McCartney II (Archive Collection) [Original recording remastered, Special Edition]

Paul McCartney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 14, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered, Special Edition
• Label: HEAR MUSIC
• ASIN: B004WJREMW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,965 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

PAUL MCCARTNEY'S CLASSIC SOLO RECORDINGS MCCARTNEY AND MCCARTNEY II GET DELUXE TREATMENT

McCartney's Seminal Solo Albums Will Be Available In Multiple Configurations Featuring Remastered Rare And Unreleased Audio & Video Content With Special Exclusive Packaging

MPL and the Concord Music Group are pleased to announce McCartney and McCartney II as the next releases in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. Heralded as one of the most beloved solo debuts of all time, McCartney, the smash # 1 album, originally released April of 1970, yielded the timeless tracks "Every Night" and "Junk" along with the immortal classic "Maybe I'm Amazed." McCartney II originally issued in May of 1980 was McCartney's return to solo work after nine years touring and having released several massively successful albums with Wings. Reaching #1 in the UK, and #3 in the U.S., the album produced enduring classics such as "Coming Up," "Waterfalls," & "Temporary Secretary."

Paul McCartney personally supervised all aspects of these two reissues. The remastering work was done at Abbey Road using the same team who recently remastered the complete Beatles' catalogue.

Both McCartney and McCartney II will be available in a variety of formats.

McCartney will be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus seven bonus audio tracks including the previously unreleased outtakes "Suicide" and "Don't Cry Baby" plus a rare live 1979 recording of "Maybe I'm Amazed". For collectors, the reissue will also be made available as a lavishly packaged 3 disc (2 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition which includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage, an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book containing many exclusive and unpublished photos by Paul and Linda McCartney, original album artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for the two audio discs as well as detailed historical information on the film content.

McCartney II will also be made available as a 2-disc (2 CD) Special Edition featuring the original remastered album plus eight bonus tracks including B-Sides and alternative versions. The bonus audio CD includes the #1 hit "Coming Up (Live At Glasgow, 1979)" and holiday perennial "Wonderful Christmastime."

The lovingly packaged 4 disc (3 CD, 1 DVD) Deluxe Edition of McCartney II not only includes an exclusive bonus DVD featuring rare and previously unseen footage (including performances of `Coming Up' and the new video for the unreleased track `Blue Sway') but includes an additional seven rare bonus audio tracks exclusive to this edition. Additionally, the McCartney II deluxe edition contains an extraordinary 128-page hard bound book featuring many previously unpublished photos by Linda McCartney, original album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album, an illustrated history of the making of the album, and expanded track by track information for all three audio discs plus detailed historical information on the film content.

Both original remastered albums and bonus audio content will also be issued as 2 disc 180gm audiophile vinyl editions which will come with an MP3 download of all included audio.

The musical achievement of McCartney and McCartney II are noted in the annals of music history as they serve as bookends to the historic first chapter of McCartney's solo career.

McCartney & McCartney II mark the second and third releases from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, an ambitious reissue program that encompasses 41 years of cherished, classic material from the most successful songwriter and recording artist in music history. In November of 2010, the inaugural title in the Archive Collection, Paul McCartney & Wings' 1973 classic Band on the Run, was released to worldwide acclaim.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated gem gets a nice reissue!, June 14, 2011

By 

Mickbeatle "Aaron" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: McCartney II (Archive Collection) (Audio CD)

*Note that this is the last half of my review on the McCartney and McCartney II reissues. If you haven't already, look on the McCartney page.

After the listener listens to this album, they might make the confused face that Paul has on the album's cover. It's easy to understand: this album is very experimental, but so was McCartney in some way. McCartney II is actually a really good album. I like the sound of it personally. It's different and kind of trippy and funky. This album was recorded in July 1979, shortly after Wings had released their seventh (and later, final) album Back To The Egg. Paul recorded this album in Scotland and like McCartney, he played all the instruments, but this time with the aid of a sixteen track machine. Paul also had a new toy: a synthesizer. This is one of the reasons why some critics and fans don't care for McCartney II. I'm not a big fan of the synth either but Paul makes this easy to listen to. The album opens with "Coming Up", an instant classic. The live version taken from the 1979 gig in Glasgow made "Coming Up" a #1 hit single. If you're reading this, please go check out the promo/music video to "Coming Up". It's just wacky. Some people may skip over songs like "Temporary Secretary", "Front Parlour", "Frozen Jap", and many others due to the fact that there all use one too many synthesizers. I actually like "Temporary Secretary" and I also really dig "Frozen Jap", which is also an awesome song title! I like the entire first side of the album. Along with "Coming Up" and "Temporary Secretary", there's the slow rocker "On The Way", the simply beautiful "Waterfalls", and the upbeat "Nobody Knows". The second side isn't as good. My least favorite song is probably "Bogey Music". It's got this 1950's feel but it's kind of annoying. "Frozen Jap" is much like "Front Parlour" but there's something I like about it. I think it's the Japanese-like sound it has! I also like the reggae-flavored "Darkroom".

The second disc for McCartney II has eight songs and a run time of 48 minutes. Some of these songs are edits of long songs (the full length versions can be found on the third disc on the deluxe edition of this album. Both McCartney and McCartney II have deluxe editions w/ photo books and a DVD) The hit live version of "Coming Up" is on here as is "Wonderful Christmastime", which was another hit for Paul. "Check My Machine" is a very funky track that I'm really liking. It was a B-side to "Waterfalls". There's also the ten minute "Secret Friend", which was a B-side for "Temporary Secretary". For all of you real die-hard fans, there's three previously unreleased tracks that didn't make the final album (which are on a bootleg called The Lost McCartney II Album). Those three are "Mr H Atom/You Know I'll Get You Baby", "Bogey Wobble", and "All You Horse Riders/Blue Sway".

I was undecided at first as to buying these two reissues. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with my purchase. These are two really good albums and they sound clean. You also got the bonus discs, which have some lost treasures that are worth listening to. If you're a die-hard fan of the Beatles and/or Paul McCartney, you may want to pick these up.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my personal favorites, June 14, 2011

By 

Michael A. Anderson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: McCartney II (Archive Collection) (Audio CD)

Sound quality is a bit better than the '93 remaster. A bit more punch and crispness. You either like it or you don't. I happen to enjoy this one, and am also buying the deluxe 4 disc version. There are many bonus tracks, though, so the price is right for you if you don't have it. Packaging is very similar to Band on the Run from last year. Triple opening, booklet on left and 2 discs top loading on the right. Almost as thick as the BOTR deluxe 3 disc edition.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully, 'All Over The Map', June 21, 2011

By 

Martin A Hogan "Marty From SF" (San Francisco, CA. (Hercules)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: McCartney II (Archive Collection) (Audio CD)

Tired of the formality of going back into the studio for another album, McCartney decided to hole up for a few weeks with a 16-track machine and several instruments. He only meant to write a few songs to share with friends and family. He says he just wanted a cassette to listen to in his car! He evidently had no intention of creating a new album. Yet he ended up doing just that. This three CD set is an exhaustive account of the genius of McCartney.

McCartney is all over the map with this collection. From the bouncy pop hit, "Coming Up" to the gentle acoustics of "One Of These Days", McCartney is on a path of experimentation. "Temporary Secretary" is a synthesized annoyance, while "On The Way" is one of his best bluesy contributions in years. The hand-clapping jaunt of "Nobody Knows" contrasts with the ballad-like, pretty, "Waterfalls". "Front Parlour" is just weird and "Frozen Jap" is equally bizarre, but each one shows just how far McCartney is willing to go to get his true groove on. "Summer's Day Song" is a bleak lifeless experiment while "Bogey Music" takes the drum beat of Golden Earrings, "Radar Love" and produces a dance house delight. Some of the songs sound solidly mixed and produced while others sound like demos. The album is hit and miss, but definitely not one to be missed.

The second CD contains a mix of live materials and some truly unique McCartney productions. One of these marvels is "Blue Sway", inspired by a fantastic video taken by surf filmmaker Jack McCoy, using an orchestra in a brilliant fashion. "Secret Friend", a ten and a half minute journey lacks any real surprises and the equally long, "All You Horse Riders" is more filler. Other than having some live material, I can't say the second CD produces much music or insight, despite the very very wide variety of styles and the amazing, "Blue Sway".

The DVD contains an interesting (but a one-time viewing) of Tim Rice with McCartney that really just shows McCartney as he was in that moment. Videos of "Coming Up", "Waterfalls" and "Wonderful Christmastime" are included; but have not aged well. "Christmastime" is just bloody awful, while the video of "Coming Up" from Kampuchea is very nice to watch. There is a rehearsal take of "Coming Up" by Wings which is inventive and upbeat. The "Making of the "Coming Up" video is surprisingly brief, but provides an interesting look into how the groundbreaking promo was produced. For the price, there really is no excuse for any McCartney fan not to enjoy this and if you're an average fan, you'll still be surprised and entertained by the sheer variety and fearless creativity of Paul McCartney.