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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 19, 2010 16:22:49 GMT -5
I played this again yesterday for the first time in awhile. I think it's a decent "latter" McCartney album, and a worthy followup to his previous CHAOS AND CREATION IN THE BACKYARD. Having said that, I don't love all the songs: ;D DANCE TONIGHT -- A fun song for an introduction. Kind of silly, but it doesn't really matter. It's hard to dislike. ;D EVER PRESENT PAST -- Catchy song, and a good single if it had been 1975. It's another one where Paul got robbed of a hit, IMO. SEE YOUR SUNSHINE -- It's groovy (is that the right word?). I enjoy it. It's just another album song but I like the way it fits in this sequence. ;D ONLY MAMA KNOWS -- My favorite song on this album! An amazing rocker, and it's so gratifying to know that Paul can still do this. Reminds one of a JUNIOR'S FARM. Paul at his best pretend storytelling. YOU TELL ME -- Meh. Nothing much, this is the first weak spot on the album. But it's not "bad". I don't feel like I want to hit the skip button. MR. BELLAMY -- I imagine this one's popular? But I can do without it. I just don't like the sound of it. GRATITUDE -- What a dog of a song!! Worst on the album -- maybe. VINTAGE CLOTHES -- Interesting. It's so-so. THAT WAS ME -- It's okay, I guess. FEET IN THE CLOUDS -- I find it "very, very, very, very, very, very" hard to like this one. The continued usage of that word points to some really lazy lyrical writing. Seems to me anyway. HOUSE OF WAX -- Don't know why I sort of get into this one . Maybe it's the haunting aura of it. ;D THE END OF THE END -- Now, I just adore this song. First, I think it's very respectable of Paul to write an honest song about his feelings on dying, now that he's in his 60's. This is no poppy fluff "moon/spoon/June" silliness. It's Paul saying how he feels about death, and how he'd like to be thought about after he's gone. I happen to share Paul's feeling that there's a "much better place" later on, as I believe in Paradise (Heaven). I often think about what may happen after death, and it sometimes frightens me, th eidea that there may be nothing afterward, or that I won't be here on Earth to enjoy things I like about the world. But every time I play this song - without fail - Paul makes me feel great, and I think there's nothing to be afraid of or sad about in dying. ;D NOD YOUR HEAD -- I admit it. I like this. It's just plain craziness, not to be taken seriously, and a fun and rousing way to end the album.
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Post by vectisfabber on Sept 19, 2010 16:43:02 GMT -5
I really like Ever Present Past and That Was Me.
I quite like Dance Tonight, Only Mama Knows, and Mr Bellamy.
Vintage Clothes is OK.
Gratitude is vile in every conceivable way.
The others simply don't register.
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Sept 19, 2010 18:17:04 GMT -5
This album got some short shrift in that latest biography I talked about earlier. I think your review is spot on Joe K. Imagine if Paul had waited until the next year (Nov. 2008) and released an album that combined the best of this with the best of Electronic Arguments. You would have his best album since Band on the Run:
1. Dance Tonight replace with Dance 'til We're High -- a tuneful and celebratory song. Dance Tonight is ok and it got some airplay, but its a one trick pony.
2. Ever Present Past -- a keeper.
3. See Your Sunshine -- I like that one. The bass is all Beatles.
4. Only Mama Knows -- a great rocker in the vein of Junior's Farm.
5. You Tell Me replace with Lifelong Passion -- another nice one from the Fireman project.
6. Mr. Bellamy -- I disagree here. I love this song especially the ending where everything comes together "I'm not coming down". I can't help think this is a song about a cat (Mr. Bellamy perfect name) stuck up in a tree. Or it could be related to Heather Mills "I like it up here without you". The piano part is addictive.
7. Gratitude replace with Sun Is Shining -- love this song--so uplifting and nice melody.
8. Vintage Clothes - I like this one too though not the best on the album.
9. That Was Me -- worth keeping but barely.
10. Feet In the Clouds replace with Sing the Changes--an absolutely fantastic song that could be even better live.
11. House of Wax -- I like this one especially the guitar solos (both played by Paul)
12. Highway -- an added song instead of replacement. This could have replaced That Was Me. Its great live too.
13. The End of the End -- great song--very brave of him to refer to Heaven though indirectly. Some of his more leftist friends might object.
14. Nod Your Head -- a fun track that I could almost replace with the high energy Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight which shows all of Paul's emotion vis-a-vi Heather Mills.
If you want to make it creamier as George Martin said of the White Album and streamline it for those who take away points for any transgression you could go with these 10 tracks:
1. Dance 'til We're High 2. Ever Present Past 3. See Your Sunshine 4. Only Mama Knows 5. Lifelong Passion 6. Mr. Bellamy 7. Sun Is Shining 8. Sing the Changes 9. House of Wax 10. The End of the End
Tell me this doesn't rival Band on the Run. If you don't know the Fireman songs, go to Youtube.
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Post by brothermichael on Sept 20, 2010 19:12:01 GMT -5
Memory Almost Full is Paul going Back to the Egg (Wings) in a wonderful way. Only Gratitude sucks. Really sucks. Don't ever want to hear it again. Everything else is a keeper and more, especially Vintage Clothes. Great track.
Now if the damn thing hadn't been mastered so loudly...
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Post by coachbk on Sept 20, 2010 20:23:58 GMT -5
I really like this album a lot. His best since FLAMING PIE.
DANCE TONIGHT --A great opening track. Catchy
EVER PRESENT PAST -- An excellent single. Again catchy.
SEE YOUR SUNSHINE --OK, pleasant enough
ONLY MAMA KNOWS -- I love how this one goes from a slow classical opening to rocking and back to the slow part.
YOU TELL ME -- pure filler
MR. BELLAMY -- I like this one a lot. Interesting lyrics and the quirky piano.
GRATITUDE -- Agree with other posters that this is bad.
VINTAGE CLOTHES -- I like this one and the segue into the next track is great!
THAT WAS ME -- Love this one! It moves along nicely with interesting lyrics about what it is like for Paul looking back.
FEET IN THE CLOUDS --pretty mediocre
HOUSE OF WAX -- a bit better than the previous track, but forgettable
THE END OF THE END -- I consider this song a masterpiece right up there with the best of Paul's work. I've always identified with Paul and his outlook on life. His optimism and enthusiasm are similar to mine. I want songs to be sung when I die as well!
NOD YOUR HEAD -- A great way to end the album. A fun song (just like it started!)
A few clinkers, but Paul shows some real feeling and introspection. O course he did that on CHAOS AND CREATION but MEMORY ALMOST FULL is more musically varied making it a more enjoyable and listenable work in my opinion. This is upper tier McCartney!
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 20, 2010 22:10:48 GMT -5
This was a really good album with one or two distractions. "Dance Tonight": I love this, a Friday night let's get the party going song. Simple but effective to start things off. "Ever Present Past": Grew on me a lot and as JoeK said, it would have been a hit in a different era. Progressive pop from Paul. "See Your Sunshine": A good song, this grew on me a lot. "Only Mama Knows": Very Wings, reminds me of "Girls' School." I wish Paul wouldn't have written it in first person though. "You Tell Me": Okay, pleasant enough, I get fidgety during it. "Mr. Bellamy": I know I am in the minority but I greatly dislike this song. JoeySelf was right when he once wrote that Paul should have had others sing the third person parts like, "Go light, Mr. Bellamy, We'll have you down soon." Maybe Mr. Bellamy can hook-up with that boring office worker in "Another Day." "Gratitude": I am in the clear minority of loving this song. Very emotional, Paul let's it all out. One of Paul's best ever: this succeeds where "Oh! Darling" and "Call Me Back Again" fail miserably because Paul is sincerely overwrought here and not faking it like on those two songs. "Vintage Clothes": A great song, I get excited hearing this. Very much like what Paul might have done in that old band of his.....Wings! "That Was Me": Another classic. Paul's history told in two minutes, 38 seconds! "Feet in the Clouds": I like this even with the "very, very, very..." I remember a John Lennon song with, "gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta," et seq. "House of Wax": Whoa, gothic Paul. I love this song as it is Paul being Alice Cooper or Ozzy Osbourne. Great lead guitar solo although Paul sure as hell made sure we knew it was him. "End of the End": Loved this at first, grew cold on it but I am back to really liking it(but not the whistling part). Touching as Paul acknowledges the amazing life he has had as he basically says heaven must be very special if it is better than the great life Paul has led. What a positive outlook but let's face it: Paul McCartney has had a life we mere mortals can only dream about. Hee, hee, well not the Heather Mills part! "Nod Your Head": Paul's tour de force; Paul's "Twist And Shout;" a song that could proudly be on Ram or Wings Wild Life. If Paul was to do in concert "Nod Your Head" followed with no break by "Mumbo" the place would be up for grabs, mass hysteria, mass nakedness, a total meltdown of fan euphoria. I think Paul knows that would be dangerous and thus doesn't play those two songs back-to-back. MAF is not perfect but it is another very strong late-in-the-game album by Macca.
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Post by stavros on Sept 21, 2010 15:54:53 GMT -5
Well this has been an album that has slowly grown on me. In fact it is one of Paul's best albums. Who would have thought it?
DANCE TONIGHT - Catchy pop and great fun from Paul.
EVER PRESENT PAST - "Beatle" Paul past and present all rolled into one.
SEE YOUR SUNSHINE - Sounds like an leftover from Chaos & Creation but it's a pleasant filler.
ONLY MAMA KNOWS - Strange opening and then Wooah!!!!!!!!! Wings 1975/6 . Brilliant.
YOU TELL ME - I feel Paul is straining too hit a key higher than he should be on this song. And he fails to take this song anywhere.
MR. BELLAMY - This has become the opposite of Maxwell's Silver Hammer for me. A totally crap song that suddenly became rather good after about 20 plays. It is very Beatle sounding in it's construction but that is also its' weakness. Zoom back 40 years and George and John vocals would have made this something more than it is.
GRATITUDE - A real weak lyric that is not saved by anything else going on in this song.
VINTAGE CLOTHES - Back to a classic Paul track.
THAT WAS ME - Love all the references in this especially the Royal Iris one as that has special meaning like "Party Seacombe" from George.
FEET IN THE CLOUDS - yes this one goes nowhere . Maybe a better production on the chorus would have improved it. But it's a clunker for sure. And a vocoder adds nothing...
HOUSE OF WAX - Not impressed on first listens but has grown on me as time passed. I really like it now!
THE END OF THE END - Woah! Paul writes his own epitaph that one day will be a lot more familiar with the rest of the planet. And it is quite uplifting. But the whistling lets this down badly.
NOD YOUR HEAD - Nice fun piece.
And let's not forget the bonus disc -
IN PRIVATE - Strangely great instrumental from Macca.
WHY SO BLUE - This sounds like a throwback to Flaming Pie. It builds nicely and then a totally bland chorus.
222 - Strangely poor instrumental with scattered lyrics over it. Sounds like this was an early "Electric Arguments" type track and is a complete filler. Rubbish.
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 21, 2010 18:59:34 GMT -5
I love Gratitude.
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Post by winstonoboogie on Sept 21, 2010 20:28:15 GMT -5
THAT WAS ME - Love all the references in this especially the Royal Iris one as that has special meaning like "Party Seacombe" from George. Care to elaborate for the rest of the class?
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 21, 2010 20:53:15 GMT -5
High-five, jumping chest-bump, manly shoulder-to-shoulder hug and all that other jazz. A fellow "Gratitude" fan! I do not stand alone.
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 21, 2010 21:50:15 GMT -5
High-five, jumping chest-bump, manly shoulder-to-shoulder hug and all that other jazz. A fellow "Gratitude" fan! I do not stand alone. Lay some skin on me bro !! I prefer this one to Call Me Back Again and I think Paul sings it with passion and gratitude like he really means it.
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Post by vectisfabber on Sept 22, 2010 5:17:05 GMT -5
Two Gratitude fans! I have a recording of a cat being strangled which you might like....
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Post by stavros on Sept 22, 2010 14:27:59 GMT -5
THAT WAS ME - Love all the references in this especially the Royal Iris one as that has special meaning like "Party Seacombe" from George. Care to elaborate for the rest of the class? Yes - the Royal Iris was one of the larger ferry boats used on the Mersey many years ago. It rarely (if ever) did the regular commuter trips when I was younger. It was often used to host parties and live bands often did "gigs" on it. It links with "Party Seacombe" because Seacombe Ferry terminal is where I often used to catch the Mersey Ferry to travel from The Wirral to Liverpool (or join a "party" on the Royal Iris whilst it cruised down the Mersey). In the late 1970s it was the host for a Saturday morning TV programme the "Mersey Pirates". It eventually went out of service in the early 1990s. Sadly the Iris is decaying in a dock in London these days. There has been a campaign to bring it home but the restoration costs seem prohibitive. It is a lost part of Liverpool and Merseyside's history. Although I am too young to remember Paul playing on it with the Beatles there are still a few folks round here who can tell you stories. Woolie may remember it as well? Although being a proper "scouser" I guess he would have used the ferries less than me.
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 22, 2010 16:31:11 GMT -5
Two Gratitude fans! I have a recording of a cat being strangled which you might like.... Being a dog man, I will not be offended by that remark! ;D I read in Wikipedia that "Gratitude" is aimed at Heather Mills and if so it may be the most sarcastic song in the history of Pop/Rock!
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Post by winstonoboogie on Sept 22, 2010 20:16:40 GMT -5
Care to elaborate for the rest of the class? Yes - the Royal Iris was one of the larger ferry boats used on the Mersey many years ago. It rarely (if ever) did the regular commuter trips when I was younger. It was often used to host parties and live bands often did "gigs" on it. It links with "Party Seacombe" because Seacombe Ferry terminal is where I often used to catch the Mersey Ferry to travel from The Wirral to Liverpool (or join a "party" on the Royal Iris whilst it cruised down the Mersey). In the late 1970s it was the host for a Saturday morning TV programme the "Mersey Pirates". It eventually went out of service in the early 1990s. Sadly the Iris is decaying in a dock in London these days. There has been a campaign to bring it home but the restoration costs seem prohibitive. It is a lost part of Liverpool and Merseyside's history. Although I am too young to remember Paul playing on it with the Beatles there are still a few folks round here who can tell you stories. Woolie may remember it as well? Although being a proper "scouser" I guess he would have used the ferries less than me. OK, thanks! See, you learn something new every day!
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 23, 2010 7:17:48 GMT -5
Two Gratitude fans! I have a recording of a cat being strangled which you might like.... To know me you must know that pain is my friend .. I also like training for 14km fun runs Please pass on this recording !! ;D
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Sept 23, 2010 20:59:18 GMT -5
Two Gratitude fans! I have a recording of a cat being strangled which you might like.... It starts off bad vocally as though Paul didn't warm up. Then it improves. If you cut off the first minute or so, it is an acceptable track.
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 23, 2010 22:03:10 GMT -5
Two Gratitude fans! I have a recording of a cat being strangled which you might like.... It starts off bad vocally as though Paul didn't warm up. Then it improves. If you cut off the first minute or so, it is an acceptable track. What!? "Starts off bad," an "acceptable" track!? Man, and you are The Paul Avenger? Paul is shaken with emotion at the beginning of the song as he is trying to gain his composure. While he is angry and hurt by Heather's allegations and alleged betrayal, Paul tries hard to remain a gentleman: "Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
I'm so grateful for everything you've ever givin' me How can I explain what it means to be loved by you By you, loved by you, loved by you
Show my gratitude, gratitude, show my gratitude I wanna show my gratitude, gratitude yeah."Paul builds strength and courage as he relives his loneliness after losing Linda and then the amazing, animal sex Heather used to pull Paul off the ground or out of the bed he shared with son James for weeks after Linda's death: "Well, I was lonely, I was living with a memory But my cold and lonely nights ended when you sheltered me Loved by you, I was loved by you, ya, I was loved by you
I wanna show my gratitude, gratitude, show my gratitude to you Gratitude, show my gratitude to you, oh yeah."And then Paul realizes that he must walk away from Heather for good and for his own sanity but he'll also pray on it: "I should stop loving you Think what you put me through But I don't want to lock my heart away I will look forward to Days when I'd be loving you Until then, gonna wish and hope and prey Ya ya ya ya ya!
I wanna show my gratitude, gratitude I wanna show my gratitude, show my Yeah my gratitude
To be loved by you, be loved by you, Loved by you, to be loved by you
Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude."That is an amazing journey by Paul in a four minute or so pop song. He was never this honest, never so emotional in any Beatles song. I would urge all to spend some time with this song. It is a song borne of despair but rises from the ashes like a Phoenix. It does not start badly but Paul must find inner strength to proceed and, of course, he builds steam. Are we here so stripped of our humanity that we can't appreciate a man realizing that he is at the end of the line of a steamy, red-hot relationship? Sure it is painful to witness but Paul, and all of us, are better for it.
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 24, 2010 3:22:05 GMT -5
Gratitude is brilliant and just about the best song on the album, can't understand why others can't hear what I'm hearin' .. great analysis JSD !!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 24, 2010 5:15:08 GMT -5
It starts off bad vocally as though Paul didn't warm up. Then it improves. If you cut off the first minute or so, it is an acceptable track. What!? "Starts off bad," an "acceptable" track!? Man, and you are The Paul Avenger? Paul is shaken with emotion at the beginning of the song as he is trying to gain his composure. While he is angry and hurt by Heather's allegations and alleged betrayal, Paul tries hard to remain a gentleman: "Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
I'm so grateful for everything you've ever givin' me How can I explain what it means to be loved by you By you, loved by you, loved by you
Show my gratitude, gratitude, show my gratitude I wanna show my gratitude, gratitude yeah."Paul builds strength and courage as he relives his loneliness after losing Linda and then the amazing, animal sex Heather used to pull Paul off the ground or out of the bed he shared with son James for weeks after Linda's death: "Well, I was lonely, I was living with a memory But my cold and lonely nights ended when you sheltered me Loved by you, I was loved by you, ya, I was loved by you
I wanna show my gratitude, gratitude, show my gratitude to you Gratitude, show my gratitude to you, oh yeah."And then Paul realizes that he must walk away from Heather for good and for his own sanity but he'll also pray on it: "I should stop loving you Think what you put me through But I don't want to lock my heart away I will look forward to Days when I'd be loving you Until then, gonna wish and hope and prey Ya ya ya ya ya!
I wanna show my gratitude, gratitude I wanna show my gratitude, show my Yeah my gratitude
To be loved by you, be loved by you, Loved by you, to be loved by you
Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude."That is an amazing journey by Paul in a four minute or so pop song. He was never this honest, never so emotional in any Beatles song. I would urge all to spend some time with this song. It is a song borne of despair but rises from the ashes like a Phoenix. It does not start badly but Paul must find inner strength to proceed and, of course, he builds steam. Are we here so stripped of our humanity that we can't appreciate a man realizing that he is at the end of the line of a steamy, red-hot relationship? Sure it is painful to witness but Paul, and all of us, are better for it. No need to ask if I'm stripped of my humanity, Sir. The song just sounds unappealing to listen to, whatever the sentiment. And JSD, we don't know for a fact that it has anything to do with Heather, do we? Yes, I can certainly say yours is a very sound and logical conclusion (it probably is about her), but do we know?
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Post by vectisfabber on Sept 24, 2010 6:36:17 GMT -5
It doesn't just sound unappealing, it sounds horrible.
McCartney's voice has always been the instrument in The Beatles' sound which spoke most directly to me, and it's also been (for me) the strongest element of the solo years too - even now its quality is deteriorating, it still has that undefinable something. And that's the reason why it almost literally pains me when I hear him try to do something which his voice is patently not suited to. I don't care very much for the silly voices in Uncle Albert, Robbers Ball, Mr Bellamy etc., but they don't jar to the same extent as Gratitude.
I don't dispute the value of the song, it's just the sound of it which is unutteraby vile. Coming from someone whose entire career has centred around things sounding nice, the sheer nerve-grating antiphony of this song puts it in a category of its own, where it sits in well-deserved solitude. It is McCartney's Revolution 9 in terms of unlistenable awfulness.
For the avoidance of confusion, John's voice has always been pretty special to me too, and certainly the more distinctive instrument.
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 24, 2010 7:32:46 GMT -5
It is McCartney's Revolution 9 in terms of unlistenable awfulness. Ouch !!! You must really hate this song.
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 24, 2010 7:46:28 GMT -5
It doesn't just sound unappealing, it sounds horrible. McCartney's voice has always been the instrument in The Beatles' sound which spoke most directly to me, and it's also been (for me) the strongest element of the solo years too - even now its quality is deteriorating, it still has that undefinable something. And that's the reason why it almost literally pains me when I hear him try to do something which his voice is patently not suited to. I don't care very much for the silly voices in Uncle Albert, Robbers Ball, Mr Bellamy etc., but they don't jar to the same extent as Gratitude. I don't dispute the value of the song, it's just the sound of it which is unutteraby vile. Coming from someone whose entire career has centred around things sounding nice, the sheer nerve-grating antiphony of this song puts it in a category of its own, where it sits in well-deserved solitude. It is McCartney's Revolution 9 in terms of unlistenable awfulness. For the avoidance of confusion, John's voice has always been pretty special to me too, and certainly the more distinctive instrument. In the depths of human emotion, we sometimes resort to guttural sounds we don't normally make. Paul's vocal goes there in this ultimate song of liberation. Paul probably has film of him recording this song(someday we'll be grateful, we will express our gratitude, for Paul filming so much) and I bet, vectis, that if you could actually see him deliver this vocal, you'd change your mind in a New York minute.
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 24, 2010 7:51:18 GMT -5
Gratitude is brilliant and just about the best song on the album, can't understand why others can't hear what I'm hearin' .. great analysis JSD !! I agree with you about "Gratitude" being close to the top on this album. I like those rare times when Paul lets us peak into his soul. It doesn't happen often. I mean what possible connection to reality in Paul' life is "Only Mama Knows?" Did Heather Louise McCartney leave a baby in the John Lennon Airport in Liverpool? I don't think so.
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 24, 2010 8:02:25 GMT -5
Gratitude is brilliant and just about the best song on the album, can't understand why others can't hear what I'm hearin' .. great analysis JSD !! I agree with you about "Gratitude" being close to the top on this album. I like those rare times when Paul lets us peak into his soul. It doesn't happen often. I mean what possible connection to reality in Paul' life is "Only Mama Knows?" Did Heather Louise McCartney leave a baby in the John Lennon Airport in Liverpool? I don't think so. Yes , also from a singing point of view , Paul destroys his voice until there's nothing left so you feel that he really is singing the blues, everyone is content with happy go lucky Paul, I don't mind abit of down in the dumps Paul with a smile on his face, that's gratitude !!
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Post by scousette on Sept 24, 2010 15:09:11 GMT -5
Care to elaborate for the rest of the class? Yes - the Royal Iris was one of the larger ferry boats used on the Mersey many years ago. It rarely (if ever) did the regular commuter trips when I was younger. It was often used to host parties and live bands often did "gigs" on it. It links with "Party Seacombe" because Seacombe Ferry terminal is where I often used to catch the Mersey Ferry to travel from The Wirral to Liverpool (or join a "party" on the Royal Iris whilst it cruised down the Mersey). In the late 1970s it was the host for a Saturday morning TV programme the "Mersey Pirates". It eventually went out of service in the early 1990s. Sadly the Iris is decaying in a dock in London these days. There has been a campaign to bring it home but the restoration costs seem prohibitive. It is a lost part of Liverpool and Merseyside's history. Although I am too young to remember Paul playing on it with the Beatles there are still a few folks round here who can tell you stories. Woolie may remember it as well? Although being a proper "scouser" I guess he would have used the ferries less than me. Thank you, stavros. I was thinking Royal Iris might have referred to Iris Caldwell. Didn't she and Paul date?
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Sept 24, 2010 15:15:46 GMT -5
It doesn't just sound unappealing, it sounds horrible. McCartney's voice has always been the instrument in The Beatles' sound which spoke most directly to me, and it's also been (for me) the strongest element of the solo years too - even now its quality is deteriorating, it still has that undefinable something. And that's the reason why it almost literally pains me when I hear him try to do something which his voice is patently not suited to. I don't care very much for the silly voices in Uncle Albert, Robbers Ball, Mr Bellamy etc., but they don't jar to the same extent as Gratitude. I don't dispute the value of the song, it's just the sound of it which is unutteraby vile. Coming from someone whose entire career has centred around things sounding nice, the sheer nerve-grating antiphony of this song puts it in a category of its own, where it sits in well-deserved solitude. It is McCartney's Revolution 9 in terms of unlistenable awfulness. For the avoidance of confusion, John's voice has always been pretty special to me too, and certainly the more distinctive instrument. In the depths of human emotion, we sometimes resort to guttural sounds we don't normally make. Paul's vocal goes there in this ultimate song of liberation. Paul probably has film of him recording this song(someday we'll be grateful, we will express our gratitude, for Paul filming so much) and I bet, vectis, that if you could actually see him deliver this vocal, you'd change your mind in a New York minute. I went back and listened to the track again and I must admit I like it better than I did with earlier listens. I agree about the genuine emotion and the personal subject matter of the song. However, there are some really awkward vocal moments on that track. And the way Paul pronounces Gra TE tude with such a hard sound in the middle is irritating. He should pronounce it smoothly so that it rolls off his tongue gra di tude. But more importantly the refrain just with the layered vocals just doesn't work. It stops the momentum of the song dead when he goes back to repeating Gratitude over and over. The first 58 seconds of the song is not impressively sung no matter how much emotion is involved and the last 40 seconds of the song are not impressive. In between it is actually quite good--not an filler at all. I don't think it has anything to do with his voice deteriorating. He just didn't nail those parts of the song. He did nail the other parts. It's just an imperfect take of an interesting song.
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Post by vectisfabber on Sept 24, 2010 15:39:23 GMT -5
It is McCartney's Revolution 9 in terms of unlistenable awfulness. Ouch !!! You must really hate this song. What gave me away? ;D
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Post by winstonoboogie on Sept 24, 2010 22:00:17 GMT -5
Just a thought - could this be his attempt at an African-american gospel-type song?
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 24, 2010 22:49:01 GMT -5
Just a thought - could this be his attempt at an African-american gospel-type song? Sure, and I think that it is clearly his best effort at that style. "After The Ball" sounded so forced to me.
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