Flaming Pie
-
Frank:
Well BTTE was underrated - but isn`t anymore certainly not on this board. I don`t think the same thing will ever be true with Press. Problem with that album is that it didn`t age well because it`s such a product of the 80s. I rather liked it when it was released but nowadays I would`t listen to it. It sounds stuck in this 80s sound, partly because Paul used a lot of 80s session musicians and Phil Collins`producer Hugh Padgham. Would be nice to hear stripped down versions of Footprints, Stranglehold.
In the Paul LIFE mag, they talk about Hugh Padgham and how he told Paul some song "Wasn't good enough" and Paul retorted "When did you write your last number one, Hugh?" Hugh did not have good things to say about our Paulie.
-
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
-
Nancy R:
Frank:
Well BTTE was underrated - but isn`t anymore certainly not on this board. I don`t think the same thing will ever be true with Press. Problem with that album is that it didn`t age well because it`s such a product of the 80s. I rather liked it when it was released but nowadays I would`t listen to it. It sounds stuck in this 80s sound, partly because Paul used a lot of 80s session musicians and Phil Collins`producer Hugh Padgham. Would be nice to hear stripped down versions of Footprints, Stranglehold.
In the Paul LIFE mag, they talk about Hugh Padgham and how he told Paul some song "Wasn't good enough" and Paul retorted "When did you write your last number one, Hugh?" Hugh did not have good things to say about our Paulie.
If it was Pretty Little Head, Hugh might have a point!.... That being said, I think Paul is a lot more open to criticism now than he might've been then... But then again, I can't rate the opinion of anyone producing the drone-like music of Phil Collins. Surely one of the more monotonous musicians of all time. He irks me.
-
toris:
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
Definitely agree that both "From A Lover" and "Heather" were missed opportunities, and I agree with most of your assessment!
-
Wyrdskein:
In my rediscovery of McCartney, I have been listening to Driving Rain. There are some outstanding tracks, but I think it is my least favourite from what I have listened to so far (and knew already), namely: New, Memory Almost Full, Chaos and Creation, Press to Play, Flowers in the Dirt, McCartney II and Ram. I'd be interested in your views of this album. I think it's great, just not as great as those mentioned above. Maybe it just seemed a little over-smooth and programmed? Not sure. My favourite tracks were She's Given Up Talking, From a Lover to a Friend, and Spinning on an Axis. They were seriously good.
I always liked DR even with it's few flaws. Guitar oriented record and love McCartney's vocal on "Lonely Road". "About You" is one of McCartney's best rockers IMO.
-
yankeefan7:
Wyrdskein:
In my rediscovery of McCartney, I have been listening to Driving Rain. There are some outstanding tracks, but I think it is my least favourite from what I have listened to so far (and knew already), namely: New, Memory Almost Full, Chaos and Creation, Press to Play, Flowers in the Dirt, McCartney II and Ram. I'd be interested in your views of this album. I think it's great, just not as great as those mentioned above. Maybe it just seemed a little over-smooth and programmed? Not sure. My favourite tracks were She's Given Up Talking, From a Lover to a Friend, and Spinning on an Axis. They were seriously good.
I always liked DR even with it's few flaws. Guitar oriented record and love McCartney's vocal on "Lonely Road". "About You" is one of McCartney's best rockers IMO.
I never cared for the video for Lonely Rd.
-
oobu24:
yankeefan7:
Wyrdskein:
In my rediscovery of McCartney, I have been listening to Driving Rain. There are some outstanding tracks, but I think it is my least favourite from what I have listened to so far (and knew already), namely: New, Memory Almost Full, Chaos and Creation, Press to Play, Flowers in the Dirt, McCartney II and Ram. I'd be interested in your views of this album. I think it's great, just not as great as those mentioned above. Maybe it just seemed a little over-smooth and programmed? Not sure. My favourite tracks were She's Given Up Talking, From a Lover to a Friend, and Spinning on an Axis. They were seriously good.
I always liked DR even with it's few flaws. Guitar oriented record and love McCartney's vocal on "Lonely Road". "About You" is one of McCartney's best rockers IMO.
I never cared for the video for Lonely Rd.
I don't personally like music video's so I am not a good judge. I just like the song and his vocal.
-
toris:
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
________________________________________________________ Over the years there has been good discussions on Driving Rain here. DR is one of Paul's albums that even avid Paul fans can't agree on. That being the case, it will never be included among Macca's great or even top notch albums. I'm on the "like it muchly" camp and I think it is very underrated (like BTTE). While it is not as consistently very good like NEW, CHAOS, FLAMING PIE, TUG OF WAR etc... I like its diversity a lot and its "live" feel. DR has a bit of everything including rock, ballads, mid-tempo pop, R&B, country, folk and even a bit of rap and disco. I love Paul's bass throughout. Gabe Dixon's organ on a few of the tracks also gives DR a distintive sound. Many good songs i.m.h.o. I can pretty much listen to DR from beginning to end although a couple of the songs are way too long (i.e. Raindrops, Spinning on an Axis). I also think that Freedom should not have been included since it doesn't fit musically with the overall album. Yes I agree with the songs cited that could have been great (instead of just good) but as a whole, DR is a good listen. And yes, the title cut could have been reworked lyrically and is the epitome of a 'guilty pleasure". I quite liked the live version on tour. Heard it at the the Philly show that year. The one track that some people dislike that I really like is "She's Given Up Talking". Not only do I like the music but I think that this song is one of the best lyrically that Paul has ever written. It tackles a serious subject that is very unusual in a Pop song. Many kids do go through this in school...introverted, scared to the point that they hide in shell and don't hardly speak. Yet at home (if it is a loving home) they are very comfortable. I could relate to the song myself and it even can even, if indirectly, border on all the current talk about "bullying" at school. A little unusual for Paul to tackle a serious subject like this but I think his lyrics are very creative. Some of my favorite lines are: Unlike other Children She's seen and never heard You see her in the playground Standing on her own Everybody Wonders Why She's All Alone Ah, but when she comes home It's yap-a-yap-yap Words are running freely Like a Water from a Tap And they say that Paul can't write good lyrics. You can go to the Music/Album section of the Website to see the lyrics completely. I think they are brilliant.
-
beatlesfanrandy:
Bruce M.:
I like it, don't love it. Yes, the bass is great. About half the tracks are solid, a quarter so-so, a couple are weak, and there's "Freedom," which is best forgotten.
Agreed, with the title track also best forgotten. "1,2,3,4,5, let's go for a drive..." Huh? One of his few albums I don't have. Though Lonely Road is good.
I actually like the title track. It's lighthearted and fun. I don't get why it bothers some people so much.
-
oobu24:
yankeefan7:
Wyrdskein:
In my rediscovery of McCartney, I have been listening to Driving Rain. There are some outstanding tracks, but I think it is my least favourite from what I have listened to so far (and knew already), namely: New, Memory Almost Full, Chaos and Creation, Press to Play, Flowers in the Dirt, McCartney II and Ram. I'd be interested in your views of this album. I think it's great, just not as great as those mentioned above. Maybe it just seemed a little over-smooth and programmed? Not sure. My favourite tracks were She's Given Up Talking, From a Lover to a Friend, and Spinning on an Axis. They were seriously good.
I always liked DR even with it's few flaws. Guitar oriented record and love McCartney's vocal on "Lonely Road". "About You" is one of McCartney's best rockers IMO.
I never cared for the video for Lonely Rd.
So you don't like it when the chick smashes the Hofner? At least his hair doesn't look like crap!
-
B J Conlee:
toris:
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
________________________________________________________ Over the years there has been good discussions on Driving Rain here. DR is one of Paul's albums that even avid Paul fans can't agree on. That being the case, it will never be included among Macca's great or even top notch albums. I'm on the "like it muchly" camp and I think it is very underrated (like BTTE). While it is not as consistently very good like NEW, CHAOS, FLAMING PIE, TUG OF WAR etc... I like its diversity a lot and its "live" feel. DR has a bit of everything including rock, ballads, mid-tempo pop, R&B, country, folk and even a bit of rap and disco. I love Paul's bass throughout. Gabe Dixon's organ on a few of the tracks also gives DR a distintive sound. Many good songs i.m.h.o. I can pretty much listen to DR from beginning to end although a couple of the songs are way too long (i.e. Raindrops, Spinning on an Axis). I also think that Freedom should not have been included since it doesn't fit musically with the overall album. Yes I agree with the songs cited that could have been great (instead of just good) but as a whole, DR is a good listen. And yes, the title cut could have been reworked lyrically and is the epitome of a 'guilty pleasure". I quite liked the live version on tour. Heard it at the the Philly show that year. The one track that some people dislike that I really like is "She's Given Up Talking". Not only do I like the music but I think that this song is one of the best lyrically that Paul has ever written. It tackles a serious subject that is very unusual in a Pop song. Many kids do go through this in school...introverted, scared to the point that they hide in shell and don't hardly speak. Yet at home (if it is a loving home) they are very comfortable. I could relate to the song myself and it even can even, if indirectly, border on all the current talk about "bullying" at school. A little unusual for Paul to tackle a serious subject like this but I think his lyrics are very creative. Some of my favorite lines are: Unlike other Children She's seen and never heard You see her in the playground Standing on her own Everybody Wonders Why She's All Alone Ah, but when she comes home It's yap-a-yap-yap Words are running freely Like a Water from a Tap And they say that Paul can't write good lyrics. You can go to the Music/Album section of the Website to see the lyrics completely. I think they are brilliant.
I agree. I was one of those kids. Didn't speak in my first year of school and the following year "opened up" and spoke to two kids. Still don't know why. Kinda made up for it after that, though. But, yes, I think it's a pretty good song and tackles the issue well.
-
toris:
B J Conlee:
toris:
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
________________________________________________________ Over the years there has been good discussions on Driving Rain here. DR is one of Paul's albums that even avid Paul fans can't agree on. That being the case, it will never be included among Macca's great or even top notch albums. I'm on the "like it muchly" camp and I think it is very underrated (like BTTE). While it is not as consistently very good like NEW, CHAOS, FLAMING PIE, TUG OF WAR etc... I like its diversity a lot and its "live" feel. DR has a bit of everything including rock, ballads, mid-tempo pop, R&B, country, folk and even a bit of rap and disco. I love Paul's bass throughout. Gabe Dixon's organ on a few of the tracks also gives DR a distintive sound. Many good songs i.m.h.o. I can pretty much listen to DR from beginning to end although a couple of the songs are way too long (i.e. Raindrops, Spinning on an Axis). I also think that Freedom should not have been included since it doesn't fit musically with the overall album. Yes I agree with the songs cited that could have been great (instead of just good) but as a whole, DR is a good listen. And yes, the title cut could have been reworked lyrically and is the epitome of a 'guilty pleasure". I quite liked the live version on tour. Heard it at the the Philly show that year. The one track that some people dislike that I really like is "She's Given Up Talking". Not only do I like the music but I think that this song is one of the best lyrically that Paul has ever written. It tackles a serious subject that is very unusual in a Pop song. Many kids do go through this in school...introverted, scared to the point that they hide in shell and don't hardly speak. Yet at home (if it is a loving home) they are very comfortable. I could relate to the song myself and it even can even, if indirectly, border on all the current talk about "bullying" at school. A little unusual for Paul to tackle a serious subject like this but I think his lyrics are very creative. Some of my favorite lines are: Unlike other Children She's seen and never heard You see her in the playground Standing on her own Everybody Wonders Why She's All Alone Ah, but when she comes home It's yap-a-yap-yap Words are running freely Like a Water from a Tap And they say that Paul can't write good lyrics. You can go to the Music/Album section of the Website to see the lyrics completely. I think they are brilliant.
I agree. I was one of those kids. Didn't speak in my first year of school and the following year "opened up" and spoke to two kids. Still don't know why. Kinda made up for it after that, though. But, yes, I think it's a pretty good song and tackles the issue well.
A few years ago my then 10 y/o daughter was actually diagnosed by a therapist with something called 'selective mutism' (she's 16 now) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_mutism This song absolutely described the condition to a 't' - including when she's out in public 'won't say a word' and when she gets home 'its a yappy yap yap'...She's still pretty shy buy much better these days.... Needless to say, don't count me among those who believe the lyrics are rubbish
-
Personally; I really like the studio albums he's released from "Flaming Pie" up to & including his latest "New"
-
rich n:
toris:
B J Conlee:
toris:
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
________________________________________________________ Over the years there has been good discussions on Driving Rain here. DR is one of Paul's albums that even avid Paul fans can't agree on. That being the case, it will never be included among Macca's great or even top notch albums. I'm on the "like it muchly" camp and I think it is very underrated (like BTTE). While it is not as consistently very good like NEW, CHAOS, FLAMING PIE, TUG OF WAR etc... I like its diversity a lot and its "live" feel. DR has a bit of everything including rock, ballads, mid-tempo pop, R&B, country, folk and even a bit of rap and disco. I love Paul's bass throughout. Gabe Dixon's organ on a few of the tracks also gives DR a distintive sound. Many good songs i.m.h.o. I can pretty much listen to DR from beginning to end although a couple of the songs are way too long (i.e. Raindrops, Spinning on an Axis). I also think that Freedom should not have been included since it doesn't fit musically with the overall album. Yes I agree with the songs cited that could have been great (instead of just good) but as a whole, DR is a good listen. And yes, the title cut could have been reworked lyrically and is the epitome of a 'guilty pleasure". I quite liked the live version on tour. Heard it at the the Philly show that year. The one track that some people dislike that I really like is "She's Given Up Talking". Not only do I like the music but I think that this song is one of the best lyrically that Paul has ever written. It tackles a serious subject that is very unusual in a Pop song. Many kids do go through this in school...introverted, scared to the point that they hide in shell and don't hardly speak. Yet at home (if it is a loving home) they are very comfortable. I could relate to the song myself and it even can even, if indirectly, border on all the current talk about "bullying" at school. A little unusual for Paul to tackle a serious subject like this but I think his lyrics are very creative. Some of my favorite lines are: Unlike other Children She's seen and never heard You see her in the playground Standing on her own Everybody Wonders Why She's All Alone Ah, but when she comes home It's yap-a-yap-yap Words are running freely Like a Water from a Tap And they say that Paul can't write good lyrics. You can go to the Music/Album section of the Website to see the lyrics completely. I think they are brilliant.
I agree. I was one of those kids. Didn't speak in my first year of school and the following year "opened up" and spoke to two kids. Still don't know why. Kinda made up for it after that, though. But, yes, I think it's a pretty good song and tackles the issue well.
A few years ago my then 10 y/o daughter was actually diagnosed by a therapist with something called 'selective mutism' (she's 16 now) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_mutism This song absolutely described the condition to a 't' - including when she's out in public 'won't say a word' and when she gets home 'its a yappy yap yap'...She's still pretty shy buy much better these days.... Needless to say, don't count me among those who believe the lyrics are rubbish
Rich, Glad you're daughter is much better. I remember reading a quote from Paul about the song's origin where he said a friend of his had this type of condition.
-
I listened to Driving Rain a few times when it was released and didn't really like it. It seemed like a such a long record. So it didn't get the repeat plays I usually give a McCartney record. But the 3 or 4 songs that where played live during the Driving Rain tour I enjoyed. Driving Rain sounded great live Freedom was a fantastic song live. It sounded great. I've since come to enjoy this record more and more as the years have gone by. Not one of my favorites but enjoyable to listen to. Every time my Ipod shuffles to one of these songs they are nice to hear.
-
dcshark:
I listened to Driving Rain a few times when it was released and didn't really like it. It seemed like a such a long record. So it didn't get the repeat plays I usually give a McCartney record. But the 3 or 4 songs that where played live during the Driving Rain tour I enjoyed. Driving Rain sounded great live Freedom was a fantastic song live. It sounded great. I've since come to enjoy this record more and more as the years have gone by. Not one of my favorites but enjoyable to listen to. Every time my Ipod shuffles to one of these songs they are nice to hear.
Whisper it quietly, but I don't mind "Freedom" so much. It captured a moment. I do enjoy in "The Love We Make" documentary, though, when Paul is seen demonstrating the song to Eric Clapton backstage, and Eric's body language says, "Are you serious?"
-
favoritething:
dcshark:
I listened to Driving Rain a few times when it was released and didn't really like it. It seemed like a such a long record. So it didn't get the repeat plays I usually give a McCartney record. But the 3 or 4 songs that where played live during the Driving Rain tour I enjoyed. Driving Rain sounded great live Freedom was a fantastic song live. It sounded great. I've since come to enjoy this record more and more as the years have gone by. Not one of my favorites but enjoyable to listen to. Every time my Ipod shuffles to one of these songs they are nice to hear.
Whisper it quietly, but I don't mind "Freedom" so much. It captured a moment. I do enjoy in "The Love We Make" documentary, though, when Paul is seen demonstrating the song to Eric Clapton backstage, and Eric's body language says, "Are you serious?"
yeah...speaking of Eric. I remember the part during the song when Paul says..do a solo Eric. over & over.
-
B J Conlee:
rich n:
toris:
B J Conlee:
toris:
I love these sort of threads as it gives me the impetus to revisit the album. So, I listened to it again for the first time in a while. And whilst I would prefer an album with as many songs as possible, I also appreciate that in the context of evaluating an "album" I do agree that there were perhaps too many songs. I'd strike Back in the Sunshine Again and Magic right off then. And as Freedom wasn't listed, I will gladly ignore that. Throw Riding into Jaipur on a bonus disc, even if that wasn't so much the norm then. It's a good bonus track. Lonely Road struck me at once. Love it. From a Lover to a Friend is fantastic, stirring... right until it gets into the "La la la" bit and just meanders into laziness and mediocrity. Could've been great. If I cut it off inside the first minute or so, it is. Always liked Driving Rain, even if the lyrics are vapid. Your Way is great. A beautiful Beatlish end to the song. I Do is good. Like Your Way, another of those universal songs. Heather... why oh why, was this not given more lyrical service? It's an uplifting piece, and I really enjoy it, but could've been even better without it being consigned to a largely instrumental offering. I do really, really like it. But I could've loved it with full lyrical attention. A lost opportunity. But still, enjoyable. Always gets me humming. But it should've got me singing! I like About You (wish it was rockier, and the voice on heavier Back to the Egg throttle) but I do like it. Tiny Bubble is a very friendly pop song. And I quite like Your Loving Flame. A pretty good album, I reckon.
________________________________________________________ Over the years there has been good discussions on Driving Rain here. DR is one of Paul's albums that even avid Paul fans can't agree on. That being the case, it will never be included among Macca's great or even top notch albums. I'm on the "like it muchly" camp and I think it is very underrated (like BTTE). While it is not as consistently very good like NEW, CHAOS, FLAMING PIE, TUG OF WAR etc... I like its diversity a lot and its "live" feel. DR has a bit of everything including rock, ballads, mid-tempo pop, R&B, country, folk and even a bit of rap and disco. I love Paul's bass throughout. Gabe Dixon's organ on a few of the tracks also gives DR a distintive sound. Many good songs i.m.h.o. I can pretty much listen to DR from beginning to end although a couple of the songs are way too long (i.e. Raindrops, Spinning on an Axis). I also think that Freedom should not have been included since it doesn't fit musically with the overall album. Yes I agree with the songs cited that could have been great (instead of just good) but as a whole, DR is a good listen. And yes, the title cut could have been reworked lyrically and is the epitome of a 'guilty pleasure". I quite liked the live version on tour. Heard it at the the Philly show that year. The one track that some people dislike that I really like is "She's Given Up Talking". Not only do I like the music but I think that this song is one of the best lyrically that Paul has ever written. It tackles a serious subject that is very unusual in a Pop song. Many kids do go through this in school...introverted, scared to the point that they hide in shell and don't hardly speak. Yet at home (if it is a loving home) they are very comfortable. I could relate to the song myself and it even can even, if indirectly, border on all the current talk about "bullying" at school. A little unusual for Paul to tackle a serious subject like this but I think his lyrics are very creative. Some of my favorite lines are: Unlike other Children She's seen and never heard You see her in the playground Standing on her own Everybody Wonders Why She's All Alone Ah, but when she comes home It's yap-a-yap-yap Words are running freely Like a Water from a Tap And they say that Paul can't write good lyrics. You can go to the Music/Album section of the Website to see the lyrics completely. I think they are brilliant.
I agree. I was one of those kids. Didn't speak in my first year of school and the following year "opened up" and spoke to two kids. Still don't know why. Kinda made up for it after that, though. But, yes, I think it's a pretty good song and tackles the issue well.
A few years ago my then 10 y/o daughter was actually diagnosed by a therapist with something called 'selective mutism' (she's 16 now) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_mutism This song absolutely described the condition to a 't' - including when she's out in public 'won't say a word' and when she gets home 'its a yappy yap yap'...She's still pretty shy buy much better these days.... Needless to say, don't count me among those who believe the lyrics are rubbish
Rich, Glad you're daughter is much better. I remember reading a quote from Paul about the song's origin where he said a friend of his had this type of condition.
Ditto, Rich.... It's getting even harder for kids these days. Especially young girls. So many unfair expectations. I don't think reality TV helps.
-
Thanks people. Great discussion. I agree about Freedom - should have left it off. Next stop Flaming Pie.
-
I've been listening for a while now. A good album but I wouldn't say spectacular. My favourite track is probably Calico Skies.