Macca releases new maudlin ballad, world keeps turning.

[hypehat]

He tweeted this earlier, apparently he's going the standards route for his next record. Although this is a new song. Which REALLY reminds me of Richard Hawley, for some reason. Crap nylon guitar courtesy of  Eric "I'm not racist, I was only joking" Clapton. The bridge is real nice.

http://soundcloud.com/paulmccartney/my-valentine-paul-mccartney

[vintagemusic]

This new album reminds me of his Run Devil Run album about ten years ago
two sides of the same coin.

Run Devil Run was all fifties covers except for three rockabilly numbers he wrote himself.

This new album is all standards from tin pan alley in the 20's 30's except for about three
originals he wrote in that 20's style.

I am a huge Beatles and solo beatles fan, but I'll skip this one. McCartney has the biggest recording
budgets works with great people, has all that talent, But if they aren't his tunes I'm not interested.

Harry Nilsson made a couple or three albums this way as well, way back in the seventies.

I will listen for free though on youtube, and possibly buy one song for 99 cents if there is one
that knocks me out.

I'll tell you what I do like is McCartney's most recent album Oceans Kingdom. His classical music
is kind of like listening to 50 minute instrumentals in the vein of Elenoar Rigby or something like that..

[hypehat]

I really think although the concept of 'aged rock star records standards' is, at best, f*cked up, that shouldn't lay blame on the songs. Those songs are beautiful, and if decrepit pop stars of days gone by want to ruin them, that's their business. But the songs aren't bad, vintagemusic! Have you listened to BWRG? That's an example of them done justice. The three 'American Songbook' albums by Rod Stewart are not. C'est La Vie.


As an aside, Harry Nilsson did one album of standards, in 1973, which stands as the last officially released example of his beautiful singing voice before it was ruined, with Gordon Jenkins, the bloody don of 'standards' arranging, and is obviously a magnificent piece of work and musicianship. Listen to that album, if you haven't (and it really sounds like you haven't)

[Too Much Sugar]

Nice to finally hear some non-classical Macca after a few years...  

I mostly like it.  It's mostly well written, and I like the dark feel of the verses, though the bridge borders on sappy and it feels like the song is ready to take off, but never quite does. 

I could see myself liking an album in this vein.  I'm a big fan of "Run Devil Run", which is one of the most rocking, energetic albums of his career, so he's done the covers thing well before.  Hopefully he can do that here.  Although what I'm really dying for is a new, proper studio album.  I can't believe it's almost 5 years since "Memory Almost Full".  

[Ron]

I was a teenager when Run Devil Run came out, I almost had a conniption fit when I first heard "WEEEELLLLL, COME INNA THIS HOUSE, WOMAN STOP ALL THAT YACKETY YACCCCKKK!!!"

Awesome album.  Plus, if memory serves, it was his first musical reaction to Linda dying.  Which I thought was also pretty cool. 

[Alex]

Has MacQuickley ever considered working with Denny Laine again?

[vintagemusic]

I really think although the concept of 'aged rock star records standards' is, at best, f*cked up, that shouldn't lay blame on the songs. Those songs are beautiful, and if decrepit pop stars of days gone by want to ruin them, that's their business. But the songs aren't bad, vintagemusic! Have you listened to BWRG? That's an example of them done justice. The three 'American Songbook' albums by Rod Stewart are not. C'est La Vie.


As an aside, Harry Nilsson did one album of standards, in 1973, which stands as the last officially released example of his beautiful singing voice before it was ruined, with Gordon Jenkins, the bloody don of 'standards' arranging, and is obviously a magnificent piece of work and musicianship. Listen to that album, if you haven't (and it really sounds like you haven't)

Hey don't be rude man. I was listening to Nilssons album of standards probably either before you were born or still in short pants.
I referenced it as an example of how a rock star can do a cool album doing material like that. As opposed to this McCartney effort
which is , well not something I want to buy.

Ni

Nilsson was also a great writer penning such monster hits as One is the loneliest number, and Jump into the fire.

Nilsson certainly blew out his voice, but He could still sing and did some satisfying, though less successful music later in his life.

[Wirestone]

Hey don't be rude man. I was listening to Nilssons album of standards probably either before you were born or still in short pants.
I referenced it as an example of how a rock star can do a cool album doing material like that. As opposed to this McCartney effort
which is , well not something I want to buy.

Judging an album on one song is kinda harsh, tho.

[vintagemusic]

Hey I am a huge McCartney, and Beatle fan, but I am not really judging it so much, as saying
not for me thanks.

I Thought McCartneys last two proper solo albums were surprisingly good.. but he wrote the material
and recorded in a way that I like.

I don't really want to hear McCartney recording in a jazz style with great jazz musicians doing old standards.
I didin't buy Wilson Sings Gershwin either or the Disney album.

For me its McCartneys songwriting, and clever studio ideas ,and bass playing, it used to be his voice
but he cant sing so well anymore, I'm sure it's a very well done album with a great supporting cast.
I just would rather listen to SMiLe or Abbey Road or Pink Floyd,

McCartney sings Sinatra! Brian sings Bing Crosby, NO THANK YOU< great stuff not for me! no no no

[PhilCohen]

And the result of McCartney releasing this disc of 1930's standards, is that his "Paul McCartney Archive Collection" series(of expanded editions of his 1970's and 1980's albums) goes into long-term limbo, and we don't get the expanded CD + DVD hardcover book editions of "Ram", "Venus & Mars" & "Wings Over America". Why? To protect the "commercial potential" of the standards album(and McCartney's other recent release, a ballet score). The result: I'm not buying the standards album(which I have yet to hear) regardless of its' musical quality(or lack thereof). As for the ballet score(or McCartney's other "classical" compositions/productions)? Not my bag.

[Ron]

McCartney's a victim of his own greatness.  The guy is so damn awesome that even his mediocre music like this song for instance would be a regular artist's masterpiece.  Once you've heard Paul do 50 amazing songs, when he does something like this it's 'ho-hum'. 

It's the reason he doesn't get any recognition as a bassist.  People acknowledge that he plays bass, but he'll never be mentioned as one of the great bass players of all time because everything else overshadows it.  Phenomenal bass player back in the day, the same 'touch' he had for songwriting he also had for basslines.  Some of the most creative, jazzy, beautiful, rockin' killer basslines ever, and he was like that when they started!  If you listen to the bassline on "I saw her standing there"... he's already great.  Lets not even get into "rain". 

[Heysaboda]

I was a teenager when Run Devil Run came out, I almost had a conniption fit when I first heard "WEEEELLLLL, COME INNA THIS HOUSE, WOMAN STOP ALL THAT YACKETY YACCCCKKK!!!"

Awesome album.  Plus, if memory serves, it was his first musical reaction to Linda dying.  Which I thought was also pretty cool. 

Yes!  Run Devil Run was an fantastic album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Great take on "Lonesome Town"!

[Heysaboda]

And the result of McCartney releasing this disc of 1930's standards, is that his "Paul McCartney Archive Collection" series(of expanded editions of his 1970's and 1980's albums) goes into long-term limbo, and we don't get the expanded CD + DVD hardcover book editions of "Ram", "Venus & Mars" & "Wings Over America". Why? To protect the "commercial potential" of the standards album(and McCartney's other recent release, a ballet score). The result: I'm not buying the standards album(which I have yet to hear) regardless of its' musical quality(or lack thereof). As for the ballet score(or McCartney's other "classical" compositions/productions)? Not my bag.

Phil, the special sets of "Ram", "Venus and Mars" etc. are being touted over at PaulMcCartney.com, so I'd say, fear not, these releases should be along in 3 - 4 months.  Yeah, I wish it was sooner.

What did you think of the recent "McCartney" and "Band on the Run" releases?  Nice sound, huh!

I'm looking forward to "Ram".

[Ron]

I was a teenager when Run Devil Run came out, I almost had a conniption fit when I first heard "WEEEELLLLL, COME INNA THIS HOUSE, WOMAN STOP ALL THAT YACKETY YACCCCKKK!!!"

Awesome album.  Plus, if memory serves, it was his first musical reaction to Linda dying.  Which I thought was also pretty cool. 

Yes!  Run Devil Run was an fantastic album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Great take on "Lonesome Town"!

Yup, I forgot that one was on there.  Brown Eyed Handsome Man was on it too.   

[Chocolate Shake Man]

And the result of McCartney releasing this disc of 1930's standards, is that his "Paul McCartney Archive Collection" series(of expanded editions of his 1970's and 1980's albums) goes into long-term limbo, and we don't get the expanded CD + DVD hardcover book editions of "Ram", "Venus & Mars" & "Wings Over America". Why? To protect the "commercial potential" of the standards album(and McCartney's other recent release, a ballet score). The result: I'm not buying the standards album(which I have yet to hear) regardless of its' musical quality(or lack thereof). As for the ballet score(or McCartney's other "classical" compositions/productions)? Not my bag.

Are you a f*cking four year old?! "You promised we'd go out to McDonald's this week and instead Uncle Tim and Aunt Terry are coming and we're having roastbeef. Well I'm not eating it!!!!" (Runs to room, slams door. An hour of crying follows).

[hypehat]

So this is streaming on NPR now. It really suits this wine. As if it wouldn't be smooth as f*ck.

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/29/145758948/first-listen-paul-mccartney-kisses-on-the-bottom

Only on the first couple of songs (#cheersinternet) but his voice sounds kinda.... thin? Maybe this is the McCartney's own style of croon.

[BananaLouie]

I am a huge Beatles and solo beatles fan, but I'll skip this one. McCartney has the biggest recording
budgets works with great people, has all that talent, But if they aren't his tunes I'm not interested.

Same here, I kind of lost interest in McCartney's more recent albums since Chaos and I'm a die hard Macca fan/Beatlemaniac. I'll just keep spinning those old Beatles/Wings records.

[Awesoman]

Crap nylon guitar courtesy of  Eric "I'm not racist, I was only joking" Clapton.

...the hell you talking about?

[hypehat]

You haven't heard about this?  From Wikipedia....

Originally conceived as a one-off concert with a message against racism, Rock Against Racism was founded in 1976 by Red Saunders, Roger Huddle and others. According to Huddle, "it remained just an idea until August 1976" when Eric Clapton made a drunken declaration of support for former Conservative minister Enoch Powell (known for his anti-immigration Rivers of Blood speech) at a concert in Birmingham.[2] Clapton told the crowd that England had "become overcrowded" and that they should vote for Powell to stop Britain from becoming "a black colony". He also told the audience that Britain should "get the foreigners out, get the wogs out, get the coons out", and then he repeatedly shouted the National Front slogan "Keep Britain White".[3][4]

He's defended it with either saying 'I was drunk' or 'I was misinterpreted', and yeah my comments simplistic, but seriously, f*ck him either way.

[Awesoman]

You haven't heard about this?  From Wikipedia....

Originally conceived as a one-off concert with a message against racism, Rock Against Racism was founded in 1976 by Red Saunders, Roger Huddle and others. According to Huddle, "it remained just an idea until August 1976" when Eric Clapton made a drunken declaration of support for former Conservative minister Enoch Powell (known for his anti-immigration Rivers of Blood speech) at a concert in Birmingham.[2] Clapton told the crowd that England had "become overcrowded" and that they should vote for Powell to stop Britain from becoming "a black colony". He also told the audience that Britain should "get the foreigners out, get the wogs out, get the coons out", and then he repeatedly shouted the National Front slogan "Keep Britain White".[3][4]

He's defended it with either saying 'I was drunk' or 'I was misinterpreted', and yeah my comments simplistic, but seriously, f*ck him either way.

No, can't say I've ever really heard about that.  Considering his love for the blues, his relationships with blues legends like B.B. King and Buddy Guy, not to mention that no one else has accused him of racist acts, I'm sorry to say I find this "racist Clapton" claim to be nothing more than, well, idiotic. 

[hypehat]

 Well, I don't know what to tell you. He said that. Funnily enough, I think he's racist for those comments. Let's not derail this thread.

[Awesoman]

Well, I don't know what to tell you. He said that. Funnily enough, I think he's racist for those comments. Let's not derail this thread.

I'm not disputing whether or not he made those remarks.  He said them during a period where he was at a low point in his personal life when he took to drugs and alcohol.  That doesn't excuse what he said; but I still find it very unfair and particularly shallow to brand the guy a 'racist' over a few remarks he made once while he was under the influence.  Everyone has said things before they regretted or didn't mean to say.  Should we forever hold it against them?  When you look at Clapton's overall career, his musical influences (Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, etc.), the type of music he plays (the blues), and the people he works with, the "racist" tag simply doesn't hold any weight.  Sounds more like you are just looking for any excuse not to like the guy.  Sorry, not trying to derail this thread; but when you make ridiculous claims, don't expect it to not get challenged.

Anywho, back to Macca.  Loved Run Devil Run; one of my all-time favorite albums.  He was in stellar voice and had a killer group of musicians (including Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour) backing him.  Really fun album.  Not quite as excited about his dreadfully-titled new album Kisses On The Bottom, but I will still pick it up.  Supposedly he's also working with Dave Grohl on a rock album next; that sounds more interesting.

[Summertime Blooz]

just listened to a bunch of the songs on NPR and it doesn't sound great to me. Paul's voice seems frail.  I think I prefer Ringo's Sentimental Journey actually.

[Ron]

I just saw a commercial, of a guy walking through the rain with this song playing, then Paul McCartney is walking in a room with this chick sleeping, then everything goes from black and white to color, and he lays a CD down on the bedstand beside her, and it's some sort of JVL speaker commercial. 

Perhaps this song has more legs than we thought. 

[hypehat]

It's grown on me, has My Valentine. The album as a whole just makes me want to listen to A Little Touch Of Schmilsson in the night, though. Because it's miles better and doesn't have that dreadful milkman song on it.