Flowers In The Dirt a real masterpiece
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yes the album is worth more than our 'groundhog day' arguments on all things pauls voice. maybe im biased because it always depends on where you are in your life at the time. but as a 15/16 yr old i was so proud of this album and paul. at last he brought an album out that was number one at last his songs appeared to be 'liked' by my friends. at last he was going out on tour ,like all my friends fav bands. that whole period for me was like a dream..and i love 'flowers' as a whole. yes the odd patchy moment.'oust et' was current but annoying,'rough ride' was boring and 'dont be careless' was badly produced. the rest for me was pop perfection.from the sublime'distractions' to the elegant 'we got married' the whole set was a triumph.
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One of my favorites! I love the fact that he got the title from one of the songs (or vice versa) "She sprinkles flowers in the dirt-that's when a thrill becomes a hurt..."
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A great album but in my opinion it would have been even better if he had left off Ou Est Le Soleil. The album versions of Rough Ride & Figure Of Eight aren't as good as the live versions but it is a wonderful record. More consistent than Tug Of War although arguable the title track from TOW and Wanderlust are better than any songs on FITD. Tug Of War is-imo-a much patchier album because there are a few too many filler tracks on it.
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The ELVIS songs are great. I think he regrets not doing the entire album with him. That was the original plan but Paul didnt want to take the risk of sounding too much like "John" and Paul.
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streetlegal:
A great album but in my opinion it would have been even better if he had left off Ou Est Le Soleil. The album versions of Rough Ride & Figure Of Eight aren't as good as the live versions but it is a wonderful record. More consistent than Tug Of War although arguable the title track from TOW and Wanderlust are better than any songs on FITD. Tug Of War is-imo-a much patchier album because there are a few too many filler tracks on it.
Funny how taste is. Tug of War was a near perfect album imo. I loved it beginning to end. The only thing I didn't like as much was What's That You're Doing which would have been fne if it didn't go on so long. This album and FITD were my 2 favorites for years and Rough Ride was one of the songs I listened to repeatedly. I love that song almost more than anything on the album. But Don't be careless love, and mainly for the vocals was the one I would skip if I had to.
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Flowers was the current album being plugged when I first saw him live back in 1989 - with that, it will always have a sentimental place in my heart. And it's a great album to boot - sentimental or not. Some folks don't like Motor of Love - but I think it's a great song and even had it played in my wedding back in 1994. I agree it could've been shortened...but that doesn't take from the quality in my opinion. It's hard for me to pick a weak point since I basically think it's strong from start to finish...if forced to, it would be Ou Est Le Soleil or Rough Ride...but then I like those songs too. I think How Many People is a lost treasure and play that one a lot on my keyboard (and not just because it's simple to play
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mercyjames:
I agree that his vocals on the last US tour were great. Sounded better than ever. The 89/90 tour was great because it marked Paul's return to live performance. But... the vocals were pretty rough often. He actually sounded older then than he does now. The band itself was stacked with pros... but the stuff often sounded pretty flat (I actually have a similar complaint with the latest band... but only on the last couple tours). The album is interesting. Lots of good songs underneath 20 tons of production muck. In fact... I can't stand the recording of "Motor of Love..." but as I've said previously... I saw Greg Hawkes (from the Cars who is on the recording) play that song with just a ukulele and it really revealed what a beautiful tune it is. Sadly I think much of the rest of the album suffers similarly. Definite high points... but generally it sort of stinks of desperation. Like he was trying everything possible to regain his position after a number of disappointing years. The Elvis songs are great. "My Brave Face" was a great single too. "This One" is a great song that maybe could have used a less busy arrangement.
I kind of know what you mean about the 'flatness' of his current band more recently; I sometimes find them to be a little bland and sterile. Funnily enough, I had less of a problem with the Flowers / OTG-era band; even though they were very much a team of session players, they seemed to match Paul's humour and personality at the time. I also think that Hamish seemed a good vocal foil to Macca in the band. That said, the material he was producing at that point seems a little more bland, and 'on a level' to me now. As for Flowers, I feel there are lots of nice moments - though the late Eighties-style production really puts me off. Despite this, songs like Put It There, This One and Distractions still manage to shine through. Have to say though, I'd be quite intrigued to hear the Uke version of Motor of Love.
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mercyjames:
I agree that his vocals on the last US tour were great. Sounded better than ever. The 89/90 tour was great because it marked Paul's return to live performance. But... the vocals were pretty rough often. He actually sounded older then than he does now. The band itself was stacked with pros... but the stuff often sounded pretty flat (I actually have a similar complaint with the latest band... but only on the last couple tours).
I think his current band really rocked on the Back In The US/World tours, but i think that came from the fact that it was all new to them.I'm guessing the enthusiasm is wearing off now as they keep playing the same old songs over and over again.A hint of how it was comes along when they play something different and new.The joy they get out of playing Mrs Vandebilt in Kiev for the first time shows how great they can be out of there comfort zone.I think boredom is inevitable if you go over the same old ground time after time.
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The songs didn't seem to resonate with me until I got the live album Tripping The Live Fantastic, most notably "We Got Married." I've always liked the album version of "Ou Est Le Soleil?," as well as the remixed version that was one of the B-sides. I remember thinking that "Rough Ride" would've been a great radio hit.
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'how many people' 'distractions' and 'don't be careless love' are my least favorite songs on 'flowers in the dirt.' i don't know why, exactly, but 'distractions' kind of depresses me. 'how many people' kind of bores me as i don't much like reggae music and find it too simplistic and dull. 'don't be careless love' there's something about it i don't care for, an alfred hitchcock style english morbid element describing violent acts (although warning to avoid them) such as in 'maxwell's silver hammer' (which is a very cute peppy number though, paul just loved it back then, wonder if he does, now?) and the line in 'rocky raccoon' 'to shoot off the legs of his rival.' these are the only times he's used violent, macabre imagery. i think. then in part of the song they or paul sounds like he's singing from under water, it's a weird sound i blame elvis costello for instigating. i love 'rough ride' and the lush, gorgeous, starry eyed 'motor of love' though and have gone into detail on those songs previously. 'rough ride' sounds sophisticated, the cultured reflections of a brilliant mature man. yet he's admitting a certain fear, a poignant touching worry about his chances of going to heaven 'got to get inside, what do i do?" 'ou est le soleil' (dans la tete) --i think it sounds sort of exciting
you can't ignore it or claim it makes no impression. i fancied paul's singing in french again, as he did on 'michelle.' it's a rush, a vivid strong fast effect like something fierce coming at ya, gets my blood boiling and the old ticker thumps rapidly with a basic earthy reaction of red hot excitement (i make it sound like it could give me a heart attack (LOL.) it's very stirring and primal. rather like the exotic 'world music' type ditty 'pretty little head' on 'press to play'... ooooo, i feel like running around in the tropical rain forest with cool paintings adorning my shiny wet naked body and wild beautiful markings on my sweaty visage 
-- like being at 'woodstock.' (laughs merrily) 
ops: 
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While a definite return to form after a string of weak mid-'80s albums, FITD is well short of a masterpiece. "Motor of Love" is overproduced and at least 2 minutes 2 long. "How Many People" doesn't quite work, and "Rough Ride" feels like a synthetic, imitation blues. But about half the album is bloody terrific, and was a welcome relief after "Press to Play."
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'rough ride' doesn't sound like a fake blues to me...it sounds more jazzy, like a special kind of mccartney jazz
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I love FLowers In the Dirt, it was the album that made me discover Paul McCartney. And I'm a huge fan of Rough Ride! If it wasn't for Don't Be Careless Love and Motor Of Love it would be a complete masterpiece! I also love You Want Her Too and That Day Is Done.. I do agree though, that the demo for Don't Be Careless Love is great..
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Bruce M.:
While a definite return to form after a string of weak mid-'80s albums, FITD is well short of a masterpiece. "Motor of Love" is overproduced and at least 2 minutes 2 long. "How Many People" doesn't quite work, and "Rough Ride" feels like a synthetic, imitation blues. But about half the album is bloody terrific, and was a welcome relief after "Press to Play."
Oh yes, I forgot "How Many People". It's a nice song with a good message, but isn't one of Paul's better tracks. I am an admirer of "Rough Ride", though.
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just to make a note that " Ou Est le Soleil " was an extra track, it wasn't on the original release..so it did not weaken the album at all. about " Don't Be Careless love " ... : the song is very good, only the vocals should have been re-done otherwise it is very memorable tune, and fresh. The whole album is like a Beatles album, a lot of colors, great melodies, great lyrics, a nice production, you got Rock, ballad, acoustic, classic, even Reggy.. "Rough Ride" ??? this should be included in any live concert... I hope Paul will include it in future, very attractive song, there is this part when he shouts the trumpet melody, simply amazing, and then a very surprising bridge: "I am not asking for an easy passage" till " but I wouldn't mind a hand" and the brilliant drum stops to make you think and wait for the great vocals to take you up again... what a great ride..
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Ammar:
just to make a note that " Ou Est le Soleil " was an extra track, it wasn't on the original release..so it did not weaken the album at all.
It wasn't part of the vinyl album, but was certainly on the CD which was released at the same time!
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Flowers In The Dirt may be my favorite Paul solo record. I can't tell you how many times I"ve listened to it in its entirety. C&C is also up there for me as well as Off The Ground.
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it's my first album of paul and i love it
and live, it's even better (my first live too ) -
Flowers was the best thing Paul had done at that point since Band on the Run.
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[quote="Bruce M."]While a definite return to form after a string of weak mid-'80s albums, FITD is well short of a masterpiece. "Motor of Love" is overproduced and at least 2 minutes 2 long. "How Many People" doesn't quite work, and "Rough Ride" feels like a synthetic, imitation blues. But about half the album is bloody terrific, and was a welcome relief after "Press to Play." I must admit to loving Press To Play, for me it's a candidate for Paul's most under rated album. I agree with the post earlier in the thread about taste being an individual thing. PTP and Back To The Egg are 2 of my favourite McCartney albums but both of those records aren't liked by a lot of fans.
