one written and sang by Jimmy and its not too bad albeit a bit long. Jimmy voice is nice enough (he aint Paul though) and the song has a nice tempo. I really like the background harmonies and the guitar solo was excellent again. Its a nice, average song that I wish was shorter, but inoffensive nonetheless.
Silly love Songs - I'm partial to this song because of the irony. Paul shoved one in their faces here and for that, it will always have a soft spot in my heart. Besides all of that, its fantastic slice of pop. The bass line is legendary and rightfully so. Fantastic. Great drumming, harmonies, and horns. I like it.
Cook Of The House - Dear lord I hate to say this, but I like this song too. I think everybody here realizes that I actually like Lindas voice. Sure its flat and out of tune sometimes, but her harmonies are a Wings trademark and I dig her. It even starts out with the sounds of bacon frying (I dont know that for sure, but thats what I always imagine) so whats not to like? Great bass line and great drum shuffle. Its a toe tapper that doesnt take itself very seriously and I like it.
Time To Hide - My favorite on the album. Its a Denny Laine penned song and he sings on it, but his voice sounds good here. The song kind of reminds me of a cross between a Pink Floyd tune with a little bit of Bob Welch thrown in. Great bass line, horns are great, guitar sounds good, and it even has a harmonica. Love, love this one.
Must Do Something About It - The worst song on the album. Joe English takes the lead vocals here. He doesnt do bad actually, but the song just isnt interesting to me. The instruments are all well played and all that jazz, but its just a very average and forgettable song. I forget how it goes already.
San Ferry Anne - I like this one. It would be hard for me to explain to a person how the song goes, but my best description would be background music as you traveled to an island while on holiday and your departing from the boat. Nice tempo with lots of woodwinds and such. I dont know, but it makes me want to move around when I here it and thats a good thing.
Warm And Beautiful - This was in the race for the worst song on the album, but at least Paul sings on this one. Slower number with Paul singing and the piano. I kept waiting for the huge orchestra to come in and blow me away like Paul does so often, but it never happens. You do get a nice little guitar solo, but its not enough. The song is just too thin. Pass.
***Bonus Tracks***
Walking in the Park with Eloise - I think this is one that Pauls dad wrote, but its another one of those 20's, ragtime songs that Pauls famous for including on his records. Luckily for me, I like that stuff for the most part, but I can see how it could annoy the average listener. Upbeat with plenty of instruments as you can imagine. Instrumental though, so no singing from Paul. I like it well enough.
Bridge over the River Suite - I like this one too. Its another instrumental that probably would be better served as background music, but its kind of bluesy and has horns so its nice. Nothing special.
Sally G - I have a certain soft spot for this song, because it was the 'B-side' to Juniors Farm and I had the 45lp when I was young. Of course I didnt think that Paul did anything bad back then. He dabbles in country here (which I hate country music) and he pulls it off fairly well. If there's anything about the song that i hate its the electric guitar strums during the chorus. I dont know why something little like that bothers me, but it would have been better without it. This has the whole shabang though, fiddles, steel guitar, married cousins, etc,,. Its really not a very cood song, but I listened to it when I was young, so its gets a free pass.
Sorry the review wasnt as in depth as I would have liked, but I just wanted to get it done so I could read Cor's review. I dont listen to this album very often and never liked it a whole lot, but I was pleasantly surprised after I spun it. This is one that I probably will listen to more often as time passes. It has some mediocre songs and a few stronger ones, but there wasnt anything there that I thought was so dire that I couldnt listen to it. I should probably throw in some live stuff to get another side of the picture. I'm sure some of the songs would sound better in that transition (Beware My Love), but all in all, this album isnt too bad and I give it a thumbs up for now.