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    NOT SUCH A BAD BOY
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    • A
      admin last edited by

      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?

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      • favoritething
        favoritething last edited by

        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.

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        • A
          admin last edited by

          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

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          • Bruce M.
            Bruce M. last edited by

            Weak songs, odd and annoying arrangements and production. Not Paul's all-time worst but in the bottom 15% for sure.

            "The only true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the nation all the time, loyalty to government when it deserves it."

            \--Mark Twain

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            • A
              admin last edited by

              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!!!

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              • Nancy R
                Nancy R last edited by

                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.

                Omni, Atlanta, GA May 18, 1976, Feb. 17, 1990

                GA Dome, Atlanta, GA May 1, 1993

                Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA May 12, 2002

                FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN May 26, 2013

                Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Oct. 15, 2014

                Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA July 13, 2017

                Bon Secours Arena, Greenville, SC May 30, 2019

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                • A
                  admin last edited by

                  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.

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                  • beatlesfanrandy
                    beatlesfanrandy last edited by

                    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!

                    Wings Over America - Cow Palace SF - June 1976. New World Tour - Anaheim Stadium - 4/17/93. Driving USA - Oakland Arena - 4/1/2002. US Tour - HP Pavilion - San Jose - 11/08/05. An Evening with Paul McCartney - The Joint at Hard Rock - Las Vegas - 4/19/09. Up & Coming Tour - Hollywood Bowl - 3/31/10. Walk of Fame Star Presentation - Hollywood - Feb. 2012. CBS-TV taping - The Night That Changed America (with Ringo!)  - L.A. Convention Center - Jan. 2014. Out There Tour -Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles - Aug. '14 and Petco Park - San Diego - Sept. '14. Petco Park - San Diego - June 2019.  Got Back Tour - SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles - May 2022

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                    • LetMeRollIt89
                      LetMeRollIt89 last edited by

                      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.

                      "And your inspiration long may it last..."

                      5/31/22 - Knoxville

                      7/26/17 - Tinley Park

                      7/25/17 - Tinley Park

                      8/14/14 - San Francisco

                      7/9/14 - Chicago

                      7/16/13 - Milwaukee

                      7/14/13 - Indianapolis

                      5/26/13 - Memphis

                      11/11/12 - St. Louis

                      7/31/11 - Chicago

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                      • A
                        admin last edited by

                        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.

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                        • dcshark
                          dcshark last edited by

                          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.

                          Can you turn the heat up, or are we practicing to be Canadians? Ringo Starr
                          Today I love you more than yesterday/Right now I love you more right now John Lennon
                          World Tour/New World Tour/Driving USA Tour/US Tour/Up and Coming Tour/On The Run/Out There

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                          • D
                            DrBeatle last edited by

                            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?

                            "Sunday's on the phone to Monday, Tuesday's on the phone to me..."

                            My Website: The Rock and Roll Chemist
                            http://www.rnrchemist.blogspot.com
                            Twitter: @rocknrollchem

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                            • ewanme
                              ewanme last edited by

                              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.

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                              • LetMeRollIt89
                                LetMeRollIt89 last edited by

                                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?

                                "And your inspiration long may it last..."

                                5/31/22 - Knoxville

                                7/26/17 - Tinley Park

                                7/25/17 - Tinley Park

                                8/14/14 - San Francisco

                                7/9/14 - Chicago

                                7/16/13 - Milwaukee

                                7/14/13 - Indianapolis

                                5/26/13 - Memphis

                                11/11/12 - St. Louis

                                7/31/11 - Chicago

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                                • D
                                  DrBeatle last edited by

                                  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!

                                  "Sunday's on the phone to Monday, Tuesday's on the phone to me..."

                                  My Website: The Rock and Roll Chemist
                                  http://www.rnrchemist.blogspot.com
                                  Twitter: @rocknrollchem

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                                  • steveramon
                                    steveramon last edited by

                                    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

                                    3/1/90 NEC Birmingham
                                    28/6/90 Kings Dock Liverpool
                                    15/9/93 Earls Court London
                                    29/5/03 Hallam FM Arena Sheffield
                                    19/12/11 MEN Arena Manchester
                                    27/5/15 Barclaycard Arena Birmingham

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                                    • A
                                      admin last edited by

                                      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.

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                                      • A
                                        admin last edited by

                                        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?

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                                        • Bruce M.
                                          Bruce M. last edited by

                                          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 only true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the nation all the time, loyalty to government when it deserves it."

                                          \--Mark Twain

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                                          • A
                                            admin last edited by

                                            (The Girl Is Mine) + 1983 > 1987... PUKE!

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