Tug of War--Almost Thirty Years On
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I checked the official release date on the site and it has it down as April 26, which would be for the UK, so please forgive me for starting this thread now but this album is very important to me, for very personal reasons as you will read. I remember it coming out in late April here in the States, just days before my wife and I were married, so it is strongly associated in my mind with that happy event. Ebony and Ivory came out a month or so earlier, I believe, and I remember one of my hardcore Beatle friends NOT liking it,, which mystified me. That song is linked to my driving her and her best friend up to my hometown on a Saturday for a wedding shower and it came on the radio for the first time. Critics hailed Tug of War as either his best post-Beatles album ever or on par with BOTR. I thought what we called Side 2 on vinyl was especially strong especially the last three tracks that get moving with Dress Me Up as a Robber. I put it way up there but since those days it seems to be somewhat overlooked by those who look back on Paul's career and it may no longer be considered in his upper echelon of albums, its place probably taken by Ram which the critics damned to hell in 1971, I hated them for it. As for the album being forgotten, I remember in 2002 when he first did Here Today live, he had to explain to Katie Couric (I think it was) where the song came from as she thought it was totally new! Tug of War came out with Reagan in the White House, Thatcher at 10 Downing Street, the Falklands War and Europe divided between east and west. So much has changed. My funniest memory--my wife getting tired of me playing it everyday. She, of course, knew I was a big fan but she thought that was a bit much. I just said, hey, it's a great album. Thirty years on, we are still married and I still think it was a great album.
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The recording history of that album is a saga on it's own. It's also the album that more or less killed Wings.
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BertoneBeatle:
The recording history of that album is a saga on it's own. It's also the album that more or less killed Wings.
Wasn't some of it originally planned to be included in a Wings release? I know Denny Laine is on there on some tracks.
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I'm not a big fan of this album and I think it's partly the production. Sorry, George, but it just sounds old-fashions. It sounds too tame and too much verging into adult contemporary mush. And I hate to say it but some of the songs don't work for me because of the backing vocals. Like that corny moment in the song Tug of War where Linda sings "pushing, pulling." It just ruins the song for me. I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind or maybe someone can explain what I'm missing. But I just have never warmed to this one.
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It was Paul's first album after John died. It was also Paul's first solo album with George Martin producing. It was emotional for both of them, and I see it as a tribute to John. Paul was really pushed to come up with something great, and the excellence shines on the whole album.
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I've always considered this a magnificent album, one of his greatest
One of his masterpieces. 
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One of his many masterpieces. An absolute gem of an album that works from start to finish. Imagine the emotions that would have been felt/involved in making this album.
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I love this album from beginning to end. One of my very favourite albums. Wanderlust on it's own is melodic genius.
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To me, Wanderlust, Tug of War, Dress Me Up as Robber and the Pound is Sinking are outstanding. Perhaps because of hearing it live a number of time and then reproduced on liva albums, Here Today has lost some of its power. Especially interesting to hear The Pound Is Sinking in which currencies like the Greek Drachma are named as these have been replaced by the Euro. Of course, many feel Greece will eventually have to go back to the Drachma so the perception of this song's lyrics might have a strange evolution. The Pound is still around and was holding steady on this morning's foreign exchange quotes!
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Michelley:
I'm not a big fan of this album and I think it's partly the production. Sorry, George, but it just sounds old-fashions. It sounds too tame and too much verging into adult contemporary mush. And I hate to say it but some of the songs don't work for me because of the backing vocals. Like that corny moment in the song Tug of War where Linda sings "pushing, pulling." It just ruins the song for me. I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind or maybe someone can explain what I'm missing. But I just have never warmed to this one.
Good call on that 'pushing pulling' bit, I never think about it but that it sort of cheesy, just the way it sounds
anyway wanted to say I darn near agree with you about TOW Michelley, sometimes it is a bit easy listening. but mainly that is because of the production, and for me most of the time I can hear enough cool sounding stuff and rocking coming from Paul to make the production work alright. its definitely really clean, but the layer and orchestrational blending that takes place on that album is really actually quite amazing, to think someone (George Martin/Paul) actually did that and made those sounds. 
sonically its got some really cool moments. and along with some good songs it can make for a reasonably breath taking listen 
I like Tug of War, in my top 10 Paul reckids. I actually do love the CD of TOW because you get the straight though Here Today > Ballroom Dancing run. very sad, and then washed away by fun McCartney rockin. for some reason thats a really impactful 2 song line up for me. on the vinyl I need to flip for it. still works though 
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Michelley:
I'm not a big fan of this album and I think it's partly the production. Sorry, George, but it just sounds old-fashions. It sounds too tame and too much verging into adult contemporary mush. And I hate to say it but some of the songs don't work for me because of the backing vocals. Like that corny moment in the song Tug of War where Linda sings "pushing, pulling." It just ruins the song for me. I don't know, maybe I'll change my mind or maybe someone can explain what I'm missing. But I just have never warmed to this one.
For me it's the general strength of the songs that make Tug Of War one of Paul's more consistent albums. I do think the production is probably slicker than i'd prefer, but the overall quality of the songs override this minor quibble. The title track is one of Paul's best solo songs and shows when he puts his mind to it he can write brilliant lyrics. Wanderlust is another highlight with again beautifully apt lyrics, again one of his best solo songs. I can't say i'm keen on the Stevie Wonder duets, especially Ebony And Ivory, i think they don't really fit the feel of the album, but most of the rest is top notch Macca.
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Great album. "Wanderlust" is one of the best songs ever, "Tug of War" a great song in every way, "Take It Away" very catchy. "Dress Me Up as a Robber" is the only song on this record I don't like, but all the other ones are great. Paul at his best in the 80s.
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I agree with you on at least one of the Stevie duets, "What's That You're Doing" is the weakest track on the entire album.
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Love this album very easy on the ear, like the way TOW blends into Take it Away. A classic from Macca.
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dance-tonight:
Great album. "Wanderlust" is one of the best songs ever, "Tug of War" a great song in every way, "Take It Away" very catchy. "Dress Me Up as a Robber" is the only song on this record I don't like, but all the other ones are great. Paul at his best in the 80s.
Listened to Wanderlust short time ago when out in the car. That is one outstanding song. If I had to pick one favorite from the entire album, always hard to do, that would be it. It is also an offspring of the Londontown sessions, one of my favorites from the 1970s. As for Dress Me Up as a Robber, that song is so intriguing as it really doesn't have melody, or at least one that is easily accessible, which is unusual for Paul. Trying to whistle it is impossible!
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John Mackintosh:
Listened to Wanderlust short time ago when out in the car. That is one outstanding song. If I had to pick one favorite from the entire album, always hard to do, that would be it. It is also an offspring of the Londontown sessions, one of my favorites from the 1970s.
I'd love Paul to ditch The Long And Winding Road and put Wanderlust in it's place in the live show. The only downside to this proposition is whether Paul could sing it well as it's in a very high range.
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BOYCIE:
John Mackintosh:
Listened to Wanderlust short time ago when out in the car. That is one outstanding song. If I had to pick one favorite from the entire album, always hard to do, that would be it. It is also an offspring of the Londontown sessions, one of my favorites from the 1970s.
I'd love Paul to ditch The Long And Winding Road and put Wanderlust in it's place in the live show. The only downside to this proposition is whether Paul could sing it well as it's in a very high range.
I think that would be a real concern Boycie. Tbh I find it hard to think he has neglected it completely since 89 on wards. IMO It really is one of his finest songs, one of my all time faves EVER.
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CMackbird:
BOYCIE:
John Mackintosh:
Listened to Wanderlust short time ago when out in the car. That is one outstanding song. If I had to pick one favorite from the entire album, always hard to do, that would be it. It is also an offspring of the Londontown sessions, one of my favorites from the 1970s.
I'd love Paul to ditch The Long And Winding Road and put Wanderlust in it's place in the live show. The only downside to this proposition is whether Paul could sing it well as it's in a very high range.
I think that would be a real concern Boycie. Tbh I find it hard to think he has neglected it completely since 89 on wards. IMO It really is one of his finest songs, one of my all time faves EVER.
(and Boycie's and John's too!) -
CMackbird:
BOYCIE:
John Mackintosh:
Listened to Wanderlust short time ago when out in the car. That is one outstanding song. If I had to pick one favorite from the entire album, always hard to do, that would be it. It is also an offspring of the Londontown sessions, one of my favorites from the 1970s.
I'd love Paul to ditch The Long And Winding Road and put Wanderlust in it's place in the live show. The only downside to this proposition is whether Paul could sing it well as it's in a very high range.
I think that would be a real concern Boycie. Tbh I find it hard to think he has neglected it completely since 89 on wards. IMO It really is one of his finest songs, one of my all time faves EVER.
I agree it's a classic if ever i've heard one. The galling thing is Wanderlust and Tug Of War are two of Paul's best post Beatle songs, but they're virtually unknown unless you're a Paul fan. I'd love for Wanderlust to have been issued as the first single off TOW instead of the lame Ebony And Ivory then it might have got some recognition.
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BOYCIE:
CMackbird:
BOYCIE:
John Mackintosh:
Listened to Wanderlust short time ago when out in the car. That is one outstanding song. If I had to pick one favorite from the entire album, always hard to do, that would be it. It is also an offspring of the Londontown sessions, one of my favorites from the 1970s.
I'd love Paul to ditch The Long And Winding Road and put Wanderlust in it's place in the live show. The only downside to this proposition is whether Paul could sing it well as it's in a very high range.
I think that would be a real concern Boycie. Tbh I find it hard to think he has neglected it completely since 89 on wards. IMO It really is one of his finest songs, one of my all time faves EVER.
I agree it's a classic if ever i've heard one. The galling thing is Wanderlust and Tug Of War are two of Paul's best post Beatle songs, but they're virtually unknown unless you're a Paul fan. I'd love for Wanderlust to have been issued as the first single off TOW instead of the lame Ebony And Ivory then it might have got some recognition.
It's a real shame he didn't do Tug of War and Wanderlust during the 1989-90 tour that was closest in time to the album and. as pointed out, his voice was in a higher range back then It would have been sort of like how he did Flaming Pie and Calico Skies in recent years since Flaming Pie, like TOW, wasn't accompanied by a tour coinciding with the album's release. TOW and Wanderlust are just too good to have never been played live.
