PAUL SOLO/POST BEATLES' ANTHOLOGY
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
As I have told you previously BJ, the McCartney team should hire you to take on this project -lol. I think you are into his post Beatle career more than his management team -lol. The job that they did on "Pure McCartney" was so bad and not well thought out. Like you have said, we all may like to add or delete a particular song from your list but IMO you have the intention correct on doing this type of thing. The best end result about this type of release would be to remind us of good/great songs we may have forgotten and for the casual fan to discover some good/great music. Finally, as "McCartney III" proved, McCartney has some unfinished stuff on tape that would probably be cool to hear and that is also perfect for Anthology.
Thanks so much Yankeefan. I think the 2nd half of the 80's Disc is going to be as good.
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I'm so glad I revised my initial 80's Disc. There were just too many good to great songs to try to squeeze into 1 Disc. Doing 2 Discs is easily the better option.
I really like the Disc 1Revision which goes from McCartney 2 to Broad Street. I particularly like the "unreleased songs". One of my favs is "Simple As That"which became a bonus track on the 1993 Popes of Peace Remaster. And of course I love the demo of "On the Wings of a Nightingale". After revisiting the 'live" Glasgow Version of "Coming Up"I'm happy with that addition. While i love the original Video for "Coming Up", I like the "live"version of the song much better than its studio counterpart. It's shorter and less repititious and Paul's vocals are top notch.
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B J, I also LOVE Magneto and Titanium Man, ever since I first heard it on the Venus & Mars album in late May 1975! Then heard it live May 18, 1976 in Atlanta!
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Nancy R wrote:
B J, I also LOVE Magneto and Titanium Man, ever since I first heard it on the Venus & Mars album in late May 1975! Then heard it live May 18, 1976 in Atlanta!
me too!
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I thought I would look back at The Beatle Anthology albums and it reminded me that most of the songs on these albums were either a demo, particular take of song or live version. There were also a few unrealeased songs which included the infamous songs "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love". In other words, none of these songs were the version that was on the released albums or single. This begs the question of what a McCartney Post Beatle Anthology album should be. Do people want it to be more like the Beatle Anthology albums or be a collection of "under the radar" songs from his albums and B sides. I would vote for it to be more like the Beatle Anthology if possible, would love to hear what some of these great songs sounded like before they made it on his albums.
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oobu24 wrote:
You guys need to look at some bootlegs. Check out this set. MoMac Hidden Tracks. Quite a few are on youtube. I have the complete set from years ago. It is a 32 cd set. Here's an example:
I'll have to check this out more.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
I thought I would look back at The Beatle Anthology albums and it reminded me that most of the songs on these albums were either a demo, particular take of song or live version. There were also a few unrealeased songs which included the infamous songs "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love". In other words, none of these songs were the version that was on the released albums or single. This begs the question of what a McCartney Post Beatle Anthology album should be. Do people want it to be more like the Beatle Anthology albums or be a collection of "under the radar" songs from his albums and B sides. I would vote for it to be more like the Beatle Anthology if possible, would love to hear what some of these great songs sounded like before they made it on his albums.
Great questions Yankeefan and I had the same questions... just what I wanted the final product to be.
As a big time Beatle and Paul fan, I remember clealy how much anticipation I had for the Beatle Antholog Albums. I kine of remember that you couln't buy all 3. I think they staggered them but I bought all 3 as soon as I could.
In retrospect, I was kind of disappointed. I remember listening to them as soon as I received them. I think I bought them from one of the retail stores probably Bes Buy at the time. This was way before Amazon.
What eventually happened was that I got tired of each one of them quickly. in fact, I kept them but hardly ever brought them back for repeat listens. They were way too repetitious with duplicate versions of the same songs. To me the Beatle Anthology Albums were more for "completests". I more interested in the "final preocuct". At the same time, I love a great "live" version because while it is the same song, it has subtle differences I love to hear. Maybe they are differences in Paul's vocals or maybe the live version emphasizes a different instrument than the original studio version. I remember in the early 90's some of the live versions using more of another member of the band on vocals like Hamish Stuart back in the day.
As a consumer, I don't want songs repeated in different ways. I just want the best finished product. In the case of big hits that's been played to death (more of a problem with the 70's Decade), I would love a live version not necessarily because it's better but because it would be different than you're used to. Examples would be like Paul's 1985 Song. I always liked the album version but the 2010 version from Argentina is just as good and different. I love the fact that they do away with the "Band on the Run snippet" at the end and they have a great Rusty Anderson solo on the guitar too. On the other side of the spectrum, I love the album version of Maybe I'm Amazed just the way it is. Both the studio and "live" versions are good but the original studio version is perfect especially from a "length" pont of view.
As a final answer to your question, I wouldn't personally want a Paul anthology that kind of duplicates what the Beatles' did in their Anthology. Paul just has too many good to great songs to be repeating the same songs within the same disc. Personally I want a "Compilation" that is much better than Pure McCartney was. To me "Pure McCartney" was just thrown together without giving much thought to the content. It omitted way too many of the really good deep cuts and had very little of the terrific "B" sides and unreleased. I think the right kind of Compilation could be so much better for fans like us and for Paul's legacy. Just looking at my lists for the 70's and 80's so far, see how many great songs were not included on Pure McCartney and All the Best.
When I started reviving this "potential" project again (just a week or two ago) I thoought I would use the title "Anthology" mainly for simplicity. In retrospect, the word "Anthology" immediately makes people think of the Beatles' Anthology. My vision is for a far better "Compilation" than Pure McCartney. That's what I would want to buy. I'm finding out just how many great songs McCartney has in his "total discography" and I haven't got out of the 80's yet. Personally I don't want "repeats" of the way Paul made different songs. That's more for "completests". I just want great "final" versions of the songs whether it's the studio version of a "live" version.
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To continue with my thought about the good and bad of the Beatles' Anthology CD's (2 Discs for Anthology 1, 2, and 3).
Looking at Anthology 2 as an example...On Disc 2 they start with 3 straight tracks of Srawberry Fields Forever (the Demo, Take 1 and Take 7). Now I know some fans like this kind of heavy analyzing but it's not my cup of tea for a "Compilation" package. Just give me the best final version. If it was a big hit and the final studio version has been played on the radio too much, I would love a conquerable "live" version for the subtle differences I mentioned in my last post. As long as it's a very good "live" version.
Later on the same Beatles Anthology (Disc 2) they have 2 consecutive tracks of "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" (takes 1, 2 and 7). That's not I would want in a Paul McCartney Post Beatles' and Solo Compilation. For example, I wouldn't want separate tracks for "Figure of 8" showing how Paul arrived at the final song. Just give me the final and hopefully the best track.
I'm not a completest in that sense of the word. My criticism of the "Pure McCartney" Compilation was not becasue of the Package repeating the exact same songs in any cases. My criticism was for the lack of "completeness" and MPL not selecting the best songs ...whether they were hits, the best B-sides, the best unreleased songs or the best "live" renditions to give fans a new version of a "hit" that has been "played to death" on the radio. I think that Pure McCartney as an overall Compilation Packgage failed in all those things I just listed. "Pure McCartney" ended up, in my opinion, being a "Content Problem". This would be the "GOAL" for a new, fully complete "Compilation" Package and that iis why I'm giving specific "Tracklisting" examples for each Decade. Pure McCartnay did not, unfortunately, take this approach. This would be a great COMPILATION for Release possibly around Paul's 80 Birthday (June 2022). No fancy packaging, in my opinion, is needed. Just give us great "content" of Cd's from 1970 to 2022). This one would include Paul's latest projects like Egypt Station and McCartney 3 as well as his most recent singles etc.
That would give us "5" Decades of Post Beatles' Paul McCartney plus the beginning of the 6th Decade (2020 to 2022). Thanks
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B J Conlee wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
I thought I would look back at The Beatle Anthology albums and it reminded me that most of the songs on these albums were either a demo, particular take of song or live version. There were also a few unrealeased songs which included the infamous songs "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love". In other words, none of these songs were the version that was on the released albums or single. This begs the question of what a McCartney Post Beatle Anthology album should be. Do people want it to be more like the Beatle Anthology albums or be a collection of "under the radar" songs from his albums and B sides. I would vote for it to be more like the Beatle Anthology if possible, would love to hear what some of these great songs sounded like before they made it on his albums.
Great questions Yankeefan and I had the same questions... just what I wanted the final product to be.
As a big time Beatle and Paul fan, I remember clealy how much anticipation I had for the Beatle Antholog Albums. I kine of remember that you couln't buy all 3. I think they staggered them but I bought all 3 as soon as I could.
In retrospect, I was kind of disappointed. I remember listening to them as soon as I received them. I think I bought them from one of the retail stores probably Bes Buy at the time. This was way before Amazon.
What eventually happened was that I got tired of each one of them quickly. in fact, I kept them but hardly ever brought them back for repeat listens. They were way too repetitious with duplicate versions of the same songs. To me the Beatle Anthology Albums were more for "completests". I more interested in the "final preocuct". At the same time, I love a great "live" version because while it is the same song, it has subtle differences I love to hear. Maybe they are differences in Paul's vocals or maybe the live version emphasizes a different instrument than the original studio version. I remember in the early 90's some of the live versions using more of another member of the band on vocals like Hamish Stuart back in the day.
As a consumer, I don't want songs repeated in different ways. I just want the best finished product. In the case of big hits that's been played to death (more of a problem with the 70's Decade), I would love a live version not necessarily because it's better but because it would be different than you're used to. Examples would be like Paul's 1985 Song. I always liked the album version but the 2010 version from Argentina is just as good and different. I love the fact that they do away with the "Band on the Run snippet" at the end and they have a great Rusty Anderson solo on the guitar too. On the other side of the spectrum, I love the album version of Maybe I'm Amazed just the way it is. Both the studio and "live" versions are good but the original studio version is perfect especially from a "length" pont of view.
As a final answer to your question, I wouldn't personally want a Paul anthology that kind of duplicates what the Beatles' did in their Anthology. Paul just has too many good to great songs to be repeating the same songs within the same disc. Personally I want a "Compilation" that is much better than Pure McCartney was. To me "Pure McCartney" was just thrown together without giving much thought to the content. It omitted way too many of the really good deep cuts and had very little of the terrific "B" sides and unreleased. I think the right kind of Compilation could be so much better for fans like us and for Paul's legacy. Just looking at my lists for the 70's and 80's so far, see how many great songs were not included on Pure McCartney and All the Best.
When I started reviving this "potential" project again (just a week or two ago) I thoought I would use the title "Anthology" mainly for simplicity. In retrospect, the word "Anthology" immediately makes people think of the Beatles' Anthology. My vision is for a far better "Compilation" than Pure McCartney. That's what I would want to buy. I'm finding out just how many great songs McCartney has in his "total discography" and I haven't got out of the 80's yet. Personally I don't want "repeats" of the way Paul made different songs. That's more for "completests". I just want great "final" versions of the songs whether it's the studio version of a "live" version.
Good points BJ and I think naming your project "Compilation" would be better for what you would like these CD's to be. I quickly looked back at the track listing (Anthology 1) and did not see many repetitions of the same song. There were maybe 3-4 at most that had more than 1 take listed and this was out of 60 track listings. I understand this type of thing is not for everyone and most people would enjoy a "Compilation" better. That being said, there are not too many songs you could list that I don't have already including live versions or could access through something like youtube video. Yes, it would be nice to have them wrapped up in one neat "package" but I could live without it and the expense. Being somebody who in his younger days wrote a few songs and in later years a couple for my wife, I would enjoy the "Anthology" thing to see how a song developed before making it to the final product. As long as the listing did not repeat songs, I would be good. Just give me "demo" or any other version that is different and include things that were never released even if they are not a "finished" product.
I will end this with saying you are 100% correct about "Pure McCartney". It was thrown together without much thought. How in the heck could you do project like this without a song from FITD, that alone shows how bad a job they did on this recording.
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B J , what's preocuct? Is that anything like covfefe?
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"This would be the "GOAL" for a new, fully complete "Compilation" Package and that iis why I'm giving specific "Tracklisting" examples for each Decade. Pure McCartnay did not, unfortunately, take this approach. This would be a great COMPILATION for Release possibly around Paul's 80 Birthday (June 2022). No fancy packaging, in my opinion, is needed. Just give us great "content" of Cd's from 1970 to 2022). This one would include Paul's latest projects like Egypt Station and McCartney 3 as well as his most recent singles etc.
That would give us "5" Decades of Post Beatles' Paul McCartney plus the beginning of the 6th Decade (2020 to 2022). "
The idea is great and the music would be wonderful. The question would be how many people would care to own it. We see what happens when a new McCartney album is released, has a great week or two and than fizzles out. The people who care at all about McCartney's solo work would have IMO have at least 75% of the songs you have or will have listed. Would they be interested in 5 decades of music for a few songs they may not have heard or have on another album/single? Plus the price tag of this type of thing would be fairly high.
Would this type of project ever happen, I truly doubt it. I just don't see Paul spending the time or hiring someone to really do this type of project justice, we saw what happened when they put together "Pure McCartney". Once again, I would love to see this type of "Compilation" and I will enjoy seeing your list for the other decades. Like Paul doing more solo songs on his setlist, I think this type of thing is just another fantasy of ours -lol
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Nancy R wrote:
B J , what's preocuct? Is that anything like covfefe?
Sorry for the typo's . With my eye surgery, I'm having more problems with typing. The first typo is "product". Don't see where I typed "covfefe.
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Regarding the "anthology" or "compilation" discussion, I think I'd just want both!
How about a compilation type of set (like what BJ Conlee is making here, great job on it by the way) to come out now, to promote Paul's whole career more fully and evenly than it has been. Then later, after Paul retires, an anthology type of set for completists with all the obscure rarities. Probably wouldn't happen, but it's fun to think about.
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B J Conlee wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
B J , what's preocuct? Is that anything like covfefe?
Sorry for the typo's . With my eye surgery, I'm having more problems with typing. The first typo is "product". Don't see where I typed "covfefe.
That's a joke based on Trump's famous tweet of the word "covfefe!" Everybody was like, "WTF is he talking about?"
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McCall wrote:
Regarding the "anthology" or "compilation" discussion, I think I'd just want both!
How about a compilation type of set (like what BJ Conlee is making here, great job on it by the way) to come out now, to promote Paul's whole career more fully and evenly than it has been. Then later, after Paul retires, an anthology type of set for completists with all the obscure rarities. Probably wouldn't happen, but it's fun to think about.
That's a good thought McCall.
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BJ... you and I will have to differ...Cos I love the Beatles Anthology...and the John anthology....and I love different versions of all the songs, at their rawest, building into the songs we know as their "released" version. I love alternate takes. I love raw takes.
I have far more interest in listening to that than a release of songs I largely already own.
The new release from John is awesome. 120 songs... apart from the jams, most of them are centred on the 11-track album. All different versions. Brilliant.
That's what I want from Paul.
From every one of his albums. That'd make me happy.
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The 80's (2nd Half)
Disc 2 (From Press to Play through Flowers in the Dirt
1. Stranglehold - I always liked this Paul-Eric Stewart collaboration. Good opener to the Press to Play album
2. Good Times Coming / Feel the Sun - 2 songs mixed into 1. A "feel good" sunny type song that I also always liked
3. Footprints - One of the real hidden gems on Press to Play imo. One of the album's best songs and great lyrics
4. Once upon a Long Ago - "Single"for the Compilation Album "All the Best" and Produced by Phil Ramone. It was released in Mid-Novermber of 1978 and had a good Christmas feel. Beautiful song.
5. Back on My Feet - B-Side to Once Upon a Long Ago. One of the early collaborations between Paul and Elvid Costello. Paul had most of the song done and Elvis added lyrics to the "single" version. Another hidden gem that I really like.
6. Move Over Busker - One of the best rockers/up-tempo songs on Press to Play
7. Tough on a Tightrope - One of the best extra songs on "Press To Play". Not on the original LP but added to the CD Edition. Always liked this one. Another Paul-Eric Stewart collaboration.
8. Yvonne's The One - Unreleased extra song ftom the Press to Play Sessions. One of Paul's best unreleased songs ever. People should know this song with a classic McCartney melody. Never underdtood why it was left off Press to Play.
9. Lindiana - Unreleased Song. Associated with the scrapped album "Return to Pepperland" around the 1986-1987 period where Paul was working with Producer Phil Ramone and for a little while with David Foster. Lindiana was one of those ballads with Paul working with David Foster. Nice song but never saw the light of day as did "Return to Pepperland." Many of the songs from this period later resurfaced on Flowers in the Dirt and later even on Flaming Pie.
10.My Brave Face - One of the best Paul-Elvis Costello collaborations. The opening track to Paul's new "Flowers in the Dirt" album
11. Flying to My Home - B-Side to the "My Brave Face" Single". Nice Paul up-tempo song.
12. Put It There - ONe of the best songs on Flowers in the Dirt and one of the best all time Paul Solo songs. Paul always played it "live"on his subsequent "Flowers" tour.
13. Distractions - Great hidden gem on the Flowers in the Dirt album.
14.. This One - Another of the great album cuts on "Flowers in the Dirt" and performed on the "Flowers" tour.
15.. Figure of 8 - A great rocker on the album "Flowers in the Dirt'. Paul opened his Flowers of the Dirt" tour with this track. I always liked the shorter studio version the best. The "Single" version is a bit too long for my taste.
16.. Loveliest Thing- Very good B-side to the "Figure of 8" Single.
17. The Lovers That Never Were- Paul and Elvis Costello Original Demo Collection. While this track later appeared on Paul's subsequent "Off the Ground" album in 1991. this acoustical version is still the best imo. Great vocals by Paul.
18. Tommy's Coming Home - Paul and Elvis Original Demo. Great Paul=Elvis cowritten track.
19. So Like Candy - Another great track from Paul's and Elvis's Original Demo's.
20. Twenty Fine Fingers - Love this Paul=Elvis Acoustical Demo.
21. You Want Her Too - Flowers in the Dirt album version. Like this version the best.
22. We Got Married - Great album version with David Foster producing. Auto-biographical iin nature about Paul and Linda' s marriage. Great lyrics and great guitar solo by David Gilmour
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The 80's (2nd Half)
Disc 2 (From Press to Play through Flowers in the Dirt)
Final (I added a 23rd song...Only Love Remains; see at the bottom)
1. Stranglehold - I always liked this Paul-Eric Stewart collaboration. Good opener to the Press to Play album
2. Good Times Coming / Feel the Sun - 2 songs mixed into 1. A "feel good" sunny type song that I also always liked.
3. Footprints - One of the real hidden gems on Press to Play imo. One of the album's best songs and great lyrics
4. Once upon a Long Ago - "Single"for the Compilation Album "All the Best" and Produced by Phil Ramone. It was released in Mid-Novermber of 1978 and had a good Christmas feel. Beautiful song.
5. Back on My Feet - B-Side to Once Upon a Long Ago. One of the early collaborations between Paul and Elvid Costello. Paul had most of the song done and Elvis added lyrics to the "single" version. Another hidden gem that I really like.
6. Move Over Busker - One of the best rockers/up-tempo songs on Press to Play
7. Tough on a Tightrope - One of the best extra songs on "Press To Play". Not on the original LP but added to the CD Edition. Always liked this one. Another Paul-Eric Stewart collaboration.
8. Yvonne's The One - Unreleased extra song ftom the Press to Play Sessions. One of Paul's best unreleased songs ever. People should know this song with a classic McCartney melody. Never understood why it was left off Press to Play.
9. Lindiana - Unreleased Song. Associated with the scrapped album "Return to Pepperland" around the 1986-1987 period where Paul was working with Producer Phil Ramone and for a little while with David Foster. Lindiana was one of those ballads with Paul working with David Foster. Nice song but never saw the light of day as did "Return to Pepperland." Many of the songs from this period later resurfaced on Flowers in the Dirt and later even on Flaming Pie.
10.My Brave Face - One of the best Paul-Elvis Costello collaborations. The opening track to Paul's new "Flowers in the Dirt" album
11. Flying to My Home - B-Side to the "My Brave Face" Single". Nice Paul up-tempo song.
12. Put It There - One of the best songs on Flowers in the Dirt and one of the best all time Paul Solo songs. Paul always played it "live"on his subsequent "Flowers" tour.
13. Distractions - Great hidden gem on the Flowers in the Dirt album.
14.. This One - Another of the great album cuts on "Flowers in the Dirt" and performed on the "Flowers" tour.
15.. Figure of 8 - A great rocker on the album "Flowers in the Dirt'. Paul opened his Flowers of the Dirt" tour with this track. I always liked the shorter studio version the best. The "Single" version is a bit too long for my taste.
16.. Loveliest Thing- Very good B-side to the "Figure of 8" Single.
17. The Lovers That Never Were- Paul and Elvis Costello Original Demo Collection. While this track later appeared on Paul's subsequent "Off the Ground" album in 1991, this acoustical version is still the best imo. Great vocals by Paul.
18. Tommy's Coming Home - Paul and Elvis Original Demo. Great Paul=Elvis cowritten track.
19. So Like Candy - Another great track from Paul's and Elvis's Original Demo's.
20. Twenty Fine Fingers - Love this Paul=Elvis Acoustical Demo.
21. You Want Her Too - Flowers in the Dirt album version. Like this version the best.
22. We Got Married - Great album version with David Foster producing. Auto-biographical iin nature about Paul and Linda' s marriage. Great lyrics and great guitar solo by David Gilmour
23. Only Love Remains - Great ballad from Press to Play album
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Good stuff, BJ.... but come on.... You didn't include "It's Not True"..... one of my absolute faves of the day.
The Man?
Most underrated.
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toris wrote:
Good stuff, BJ.... but come on.... You didn't include "It's Not True"..... one of my absolute faves of the day.
Keep Under Cover somewhere?
The Man?
Great points Toris. You can no doubt quibble over a few of these selections. "It's Not True" is a good song as is "Keep Under Cover". I thought I included enough tracks from Pipes of Peace. But you get my idea on this package.
"The Man" (the Paul/Michael collaboration was too smalltzy for my taste.)