THE NEXT DELUXE/REMASTERED ALBUM FROM PAUL
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B J Conlee:
JoeySmith:
B J Conlee:
Looks like I should have put / asked for reactions to Disc 2 of FITD on a separate thread. Maybe we should have had a separate thread on the "2017 FITD Reissue/Remaster" anyway. Don't seem to be getting much reaction which is strange when the FITD remaster is the latest album that Paul has released.
I agree with your analysis for the most part. As I've said before, Disc 2 is proof that Paul & Elvis should have released a full album together. Throw in 'Veronica' & a few of the choice cuts from 'Spike', 'Mighty like a Rose'. 'Flowers', & OTG and you would be looking at a classic today.
____________________________________________________ Thanks Joey. I agree that a Paul/Elvis Duet Album could have been a big selling album at the time especially if you added Veronica and Back on My Feet (previously done on a Paul B-side). Hope you are, at least, enjoying Disc 2 like I am. Like I said, it seems like there are less Paul music lovers on this site which is disappointing. I would have expected much more discussion on FITD. Just a few of us consistently responding.
Forum died because Paul has released only one proper studio album in almost a decade. You can't hang on to even hard core fans if you're that washed up.
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Nancy R:
love2travel:
Is there a vinyl deal anywhere? Would someone please tell me the deal for Best Buy? I would greatly appreciate it
I did your work for you: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/flowers-in-the-dirt-special-edition-2lp-lp-vinyl/32530189.p?skuId=32530189
Thanks so much Nancy, I've been under the weather.
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Nancy R:
0% chance.
Come on, 5%!
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love2travel:
Nancy R:
love2travel:
Is there a vinyl deal anywhere? Would someone please tell me the deal for Best Buy? I would greatly appreciate it
I did your work for you: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/flowers-in-the-dirt-special-edition-2lp-lp-vinyl/32530189.p?skuId=32530189
Thanks so much Nancy, I've been under the weather.
Sorry to hear that - hope you feel better soon!
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favoritething:
Nancy R:
0% chance.
Come on, 5%!
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Nancy R:
love2travel:
Nancy R:
love2travel:
Is there a vinyl deal anywhere? Would someone please tell me the deal for Best Buy? I would greatly appreciate it
I did your work for you: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/flowers-in-the-dirt-special-edition-2lp-lp-vinyl/32530189.p?skuId=32530189
Thanks so much Nancy, I've been under the weather.
Sorry to hear that - hope you feel better soon!
Thank you Nancy!! Appreciated you finding that too
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Nancy R:
favoritething:
Nancy R:
0% chance.
Come on, 5%!
______________________________________________ When I wrote that, I had the "slim to none" expression in my head and was naively thinking on the "slim" side. Nancy always sets me straight. Well, maybe someone from Paul's team or Capitol can at least read how a great fan feels. Just give us a nice, complete audio set for $30 to $40. How difficult should that have been.
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B J Conlee:
Nancy R:
favoritething:
Nancy R:
0% chance.
Come on, 5%!
______________________________________________ When I wrote that, I had the "slim to none" expression in my head and was naively thinking on the "slim" side. Nancy always sets me straight. Well, maybe someone from Paul's team or Capitol can at least read how a great fan feels. Just give us a nice, complete audio set for $30 to $40. How difficult should that have been.
Not difficult to do, but the closest they've come to doing that with the Archive series was with the first one, "Band on the Run." They had the big box with 3 CDs and 1 DVD, but you could also buy a cheaper CD-sized version with 2 CDs and 1 DVD, leaving out the CD that was the same as the 1999 Anniversary version (the audio documentary), which I already had. So that's the only big box I don't have in the whole series.
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favoritething:
Not difficult to do, but the closest they've come to doing that with the Archive series was with the first one, "Band on the Run." They had the big box with 3 CDs and 1 DVD, but you could also buy a cheaper CD-sized version with 2 CDs and 1 DVD, leaving out the CD that was the same as the 1999 Anniversary version (the audio documentary), which I already had. So that's the only big box I don't have in the whole series.
Same for me.
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I have so many various incarnations of BOTR that I've lost track!
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Nancy R:
I have so many various incarnations of BOTR that I've lost track!
I don't doubt there will be more!
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B J Conlee:
Continued from my previous post 6. That Day is Done - Along with "The Lovers That Never Were" and "My Brave Face", That Day is Done is in my Top 3 in the Paul/Elvis collaborations. Again, like the rawness and simplicity of this demo which has a nice country/gospel feel. Love Paul's vocal on the album version. I found it interesting that Elvis mention how "That Day is Done" (especially in the chorus) had a feel of "Let It Be". As I have said, just wished Paul would have done this song "live" (along with Lover's That Never Were) on one of his Tours. 7. Don't Be Careless Love - The only Paul/Elvis song on FITD where I thought the demo was actually better than the finished FITD version. As I have said, I thought that Paul's solo vocal was sung too high and I found parts of the vocal "grating" at least to my ears. My least favorite of the 4 collaborative songs on FITD. I do like the demo a lot and showed me (in my opinion) that the finished version could have been done better. As an overall song and melody, I like "Lovers That Never Were" much better than "Careless" and would have much preferred "Lovers" on FITD given a choice. 8. My Brave Face - Love both this demo and the album version. The added production on the album version was perfect in my opinion but it's great to have this early, simpler version. Very Beatlesque and early British Invasion in style. 9. Playboy to a Man - Sounds right out of the Elvis and Attractions playbook. Not surprising that Elvis took it for his own subsequent album, "Mighty Like a Rose". Still it is great to hear Elvis and Paul singing it together. As I said, Disc 2 was the real "silver lining" in the low cost option for me. Four of the songs were brand new to me and the others were great to hear in a full demo version. My only disappointment was that it is only a tad over 30 minutes. It would have been even greater if the Disc included 2-3 more demo tracks like Back on my Feet, Mistress and Maid, I Don't want to Confess etc. But my big question that I continue to ask...Why wasn't all the extra songs (B-sides, Once Upon a Long Ago, live versions etc) available in an all-audio 3 CD package. I would have easily paid $30-$35 for that kind of set. I'm the perfect customer for Paul (not with an unlimited budget however) but his various price alternatives for a more "complete" reissue in a mid-price set were absent.
BJ, your posts are always spot on, and very well thought out! I have to make more of a concerted effort to not just browse here, but post more frequently. "Flowers in the Dirt" came out when I was 2 years old, so it's an album that has been with me nearly my entire life, and has always been a favorite of mine. My brother and I both have vivid memories of listening and singing along to these songs from the backseat of our parents car (as well as "Off The Ground" a few years later). Being as objective as possible, I think it's a very good album that had the potential to be great. On the whole, the songwriting and performances are stellar, with some near misses. While not all the songs are equal in quality, I think that the album has a really great flow, especially the first eight tracks. As far as I'm concerned, "My Brave Face", "Distractions" "Put It There", "This One", & "That Day Is Done" are the clear standouts, and should all be considered McCartney classics. "Rough Ride" may go on a little long, but it's still a good tune, and I never get bored listening to that groove. I really dig "You Want Her Too", "We Got Married", and "Figure of Eight" as well, and consider them really good, well-written songs. I agree with your assessment of "Don't Be Careless Love", even though I really like this song, I don't believe that the album version does it justice, especially the lead vocal in the verses (which always sounded strained to my ears). The acoustic demo with Paul & Elvis Costello is my preferred version, and I'm so happy they decided to remaster and release those recordings. After "That Day Is Done", the album really trails off for me. The following three tracks ("How Many People", "Motor Of Love", and "O? est le Soleil?", the last which is not on the original album proper, but now is) should have all been B-sides, IMO. How those songs made the final cut, while tunes like "Back On My Feet", "Flying to My Home", & "Tommy's Coming Home, among others. did not is mind boggling. "How Many People" is nice enough, but not of the quality of the rest of the album. Oddly enough, I used to absolutely hate "Motor of Love", but I have to say that listening to the album again recently has softened my view of it from "hate" to "dislike", haha. I've always found the production on this one to be a little grating, and while I do think that it has exquisite verse and pre-chorus melodies, it unravels into an 80's power ballad cheese-fest once it hits the chorus. Also, lyrically I've always found it to be too trite. "O? est le Soleil?" should have remained off of the album, I find it hard to listen to all the way through. Anyway, those are some of my thoughts on listening to the album with fresh ears. I rank it in the upper tier of Paul records, definitely in my top 10: Ram Band on the Run Tug of War Flaming Pie Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Venus and Mars Back to the Egg Flowers in the Dirt Memory Almost Full NEW
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Anthony B.:
B J Conlee:
Continued from my previous post 6. That Day is Done - Along with "The Lovers That Never Were" and "My Brave Face", That Day is Done is in my Top 3 in the Paul/Elvis collaborations. Again, like the rawness and simplicity of this demo which has a nice country/gospel feel. Love Paul's vocal on the album version. I found it interesting that Elvis mention how "That Day is Done" (especially in the chorus) had a feel of "Let It Be". As I have said, just wished Paul would have done this song "live" (along with Lover's That Never Were) on one of his Tours. 7. Don't Be Careless Love - The only Paul/Elvis song on FITD where I thought the demo was actually better than the finished FITD version. As I have said, I thought that Paul's solo vocal was sung too high and I found parts of the vocal "grating" at least to my ears. My least favorite of the 4 collaborative songs on FITD. I do like the demo a lot and showed me (in my opinion) that the finished version could have been done better. As an overall song and melody, I like "Lovers That Never Were" much better than "Careless" and would have much preferred "Lovers" on FITD given a choice. 8. My Brave Face - Love both this demo and the album version. The added production on the album version was perfect in my opinion but it's great to have this early, simpler version. Very Beatlesque and early British Invasion in style. 9. Playboy to a Man - Sounds right out of the Elvis and Attractions playbook. Not surprising that Elvis took it for his own subsequent album, "Mighty Like a Rose". Still it is great to hear Elvis and Paul singing it together. As I said, Disc 2 was the real "silver lining" in the low cost option for me. Four of the songs were brand new to me and the others were great to hear in a full demo version. My only disappointment was that it is only a tad over 30 minutes. It would have been even greater if the Disc included 2-3 more demo tracks like Back on my Feet, Mistress and Maid, I Don't want to Confess etc. But my big question that I continue to ask...Why wasn't all the extra songs (B-sides, Once Upon a Long Ago, live versions etc) available in an all-audio 3 CD package. I would have easily paid $30-$35 for that kind of set. I'm the perfect customer for Paul (not with an unlimited budget however) but his various price alternatives for a more "complete" reissue in a mid-price set were absent.
BJ, your posts are always spot on, and very well thought out! I have to make more of a concerted effort to not just browse here, but post more frequently. "Flowers in the Dirt" came out when I was 2 years old, so it's an album that has been with me nearly my entire life, and has always been a favorite of mine. My brother and I both have vivid memories of listening and singing along to these songs from the backseat of our parents car (as well as "Off The Ground" a few years later). Being as objective as possible, I think it's a very good album that had the potential to be great. On the whole, the songwriting and performances are stellar, with some near misses. While not all the songs are equal in quality, I think that the album has a really great flow, especially the first eight tracks. As far as I'm concerned, "My Brave Face", "Distractions" "Put It There", "This One", & "That Day Is Done" are the clear standouts, and should all be considered McCartney classics. "Rough Ride" may go on a little long, but it's still a good tune, and I never get bored listening to that groove. I really dig "You Want Her Too", "We Got Married", and "Figure of Eight" as well, and consider them really good, well-written songs. I agree with your assessment of "Don't Be Careless Love", even though I really like this song, I don't believe that the album version does it justice, especially the lead vocal in the verses (which always sounded strained to my ears). The acoustic demo with Paul & Elvis Costello is my preferred version, and I'm so happy they decided to remaster and release those recordings. After "That Day Is Done", the album really trails off for me. The following three tracks ("How Many People", "Motor Of Love", and "O? est le Soleil?", the last which is not on the original album proper, but now is) should have all been B-sides, IMO. How those songs made the final cut, while tunes like "Back On My Feet", "Flying to My Home", & "Tommy's Coming Home, among others. did not is mind boggling. "How Many People" is nice enough, but not of the quality of the rest of the album. Oddly enough, I used to absolutely hate "Motor of Love", but I have to say that listening to the album again recently has softened my view of it from "hate" to "dislike", haha. I've always found the production on this one to be a little grating, and while I do think that it has exquisite verse and pre-chorus melodies, it unravels into an 80's power ballad cheese-fest once it hits the chorus. Also, lyrically I've always found it to be too trite. "O? est le Soleil?" should have remained off of the album, I find it hard to listen to all the way through. Anyway, those are some of my thoughts on listening to the album with fresh ears. I rank it in the upper tier of Paul records, definitely in my top 10: Ram Band on the Run Tug of War Flaming Pie Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Venus and Mars Back to the Egg Flowers in the Dirt Memory Almost Full NEW
_____________________________________________________ Anthony, Thanks so much. I love your post and couldn't agree more. I'm quite a bit older so in my case, I remember my sister and I sitting in the back seat of my parents car (in the 50's) listening and singing to the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry etc. Years later, when Flowers came out, my Daughter was about 7 and we were singing to many of the Flowers in the Dirt songs in the car also. After listening to the Flowers' reissue I feel the same way. It was and still is a very good album that had the chance to be great (even a masterpiece). Like you, I think the 1st eight songs really flow well and several of them should be considered Macca classics. I also am now liking "Don't Be Careless Love" and with my older ears do not skip it. The lyrics are obviously on the dark side which gives a good mix to Paul's usual optimistic songs. I love the ending part..."but in the dark, your mind plays funny tricks on you." I totally agree that after hearing the acoustic demo with Elvis, the album performance could have been better. The last 3 songs is where Flowers could have ended up to be a great album and a masterpiece. I also think that "How Many People" is pleasant enough but doesn't measure up to the rest of the album especially considering the other songs that could have been replacements. I also like parts of Motor of Love (great melody) but it is the production and length that turns it into as you say "80's power ballad cheese fest" (perfect description). And I still can't get into the last track on the CD. I like your alternates that you listed. All would have been superior choices and would have put Flowers in the Great category. I would just add that "Lovers that Never Were" was sitting there as a potential Flowers Song. I'm glad Paul put it on "Off the Ground" but I keep thinking how "Lovers" could have made "Flowers" a Masterpiece. Finally I love your Top 10. I also think that Back to the Egg is/was severely underrated.
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oobu24:
favoritething:
Not difficult to do, but the closest they've come to doing that with the Archive series was with the first one, "Band on the Run." They had the big box with 3 CDs and 1 DVD, but you could also buy a cheaper CD-sized version with 2 CDs and 1 DVD, leaving out the CD that was the same as the 1999 Anniversary version (the audio documentary), which I already had. So that's the only big box I don't have in the whole series.
Same for me.
me too
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The demo for "Back On My Feet" was just offered as a free download on the main website -really cool to hear this tune in it's raw, unfinished form! https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/back-on-my-feet-demo-exclusive-first-play
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Anthony B.:
The demo for "Back On My Feet" was just offered as a free download on the main website -really cool to hear this tune in it's raw, unfinished form! https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/back-on-my-feet-demo-exclusive-first-play
NICE! It is also on youtube.
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Anthony B.:
The demo for "Back On My Feet" was just offered as a free download on the main website -really cool to hear this tune in it's raw, unfinished form! https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/back-on-my-feet-demo-exclusive-first-play
_________________________________________________________ Anthony, Just saw and heard your version (with your Brother and Dad) of Put It There. It was fantastic. Loved the harmonies. Looks like you have a great family. I loved your expressions as you were playing it. I could tell that all of you are real Macca fans. I wonder if Paul has ever seen your version. It might encourage him to do the song when he gets to the US in July. So much better than songs like I Want to be Your Man, Four-Five Seconds or Temporary Secretary.
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oobu24:
Anthony B.:
The demo for "Back On My Feet" was just offered as a free download on the main website -really cool to hear this tune in it's raw, unfinished form! https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/back-on-my-feet-demo-exclusive-first-play
NICE! It is also on youtube.
_____________________________________________________________ Just saw the demo of Back on Your Feet on U-Tube. Love it and only wished Paul would have added this demo on Disc 2. As I was watching Back on my Feet on U-Tube the next song that came on was a different video version of Put It There. Paul's vocal was not the FITD album version but it also didn't appear to be the live version that came out on Tripping the Live Fantastic. It was close to the live version where it had the special section at the end but Paul's voice seemed better than the live version. That is what I meant a while back when I said I was disappointed there wasn't an audio only Disc 3 that had all the B-sides, Once upon a Long Ago and rare live versions from FITD. This version of Put It There was fantastic. Any comments if you saw this video of Put It There.
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B J Conlee:
Anthony B.:
The demo for "Back On My Feet" was just offered as a free download on the main website -really cool to hear this tune in it's raw, unfinished form! https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/back-on-my-feet-demo-exclusive-first-play
_________________________________________________________ Anthony, Just saw and heard your version (with your Brother and Dad) of Put It There. It was fantastic. Loved the harmonies. Looks like you have a great family. I loved your expressions as you were playing it. I could tell that all of you are real Macca fans. I wonder if Paul has ever seen your version. It might encourage him to do the song when he gets to the US in July. So much better than songs like I Want to be Your Man, Four-Five Seconds or Temporary Secretary.
______________________________________________________ Anthony, Have you guys ever done live intimate shows with the 3 of you. Earlier this year I saw a McCartney tribute band. They were good but basically they only played great Paul Beatle songs and Wings up to 1976. You guys could specialize on Solo Macca from Tug of War on. You could stay with the acoustic theme at small intimate venues. There are so many great songs you guys could do...Put It There, Early Days, Little Willow, Golden Earth Girl, Your Way, One of These Days, This One, Somedays, Heaven on a Sunday, Calico Skies etc. etc. You would be doing something that no one else does as far as a tribute show. Not only would I be in line to see you but I want to be your manager. I have no music talent but I am good at Marketing. Just kidding but I love you guys. Since Paul doesn't do his Solo Songs, you have a great niche just waiting for you.
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B J Conlee:
B J Conlee:
Anthony B.:
The demo for "Back On My Feet" was just offered as a free download on the main website -really cool to hear this tune in it's raw, unfinished form! https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/back-on-my-feet-demo-exclusive-first-play
_________________________________________________________ Anthony, Just saw and heard your version (with your Brother and Dad) of Put It There. It was fantastic. Loved the harmonies. Looks like you have a great family. I loved your expressions as you were playing it. I could tell that all of you are real Macca fans. I wonder if Paul has ever seen your version. It might encourage him to do the song when he gets to the US in July. So much better than songs like I Want to be Your Man, Four-Five Seconds or Temporary Secretary.
______________________________________________________ Anthony, Have you guys ever done live intimate shows with the 3 of you. Earlier this year I saw a McCartney tribute band. They were good but basically they only played great Paul Beatle songs and Wings up to 1976. You guys could specialize on Solo Macca from Tug of War on. You could stay with the acoustic theme at small intimate venues. There are so many great songs you guys could do...Put It There, Early Days, Little Willow, Golden Earth Girl, Your Way, One of These Days, This One, Somedays, Heaven on a Sunday, Calico Skies etc. etc. You would be doing something that no one else does as far as a tribute show. Not only would I be in line to see you but I want to be your manager. I have no music talent but I am good at Marketing. Just kidding but I love you guys. Since Paul doesn't do his Solo Songs, you have a great niche just waiting for you.