Macca is Back

This past week I was able to really take some time and load all of my favorite music onto my brand new iPod which I was able to buy after hitting my third goal weight a few weeks back. One of the key additions (after the Beatles of course) was putting all of my Paul McCartney (or Macca) music on there.

I have every album, I think, that he has released as a solo or as a Wing-er. He has a huge catalogue. Not all of it stellar. But much of it is really good. If you are the casual fan and are thinking about what Macca discs to grab, I would suggest the Wings: Hits and History collection. Has pretty much what you want. It covers, fairly extensively, the hits from all of the 70's and into the early 80's. It is not just a Wings collection, as much of his early 70's (McCartney, Ram) are on there as well as his solo stuff from the early 80's (Press to Play, Give My Regards to Broad Street, McCartney II, Tug of War, Pipes of Peace).

If you are more interested in his actual best stuff as far as individual collections go, beware. Many Macca albums are similar: two or three great hits, one or two other killer songs true Macca fans love, crap filler. But he does have five albums which are worth a look.

Ram - this album has held up surprisingly well over the years. I think it stands up better than McCartney the first post-Beatles release for any of them. Ram has some great stuff on it Too Many People and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. It also has one of my absolute fave Macca tunes Monkberry Moon Delight. And it has two nice acoustic numbers Heart of the Country, Back Seat of My Car. Great stuff and not too much filler.

Band on the Run - perhaps the finest album released by any single Beatle. From top to bottom, by far the best Wings album, easily. Band on the Run, Jet, Let Me Roll It, Helen Wheels, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Bluebird, Picasso's Last Words... Just good music.

The other three albums are newer Macca. He has sort of hit a creative upswing in the past few years, releasing four albums that are all better than anything after 1980 and I think even better than anything since BOTR. Here are the best:

Flaming Pie - Great album. I think that Macca really achieved something significant. After working on the Beatles Anthology, he was inspired to challenge himself in the studio and really work out a cohesive album. He worked with Steve Miller some and even collaborated with Ringo for a few songs. And the songs...The Song We Were Singing, Young Boy, Calico Skies, Flaming Pie, Little Willow, Used to be Bad. Calico Skies and Flaming Pie are classic Macca and sound even better live.

Run Devil Run - After Linda died, Paul was quiet for a year or two. When he returned to follow up Pie he hit the studio with Chris Thomas (the sound man who started with the Beatles on the White Album). He also brought in some accomplished musicians to help him out. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Mick Green (Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, the Pirates). All they did was hit the studio for two or three days and did covers of obscure rock and roll hits from the 50's. Only Macca knew the hits, they were that obscure. The Beatles prided themselves on playing not just the hits in Hamburg in the early 60's but also the rare B-sides and novelty and lesser known rock gems. Macca mines his past for these hits and they absolutely rock. He even writes three new songs that sound exactly right in this setting. This is my fave Macca disc of all time. To help him cope with Linda's loss, he reverts back to rocker Macca and it totally works. Great rock and wonderful walking music.

Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard - His latest release. A little more mellow. Macca basically played all the instruments on this one, produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck). It holds some great tunes. Jenny Wren Macca describes as the daughter to the Beatles hit Blackbird. English Tea, Friends to Go, Fine Line, Follow Me, Promise to You Girl. Great stuff.

So check out this Macca tunage. You will not be disappointed.