Memory Almost Full - CD/DVD Deluxe Edition [Extra tracks, Live]

Paul McCartney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Live
• Label: HEAR MUSIC
• ASIN: B000W47N8Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,395 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dance Tonight

2. Ever Present Past

3. See Your Sunshine

4. Only Mama Knows

5. You Tell Me

6. Mr. Bellamy

7. Gratitude

8. Vintage Clothes

9. That Was Me

10. Feet In The Clouds

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Drive My Car - Live At The Electric Ballroom, London

2. Dance Tonight - Live At The Electric Ballroom, London

3. House Of Wax - Live At The Electric Ballroom, London

4. Nod Your Head - Live At The Electric Ballroom, London

5. Only Mama Knows - Live At The Electric Ballroom, London

6. Dance Tonight (Video)

7. Ever Present Past (Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Many years from now" must have seemed like an understatement to 16-year-old Paul McCartney, wondering if he'd still be needed or fed at the age of 64. As it turned out, all doubt as to the latter had ceased by his 22nd birthday (though few could have predicted he'd end up washing down those meals with the liquid pride of Seattle). As to the former? Now that McCartney, as of the date of this album's release, has reached that mythic age, his greatest work is 40 years behind him, his solo peak over 30 years gone. Does the world need a new Paul McCartney album? The answer is yes, at least as much as it needs anything else that passes for music these days. With Memory Almost Full, Macca is back. No, it's not Ram or Band on the Run. It might not even be Flowers in the Dirt--in 1989, he had a full band, the support of Linda, and Elvis Costello as a collaborator. Here, he's on his own. Literally: on the majority of the tracks, everything but the strings is multi-instrumentalist Paul. But the surprise is that it's one of his freest, loosest affairs in years, sonically reminiscent of the Tug of War/Pipes of Peace era with nods to Abbey Road in the album-closing medley, McCartney's gravelly tones on "Gratitude," and 2007's version of "Her Majesty," the palate-cleansing "Nod Your Head." It's a surprise because of the album's inescapable sense of retrospection ("Ever Present Past," "Vintage Clothes," "That Was Me") and even a bit of weariness. The next-to-last song is "The End of the End," after all, in which McCartney tells us about what he'd like to happen "on the day that I die." (He wants "songs that were sung/to be hung out like blankets/that lovers have played on/and laid on while listening to songs that were sung," and will likely get his wish.) But it never gets overwhelming, for McCartney mostly resists his tendency to get plodding and maudlin. In fact, Memory Almost Full must be the most sanguine album made during the dissolution of a marriage since...well, ever. "What went out is coming back," he sings in "Vintage Clothes," and from the sound of things, that may not be just wishful thinking. What's past is prologue; if we're lucky, what to come may be McCartney's late renaissance. --Benjamin Lukoff

More from Paul McCartney

A Hard Day's Night	Wingspan (Hits & History)	All the Best	Ram	Band on the Run
McCartney	Wings - Greatest Hits	Venus and Mars	Chaos and Creation in the Backyard	Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)

Product Description

The CD/DVD Deluxe Edition features three bonus audio tracks on the CD: "In Private," "Why So Blue," and "222." In addition, the package includes a DVD that features never-before-released footage from McCartney's "secret show" at the Electric Ballroom in London in June, 2007. The video portion of the package includes live performances of material from "Memory Almost Full" including "Dance Tonight," "Nod Your Head," "House of Wax" and "Only Mama Knows," as well as a live performance of "Drive My Car."

Also included in the package are the music videos for the singles "Ever Present Past," directed by Phil Griffin and "Dance Tonight," directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and starring Natalie Portman.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul is NOT dead..., November 12, 2007

By 

D. Nufer "Shopping-Cart-Man.com" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Memory Almost Full - CD/DVD Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

If you grew up with the Beatles, and followed their solo careers, and looked forward to their new albums, you knew too many months and years in which Paul did NOT release anything - especially in the '80s and '90s. I remember being concerned that maybe we'd heard the last of Paul, or that his creative juices had all dried up. "Driving Rain" and "Chaos and Creation" were hints that this was not so.

"Memory Almost Full" is a nice, refreshing confirmation that Paul still has much to offer. I'm also one who bought the "deluxe" CD when it came out. I couldn't help but notice that the 3 bonus tracks were among my favorites and fully deserved to be on the main album. I also enjoyed the track-by-track commentary - that doesn't seem to be on this offering.

The video DVD and live performances are nice additions. I agree that they should have all been on the original deluxe package. Maybe that release needs to be ignored and people need to be pointed to this offering instead?

I hope to be retired by the time I'm Paul's age. I'm glad to see that he's not. He's still producing some great tunes, and he's open to trying new tricks of the trade and venues for getting his music out to the masses. (How many 60+ year-olds have a YouTube site?)

He's still singing - and I'm still listening... Hopefully, this collaboration of ours will continue for many more years to come!

Thanks, Paul!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Blast to the Past - Worthy of 2007 Album of the Year Consideration, April 9, 2008

By 

L.A. Scene (Indian Trail, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Memory Almost Full - CD/DVD Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

By 2005, Paul McCartney's place in music history was long cemented. Whether you look at McCartney's work with the Beatles, Wings, or even as a solo artist - he really doesn't have much more to prove. There was even that time in the mid-1980s when McCartney's solo career hit a bump in the road both critically and professionally - then thanks to a songwriting partnership with Elvis Costello, McCartney bounced back with his magnificent effort "Flowers in the Dirt". Upon proving he could launch the comeback, McCartney didn't fade into oblivion. By 2007, McCartney, who is now technically a senior citizen had become an "elder statesman" of Rock. In 2005, McCartney released the critically acclaimed "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard". This album would mark a second commercial comeback for McCartney who had hit another bump with 2001's "Driving Rain" (which didn't sell well). "Chaos and Creation" was a "kinder/gentler" album and helped McCartney return to the level of critical and commercial success that he was accustomed to. 2007 would see the release of "Memory Almost Full". This album is McCartney's strongest effort since "Flowers in the Dirt". It shows McCartney return to his roots with a sound reminiscent of the late 1960s Beatles and early 1970s Wings - while at the same time showing a willingness to experiment with new sounds.

With "Memory Almost Full", McCartney had actually put this into the works before "Chaos and Creation", but had decided to put it on hold. Following the release and subsequent tour supporting "Chaos and Creation", McCartney went back to finish the album.

It is important to note that there are three versions of this collection that were released:
* "Original Release": This contains thirteen tracks that comprise the core of this collection.
* "Deluxe Edition": This contains all thirteen tracks from the "Original Release" and three "bonus" tracks. It also contains an audio commentary from McCartney discussing the music from this collection.
* "CD/DVD Deluxe Edition": This contains the 13 core tracks from the "Original Release as well as the three bonus tracks from the "Deluxe Edition". While it doesn't contain the audio commentary on the deluxe edition, it includes 5 live numbers recorded in London's Electric Ballroom as well as two music videos. It is this version that this review focuses on.

Here is a track by track review:

1-"Dance Tonight": This track is highlighted by McCartney showcasing his new-found mandolin-playing skills. This track demonstrates McCartney returning to his "roots" (by learning a new instrument) while willing to experiment. The mandolin makes this song catchy. The DVD contains both a live version and the music video for this track.

2-"Ever Present Past": Listening to this track, I hear sounds reminiscent of both the Beatles and Wings. Nice guitar work on this track. The DVD contains a very entertaining music video for this track.

3-"See Your Sunshine": This track had more of a Wings feel to it. I like the keyboards on this track. Many feel this might had been a tribute to his second wife, Heather Mills before the divorce.

4-"Only Mama Knows": Great track. It starts out with a classical feel to it, before a nice segue into a Wings-like hard-rocking song. The live version on the DVD is even better.

5-"You Tell Me": This track has a slower and more intense feel. The guitar work helps contribute to this intense feel to it.

6-"Mr. Bellamy": McCartney has always been famous for inventing "characters" in his song ("Mr Mustard", Admiral Halsey, Sister Susan, Brother John.... On this track we are introduced to Mr Bellamy who joins that list. I like the classical opening and the tempo with the piano on this track. This song definitely had Beatles-like roots to it. However the best part might be McCartney's vocal ranges as it really gives the song its identity.

7-"Gratitude": This song is the most Beatles-like song both musically - and lyrically. McCartney even sings this in a Beatles-like voice. Simple lyrics, yet a good song.

8-"Vintage Clothes": The opening piano almost sounded like Fleetwood Mac. The vocals definitely have a 1970s feel to it and the instrumentation is more Beatles like.

9-"That Was Me": "Vintage Clothes" has a segue into this song. I particularly liked the bass and the drums working together in it. Once again, I heard a song reflective of McCartney's days with the Beatles.

10-"Feet in the Clouds": This song is a close runner-up for Beatles-like sound. Some of the instrumentation almost took me back to the Sgt Pepper days. Good stuff.

11-"House of Wax": This is terrific track. This song has an orchestral-feel to it. Powerful music throughout - especially accented by the drums (by McCartney's longtime drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.). The guitar bridge is very Wings-like. The DVD contains an equally powerful live version of this track.

12-"The End of the End": This song almost has a swan-song feel to it. Paul even sings about his own mortality. The use of the piano and whistling accent this track. I would have placed this as the last track.

13-"Nod Your Head": The guitar work has a Beatles feel to it. The DVD contains a live version and judging from the crowd's reaction of "nodding heads", this could become a McCartney staple in concert for the rest of his career.

14-"In Private": The first bonus track - this is primarily an instrumental highlighted by guitar.

15-"Why So Blue": Second bonus track - the soft feel has a segue into a more intense chorus. The chorus again has a feel from McCartney's Beatles days.

16-"222": This is the third bonus track and the most experimental sounding track. It's primarily instrumental with minimal vocals, but it shows McCartney's creative juices haven't dried up.

The DVD also includes a live version of "Drive My Car". This album should have merited consideration for 2007's best album. There wasn't a bad track on this album. McCartney fans - whether longtime or new should definitely have this in their collection.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McCartney creates on hell of a catchy and enjoyable pop-rock album, January 23, 2008

By 

George Dionne (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Memory Almost Full - CD/DVD Deluxe Edition (Audio CD)

The Good
Despite its mixture of folk guitar (possibly ukulele) and washboard percussion, "Dance Tonight" is quite the catchy tune. You've probably heard it in an iTunes commercial. The lyrics are simple and to-the-point. "Ever Present Past" has more of a rock vibe to it, with its electric guitars and driving rhythms. "Only Mama Knows" begins with a long string section that is slowly replaced with a killer guitar lick. The track continues at a fevered paced with subtle chugga-chugga riffs and forceful vocals. Who knew Paul still had it in him?

McCartney kicks into his signature falsetto on "You Tell Me." The track echoes material that might have appeared on the Sgt. Pepper's album. "Vintage Clothes" is a little dated in its sound, but it seems somewhat appropriate for the lyrical content. "That Was Me" has a great percussive bounce to it. "House of Wax" is a powerful track full of musical emotion. It's almost epic in its delivery.

The Bad
There are a couple of tracks I would classify for "fans only."

The Verdict
I was never really a fan, or enemy for that matter, of The Beatles music or their respective solo work. McCartney's last album, 2005's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard left me decision-less, due to the lack of what I would deem "new fan" appealing material. However, after listening to Memory Almost Full, I can come to a distinct conclusion. From beginning to end, McCartney creates on hell of a catchy and enjoyable pop-rock album. It's no wonder this guy's a legend.