I love this album for some reason, maybe just because it's a little off beat from traditional McCartney "Pop/Rock" albums.  I remember when I saw the tracklisting for the first time, I only recognized a few tracks: "Coming Up", and "Waterfalls" but after listening to it I was amazed.  I know it's not as good as any of his other albums in the traditional sense but they'res something about it.  Take for example, "Temporary Secretary": what the hell was Paul thinking when he wrote this song? I love it!  I know there're some weak ones like "Check My Machine", but I like "Secret Friend".  Anyways tell me what you think about this work.

The best thing on it is "One Of These Days." The live version of "Coming Up" that was released as a single in America (and inserted as an extra into early pressings of the album) is pretty good, too. The rest strike me as being throwaways.  

Nice avatar, by the way: I thought of using that one myself.

'Waterfalls' is the only thing decent on that piece of crap. 'One Of These Days' is half assed and the rest of the album just plain sucks. Maybe one of the worst albums ever made.

Coming Up and Waterfalls are great
It's odd that Paul and John made indifferent albums at the same time , they were more intune than they had been in years

I remember one of my friends picked up this album about a week after it came out and brought it over.  I asked him "How is it?"  He replied, "Look at the cover.  He looks like he's saying 'Who, me?  I didn't make this album!'"  To this day I think that's a pretty accurate description.

If you weren't there in 1980, you have to remember McCartney was coming off the streak of Band On The Run/Venus And Mars/At The Speed Of Sound/London Town so hearing this (especially stuff like "Temporary Secretary" and "Darkroom") was a big shock.  We were all thinking "what the hell is this?"

This came after "Back To The Egg" which was a very good album .

Quoted from madman

We were all thinking "what the hell is this?"

Yeah, that was my reaction more or less, too, but mainstream pop in 1980 was very bland and if there was ever a time to shake top 40 radio up that was it. McCartney II wasn't a good enough album to do that, but I enjoyed hearing a top 40 guy not doing what he was expected to do and selling records anyway. I suspect that Paul was just at loose ends after Back To The Egg, really.  

Agree Geoff ,although Bowie's "Scary Monsters" from (1980) was great

Quoted from DaveRam

Agree Geoff ,although Bowie's "Scary Monsters" from (1980) was great

Yeah, that was a good one, but most of the action around that time was all in the alternative thing. Bowie fits better there too, come to think of it.  

Quoted from Geoff

Yeah, that was a good one, but most of the action around that time was all in the alternative thing. Bowie fits better there too, come to think of it.  

God ive just rememberd i was 19 year old in 1980 .

I think it's not that bad as many said. I give this album 3.0 stars.
"Coming Up", "Waterfalls" and "One Of These Days" are fantastic. I really like the instrumentals too, really funny. Another favourite is "Nobody Knows".

The album reached #1 in the UK and #3 in the U.S. So it was a hit at least.

Quoted from wingsman

Another favourite is "Nobody Knows".

Yep, a good throwaway.  

Clip of Paul talking about McCartney II from about the time of its release:

Wow! Thanks for posting! I love the little smile where he says, "nothing against Frank, mind you!"
Young and more carefree back then, wasn't he? Understandable, given what was to follow.

'Coming Up' is a good song, but not the version on the album. Thats just another strike against the record. The single and live versions were so much better than the dull, slower version on the album.