A little unnerving that my daughter is over there for school, although pretty far from Manchester (Norwich, near the opposite coast)....but from our perspective, everything seems close over there
Posts made by rich n
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RE: Thoughts and prayers to our Manchester UK friends
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Thoughts and prayers to our Manchester UK friends
Apparently a terror attack at a Ariana Grande concert (bomb outside the arena)...my thoughts and prayers to all in that city
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RE: RIP...for all that have passed
Nancy R:
Andy_Shofar:
Happy Days' Star Erin Moran Dies at 56
I read it was a heroin overdose.
I heard that all weekend as well, and it turned out she had stage 4 cancer (although I did not hear what kind of cancer)...and there were no narcotics on her when she was found unresponsive...that doesn't necessarily dismiss an overdoes (wait for the toxicology report for that)...but certainly puts a new spin on things for the moment
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RE: RIP...for all that have passed
John Warren Geils Jr, known as J Geils died at 71 (found passed away in his home, right in my home state - Massachusetts)
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RE: Flowers in the Dirt (1993)
I'll be down in Sarasota visiting my mom the first week of May...can't wait (winter's too long here in New England and we're getting more snow Fri/Sat)
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RE: THE NEXT DELUXE/REMASTERED ALBUM FROM PAUL
I'm trying to recall the track listing placement of Ou Est Le Soleil when this album first was released...I know on the CD, it was the last track (just as it appears on this reissue)...however, I seem to recall that it was either not on the cassette or it was in a different spot in the track listing (somewhere in the middle)...I can't find my cassette copy at the moment, if someone can verify my sometimes faulty memory...LOL
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RE: Flowers in the Dirt (1993)
Squid:
At the end of the day, no album that contains How Many People or Motor of Love is going to be taken seriously or enter the front rank for posterity. Their inclusion seems like the usual self-sabotage. However, I wonder sometimes about the lobbying process that surrounds the inclusion or exclusion of a song from an album. Obviously the various producers and the contributing musicians will lobby hard for the inclusion of their work; none of them appear to be honest enough to say - I was thrilled to work with Paul; it's just a pity the material was so poor. Because that would go towards cutting themselves off from an income stream. All in all, I trust Costello to be honest, and I think Paul really should have mounted a truly collaborative effort with him. As it stands, Flowers is just a might-have-been album.
It's funny because I actually like Motor of Love, although I have to acknowledge that the majority of comments I see regarding this song are negative...but then again, I also like Freedom from Driving Rain (a song that is equally maligned by many)
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RE: THE NEXT DELUXE/REMASTERED ALBUM FROM PAUL
B J Conlee:
I know that everyone is waiting for my Track by Track review (I'm kidding!) so after several days of listening to the 2017 Remaster, here goes. Let me just add that time has surely gone by...I had not listened to the original CD in full in many years. Grading guide (1-10 with 10 being very good to near perfect) My Brave Face (10) One of Paul's best album openers and one of the best of the Paul/Elvis Collaborations. Love the way the vocal just jumps out at you. Very clever song "title" with nice vocal and harmonies by Paul and Hamish. Sounds quite Beatlesque with reminiscent British invasion guitar sounds. Rough Ride ( While some can feel (and I don't totally disagree) this track is overproduced with 80's production, I personally don't find it offensive, however. I really like Paul's vocal and the way the middle verse changes direction with the "I'm not asking for an easy passage". I also like the horns in the last section that give it an R&B/funky flavor. Sounds better than what I remember from long ago. Decent to good track. Over the years, I have liked many Paul songs that use horns prevalently. You Want Her Too (9) This Paul/Elvis collaboration also sounds quite a bit better than I remember. I like the way Paul and Elvis trade the vocal lines reminiscent of Paul and John's yin-yang thing on some songs back in the Beatle days. I also like the intro keyboards and the similar ending with the end orchestration. This reminded me of the way Paul and George Martin ended Take it Away. I don't personally feel the song is overproduced. I like the production. Distractions (10) The next 4-5 songs begins the peak of the album for me. I remember liking this track in the late 80's but hearing this remaster (and maybe because I've gotten considerably older) gives me a much fuller appreciation. The jazz orchestration by Clare Fisher (a guy by the way) is terrific and Paul's vocal is excellent for the song. Must be one of Paul's most underrated songs. Finally, I love the lyrics that people can really relate to. We Got Married (10) Loosely autobiographical about Paul and Linda's marriage but I think any couple who have had an enduring life story can really relate as well. Love the rhyming Paul does with the lyrics...dream & team, bad & glad, bets & regrets, life & wife etc. Also a phrase like "meeting of the minds. Love the music also and the ending verse...It's Not just a loving machine" giving it some R&B flavor. Great guitar work also by David Gilmore and the vocal & harmonies by Paul and team are terrific. Put It There (10) 2 minutes of music bliss to my ears. Again great lyrics where Paul uses an expression his Dad used to develop this beautiful song. This Father-Son song could just as easily be a Parent-Child song. Love the 2nd verse line..."If there's a fight, I'd like to fix it". What parent hasn't felt this need. One of the reasons that I think FITD is easily one of Paul's better albums is that these last 3 songs are close to perfect. Figure of 8 (9.5) At this juncture of FITD, the album needed a "rock-oriented" song and here, in my opinion, he delivers. Again, not hearing the album cut in a long while, it sounds even better than I remember. Another very clever song title where Paul uses the visuality of the title to "Avoid slipping back off the straight and narrow". The lyrics give "life lessons" in a 3 minute song. Also love Paul's raspy vocals and the way the melody totally changes direction with the "well figure it out for yourself little girl verse". I would have given it a 10 except I think the ending of the studio version could have been a little better but overall I really like the song...both lyric and music. This One (9.5) Another really good up-tempo song where Paul continues the message he started with his Here Today Song from Tug of War. Here Today specifically talks about John where this is a general message to lovers or friends..."There never could be a better moment than this one, this one". Like Robbie's Electric guitar and Hamish Stuart's 2nd vocal and harmonies. _______________________________________________ I will continue. You would think that FITD would be his greatest album at this point, but Paul unfortunately in my opinion gets off this great track in the 2nd half. To be continued.
Have to admit that while the album version of Figure of 8 was probably too 'soft' (for lack of better terms) for live action (had the live arrangement remained true to the album version), I like that version far better than the more driving live and single versions of this song...Admittedly, the live version worked very well in the 'moment'... But overall, the only two songs on this album that I'm not too keen on is Don't Be Careless Love and Ou Est Le Soleil. I even like the much maligned Motor of Love...but on the flip side, there are no songs on this album that ascend into my favorite top 20 macca songs...i,e very solid album, but with no exceptionally strong highlight...but the album as a whole is a top 10 macca album on my list (though I must note, near the bottom of that top 10 list)
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RE: THE NEXT DELUXE/REMASTERED ALBUM FROM PAUL
B J Conlee:
rich n:
Just bought the two CD set earlier this afternoon (still in the shrink wrap)...will give my impressions of disc two later on...but I had to say that I feel like a bit of a sucker since is the 6th copy of this album that I have purchased: Both the cassette and CD configurations when it first came out The world tour boxed set edition (came with party party CD single) Two CD Japanese set The 'Paul McCartney Collection' version And now this archive version Also bought pretty much every CD single associated with this album (My brave face, this one, put it there and figure of eight. And if I'm forgetting one or two, probably those too...lol) I Hope this disk of demos makes it worth it
____________________________________________________ I hear you Rich n. At the end of the day, we are just hard core (and sometimes crazy) fans that probably spend too much money on Macca. I do think you will be pleased with Disc 2. At least they are not snippets (which I hate) and they are complete songs. Hope you got the 2 CD set at a real good price. The 2 best that I saw was Target and Best Buy.
No doubt we spend our money...LOL. And yeah, that disc 2 is well worth the another FITD venture
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RE: THE NEXT DELUXE/REMASTERED ALBUM FROM PAUL
Just bought the two CD set earlier this afternoon (still in the shrink wrap)...will give my impressions of disc two later on...but I had to say that I feel like a bit of a sucker since is the 6th copy of this album that I have purchased: Both the cassette and CD configurations when it first came out The world tour boxed set edition (came with party party CD single) Two CD Japanese set The 'Paul McCartney Collection' version And now this archive version Also bought pretty much every CD single associated with this album (My brave face, this one, put it there and figure of eight. And if I'm forgetting one or two, probably those too...lol) I Hope this disk of demos makes it worth it
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RE: LONDON TERROR ATTACK
For me, it's eerie that I was just there several months back - right at that location. I recall walking out of the Westminster Underground station and not realizing the big building right in my face was actually Big Ben (until my daughter told me...LOL)...we turned left and crossed that bridge and walked over to the London Eye... Very scary - thoughts and prayers to all those affected
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RE: The "Paul Forgot The Lyrics" Thread
Found this Youtube video - I knew about a couple of the examples (the 'Mind the Gap' thing down in Tampa FL and having to restart Maybe I'm Amazed down in Texas)....but a number of these are new to me
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RE: A New Balanced Paul Compilation / 4 or 5 Disc By Each Decade
B J Conlee:
I notice you're from Massachusetts. My Daughter lives in Winchester, right outside of Boston. When she finished her Schooling (Villanova and Drexel in the Philadelphia area) she landed her first job Civil Engineering job close to Boston. She eventually met her husband who is from the area. They took us to Boston last August and it was great. Then they met us at Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor over the Labor Day period. Loved Maine.
Funny enough, while I never heard of Zephyhills, I looked it up and noticed it was not far from Tampa...I lived there for a few years way back when my dad was in the Airforce and stationed at MacDill AFB. Nowadays, my mom lives a little south of there, in Sarasota...thus I get down there fairly often I'm not that close to Winchester anymore (I now live in Framingham) - but I used to live in the neighboring town of Arlington. Btw, I fully agree with your comment on With a Little Luck and in fact, have complained about that here on this site many times throughout the years. It got the full treatment on one compilation set (Wings Greatest) and has been dissected down to that 'DJ edit' on all subsequent inclusions (All the Best, Wingspan and now Pure McCartney)...have to admit I never heard it referred to as the 'DJ edit' until the release of Wingspans...until then, I've always known it as the short, bad version...LOL. I think I've instinctively presumed it was the 'single' version, often forgetting that my 45 speed vinyl single included the full 5:45 version
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RE: A New Balanced Paul Compilation / 4 or 5 Disc By Each Decade
There's definitely many songs from each decade that are ignored in terms of being officially recognized on these compilations or being performed live...There are also a few songs that can now be labeled as 'recognized' (Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Too Many People) that were ignored for many years before finally getting their just due (although on the flip side, 1985 is starting to get over exposed at this point). Songs such as Beware My Love , Little Lamb Dragon Fly, Footprints, That Day is Done, Getting Closer and Not Such a Bad Boy is just a small sample of great songs that are only collecting dust in the McCartney archives
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RE: The 2012 and beyond Political Thread - Part 2
SusyLuvsPaul:
This is very bad, Trump White House not allowing several major news organizations including New York Times and CNN into a White House press conference. Time magazine and other news outlets declined to take part, after that. I thought we have freedom of the press and free speech in the U.S. And a young engineer from India shot to death in Kansas, two other people of color were wounded, by a man shouting "send them back" thinking they were Muslims.
I think someone from the NYT called Melania Trump a 'hooker'...I wouldn't allow them either...Telling CNN to pound sand and go find some other way to find their news is not infringing upon their first amendment rights...as long as Trump is not legislating law to shut them down, there is no wrong doing
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RE: Flaming Pie has aged very well - 20 year anniversary
Glad to see that this album was well represented on Pure McCartney - as it should be. Should have included Somedays
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RE: RIP...for all that have passed
Political commentator Alan Colmes - passed away at 66 after battling cancer. Although I didn't agree with him on many of his views, I did found him engaging and he often gave me pause for thought...RIP Alan Colmes Speaking of which, can someone tell me whether this is Alan at 1:55 of this Paul McCartney video?
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RE: Memory Almost Full has aged very well
yankeefan7:
B J Conlee:
My Track by Track review on Memory Almost Full (MAF)- 10 is the highest- Dance Tonight (8.5) - simple lyrics but with the classic Macca melody and bounce; good album opener Ever Present Past (10) - one of Paul's great solo songs; clever lyrics and even better melody See Your Sunshine (9) - one of Paul most underrated album cuts; love his soulful "Hall and Oates" type of vocals; also love the song's middle (she picks up daises in the field...) and his bass playing Only Mama Knows (9.5) - one of Paul's best solo Rock songs with great vocals and good lyrics; like the violin intro and ending You Tell Me (8.5) - another highly underrated Macca album track despite the horrible "horn" sounds in the song production. Mr. Bellamy (10) one of Paul's best Solo songs period; clever lyrics with Macca's classic, bouncy melodies. Love the electric piano Gratitude (6) My grade is mainly based on Paul's effort...he really goes all out on his bluesy, gospel type vocals. I see the song's potential but in my opinion, his vocal performance (solo part) just doesn't measure up to Paul's normal standards. His solo vocal seems strained and forced. Like the background singing however. Maybe's Paul's peak vocal abilities in the 70's might have given the song its due justice. The low point on an otherwise great track list...strictly my opinion. Vintage Clothes (9.5) - the beginning of the "loose" 3 song medley; love this catchy song from the lyrics to the vocals...Paul letting it rip That Was Me (10) - Paul gets right into his great rockabilly vocals with very clever lyrics and his Van Morrison type "scat" vocal phrasing. Great bass Feet in the Clouds (9) Another terrific bouncy song to end the loose medley section; love the Beach Boy's like harmonies at the end House of Wax (9.5) - Classic Macca piano tune with the great electric guitar riffs; clever lyrics with strong vocals The End of the End (10) - One of Pauls greatest piano ballad songs...unlike other reviewers, I love Paul's simple melodic whistling in the middle. Makes the song even more sad and poignant. Great lyrics Nod Your Head ( - the lyrics are a bit goofy but this short rocker is just the right follow-up to the sadness and seriousness of the previous track. Bonus tracks In Private ( - an underrated instrumental in my opinion; like the melody and guitar work in the middle and the end Why So Blue (9.5) - Why wasn't this track on the main album; love both the lyrics and melody...quite Beatleesque like in the Rubber Soul era. Should have replaced Gratitude in my opinion 222 ( Jazzy feel to this mostly instrumental track.
Excellent review BJ and I agree totally. "Gratitude" is the one song that I always skip, wish he would have replaced it with one of the bonus tracks. As I have said quite often, really wish this album would have been showcased more live. "That Was Me" and "House Of Wax" were played only a few times. "Dance Tonight" is the only song that lasted more than a tour I believe.
I think Only Mama Knows was a featured song for some level of longevity, although I can't recall how long of a stretch (it was part of the set list in 2009 when I saw him at Boston's Fenway Park, and I think it was also included in some 2008 shows)
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RE: RIP...for all that have passed
jl4761:
rich n:
RIP - Atlanta Falcons....LOL
No sh*t! I lost a hundred bucks in that game! I can just imagine how Nancy R feels right now!
yeah - I'm on the other end (lives in Boston area) But I certainly feel for Nancy - (we Pats fans have had our hearts ripped out too - especially by those darn NY Giants)