Press to Play
-
I was surprised to find that this album is considered by many to be terrible. Honestly, it would be in my top three McCartney albums if I had to order them. I think its fantastic. If you hate it, please tell me why?
-
Most people who hate it talk about the eighties production, but it doesn't bother me so much. I was just glad, after Pipes of Peace and Broad Street and "Spies Like Us," that he seemed serious about making new music again.
-
good songs great voice just too OVERPRODUCED ..Hate that drum sound on some of the songs...THAT 80'S SOUND..I just got this again..great listen
-
Weak songs, odd and annoying arrangements and production. Not Paul's all-time worst but in the bottom 15% for sure.
-
I don't hate this album. Sadly it is his most 80's production soaked album, which most all artists were subject to or guilty of in those days. So I dislike the production aspect of it. Alarm bells rang for me when he recruited Hugh Padgham to produce. The list of artists he'd worked with included Phil Collins, Genesis and The Police...so yuk. I do hate that ROTTEN opening song. Overall it has a collection of very good songs. Stranglehold, Footprints, Move Over Busker all turn out well, but when we get into Press, Talk More Talk, Good Times Coming/Feel The Sun territory, However Absurd, well...I mean even Spies Like Us spawned from the sessions!...so yuk. So for mine a mix of good songs and duff songs, but overall, a collection drenched in that awful "Phil Collinsy" 80's sound. Special mention to the great George Hurrell, a better portrait photographer you'd be hard PRESSed to find!!!
-
I didn't even buy this album when it first came out. Got it at a Beatles convention for $10 (vinyl LP) long after. I like "Press" but it's generally not one of my favorite Paul albums.
-
favoritething:
Most people who hate it talk about the eighties production, but it doesn't bother me so much. I was just glad, after Pipes of Peace and Broad Street and "Spies Like Us," that he seemed serious about making new music again.
I agree. As I recall, it was actually regarded as a bit of a comeback album for Paul. Reviews were fairly positive. I have always liked the album, whilst certainly recognizing the grating aspects of the mid-eighties production. But I was 16 when the album was released, so my judgement may be suspect.
-
Wyrdskein:
I was surprised to find that this album is considered by many to be terrible. Honestly, it would be in my top three McCartney albums if I had to order them. I think its fantastic. If you hate it, please tell me why?
I always thought Press to Play was pretty good. I think Paul himself has said he doesn't like it. I think that's where a lot of the opinion about it comes from. It's certainly better than Pipes of Peace, imo. Great cover, too!
-
I love the album. It's in my Top 3 favorites for post-Wings...along with Flaming Pie and Flowers In The Dirt. A lot of people who don't like it do seem to rag on the '80s sound or some of the song selections. I think it was Paul being Paul...trying to stay with the contemporary flow at the time. "Press" is, in my opinion, still a fun jam with an entertaining video. "Stranglehold", "Pretty Little Head", "Only Love Remains", and "However Absurd" are also some of my favorites. Sadly, it looks like Paul has no future plans to do anything else with the album's material. I think one or two of them would be suitable in live form with the band.
-
Maybe I have strange taste, but I like all the tracks and the production seems fine. Interesting that people are saying even McCartney doesn't rate the album - shame. I think its quality.
-
I hated this LP when it came out, but I have changed my opinion on it since then. It only took 20 years, though
At the time, for me, it was a let down after two strong LPs, Tug Of War and Pipes of Peace. I didn't mind the production then or now. It was the songs I didn't like, except for Press. I thought that was a good single. I liked the video, too. I would rank it somewhere in the middle for me. It does have a nice sound when played through headphones. 
-
wingsdgm:
good songs great voice just too OVERPRODUCED ..Hate that drum sound on some of the songs...THAT 80'S SOUND..I just got this again..great listen
Agreed, while it's admirable that he was trying something new with that album, the production has dated it. But there are some great tunes on there...Stranglehold, Angry, Move Over Busker, Only Love Remains, Good Times Coming/Feel the Sun...all great tunes. I believe this is the only album of his where he's NEVER played a single song from it live...am I right?
-
dcshark:
I hated this LP when it came out, but I have changed my opinion on it since then. It only took 20 years, though
At the time, for me, it was a let down after two strong LPs, Tug Of War and Pipes of Peace. I didn't mind the production then or now. It was the songs I didn't like, except for Press. I thought that was a good single. I liked the video, too. I would rank it somewhere in the middle for me. It does have a nice sound when played through headphones. Perhaps it's a 'headphones album'
Press and Pretty Little Head certainly sound great with the cans on, I shall have to check out the other tracks the same way soon. -
DrBeatle:
I believe this is the only album of his where he's NEVER played a single song from it live...am I right?
I was thinking about that as well, but is there anything on "Pipes of Peace" that he's done live?
-
LetMeRollIt89:
DrBeatle:
I believe this is the only album of his where he's NEVER played a single song from it live...am I right?
I was thinking about that as well, but is there anything on "Pipes of Peace" that he's done live?
Hmmm, good question, perhaps you're right and BOTH are the only albums where he never played anything from them live. I think you're right!
-
Ive always really liked Press To Play Its a really good album very experimental sounding l understand whats said about the 80's production but think that adds to its charm some great songs on there Stranglehold, Footprints, Only Love Remains Its Not True and Write away are Favorites Of Mine i much prefer this too either McCartney II or Electric Arguments
-
Notes about "Press To Play": Not sure if this has been discussed before but I find "Good Times Coming" at TOTAL look back at Beatles 1967. Paul used the phrase "golden summer" in The Beatles Anthology when the Pepper sessions were discussed. Lines like "That was a golden summer, before the war... We laughed a lot that summer. La De Da." I interpreted as before things got sticky in the group's relationship. There's "That was a silly season. Was it the best? We didn't need a reason, just a rest"- about coming off endless tours and prepping Pepper when critics were saying it was over for them. Plus the phrase "I'm loving you now" tends to point towards time healing all wounds. See if you hear the song differently now. There is a boot of "Feel The Sun" with a terrific organ middle break that I wish he kept in the song. Plus a remix of "Angry" on one of the 12-inch official releases with a real beefy horn section that adds more 'smack' to his smack talk. One last note, the version of "Pretty Little Head" on "The McCartney Years" DVD is NOT the "PTP" version. Paul always seems to have cards up his sleeve when it comes to doing different things.
-
this CD was BRILLIANT!!!!!!! Smooth, Like Royal Crown going down! Wish I could buy this CD somewhere????????, I use to hear it in Macca Central-radio once in a while. anyone got somewhere I can hear this CD?? it SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYED On the RADIO!!!! never was here! it was one of Paul's Classics to me! wish Paul would let me hear it here???? How about Paul's Radio show, on this site somewhere? WOW what a cool thought! IDEA
I say Why not? oh yeah I forgot, too many people wanting things for free! well I would pay to join a "PAUL RECORD CLUB"??? How does that sound?? Paul? are you Listening to my Request?? it could be songs from the 40's 50's and 60's? I came from the late 40's anyway! why not? 
-
Personally, I'm happy to forget this album -- and pretty much his whole run of mid-'80s stuff -- ever existed. Yeah, there are a few good tracks here and there, but this is not Paul at anywhere near his best.
-
(The Girl Is Mine) + 1983 > 1987... PUKE!
