This is definitely one of the overlooked masterpieces in McCartney's vast catalog. You get a sampling of his entire vocal range from the soaring high notes to just a little of his raw and screamy rock voice. People sometimes criticize McCartney for his tendency to be all over the place musically, but that willingness to experiment yields cool and offbeat songs like this. And, here's a fun fact. A snippet of this song can be heard in a 1979 episode of the classic WKRP in Cincinnati - season 2, episode 13 to be exact.
@@Kieop You can say that again. I LOVE all the videos from this album. NEVER tire of them. There is a 3 DVD set of all McCartney's videos up to, live performances and other McCartney gems, up to his "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" album. I have it, and I would suggest that ANY McCartney fan purchase it!
I believe that apart from the horns, this is just Paul on Fender Rhodes electric piano, and Steve Holly on drums. According to Laurence Juber (Guitar With Wings p.86) they did two drum tracks, one normal speed and one recorded half-speed, which is what gives the "electronic drum" sound you mention. Juber said that during mixing Paul Simon showed up and commented on McCartney's great bass, and was amazed to be told that there was no bass, just Paul's left hand on the keyboard.
@@jacquescousteau217 Well you may be correctly detecting added keyboards on top, but according to Laurence Juber, who was there, the basis was Paul's Fender Rhodes. Same info in Club Sandwich, Luca Perasi, and Beatles Bible which identifies a clavinet and moog. Yes, tremendous track.
just saw “Oh Heavenly Dog” w Jane Seymour & Chevy Chess, it opens with this song 🎵 saw it back in the day & came across it again just now-great memories 🤩
I'm so glad you said kind of Steely Dan-ish. I heard it right away tio. And I always say every song in 79 was trying to sound like Steely Dan especially in its sonic clarity in the electronic sounds and vocals that year.
Love this song. The entire album “Back To The Egg “ is full of McCartney gems . The drum fills are great. A very rhythmic song here . McCartney is a musical savant .
Try "What's that you're doing" from McCartney's 82 album, Tug of War. the song features Stevie. On the back of the Wings album Red Rose Speedway (1973), written in braille are the words "we love ya baby"...a message to Stevie Wonder. These two go way back as friends.
Just curious, JUSTIN, are you watching the videos to these songs from the Back to the Egg album? I am thinking maybe you are, IF you are, aren't they GREAT!!!
Came back to check on this request and realized something new... This track was probably the most like the previous album "London Town", which I now realize is Steely Dan-ish (3:18), and I"m guessing London Town is not one of the Wings albums you have, right? (The big hit was "With a Little Luck"). If you are OK with more Wings in June, I'm tempted to request another set from the previous album with the angle "is this Steely Dan-ish?" But, I would need to include "With a Little Luck".... Would you say that song might also be Steely Dan-ish?
Yep, just put clavinet and Moog bass together and you get Stevie Wonder, right? 😄I remember this one. It was in rotation on the "smooth pop" stations at the time. The same places that would play yacht rock like the Doobie Bros or Little River Band. About the critics, Paul was getting flack for wasting time and talent on (what was considered) wimpy pop like "Let Em In" and "With a Little Luck". Plus, while he could still write some great pop songs, he was having a harder time filling an entire album with strong material.
For me, Speed of Sound is actually weaker compared to London Town and this album... there's really nothing that I don't enjoy every time I hear it on the last two albums...
@@robshaw2639 I admit I'm not an expert on his albums post Venus and Mars. But wasn't Speed of Sound the end of his attempt to have a traditional band, where everyone was supposed to contribute? I know there were drugs/alcohol issues with some of those guys (and Paul certainly enjoyed weed himself, as the public was to learn), which was why it went back to just Paul, Linda and Denny (although I got the sense for this album he tried to re-constitute Wings as a regular band again). But I can't imagine being in a band with SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY is an easy time (except maybe now when he's nearing the end of his run.)
@@yes_head I dont know enough of the history to comment, but Let 'em in, and Silly Love Songs and the album are all smooth pop (Cook of the House is almost a throwaway...), but London Town and Egg are again a variety of styles, and there's no track that I don't like...
This is like one of my favorite Paul songs. Dance to it every time
One of my favourite McCartney songs.
This is definitely one of the overlooked masterpieces in McCartney's vast catalog. You get a sampling of his entire vocal range from the soaring high notes to just a little of his raw and screamy rock voice.
People sometimes criticize McCartney for his tendency to be all over the place musically, but that willingness to experiment yields cool and offbeat songs like this.
And, here's a fun fact. A snippet of this song can be heard in a 1979 episode of the classic WKRP in Cincinnati - season 2, episode 13 to be exact.
I agree. the whole album is great from beginning to end. It was never popular, but I never understood why.
I bought this album on the day of its release. At boots in Blackburn Lancashire 1979
It’s one funky song, and one of his under appreciated (forgotten) bangers
Absolutely!
stupid critics said it was a bad album. I LOVE this album and all the Videos that go with most of the songs on the album
One could argue that it was a visual album long before Lemonade. That video collection was very cool.
@@Kieop You can say that again. I LOVE all the videos from this album. NEVER tire of them. There is a 3 DVD set of all McCartney's videos up to, live performances and other McCartney gems, up to his "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" album. I have it, and I would suggest that ANY McCartney fan purchase it!
I believe that apart from the horns, this is just Paul on Fender Rhodes electric piano, and Steve Holly on drums. According to Laurence Juber (Guitar With Wings p.86) they did two drum tracks, one normal speed and one recorded half-speed, which is what gives the "electronic drum" sound you mention. Juber said that during mixing Paul Simon showed up and commented on McCartney's great bass, and was amazed to be told that there was no bass, just Paul's left hand on the keyboard.
Not even close to a Rhodes sound. McCartney is the Bach,Schubert,Mozart,Beethoven of popular music rolled into one man. Unbelievable song.
@@jacquescousteau217 Well you may be correctly detecting added keyboards on top, but according to Laurence Juber, who was there, the basis was Paul's Fender Rhodes. Same info in Club Sandwich, Luca Perasi, and Beatles Bible which identifies a clavinet and moog. Yes, tremendous track.
I love this album - for the music and it's sentimental meaning to me 🩵💙🤎🖤
Same here ❤
Nice. It’s hard to go wrong with McCartney
My old man did the album cover the this record, he was a photographer
The cover is one of the coolest things about this album
My first time hearing this. Nice one. Thanks Justin! Love how loose it is.
Back to the egg was a very good album. Very underrated.
Great song, rare, experimental...
Hands-down better sounding song than Getting Closer, groovy baby 😊❤
Such a wonderful song!
just saw “Oh Heavenly Dog” w Jane Seymour & Chevy Chess, it opens with this song 🎵 saw it back in the day & came across it again just now-great memories 🤩
I'm so glad you said kind of Steely Dan-ish. I heard it right away tio.
And I always say every song in 79 was trying to sound like Steely Dan especially in its sonic clarity in the electronic sounds and vocals that year.
Love this song. The entire album “Back To The Egg “ is full of McCartney gems . The drum fills are great. A very rhythmic song here . McCartney is a musical savant .
The greatest singer no doubt
Try "What's that you're doing" from McCartney's 82 album, Tug of War. the song features Stevie. On the back of the Wings album Red Rose Speedway (1973), written in braille are the words "we love ya baby"...a message to Stevie Wonder. These two go way back as friends.
such a F great track
It's just a groove.
I was in London when this came out. I would have bet my life this album was going to number ONE ! It’s that good. Paul should reissue this album.
I miss this. Thanks Rob.
Unbelievable GREAT SONG, PRODUCTION . NOBODY LIKE MCCARTNEY!
The horns sound like Stevie Wonders a la Sir Duke. Great Wings song
Awesome. ❤ You should do a reaction to Wyclef Jean's cover of Knockin on heaven's door 🇭🇹
I 🫶🏽 this album!
Wings took a dip into R & B with this one
Never heard the song before. Good stuff! Yeah, I’m big into Stevie Wonder, Motown, etc. although, like you said, this is not really like that.
Mecca dipping his toe into some R & B…
Just curious, JUSTIN, are you watching the videos to these songs from the Back to the Egg album? I am thinking maybe you are, IF you are, aren't they GREAT!!!
Came back to check on this request and realized something new... This track was probably the most like the previous album "London Town", which I now realize is Steely Dan-ish (3:18), and I"m guessing London Town is not one of the Wings albums you have, right? (The big hit was "With a Little Luck"). If you are OK with more Wings in June, I'm tempted to request another set from the previous album with the angle "is this Steely Dan-ish?" But, I would need to include "With a Little Luck".... Would you say that song might also be Steely Dan-ish?
i don't know With A Little Luck I'd have to hear it.
Great song. Not really single material, but still a great song.
Yep, just put clavinet and Moog bass together and you get Stevie Wonder, right? 😄I remember this one. It was in rotation on the "smooth pop" stations at the time. The same places that would play yacht rock like the Doobie Bros or Little River Band. About the critics, Paul was getting flack for wasting time and talent on (what was considered) wimpy pop like "Let Em In" and "With a Little Luck". Plus, while he could still write some great pop songs, he was having a harder time filling an entire album with strong material.
For me, Speed of Sound is actually weaker compared to London Town and this album... there's really nothing that I don't enjoy every time I hear it on the last two albums...
@@robshaw2639 I admit I'm not an expert on his albums post Venus and Mars. But wasn't Speed of Sound the end of his attempt to have a traditional band, where everyone was supposed to contribute? I know there were drugs/alcohol issues with some of those guys (and Paul certainly enjoyed weed himself, as the public was to learn), which was why it went back to just Paul, Linda and Denny (although I got the sense for this album he tried to re-constitute Wings as a regular band again). But I can't imagine being in a band with SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY is an easy time (except maybe now when he's nearing the end of his run.)
@@yes_head I dont know enough of the history to comment, but Let 'em in, and Silly Love Songs and the album are all smooth pop (Cook of the House is almost a throwaway...), but London Town and Egg are again a variety of styles, and there's no track that I don't like...
This a not too well known nugget.
i love getting tax write off for listening to music
Definitely Steely Dan(ish). Certainly better than the larger bowl lol....
RANDY JUDAH TORREZ ❤️ <
Billy really did a fantastic job on this sONg 💯
Not Paul McCartney. It's Billy Shears.
Yet another fantastic song by Wings. Paul's magical.