Whether Paul McCartney is your favorite Beatle or not, one thing's for sure: he is definitely the most prolific member, having released 22 studio albums over the past 30 years.
2 of those albums have just been reissued and both mark milestones in Sir Paul's recording career. "McCartney" and "McCartney II" have quite a lot in common. Both albums were released at the beginning of a new decade -- "McCartney" in 1970 and "McCartney II" in 1980. Both were also Paul's first albums after long time stints in famous bands … The Beatles and Wings. And both albums were absolute solo albums in every way, shape and form as they found McCartney writing, recording, producing and playing all the instruments on both.
So how do these solo albums hold up in 2011?
1970's "McCartney" is still a pleasant listening experience. At the time of its release, fans expecting to get a Beatles sounding album might have been surprised by the stripped down sound and simple production values of Paul's first solo outing.
Comprised of a few upbeat instrumentals and some great tracks including "The Lovely Linda," "That Would Be Something," "Every Night"and the timeless classic "Maybe I'm Amazed" this album is a laid-back affair and manages to achieve exactly what Paul was going through at the time -- which was getting away from the big "Beatles machine" and just spending time with family.
"McCartney" wasn't meant to be an album you cranked up at a keg party or blasted in your car while racing down the highway. Instead, "McCartney" is the kind of album you play in the kitchen on a Sunday morning while making chocolate chip pancakes for the kids. 40 years on and "McCartney" is still putting smiles on a lot of happy, hungry, sleepy people.
1980's "McCartney II" is a much more experimental album. Paul himself has said many times that it was made for fun and was never meant to be released. Once again Paul finds himself without a band to channel his music through and is on his own to create a whimsical set of music for his own ears.
You can hear McCartney embrace the 80's new wave movement on songs like "Temporary Secretary" and "Darkroom." Elsewhere you will find forays into "boogie-woogie" and even "dance" music. Every artist has his one "odd man out" album and this is definitely Sir Paul's. There are a couple of stand-out tracks including the gorgeous "Waterfalls" and the worldwide hit single "Coming Up." As an experimental piece of musical history and a look inside the mind of a creative musical genius at work, "McCartney II" is kinda cool. But, as a cohesive listening experience that you'll want to enjoy over and over again … "McCartney II" fails honorably.
I do have to mention that both albums have been released in 2 disc and 3 disc formats that include bonus tracks and DVDs with archival interviews and videos. These reissues are excellent and Concord Music Group really has done a great job at giving diehard fans the ultimate editions of these 2 pivotal Paul McCartney releases.
Drumroll please…
Original Albums:
McCartney: 8 out of 10 Hofner Basses
McCartney II: 5 out of 10 Hofner Basses
2011 Reissues with bonus material:
Both 10 out of 10 Hofner Basses
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