Good Times Coming / Feel The Sun
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Press To Play as the dubious honour of being the least popular album of Paul's pop/rock solo albums........according to the reviewers at rateyourmusic. http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/paul_mccartney On a seperate note, the sessions for Press To Play were pretty unpleasant affairs. Both Eric Stewart and Hugh Padgham assumed that Paul would work on the songs further once in the studio......instead Paul was basically recreating the demos which caused concern from both Eric and Hugh. Paraphrasing infomation presented in the new Paul McCartney biography, 'Fab' by Howard Sounes, this was one conversation in the studio: Eric: 'Paul, that vocal's not right.' (Paul asks Hugh for his opinion) Hugh: 'Well, it's OK but I'm a sound man, Eric's the musician.' Paul: 'But what do you think?' Hugh: 'I don't think it's good enough'.... further suggesting to Paul that more writing was required. Paul: 'Hugh, when did you write your last number one?' Hugh later comments ''That's a real kick in the balls,which you don't forget.' Unhappy with the way the album was progressing, Eric left the sessions early and the album continued for another eighteen months during which time Hugh got thoroughly fed up with Paul. I'm not sure that any of this ill feeling is reflected in the actual music but i think Eric and Hugh's views that the material was basically weak was spot on and the endless sessions did lead to a rather over-produced sound, especially on a song like Footprints.
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Kestrel:
Press To Play as the dubious honour of being the least popular album of Paul's pop/rock solo albums........according to the reviewers at rateyourmusic. http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/paul_mccartney On a seperate note, the sessions for Press To Play were pretty unpleasant affairs. Both Eric Stewart and Hugh Padgham assumed that Paul would work on the songs further once in the studio......instead Paul was basically recreating the demos which caused concern from both Eric and Hugh. Paraphrasing infomation presented in the new Paul McCartney biography, 'Fab', this was one conversation in the studio: Eric: 'Paul, that vocal's not right.' (Paul asks Hugh for his opinion) Hugh: 'Well, it's OK but I'm a sound man, Eric's the musician.' Paul: 'But what do you think?' Hugh: 'I don't think it's good enough'.... further suggesting to Paul that more writing was required. Paul: 'Hugh, when did you write your last number one?' Hugh later comments ''That's a real kick in the balls,which you don't forget.' Unhappy with the way the album was progressing, Eric left the sessions early and the album continued for another eighteen months during which time Hugh got thoroughly fed up with Paul. I'm not sure that any of this ill feeling is reflected in the actual music but i think Eric and Hugh's views that the material was basically weak was spot on and the endless sessions did lead to a rather over-produced sound, especially on a song like Footprints.
intersesting stuff. i still like the album though,its obviously not a classic but light years better than its predecessor!
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I can't think of any "weak" elements of any of those songs. Some of his best lyrics ever.
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I'd always heard that Eric Stewart got the hump as he thought he was gonna co produce the album, & he was'nt as far as Paul was concerned. Funny if Eric thought the songs were generally weak...he co wrote most of 'em
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I also heard that Eric Stewart was disppointed that he wasn't given a larger role (i.e.: album credit), too. That could be a factor. And I've heard some of the producer's mix of the album for the first time recently. Paul was right about every decision.
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Originally Eric was happy with the songs when they were written but became concerned later. And yes, Eric was assuming he was going to be at least co-producer of the album. Thats all in the Fab book too.
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I'm almost certain that on my LP it has special contribution : Eric Stewart....although I could be wrong, I can't see it on the CD. Must check it out.
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i heard that paul asked him to remove his sunglasses for a video and he refused. also,im sure paul was still annoyed that they [10cc] ripped off his fake white man reggae accent even before 'sting' quit teaching and decided to become the worlds most shitty pop star p.s mind you it could have been 'stevie wonder' with the sunglasses/video thing not 'eric stewart!!!
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Kestrel:
Press To Play as the dubious honour of being the least popular album of Paul's pop/rock solo albums........according to the reviewers at rateyourmusic. http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/paul_mccartney On a seperate note, the sessions for Press To Play were pretty unpleasant affairs. Both Eric Stewart and Hugh Padgham assumed that Paul would work on the songs further once in the studio......instead Paul was basically recreating the demos which caused concern from both Eric and Hugh. Paraphrasing infomation presented in the new Paul McCartney biography, 'Fab' by Howard Sounes, this was one conversation in the studio: Eric: 'Paul, that vocal's not right.' (Paul asks Hugh for his opinion) Hugh: 'Well, it's OK but I'm a sound man, Eric's the musician.' Paul: 'But what do you think?' Hugh: 'I don't think it's good enough'.... further suggesting to Paul that more writing was required. Paul: 'Hugh, when did you write your last number one?' Hugh later comments ''That's a real kick in the balls,which you don't forget.' Unhappy with the way the album was progressing, Eric left the sessions early and the album continued for another eighteen months during which time Hugh got thoroughly fed up with Paul. I'm not sure that any of this ill feeling is reflected in the actual music but i think Eric and Hugh's views that the material was basically weak was spot on and the endless sessions did lead to a rather over-produced sound, especially on a song like Footprints.
I LOVE Footprints just how it is!!! Funny really.
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lazydynamite88:
...mind you it could have been 'stevie wonder' with the sunglasses/video thing not 'eric stewart!!!
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Macca Mad:
I'm almost certain that on my LP it has special contribution : Eric Stewart....although I could be wrong, I can't see it on the CD. Must check it out.
Yep! I remember that. Not sure if it was a peace-offering or a slap in the face. I can't believe anyone would ever try and dominate a Paul McCartney project anyway. Paul is da' man. Even if it were my own album, and Paul was guesting on a track, I would oblige his authority completely.
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audi:
I can't think of any "weak" elements of any of those songs. Some of his best lyrics ever.
So you're saying that you like those lyrics "very very very much?"
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Kestrel:
Press To Play as the dubious honour of being the least popular album of Paul's pop/rock solo albums........according to the reviewers at rateyourmusic. http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/paul_mccartney On a seperate note, the sessions for Press To Play were pretty unpleasant affairs. Both Eric Stewart and Hugh Padgham assumed that Paul would work on the songs further once in the studio......instead Paul was basically recreating the demos which caused concern from both Eric and Hugh. Paraphrasing infomation presented in the new Paul McCartney biography, 'Fab' by Howard Sounes, this was one conversation in the studio: Eric: 'Paul, that vocal's not right.' (Paul asks Hugh for his opinion) Hugh: 'Well, it's OK but I'm a sound man, Eric's the musician.' Paul: 'But what do you think?' Hugh: 'I don't think it's good enough'.... further suggesting to Paul that more writing was required. Paul: 'Hugh, when did you write your last number one?' Hugh later comments ''That's a real kick in the balls,which you don't forget.' Unhappy with the way the album was progressing, Eric left the sessions early and the album continued for another eighteen months during which time Hugh got thoroughly fed up with Paul. I'm not sure that any of this ill feeling is reflected in the actual music but i think Eric and Hugh's views that the material was basically weak was spot on and the endless sessions did lead to a rather over-produced sound, especially on a song like Footprints.
That is pretty interesting. However... I think that Paul might have been more right about this situation than Eric or Hugh. Frankly I'd rather have a collection of Paul demos than the overproduced garbage usually associated with Hugh. And although Eric is a great player and singer, he isn't Paul. But maybe he should have produced the album himself. Just as Elvis Costello should have produced Flowers...
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mercyjames:
audi:
I can't think of any "weak" elements of any of those songs. Some of his best lyrics ever.
So you're saying that you like those lyrics "very very very much?"
It's so sing-songy. I like it. It's a pop song. It's allowed. And I like all six "verys" in "Feet In The Clouds," too.
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Plastic Soul Man:
I LOVE Footprints just how it is!!! Funny really.
Its a lovely song (which has been unfairly neglected) with some nice 'sounds' on it but it just feels a bit too 'cluttered'......had it been performed with just acoustic guitar and vocal, it would have probably been viewed as a classic in the style of Blackbird or Jenny Wren.
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Kestrel:
Plastic Soul Man:
I LOVE Footprints just how it is!!! Funny really.
Its a lovely song (which has been unfairly neglected) with some nice 'sounds' on it but it just feels a bit too 'cluttered'......had it been performed with just acoustic guitar and vocal, it would have probably been viewed as a classic in the style of Blackbird or Jenny Wren.
Again, I'm gonna have to defend the production. It's a beautiful song, and the production is careful and tasteful while adventurous.
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lazydynamite88:
i heard that paul asked him to remove his sunglasses for a video and he refused.
That must have been for the Take It Away video ( a shoot i was lucky enough to attend incidentally) where Eric wore sunglasses because he'd recently been in a car accident which required an eye operation. Paul would have known this so i'm not convinced the story of Paul asking Eric to remove them is true.
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Kestrel:
lazydynamite88:
i heard that paul asked him to remove his sunglasses for a video and he refused.
That must have been for the Take It Away video ( a shoot i was lucky enough to attend incidentally) where Eric wore sunglasses because he'd recently been in a car accident which required an eye operation. Paul would have known this so i'm not convinced the story of Paul asking Eric to remove them is true.
who knows there might be some truth in it but i doubt it as i made the whole thing up in my devious little sarcastic mind.!
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lazydynamite88:
Kestrel:
lazydynamite88:
i heard that paul asked him to remove his sunglasses for a video and he refused.
That must have been for the Take It Away video ( a shoot i was lucky enough to attend incidentally) where Eric wore sunglasses because he'd recently been in a car accident which required an eye operation. Paul would have known this so i'm not convinced the story of Paul asking Eric to remove them is true.
who knows there might be some truth in it but i doubt it as i made the whole thing up in my devious little sarcastic mind.!
Oh ... so it wasn't the "So Bad" vid either, eh? Phew!
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lets be honest.[for a moment ] i dont think ive ever seen an interview with eric where he hasnt mentioned that he worked on a couple of 'mccartney albums]. perhaps not to the extent in which 'tom jones' namechecks his old buddy 'elvis' but certainly along those lines. i think 'eric' was a bit miffed about not being given the 'co producer' role on 'press to play'. maybe paul was a bit ruthless with him after getting what he needed but just ask george harrison what paul can be like when his 'art' is involved. in the studio paul has an idea of what he wants and does not allow sentiment or friendship get in the way of what he 'thinks' is right. [even if hes wrong,if you know what i mean].