I’ve recently been re-listening to a lot of Paul’s albums, in some cases after many years of not hearing them. You might be interested in my thoughts.

I’ve discovered some gems, amongst previously despised rubbish! Am I getting older and therefore more mellow? Or just getting smarter – hey, or maybe my standards are falling.

First gem was MCCARTNEY. Some of the lyrics and melodies seem REALLY nice now, too: Junk, Every Night, That Would Be Something. Even the version here of Maybe I’m Amazed seems good (I used to prefer the live version).

Second gem was UNPLUGGED – the MTV live special. If you haven’t got this album, get it NOW! Very intimate feel. I think Macca should abandon big stadium performances, as he seems more relaxed and at home in front of 200 than 20 000.

Third gem was VENUS AND MARS. To like this seems ridiculous to me. Some of the songs are rubbish. But some – well, I feel differently now! Side 2 sags towards the end still, but the rest: nice.

RAM I still quite like, but not as much as before: but then, I play it pretty often so I’m probably jaded. BAND ON THE RUN I found quite dated, and I got bored listening. Forget most of his 80s and 90s stuff – I still can’t get my head around that!

What do ya think? Any recent re-discoveries you’ve made?

I think that each album has at least one gem, some personal favorites that never get played and I think should get some credit--just a partial list of the top of my head:

'Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People' -Venus/Mars--I've had quite a number of terminally ill family members that ended up in nursing homes in the past 8 years, and this song was especially poignant after being in close contact with so many poor old folks sitting lonely, helpless, there to die.

'Soily' -Wings Over America - this song just kicks so much a**. Jimmy McCulloch was great.

'Stranglehold' - Press to Play - great starter/great song

'I Owe It All To You' - Off The Ground - beautiful song

'Kicked Around No More' -Hope of Deliverance EP

'Distractions' -Flowers in The Dirt

'Figure of Eight' - live version from 'Tripping...Fantastic'
'Cracking Up' - 'Tripping Fantastic'

'Mamunia/No Words' -Band on the Run

Alot of the stuff on 'Unplugged' especially 'Junk'.

Soily is a kick a** rock song showcasing Paul at his finest with his band Wings while Girl's School rocks just as hard.  

Hmm, re-discovered gems you say?

The Paul McCartney back catalogue.

Quoted from TheMasterOfGoingFaster

Hmm, re-discovered gems you say?

The Paul McCartney back catalogue.

That's too typical of many of Paul's Pals - everything he did is wonderful.

The objective truth is, that Paul has frittered away his talents. But here and there is a gem. Must give credit where it's due.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

The objective truth is, that Paul has frittered away his talents. But here and there is a gem. Must give credit where it's due.

Or, like John, after ten years in the Beatle hothouse, he had no real talent left to fritter.

i love big boy bickering....

oh.its a paul song....

Quoted from pc31

i love big boy bickering....

He seems to have alot of fun with the "F" word. Sounds like a chorus people would sing around a campfire, kind of a call and response "Fucking it up for everyone" back and forth.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

That's too typical of many of Paul's Pals - everything he did is wonderful.

The objective truth is, that Paul has frittered away his talents. But here and there is a gem. Must give credit where it's due.

I just think that Paul's back catalogue is underrated. Many compare his solo work to his Beatle's work, why I ask? Why would he want to do the same thing again and again and again? His work is forever fresh as is all of The Beatles solo work, in my opinion.

Quoted from TheMasterOfGoingFaster

I just think that Paul's back catalogue is underrated. Many compare his solo work to his Beatle's work, why I ask? Why would he want to do the same thing again and again and again? His work is forever fresh as is all of The Beatles solo work, in my opinion.

^ Thats the nail in the head really. What do you rank them against. The Beatles? Other solo efforts? What else was contempory at the time? Music in general?
Not many use the first.
Using the second definately pushes the value up, is the most fun, and is probably how I should do it.
But I don't, I put them against what was contempory. And they generally don't rate well.
Then again I'm probably being a pompous prat, and should just rate them as I hear them. In which case, unfortunately, I don't rate many of them highly at all.
My acid test is "if I wasn't a Beatles freak would I buy it."
I have to mention that I stopped seriously listening to solo stuff after 1980.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

That's too typical of many of Paul's Pals - everything he did is wonderful.

The objective truth is, that Paul has frittered away his talents. But here and there is a gem. Must give credit where it's due.

Objective? Don't make me laugh! Your disdain of Paul and his 'pals' is hardly objective. So what if the guy in his 30's and onwards with a steady wife and kids, was'nt as hungrily or passionately living up to his fame reaching time with The Beatles? Hardly frittering away talent. I personally, am not a great fan of his solo stuff. He is still a great performer. Theres one example of his enduring talent. Too harsh Ydoll, too harsh.  

I'm with Ydoll. Most solo stuff just isn't very good, regardless of his age or motivation.
Totally agree on the performance bit  (Wings Over America is testament to that)
And I'm not saying Paul john or George still couldn't knock out a good tune.

I agree the majority of their solo stuff ain't that great...Felt I had to stick up for the guys talent though.

It's all perceptions, but you know that right? I think their solo output was very good, they did it how they wanted and thats what matters.

Tug of War and Flaming Pie are my favorite albums of his since 1980,but all the albums have at least one song I like.
Here's my Best of Paul since 1980:
Take It Away
Young Boy
Lonely Road
My Brave Face
Hope of Deliverance
No More Lonely Nights
Coming Up
Waterfalls
Only Love Remains
Put It There
Off the Ground
Say,Say,Say
Here Today
Tug of War
Song We Were Singing

Alot of McCartney hits were overlooked, I guess people enjoyed John rebel feel more the McCartney's "sillie" love songs.

I'm probably one of the few that thinks 'Back To The Egg' was one of, if not his best solo album, gems galore. He'll always be competing with himself. But, hey, Heather says the next album will be his best since he's off the devil weed. He should rewrite the lyrics to "Let Me Roll It" and dedicate it to Heathen. Actually, why not go all out next year and have a Paul McCartney/Ted Nugent double bill? Sponsored by PETA and the NRA. Man, I should have been a Promoter.

Quoted from juniorsfarm

I'm probably one of the few that thinks 'Back To The Egg' was one of, if not his best solo album, gems galore. He'll always be competing with himself. But, hey, Heather says the next album will be his best since he's off the devil weed.

Huh? Didn't he write most of his best songs while ON the Devil weed??? What's she talking about anyway. Shaaaad up Heather!!!

Quoted from Maccalvr

Huh? Didn't he write most of his best songs while ON the Devil weed??? What's she talking about anyway. Shaaaad up Heather!!!

Well, she has cleaned him up she sez. Its one of those gateway drugs y'know, and you don't want a 62+ year old going down that path, even though he dropped acid before she was born. I just hate going to Grampa's house when he's tripping his balls off.

LOL!! You're too funny. Since when did Paul become such a puppet? I mean I though HE was the controlling one. Maybe he's going through his John Lennon phase.

Quoted from Maccalvr

LOL!! You're too funny. Since when did Paul become such a puppet? I mean I though HE was the controlling one. Maybe he's going through his John Lennon phase.

Trust me, it isn't hard for a woman to do this to a man. Not many guys who take drugs don't have dissaproving girlfriends.
I wouldn't think less of him for it.