Are Paul's best creations born out of conflict , it seems to me he's at his most interesting when he feels the world and people are against him   Ram, Wildlife ( Beatles split period ) ,Chaos And Creation In The Backyard and Memory Almost Full (Heather split period )
I was listening to Wildlife yesterday and it struck me as an anti Beatles record ? i think he went out of his way to creat an album that would get up people's nose ?
The last two albums show a dramatic return to form ,that im not sure would have been there had everything been plain sailing . What do you think ?

Interesting point. I think his best work comes from the times when there's someone in his neighbourhood opposing to him. Someone who doesn't automatically agree with him. John Lennon of course, but also George Harrison. Jimmy McCullough (sp?) might have been one, Elvis Costello. But also not-music related, like Miss Mills. Although I'm not too fond of Paul's last two albums, I must admit there's some pretty good tunes on them.

McCulloch*  

I knew you would set me straight.  

That is an interesting point DaveRam. On Ram, I know that John felt that three songs were directed towards him. They are "Too Many People" "Dear Boy" and "The Back Seat of My Car". Lennon countered with the vicious "How Do You Sleep".

I always thought that "Dear Boy" was written more towards Linda's ex than John. Of course we all know of the infamous picture of John mockery of McCartney with Lennon holding the pig by its ears.



On Wild Life, I think that Paul's offering to make up so to speak with "Dear Friend" It's a letter to John that he (Paul) couldn't write himself, much like "Here Today" was.  

I don't recall any songs that Paul wrote about George or that George felt were directed towards him..."Three Legs" maybe..

Nor can I recall any songs written about Jimmy or even had Jimmy in mind after he had split from Wings. I do know however that his departure wasn't pretty.

Quoted from Bobber

I knew you would set me straight.  

Quoted from JimmyMcCullochFan

Nor can I recall any songs written about Jimmy or even had Jimmy in mind after he had split from Wings. I do know however that his departure wasn't pretty.

Well, I didn't mean he had to write songs about this people or with those people in mind. But I meant that opposition, musically or privately, seems to bring out the better music in McCartney.

I think stressful events do galvanize him Bobber , i think when he's happy he can get very  " Pappy " on occasion and we have had some pap records from him during these periods ? We All Stand Together ,Silly Love Songs .

Quoted from Bobber

Well, I didn't mean he had to write songs about this people or with those people in mind. But I meant that opposition, musically or privately, seems to bring out the better music in McCartney.

I agree with you 100% there  

A lot of internal conflict afflicts Paul  i think ? he's maybe spends a lot of time brooding over things ? and the thumbs aloft image we see is just a front to cover his true feelings .
Riding To Vanity Fair from Chaos and Creation i think maybe is closer to his true self , think Nigel Godrich was brilliant in pulling that out of Paul , it's a real glimpse into how Paul's mind works .

Riding to Vanity Fair is a great song. One of my favorites from Chaos.   Pure genius

Quoted from DaveRam

I was listening to Wildlife yesterday and it struck me as an anti Beatles record ? i think he went out of his way to creat an album that would get up people's nose ?

I think all three tried to distance themselves from The Beatles with their first solo efforts. While John and George surrounded themselves with super-star buddies Paul deliberately made these "homemade" albums.  Whether it was because his recent experiences had put him off working with stars, or to prove that he could do it alone, or that he wanted a band he could control, or that he felt isolated from rock's A-list club (rightly or wrongly he was regarded as dreadfully uncool in the early 70's) I don't know.

Quoted from Kevin

I think all three tried to distance themselves from The Beatles with their first solo efforts. While John and George surrounded themselves with super-star buddies Paul deliberately made these "homemade" albums.  Whether it was because his recent experiences had put him off working with stars, or to prove that he could do it alone, or that he wanted a band he could control, or that he felt isolated from rock's A-list club (rightly or wrongly he was regarded as dreadfully uncool in the early 70's) I don't know.

He was blamed by many people for the break up. So I think he deliberately distanced himself from the 'A-list'. In many ways I think it was a shame. I think a lot people would have loved to play on one of his albums in those days, possibly seeing him - of the two - as the easier to get along with; no Yoko, no Politics etc.

I think (and I'm not sure I can back this up 100%) that he's generally worked better on his own (with a producer), and with a band of non-stars (when he's producing).

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I think (and I'm not sure I can back this up 100%) that he's generally worked better on his own (with a producer), .

Nigel Goodrich can back you up on that  

" Mumbo " from Wildlife is a bit of a belter when you crank up the volume , not quite primal scream , but he certainly sounds like he's getting something off his chest ,as he does on the title track , there is a lot of sad antagonism in Wildlife which i had'nt picked up on before, a number of the vocals are either mad or sad .
I know he said recently that he was depressed after The Beatles split and i can hear it now in his voice on this album ?
Some People Never know and Dear Friend especially his voice is very sad ?