Tug of War

Paul McCartney | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DQSE
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,491 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Macca's Best, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tug of War (Audio CD)

This is one of those album's that gets played over and over in my CD player. The reason is great songs and great production. Here's a song by song account:

1. Tug of War - great melody, lots of different parts, and great production by George Martin, great way to start the album. 5 stars

2. Take it Away - Another great song. Irrisistably catchy and upbeat. One to sing along with at the top or your lungs. 5 stars

3. Somebody Who Cares - Very nice melody, but Paul's already been there. 4 stars

4. What's that You're Doing - I never really got into this song. Probably Paul at his funkiest, but it still isn't one of my favorites. 2 stars

5. Here Today - Gorgeous, I definetely think this is the most effective of the Lennon tribute songs. This is one of the two or three best songs on the album. 5 stars

6. Ballroom Dancing - Entertaining. Kind of jazzy, daft lyrics. 3 stars

7. The Pound is Sinking - Fabulous, three different sections in this song. One of the best. 5 stars

8. Wanderlust - Without a doubt my favorite song on the album. Fantastic melody, great piano and horns. 5 stars

9. Get It - Fun, not the best song, but a tad rockabilly and nice to listen to. 3 stars

10. Be What You See - Not really a full song, but I really like it for what it is. 4 stars

11. Dress Me up as a Robber - Maybe the only real "rocker" on the CD. It really grew on me. 4 stars

12. Ebony and Ivory - It's not really as bad as everyone says it is. It think we've all just heard it too many times. 4 stars

Definetely recommended. Paul fan or otherwise.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Pop Album, July 14, 2002

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tug of War (Audio CD)

"Tug of War" is the best album that Paul McCartney has produced since the mid-1970s heyday of Wings. It contains two massively successful first rate hit singles in "Take it Away" and the Stevie Wonder duet "Ebony and Ivory." Both feature McCartney's melodic songwriting sensibilities at their best. Other highlights include the fine title track, the John Lennon tribute "Here Today" and another hummable winner in "Ballroom Dancing." The rest of the material also holds its own. McCartney's post Beatles career has been an up and down affair. "Tug of War" most definately is one of the ups.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most enjoyable, November 24, 1999

By 

Marc Kloszewski (Indiana, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tug of War (Audio CD)

There's more than the usual amount of good stuff on this album--what helps to make this one a keeper are the contributions of outside people cameoing on the record, so Paul gets out of his hothouse and is charged up by some really good collaborators, in this case, Stevie Wonder with the funky "What's That You're Doing?" (which wouldn't be out of place on one of Stevie's classic 70's albums) and the ubiquitous "Ebony and Ivory" which may be appreciated more now that you don't hear it every hour on the radio. Carl Perkins drops in for "Get It," a very Perkins-like ditty, unassuming and amused with its own laid-back virtuosity--Carl likes it; you can hear him guffawing at the end (R.I.P., Carl--you were great). Some of Paul's best melodies are here--I think "Tug of War" is just beautiful, with George Martin's production wonderfully suited to this ballad--and whose idea was the extended orchestral coda? Just brilliant. That leads into "Take it Away," a picturesque life-on-the-road story--the music builds very nicely as the tale progresses. "Ballroom Dancing" is a lot of fun, even a seeming throwaway like "Dress Me Up As A Robber" attracts with its new-wavy-type instrumentation. Old wine in new bottles. Paul's lyrics don't get in the way for once--he keeps it simple--this especially works on the Lennon tribute "Here Today"; he doesn't belabor the point, and it ends up very affecting. This deserves a lot of spins on your player--one of Paul's most enjoyable. Well done!