London Town - the most underrated Macca album
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This album still doesnt get the credit it deserves. Very innovative & diverse. Some of Paul's best ballads on this album (I'm Carrying, Dont let it Bring you Down). Great pop songs (With a Little Luck, London Town, Cafe). If you include the singles Paul recorded in these sessions (Mull of Kintyre - still the biggest British single (non-charity) of all-time & Girl's School), its even better. Not flawless - I've Had Enough is a bit generic. its got a very European/folk feel to it, which adds to the charm.
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agreed...........but then I think Back to the Egg is underrated too! -
Many of Paul's albums are terribly underrated. I would add "Flowers In The Dirt" as well. But yes, London Town is one of my favorites and would love it could get more recognition.
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JoeySmith:
This album still doesn't get the credit it deserves. Very innovative & diverse. Some of Paul's best ballads on this album (I'm Carrying, Don't let it Bring you Down). Great pop songs (With a Little Luck, London Town, Cafe). If you include the singles Paul recorded in these sessions (Mull of Kintyre - still the biggest British single (non-charity) of all-time & Girl's School), its even better. Not flawless - I've Had Enough is a bit generic. its got a very European/folk feel to it, which adds to the charm.
I think if the album had been trimmed a little it would be seen as a great album, but i think the inclusion of the poor Children Children, Girlfriend and Backwards Traveller rob it of classic status. I agree the European/folksy and relaxed feel adds a new dimension to the songs which make it different to the other Wings albums. Listening to it nearly 35 years on it still seems very fresh,beautifully melodic and exceedingly joyful, whereas the classic Band On The Run just feels overexposed and a little overrated to my ears now.
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If you just had the tracks London Town Cafe On The Left Bank I'm Carrying Backwards Traveller Cuff Link Children Children Girlfriend I've Had Enough With a Little Luck Deliver Your Children Don't Let it Bring You Down More Moose and the Grey Goose I think you would have a really strong album, but as it stands it is two tracks too long. I love the feel of London Town though, and it's still one of the Paul albums I listen to most. I think it is the first few seconds of the title track which draw me in.
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I rank Wings Albums as such : 1 Back To The Egg 2 Venus & Mars 3 Band On The run 4 London Town 5 Wild Life 6 Speed Of sound 7 Red Rose Speedway So LT is slap bang in the middle, with a bit of a cull here & there ( Children Children etc ) & addition of some great tracks he had around the same time ( ie Same Time Next Year, Did We Meet Somewhere Before ? ) it could have been even better. Have a bootleg of rough mixes etc. Instrumental Morse Moose is great & long version of Backwards Traveler is fun.
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My favorite Wings album.
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audi:
My favorite Wings album.
Mine too. I really love the title-track, I'm Carrying, Deliver Your Children and Children Children. Also Mull of Kintyre and Girls School. Genius. So many great tunes, a strong album, every song fits well into the next one. Maybe not the best Wings album when it comes to complex compositions, but my favorite.
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I really enjoy it as well, except for Girlfriend. I could do without that one, at least the lyrics.
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BOYCIE:
JoeySmith:
This album still doesn't get the credit it deserves. Very innovative & diverse. Some of Paul's best ballads on this album (I'm Carrying, Don't let it Bring you Down). Great pop songs (With a Little Luck, London Town, Cafe). If you include the singles Paul recorded in these sessions (Mull of Kintyre - still the biggest British single (non-charity) of all-time & Girl's School), its even better. Not flawless - I've Had Enough is a bit generic. its got a very European/folk feel to it, which adds to the charm.
I think if the album had been trimmed a little it would be seen as a great album, but i think the inclusion of the poor Children Children, Girlfriend and Backwards Traveller rob it of classic status. I agree the European/folksy and relaxed feel adds a new dimension to the songs which make it different to the other Wings albums. Listening to it nearly 35 years on it still seems very fresh,beautifully melodic and exceedingly joyful, whereas the classic Band On The Run just feels overexposed and a little overrated to my ears now.
I agree with you with the songs you have picked as the weakest links on the album. I do like "I've Had Enough", though.
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Cafe On The Left Bank is the love of my life. *swoon*
ops: -
here's mine listing... London Town Cafe On The Left Bank Backwards Traveler Cuff Link I've Had Enough With A Little Luck Famous Groupies Name And Address Don't Let It Bring You Down Morse Moose Girls' School Mull Of Kintyre perfect...WINGS!!
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Good album but not close to Wings' best. A few really strong tracks, several that are okay, and a couple best left forgotten, like Famous Groupies. I don't listen to it that much.
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Bruce M.:
...A few really strong tracks ... and a couple best left forgotten, like Famous Groupies. I don't listen to it that much.
Knowing that Wings had completed a kick-ass tour in '76, there's no doubt that the band, well, "saw things." A song like "Famous Groupies" was bound to be on the next album. Disclaimer: I shouldn't have to clarify this, but I will: I'm not at all suggesting that Paul participated in any debauchery at all.
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I don't think there's one track on the album that I don't like. Enjoyable album for me.
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I think London Town is like a bit of a musicians album, or a Paul fan album. I can see and hear cool stuff in a lot of the songs, but I'm also a McCartney fan and look for certain things, and there's certain things that are cool to me in my appreciation of rock songs. thats what I see in it actually, very McCartney production. overall there really isn't a great great song on the album though. Cafe's a nice song sure, no where near classic for me. With A Little luck? Very nitche, not to mention cheesy. Backwards Traveller questionable as a good song for me, and there's a couple others on there.. some of the folky stuff drags. And I'm a Paul fan, outside our rhelm big picture I don't think its a great album. I rate it about 5 in Wings albums: BOTR, RRS, V&M, BTTE, London Town. I do love I've Had Enough, nice Paul rocker. maybe even behind Wild Life cause Wild Life's best songs are better than London Town's! IMO.
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Don\'t Let it Bring You Down is a beautiful song. It\'s so different to anything he\'s done before!
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kapoo:
I think London Town is like a bit of a musicians album, or a Paul fan album. I can see and hear cool stuff in a lot of the songs, but I'm also a McCartney fan and look for certain things, and there's certain things that are cool to me in my appreciation of rock songs. thats what I see in it actually, very McCartney production. overall there really isn't a great great song on the album though. Cafe's a nice song sure, no where near classic for me. With A Little luck? Very nitche, not to mention cheesy. Backwards Traveller questionable as a good song for me, and there's a couple others on there.. some of the folky stuff drags. And I'm a Paul fan, outside our realm big picture I don't think its a great album. I rate it about 5 in Wings albums: BOTR, RRS, V&M, BTTE, London Town. I do love I've Had Enough, nice Paul rocker. maybe even behind Wild Life cause Wild Life's best songs are better than London Town's! IMO.
I basically agree. My favourites off this are the final two tracks (Don't Let it bring you down and Morse Moose - chalk and cheese but both very enjoyable). But as you say no really really great songs on there. I think it's quite similar to Driving Rain in several ways: -lots of tracks, probably too many -no clear overarching structure; nothing much to cohere all the tracks into one whole -no REALLY outstanding tracks, just all quite good -not commercially very successful -
illwobble:
kapoo:
I think London Town is like a bit of a musicians album, or a Paul fan album. I can see and hear cool stuff in a lot of the songs, but I'm also a McCartney fan and look for certain things, and there's certain things that are cool to me in my appreciation of rock songs. thats what I see in it actually, very McCartney production. overall there really isn't a great great song on the album though. Cafe's a nice song sure, no where near classic for me. With A Little luck? Very nitche, not to mention cheesy. Backwards Traveller questionable as a good song for me, and there's a couple others on there.. some of the folky stuff drags. And I'm a Paul fan, outside our realm big picture I don't think its a great album. I rate it about 5 in Wings albums: BOTR, RRS, V&M, BTTE, London Town. I do love I've Had Enough, nice Paul rocker. maybe even behind Wild Life cause Wild Life's best songs are better than London Town's! IMO.
I basically agree. My favourites off this are the final two tracks (Don't Let it bring you down and Morse Moose - chalk and cheese but both very enjoyable). But as you say no really really great songs on there. I think it's quite similar to Driving Rain in several ways: -lots of tracks, probably too many -no clear overarching structure; nothing much to cohere all the tracks into one whole -no REALLY outstanding tracks, just all quite good -not commercially very successfulGood comparison in a way, Driving Rain Vs London Town. Never thought about that but I think I'd take Driving Rain
it's just got some cooler writing. Better drive to some of the songs. Even the weaker ones like I Do have solid melodies. And in your face simplicity i like it.. please don't take my heart away.... And then there's all the great songs like Lonely Road, Tiny Bubble, Given Up Talking, Heather.... DR's got some jams. Too bad Heather has such bad connotations cause that song could be a sweet show opener for Paul, it's that great. Such great spirit and energy comes across. He should rename it Paul. No offense Nancy, but just to be safe 
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I love London Town- I still have my London Town promo Shirt.
