My only point is,,,,I hate for people to miss hidden gems like 'Junk' and 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish', etc,,,because they buy the greatest hits. To me, greatest hits compilations ruin alot of listening experiences. I'm not begging people to go out and buy entire catalogs from artists before you know if your going to like it or not, but I would at least borrow a copy and give it the good once over. Maybe i'm weird, but I give entire albums 5 to 7 listens the whole way through before I judge. Maybe thats why I would definately rather hear 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' than 'Jet' anyday and you wont find that one on the greatest hits.

I also realize that i've started to beat the dead horse again and i'll end this topic on this note,,,,,,,,,remember, its all good! (well most of it)

i agree w/ the folks who've suggested starting w/ the old stuff- try mccartney and ram.  also, as an alternative to wingspan, try the much-underappreciated live album wings over america, which includes early solo and beatles highlights.

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Maybe i'm weird, but I give entire albums 5 to 7 listens the whole way through before I judge. Maybe thats why I would definately rather hear 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish' than 'Jet' anyday and you wont find that one on the greatest hits.

I certainly don't think you're weird, because I'd rather hear Paul do 'Check My Machine' in concert than 'Band on the Run"

I agree that there are all sorts of hidden gems on all the albums. I love 'Every Night', 'Monkberry Moon Delight,' 'Mumbo,' 'Dear Friend,' 'Big Barn Bed'....... dozens and dozens!

I agree with both of you for different reasons. Tkitna is right that McCartney's work is best explored through the individual albums as it's really hard to distill all of that material (most of it great, from the 70's, anyway) all into one collection. But Joe is right that if this member wasn't fond of some of the bigger McCartney numbers, he really won't like the rest of the stuff.

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Maybe i'm weird, but I give entire albums 5 to 7 listens the whole way through before I judge.

That's exactly what I've done for every Solo Album over the years with only one exception, I must confess - DRIVING RAIN. I never gave DRIVING RAIN more than one listen. But maybe I'll try it again, if you consider this...

I feel that as a Solo fanatic, I owe it to myself to familiarize myself with the albums over and over. I actually was underwhelmed by just about every McCartney album when it first came out, but repeat listens and familiarity helped me appreciate them. Now, many of those albums have become favorites, or at least I've come to enjoy several songs!

But the thing is, unless you're a Beatles Nut, why even bother to play a disagreeable album over and over? For example -- I'm not a Madonna fan, so if I heard one of her albums and disliked it, I really don't have any motivation to try and familiarize myself with it. As  Beatles Fan, it's almost like a pleasant obligation

Quoted from Joe_Karlosi, posted July 18, 2004, 3:40pm at here

As  Beatles Fan, it's almost like a pleasant obligation

Yep, I still listen to McCartney II, Press to Play...Bad Boy...it's the Beatles, sort of....so even if it isn't all that great, I get more of a thrill listening to their solo works than most of the music out there.

Quoted from Joe_Karlosi, posted July 18, 2004, 3:40pm at here

That's exactly what I've done for every Solo Album over the years with only one exception, I must confess - DRIVING RAIN. I never gave DRIVING RAIN more than one listen. But maybe I'll try it again, if you consider this...

My goodness Joe, I seemed to miss this part. 'Driving Rain' deserves more than one listen. You must throw it in the player again. We have ways of making you listen. 

Yeah, he should listen to it again if he's fine with giving Ringo efforts repeated listens and all.....Driving Rain has some really good songs, at least you could get yourself aquainted with those numbers and then just skip to them during future plays.

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Yeah, he should listen to it again if he's fine with giving Ringo efforts repeated listens and all.....Driving Rain has some really good songs, at least you could get yourself aquainted with those numbers and then just skip to them during future plays.

I'd rather listen to RINGO THE 4th than DRIVING RAIN

But you're right - I've always given Paul's other albums another shot, but not RAIN (it was THAT bad). I'll have to put it on soon and report back.

"What am I to do ---- if I don't have you  ----- I'll be sad and Blue ----- just thinking about you....." (blah).

"One two three four five, let's go for a drive. .." (double blah)... 

A line that REALLY makes ME cringe is "she loved her biker like an icon" Urgh!

Get Wingspan

Quoted from Wonderwall, posted July 29, 2004, 6:58am at here

Get Wingspan

that's a copout, a sellout, and a disservice to anyone wishing to "explore" the early years.  borrow or buy the ALBUMS, listen in a quiet place, talk abt them w/ friends, and share the experience here

Quoted from Frightwolf

But I'm disappointed because I'm not getting Eleanor Rigby or Let It Be quality songs yet.  So a lil help would be appreciated

Let me save you some time and effort with this following statement: you will never find anything in any of their solo albums that can compare to the worst of what was recorded as Beatles.  Once you know and understand that, the search and appreciation for their four solo works will be easier.

I agree with you about Lennon's solo work.  In regards to "good McCartney," I'm afraid I'm going to have to respond from what I know of Macca's solo work: strictly the hits.  I'll admit it: i've never ventured into Album Cuts.  I started with All The Best from the late 80's, but for you: Wingspan would be the easiest choice.  

Oh, and find Mull of Kintyre - a terrific Paul song!

Quoted from Buttmunker

Let me save you some time and effort with this following statement: you will never find anything in any of their solo albums that can compare to the worst of what was recorded as Beatles.  Once you know and understand that, the search and appreciation for their four solo works will be easier.

How can you say that if by your own admission you've never actually heard any of the albums?

Quoted from Buttmunker

Let me save you some time and effort with this following statement: you will never find anything in any of their solo albums that can compare to the worst of what was recorded as Beatles.  Once you know and understand that, the search and appreciation for their four solo works will be easier.

I agree with you about Lennon's solo work.  In regards to "good McCartney," I'm afraid I'm going to have to respond from what I know of Macca's solo work: strictly the hits.  I'll admit it: i've never ventured into Album Cuts.  I started with All The Best from the late 80's, but for you: Wingspan would be the easiest choice.  

Oh, and find Mull of Kintyre - a terrific Paul song!

That is a very rash statement that, with respect, sounds like it comes from someone who doesn't know their stuff. There are many songs on George's first two albums that easily match, and in some cases far exceed the quality of his songwriting in The Beatles. And an awful lot of Ringo's. And whilst I think John and Paul rarely hit the heights of their Beatles songwriting, there are a few high points.

Remember, The Beatles were four people, and as solo musicians should not be compared to the bands' output. Comparison is futile, no matter how tempting it is to do so.