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
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,705 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded two CD edition of the former Beatle's 1980 solo album. McCartney II 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," and "Temporary Secretary." The bonus CD includes previously unreleased tracks, non album singles and b-sides and live tracks.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it or hate it, the packaging is fantastic June 17, 2011

By Chris McKenzie

Format:Audio CD

MCCARTNEY II is an album that polarizes fans. Many think it's too weird and not enough of a "McCartney" record. Others, like me, think it shows Paul's experimental side in a batch of songs that are interesting and fun.

For those who haven't heard MCCARTNEY II, I would not recommend the Deluxe Edition as your initial experience. Seek out "Coming Up" (the studio version, NOT Wings' live version), "Temporary Secretary" and "Waterfalls" and a few other songs on YouTube, and if you like them, buy the 2 CD set. For those fans who rank MCCARTNEY II among their favorite of his albums, though, the Deluxe Edition is a must.

The first disc, the initial album, is remastered wonderfully. The sound is crisp and clear for the first time on CD. It really makes one appreciate the effort Paul went into in producing, engineering and recording this album--all done at home on a 16-track Studer machine, without help barring initial technical assistance from engineer Eddie Klein and a few backing vocals from Linda. The album is synth-heavy, which may turn fans off. Paul also experimented with his vocals, speeding them or slowing them and sometimes adding echo.

"Waterfalls" and "One Of These Days" are probably the most McCartneyesque tracks. "Temporary Secretary", "Bogey Music" and "Darkroom" are probably the strangest. "Front Parlour" and "Frozen J**" (the title unrelated to his prison time; Amazon will not let me quote it here) are instrumentals. This is a record where no song sounds quite like the one before it.

The bonus discs, unlike the MCCARTNEY Deluxe Edition, include quite a few outtakes and alternate takes. Originally, MCCARTNEY II was planned as a double album, but Columbia's record execs vetoed that idea. The bizarre "Check My Machine" (recorded to test his tape equipment) and the ethereal "Secret Friend" (a 10-minute long mostly instrumental number) were released as B-sides. Other numbers, like the instrumentals "Bogey Wobble" and "Blue Sway", are on Disc 2. The live version of "Coming Up" by Wings recorded at Glasgow also turns up there, with an additional verse. Unfortunately for completists, the intro and chanting at the end are cut out, and the track's been remixed. So don't throw out your 45s yet.

"Mr. H Atom" is a piece of fluff sung by Paul and Linda; it's not that great, but it's amusing. "You Know I'll Get You Baby" recalls Prince's material on DIRTY MIND in terms of sound, not content; the entire song is the title line. Still, as a piece of New Wave pop, it rocks. "All You Horseriders" is one of Paul's silliest songs, but again, the background is pure late Seventies New Wave. For that, I love it. Finally, "Blue Sway" had orchestration added to it back in 1986, when Paul was considering its release on an outtakes record, COLD CUTS. That take, along with the original, is preserved here, and it sounds absolutely gorgeous, like a lost Police song.

Disc 3 is more dispensable. It contains the original, "long" versions of songs that were cut down for MCCARTNEY II, such as "Coming Up", "Front Parlour" and "Frozen J**". The instrumentals aren't that interesting, but the longer versions of "Darkroom" and "Check My Machine" (nine minutes!) are even more alternative fun. "Wonderful Christmastime", however, isn't much improved with an extra 30 seconds or so. We also get a take of "Summer Day's Song" without the vocals added later; it's gorgeous. The disc ends with the DJ edit of "Waterfalls", for what that's worth.

Finally, the DVD has an interview between McCartney and Tim Rice from 1980 which is moderately interesting, but not very revealing. The videos for "Coming Up", "Waterfalls" and "Wonderful Christmastime" are included; they don't look significantly improved from their appearance on THE MCCARTNEY YEARS. ("Christmastime" still looks pretty awful.) The video of "Coming Up" from Kampuchea is nice to have, but I wish they'd release the entire concert--not just Paul, but the Who, Pretenders et al as well. A rehearsal take of "Coming Up" by Wings in 1979 is fascinating. It reminded me of the LET IT BE sessions in that no one, even Paul, seems to be having any fun. Perhaps this is why Wings eventually broke up. Finally, the "Making of 'Coming Up'" video is way too short, but it's a great look into how that groundbreaking promo film came together, with some comments from Paul.

The book is well worth the purchase price on its own. Chockfull of rare photos, with lots of technical details about the recording of the album from Paul, Eddie Klein and Richard Niles, who orchestrated "Blue Sway". Paul also tells a few fun stories about overdubbing, which I won't spoil here. We see photos of the other Wings members from the cover shoot for MCCARTNEY II, an alternate inside spread design, an interview originally published in Club Sandwich about the record, and full details on all the album tracks and videos. Beautifully done.

One last bonus: All the tracks are available as digital downloads, limited and unlimited, from Paul's website. You can't play them on your iPods, though.

Quibbles: I wish they'd left "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)" alone. And where's the B-side of "Wonderful Christmastime", "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reggae"? He didn't record it at home, but it belongs here. Well, it's not that great anyway.

If you love MCCARTNEY II, you owe it to yourself to buy this edition. It's a keeper.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars McCartney's Two Much! November 23, 2005

By Philip Cannistraci

Format:Audio CD

"McCartney II" was recorded in 1980 right after Paul disbanded Wings. Like his first solo album, "McCartney II" is another stripped down, at home, McCartney-only production, "McCartney II" finds Paul in a rather experimental-possibly drug-induced-state. McCartney explores synth-pop here a year before it blew up in the pop-market. Taking a cue from artists like Kraftwerk, Devo and Brian Eno, "McCartney II" has everything from New Wave spaz-outs ("Temporary Secretary"), ambient/folk ballads ("Waterfalls") and paranoid techno ditties ("Darkroom"). Plus, there is funky and ebullient pop ("Coming Up"). Sadly, "McCartney II" marked the end of the Wings era in the same manner "McCartney" marked the end of The Beatles era. But also like "McCartney", "McCartney II" is a charmingly oddball album. And even though he was following the path of techno pioneers, McCartney managed, through his raw production and mixing of real instruments, to create an album that's far less dated than other, colder techno albums from the time-period. It often sounds like the low-fi electronica from 1990s indi-rock acts. Early Stereolab springs to mind. Like two other unsung gems, "Wild Life" and "Back to the Egg", "McCartney II" was snarled at by the critics. However, there was one cat who praised it in 1980: John Lennon. He even cited the "Coming Up" single as inspiring him out of retirement and to record what would be his final album, "Double Fantasy" (a FAR more conservative recording than "McCartney II"). Overall, "McCartney II" is a great album for those who like funky, witty, homespun, experimental pop-music with a rock & roll edge. Those interested in the album should definitely get the import CD with extra tracks. Especially for the extra track "Secret Friend": an atmospheric ambient/trance song. It's such a beautiful piece of music and really shows McCartney's stylistic range.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul's Synthesizer Album March 1, 2004

By joe449

Format:Audio CD

'McCartney II' has never been a popular album. Most people view it as a failed experiment or a mere oddity. However, fans of 80s retro music and synth-pop are re-discovering this album all over again (some for the first time ever). In 2003, "Temporary Secretary," was chosen for inclusion on a European compilation of 80s dance music called 'A Secret History,' proving that Paul was right up there all along with a wink.

As a previous reviewer pointed out, one shouldn't expect mainstream McCartney (i.e. "My Love"), when listening to 'McCartney II.' This is Paul in his experimental mode, having a blast with synthesizers and creating some funky tracks like "Darkroom," and "Frozen Jap." There's also "Waterfalls" -- one of his most underrated ballads, and "One of These Days" which is simply profound. "Summer's Day Song" recalls both "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Spider and I," -- a track from Brian Eno's 'Before and After Science' album.

The ultimate highlight for me is one of the bonus tracks, the 10 minute "Secret Friend," which is a hypnotic and dreamy ride into the unknown. It's one of my all-time favorite McCartney tracks, just because it's so unlike anything else he's ever done.

Recommended for open-minded Beatles or McCartney fans, or anyone who likes retro synth-pop or ambient music.