Customer Reviews

Back To The Egg

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't know what's up with the main Amazon review up there. That bit about the Little-Richard inspired rocker vs. "..the Manilow-esque balladeer who too often gets the upper hand here."?! What album are they listening to?! "Back to the Egg" is the most consistently hard-rocking album in the Wings' catalouge. Paul would never scream like this, rock out like this, ever again. "Spin It On", "Old Siam, Sir", "To You" and "So Glad To See You Here" all display that McCartney had far more energy and fire than any of his peers at the time. And although it's hard-rockers that dominate "Back to the Egg", there are many styles of music: funk, soul, bizarre New Age, and touches of disco and jazz throughout. Save for the apolitical lyrics, it's not unlike a Clash album from the late 1970s or early 1980s. Another thing that gets me about the above Amazon review is that dig about too many MOR leanings. How could an album that is so insanely diverse and idiosyncratic be middle of the road? McCartney was always a lover of extremes; this was the same man who put "Martha My Dear" and "Helter Skelter" on the same album. Well, "Back to the Egg" is McCartney's most diverse outing next to "The White Album". Of course it was another McCartney/Wings release that was panned mercilessly by critics; Rolling Stone magazine even ludicrously insulted the musicianship on the record. The band (Wings' third and final line-up) play tight as heck; McCartney lays down some of his best bass-lines. The failed single, "Arrow Through Me", is a masterwork of smooth funk in which Paul's vocals and bass dance with one another to thrilling effect. And his pronouncing of "arrow" like "arrah" just sounds so cool. Then there's those great and funky jazz horns! If this is MOR, then MOR is some inventive stuff! It's more in line with Stevie Wonder and Prince than anything a blue-eyed soul act could come up with. Just compare Paul's "Arrow Through Me" vocals with Mick Jagger's corny falsetto on "Beast of Burden" (recorded around the same time) and tell me which artist got his swerve on better. And whereas all the punk-influenced songs on "Some Girls" sound horribly forced, Paul has loads of passion when performing the punk-influenced songs on "Back to the Egg". He sounds right at home doing cotemporary 1979 music and at the same time never forfeits his identity. Not surprising, since Paul was performing this brand of fast and concentrated rock back in 1974 (e.g. "Junior's Farm"). And he was doing funky groove workouts in 1973 (e.g. "1985"). And almost every New Wave act was inspired by what he, and his ex-partner John Lennon, did in The Beatles. Why shouldn't McCartney rumble with the very music he helped to inspire? Some people have a problem with the medley of slow songs towards the end; like the Beatles didn't do slow songs or something? THIS ballad medley is far better than the slight and uninspired medley at the end of "Red Rose Speedway". Here all the medley songs don't sound alike (they're quite different from one another in fact) and they make for a nice contrast to the hard-rock. "Back to the Egg" is a genre-defying gas from beginning to end. And it's easily one of Paul McCartney's best albums.

One of the most overlooked aspects of Paul McCartney's career is his versatility. This is the man who could write and perform Helter Skelter, Honey Pie, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, and Blackbird all on the same record. His ability to compose in quite literally any style (including those outside the realm of popular music, such as classical) has always been impressive in and of itself. This eclecticism has helped and hindered him over the years, exposing his strengths and his weaknesses both, and nowhere is this more obvious than on 1979's Back to the Egg.

After the peculiar (but successful) soft rock/Euro-pop/Celtic folk amalgam of London Town, Back to the Egg functions like a late 70s version of the Beatles' "Get Back" project as Paul returns to straight-up rock & roll. Pounding out pummeling riffs and thunderous drums he crafts some fine rockers, even teaming up with an all-star "rockestra" including Pete Townsend, John Bonham, Dave Gilmour, and more for two huge songs, So Glad to See You Here and the Grammy-winning Rockestra Theme. Of course, that doesn't mean Wings (with its strong new and last lineup: in addition to the usuals Laurence Juber on guitar and Steve Holly on drums) can't rock on their own - Old Siam, Sir is one of Paul's heaviest cuts.

Although rock & roll is prevalent, Paul goes all over the place stylistically, tackling all the music predominant at the close of the 70s. Punk, funk, rock, pop, disco, folk, jazz, ballads, and even spoken word (The Broadcast) and a Celtic-gospel fusion like a twisted hangover from London Town (Million Miles) all make appearances, to varying degrees of success. The opener (the static-laden Reception), closer (the 30s-style Baby's Request), and others point toward a kind of "concept" about radio, and if it isn't quite successful it does help lend this scattershot record a sense of unity. This lack of focus derives mostly from the lyrics - the best songs have the best words, naturally enough, but less amazing cuts like To You and Spin It On are almost cringe-worthy. (Denny Laine gets in a shot too, with the poppy Again & Again & Again.)

This album represents both the best and worst in Paul McCartney and isn't the ideal place for introductions. But if you've already heard the astonishing Band on the Run and are digging albums like Venus & Mars, Back to the Egg is certainly worth a listen.

NOTES FOR REMASTERED PAUL MCCARTNEY COLLECTION:

And the bonus tracks? Daytime Nighttime Suffering is sheer pop perfection and Back to the Egg is worth the price tag if only for this one song. The others, the holiday-themed Wonderful Christmastime and its B-side Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae... are for McCartney completists.

as many reviewers here, I just cant understand why some people dont like this album, even if they call themselves macca fans!!. The band sounds very well and tight, the new additions to the line up were great musicians, and less problematic than jimmy mccullough anyway. The songs are great, this is probably the rockiest wings album, and everytime paul wants, hes a hell of a rocker. Getting closer, spin it on, old siam sir, rockestra....just great. Just as an example, look for the live 79' bootleg in glasgow, the last wings concert (not counting the kampuchea show), and you will hear a great band, a repertoire probably superior than the one on wings over america, and you will see why I like this album so much. A pity that this line up was interrupted the way they did.

Why do people insist on bashing this album? For an album that was recorded intentionally as a non-commercial effort, Back To The Egg is a full band effort for Wings full of hooks, melody, and a great overall sound. A very rock influenced album, it is full of McCartney gems that found McCartney channeling his need to be seen as a fully-fledged rock star.

In my opinion, the reason I feel that people pan this album is because of the diversity that it shows. It contains some disco-pop (Arrow Throguh Me), Ray Charles influenced piano blues (after The Ball), Jazz oriented slow tunes (Baby's Request), Funk music (Reception), Classical (winter Rose), Accoustic (Love Awake) and artistic (Open Tonight). But what makes these songs and diversity work is the production (recording and mixing) of the songs. The well recorded, prominent Bass lines, great sounding drum tracks, and dueling guitar lines from Mr. Juber and Laine make the songs enjoyable.

The overall sound of the album has this very dark and rocky feeling to it, and we find McCartney (in my opinion) singing in his best rock voice ever. Prime example of that is McCartneys hardest-rocking song 'Old Siam Sir'. McCartney Belts every song out on this album as if he has something to prove.

If you are interested in buying this album, buy it for the simple reason of an overall listening experience. From start to finish, it is very eclectic, but the overall sound, feel, variety, and artisticness in the songs themselves will make you feel fullfilled.

I do suggest buying Band On The Run and Driving Rain before this album... Just to get used to the McCartney-ish type rock, but do buy it indeed!

Favorites:
Getting Closer, Spin It On, After The Ball-Million Miles/Winter Rose-Love awake, Old Siam Sir, Rockestra, Baby's Request, Daytime Nighttime suffering, Arrow Through Me.

All the Best, The AndyMan

This is not only the finest album by an ex-Beatle, it is probably the greatest album of the 70's. I honestly believe that when people try to criticize this album, they are hung up on "Love Awake," and its one bad line, "snow falls in the winter/spring brings the rain," and maybe they're confused by "Arrow Through Me," where the torn meistro balances a cacophony of emotions on a pinpoint of icy funk.

Besides that, what is the problem?! You don't like "Rockestra Theme"? Okay, look for a "VOLUME" knob and try turning it CLOCKWISE. Same with "To You" and "So Glad To See You Here." And don't forget, this is THE studio Rockestra album. Are you crazy? Don't go to your grave ungrateful for the sound of that supergroup. Seriously.

If you really want to dissect what makes this album totally transporting, check out the drums for a second. Hear how full and heavy, yet swift and pummelling they sound? That's the magic of Steve Holly recorded by Chris Thomas. Now notice how every frequency, from the bottom of the bass drum to the edge of the ride cymbal, is reflected in the extreme fullness of the bass and guitar sounds? That's called two, three, sometimes NINE, MAJOR rock guitarists blending perfectly under the transparent brilliance of same Chris Thomas. Don't forget, he was also producing the first Pretenders album around this time.

Get lost in the big scary world on "Old Siam Sir" and you know what it means to live. Stop everything when you get to "The Broadcast" and you'll find guidance and grace. Maybe you don't like "Getting Closer" because the totally commercial beat reminds you of some 70's radio you'd rather forget. In that case, go; there's nothing i can do for you. Work out your issues with my blessing, and come back when you're ready.

This album contains the fullest flowering of Paul's Beatle-derived ability to sequence disparate grooves. I don't really GET "We're Open Tonight," but it's freaky enough and pretty and no ditty could better set you up for the next song. If you like a blast, this is where to go: "Spin It On" is a track so hot, Paul and Denny are barking like dogs half way through.

All i'm going to say about side 2 is, if you get bored, just listen to the orchestral arrangements and watch your physical surroundings take on poetry and depth, maybe for the first time, you cranks! All of you! Even Paul has said this album is not very good! This album is a Miraculous Gift and i think it's a terrible mistake that they packaged it with extra tracks this time around.

Paul has a ton of soul. Top his rock and roll wordsmithing in this post-Lennon world, and you've got yourself a career. I'm sort of angry about this. Sorry.

I bought this album when it first came out in 1979 and wore the grooves away. The ultimate tragedy is that this line up of Wings went bust after Paul's Japanese jail time. I admit there is some filler on this effort but it is very interesting filler. Paul gives it his all vocally and the guitar parts are always inspired.If you have access to a surround sound system you will appreciate the fine production value. Truly a sleeper that will wake you up once again to the beauty that is McCartney.

Here's a very peculiar album in the McCartney catalogue.
It's the hardest and fastest LP McCartney has ever made outside of his Beatles work. It's tuneful as well as hard rocking - and it aspires very loosely to be a concept album. The BTTE sequence is served up as a futuristic transmission as if you're tuning into interplanetary radio. But I can't stress enough, all of this is just ambience - there is no cohesive 'concept' or narrative at work here.
Mostly though, this album is just plain fun. Great playing, modest ambitions well executed - it's strangely listenable and has been on my turntable on and off for decades now. My favourite thing about this record is that it has an enigma (which seemed to start with the previous album London Town), a nice dreamy, elusive quality which sadly disappeared in McCartney's very sober and earnest 80's work.
'Getting Closer', 'Spin it on', 'Old Siam Sir' and 'So Glad...' are just great pounding thumping, raise the roof rock and roll. I can't think of another album where Macca's bass playing is so hot! I would love to have seen this band play these numbers in concert at the time.
I'm also a fan of the spacey ballads 'We're open tonight' and 'Arrow through me'. It's a shame that 'After the ball' and 'Winter Rose' don't have the same quality because it would've leant a bit more cohesion to the album. These two tracks would've been more at home on 'Tug of War' or 'Pipes of Peace' (not my favourite McCartney era).
This album probably deserved a better fate although it was probably a good time for Wings to fold. Macca is very adept at reinvention and he went on immediately to make the sequel to his homemade totally solo 1970 album 'McCartney', launching the new era with the sublime, funky 'Coming Up', but all that was still another year away.
It's worth also noting here that Denny Laine puts in a superb pop track 'Again and again and again' reminding us that it's a shame he didn't have a bit more space on the band's albums.
On top of all of this you get 2 tracks by 'Rockestra' - McCartney's concept of an assembly of rock's finest musicians bashing out anthemic chords. Whilst it doesn't exactly disrupt, it seems a little out of place here - why not a whole rockestra album? Fortunately the future radio concept makes diversity make sense on this record and it all adds up to one of the most enjoyable, if flawed Wings outings.
Extra tracks are particularly good on this one - the much heralded 'Daytime Nightime Suffering' is terrific and inventive, 'Wonderful Christmastime' is also great fun and a nice segue way into Paul's solo career. If you like Wings, you won't be disappointed by this one!

I've always thought this album was one of Macca's best as it displays his hard edged rockin' vocals at their very peak with an ecclectic batch of quality tunes.
"Getting closer" was the single and it cooks with big hooks and
ROCKS with Mccartney's scorching vocals.
"Arrow through me" has got to be one of the SMOOTHEST coolest songs Macca's ever put out with a soulful strutting groove accented with some "Steely Dan" style horns capped off by Macca's suave sophisticated vocals.
Mccartney also tackles some blues in the lazy swing of "After the ball" which flows right into the acapella gospel of "Million Miles".
The brief but elegantly enchanting "Winter rose" finds Mccartney at his refined melodic best and "Love awake" is laid back acoustic beauty.
"Old siam,sir" has got to be the hardest rocking tune here as it sports a riff heavier than a ton of bricks complemented by Macca on fire belting out his vocals like a man possessed.
There are a few questionable eccentric creations like the aimless repetitive "Reception" and the useless ramblings of the "Broadcast" but "Back to the Egg' is primo Macca for the most part.
The low key jazzy charm of "Baby's Request" closes out what i consider to be unquestionably Macca's hardest rocking album and certainly one of his best.

Oscar F.

Wings' swan song..."Back To The Egg" has been a longtime favorite of mine. Don't know why though. I guess it is due to the heaviness of the album as well as some great "ballads".

I distinctly remember hearing the songs Arrow Through Me and Getting Closer ont the radio at the time of this release, but yet they were not hits (the former was the bigger song IMO).

I also remember seeing a TV special that revolled around the Back To The Egg material - with the album cover coming to life at the beginning, along with promo videos of Getting Closer, Spin It On, Again & Again & Again, Arrow Through Me, Winter Rose/Love Awake and Baby's Request.

Anyway, back to the CD, the first half (or Sunny Side Up - Side 1 of the album) seems to be more upbeat than the second side (or Over Easy as it was called back then) - starting with Rockestra Theme. And when I first got this I only heard the 1st half.

But listening to it numerous times now, I am enjoying the whole album and not just the "upbeat" songs. Especially good is the middle 2 slow songs After The Ball/A Million Miles & Winter Rose/Love Awake as well as Baby's Request.

The only downside is that I wish they stuck "Goodnight Tonight" on this release and not on McCartney II. It goes well with the other material as well as it's B-Side "Daytime Nighttime Suffering".

Oh well, you can't have anything.

Summary of thoughts: Wings' as well as Paul's heaviest album put out, great hidden treasures, as well as some decent filler songs.

I am not the biggest McCartney fan, and I own (of his musical output post-Beatles) only "Band on the Run", "Venus and Mars", "London Town", "McCartney 1 & 2", and on other occasions "Flowers in the Dirt", "Tug Of War" and "Ram" (now all sold!). But the one album I would not get rid of that McCartney produced is "Back to the Egg". This album has to be the best thing he did after leaving The Beatles. I re-submit, I am NOT the biggest McCartney fan, preferring the work of George Harrison, but "Back to the Egg" has absolutely great songs all over it. "Arrow Through Me" I'm surprised never made it to radio, it's one of his finest compositions. His bass work throughout this album makes it worth the price of admission. The only album of his I would keep if my house was on fire and I had to save just one of McCartney's solo albums.