Tug Of War

Paul McCartney: Tug Of War album review

Paul McCartney: Tug Of War

From what I can gather, Tug Of War is hardly an album that many consider important or even remember...but I see it as McCartney's last "great album", recorded in the aftermath of John Lennon's murder. It was then no surprise to me that McCartney turned to Beatles producer George Martin, who was also credited with a co-arranger title, a huge concession from megalomaniac Paul.

Tug Of War saw a chastened McCartney, disciplined like at no other time in his solo career, seeming to want to make an album that Lennon might appreciate. He addresses their innate differences most clearly in Here Today:

"...And if I said I really knew you well
What would your answer be if you were here today?

Well, knowing you, you'd probably laugh and say...
...That we were worlds apart if you were here today

But as for me, I still remember how it was before
And I am holding back the tears no more
I love you..."

Here Today

Paul McCartney: Here Today

Interview & Song

...And again, in the the album's poignant opener and title track, Tug Of War:

"...It's a tug of war
What with one thing and another
It's a tug of war
We expected more
But with one thing and another
We were trying to outdo each other
In a tug of war..."

Tug Of War

...that Tug Of War (the album) then degenerates into typical McCartney vagueness or obfuscation (or both) is a shame...but at least it's something from a man who usually says very little about anything.

Ballroom Dancing may also be another letter to Lennon, about The Beatles' early days of touring and playing in halls that normally were used for ballroom dancing, though the references are fairly minimal.

"...But it wasn't always such a pretty sight
Cos we used to fight like cats and dogs
Till me made it up in the ballroom..."

Ballroom Dancing

The last "Lennon" track is Get It a crappy jam with early Rock'n'Roll legend Carl Perkins that you can imagine that Johnny Moondog Lennon would have been bustin' to play on and add some decent lyrics to. The rest of the album is high-quality McCartney fluff with most tunes memorable and most lyrics less appalling than usual.

Paul McCartney: Ebony & Ivory single However, I remember one reviewer commenting on the album's closer, the saccharine but heart-felt giant global hit single, the duet with Stevie Wonder, Ebony & Ivory:

"...Ebony & Ivory
Live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano
Oh, Lord, why can't we?..."

...He wrote: "...Because we're not made of wood..."

Paul McCartney: Tug Of War

"...Given five stars by Rolling Stone magazine calling it "McCarney's Gem", and originally conceived as a Wings project, this album is a real jewel. Joined in the studio by pals Ringo Starr, Denny Laine, Carl Perkins, and Stevie Wonder, McCartney emerged from John Lennon's murder at the top of his form..." Amazon reviewer C.H.

"...this album sounds great everywhere you listen to it. When you're in a bad mood, or when you're happy. That's because it's simply a great piece of music. Take it away!..." Amazon reviewer Christian Domarchi

"...Even if you don't particularly care for Mr.McCartney's music, I'd go ahead on and get this here album because it is so enjoyable to listen to. Plus that it is mighty fine background noise when you are needing to think up some cockamamie recipe for road-kill...which we don't actually cook and eat. Wouldn't want to get rumors started about folk in Chesterfield County. We may be rural, but we ain't hicks..." Amazon reviewer Cletus J. "Bubba" Huckerbee Jr.

Tug Of War finds a chastened, serious McCartney, trying to make his peace with John Lennon. I like the album, it's highly skilled and recommend it to all Beatle fans for what pop-psychologists refer to as McCartney's "attempt to find closure".

That, unfortunately didn't happen on Tug Of War and McCartney needed his next project, the movie Give My Regards To Broadstreet to truly work out his feelings.