Customer Reviews

Wild Life

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I usually make it a point to review only recent records (at least up until now), but I just *had* to throw my 2 cents in and bolster the average star-rating of an unfairly maligned album.

So much of the criticism thrown at Wild Life is misinformed nonsense based on false history (i.e., Lennon was the "real" genius) that even the major music press abandoned fifteen or twenty years ago (when they realized they were wrong).

To criticize "Bip Bop" because it doesn't have many lyrics is ridiculous. What about "Why Don't We Do It In The Road"? Oh, but since that fell within the time frame of 1962-1970, it is protected under the Beatles umbrella and seen as the wonderful piece of silliness that it is and that it was meant to be. To criticize "Bip Bop" because the words are nonsense syllables is even more ludicrous. Would you criticize "Be Bop A Lula" or "Tutti Frutti"? I didn't think so.

Wild Life is an album built on simple pleasures and raw passion. It's about the appealing home-y sentiments and gorgeous pop melodies (some of the best Paul has ever written) of "Tomorrow" and "Some People Never Know". It's about Paul's absolute throat-shredding vocal performance on "Wild Life". It's about the quirky reggae cover of "Love Is Strange" which sounds like nothing so much as the Raincoats (look it up, kids). It's about the wonderful screaming session called "Mumbo", in which the lyrics are a series of flexable phonetics instead of actual words (beating Nirvana and R.E.M., who tried similar things on "Endless, Nameless" and "Tourettes" and Murmur respectively, by 20-odd years). It's about the willingness to sing a love song as twee as "I Am Your Singer" without fear (Jonathan Richman, anyone?). It's about the stark emotion of "Dear Friend" (if Neil Young had written it, it would be hailed as the classic that it is).

Don't believe everything you're told. Wild Life is waiting to be rediscovered, as is McCartney's entire solo canon. And it's going to be someday. And I'll be there to say "I told you so".

Most people don't even know this album exists. Even among diehard Beatles fans this album is little known. This is a Bloody Shame! This is the rawest you will ever hear Paul McCartney! This may be his best album. It's main competitors being Red Rose Speedway and McCartney. Before I continue to wax poetically about how much I love this album let me clear up one thing. The song SOME PEOPLE NEVER KNOW is Paul's nicely versed answer to John Lennon's vitriolic HOW DO YOU SLEEP? not DEAR FRIEND. A close inspection of the lyrics will bear this out. Also the original album ends at DEAR FRIEND. The bonus tracks do not detract from it for me, though. Why do I love this album? Musically it's a tour de force. Wings, in all it's incarnations, has never sounded better. Lyrically McCartney is at the top of his form. Yes, I even mean MUMBO and BIP BOP. Paul's singing is exquisite. Linda sings better than she ever has here, too! Mostly, though I love this album because it is fun. Rock'n'Roll is supposed to be fun, not pretentious. This album is definitely not pretentious. And it definitely is fun!

Throughout the final years of the Beatles, Paul had been the one who struggled to keep his beloved band together. He watched as the other three all took their turns at walking out, and as they each released solo albums. He kept them at the top by writing the majority of the late-period Beatles classics and vainly pleaded with them to return to live performances (though at least we got the rooftop concert). How ironic, then, that Paul was the first one to face reality and tell the public the truth - that the Beatles were no more. For years afterwards, then, he was branded as the "man who broke up the Beatles" (Yoko being the "woman who broke up the Beatles") and the critics sharpened their long knives.
By the time of Wild Life in 1972 he had released his first solo album "McCartney" in 1970 and its follow up "Ram" in 1971. Bear in mind most bands nowadays would take this long to record half an album. Both albums were huge hits with the public, but at the time were mauled by the critics for being too underproduced ("McCartney")and too glossy ("Ram"). McCartney must have known by now that he couldn't win with the critics, so decided to take his show to the public - for this he wanted a proper band, and Wings were born.
Their first album is, in my view, a classic to rank alongside John's "Plastic Ono Band". Not always pretty, its charm is in its very rawness, each song an uncut diamond, to all intents a live performance by a new band rather than something polished and refined by a rock aristocrat over months in the studio. It's not to everyone's taste as the reviews here, ranging from "crap" to "masterpiece", testify, but who's music is? There are even some people our there who don't care much for the Beatles!
Mumbo to me really rocks, fabulous riff, wonderful bass, tremendous vocal, it's a breath of fresh air and sounds like a precursor to grunge. If Nirvana had released this critics would have found new superlatives to praise it (and I love the even harder reprise later). Bip Bop is admittedly no great lyrical work, but that is missing the point - it is an amazingly addictive tune where the vocal, like in Mumbo, is used as an instrument in itself. The hypnotic Wild Life, with its harmonic layers, speaks up for animal rights in an era when civil rights was winning all the headlines. Love Is Strange is fun, though for me it does take too long to get started. I Am Your Singer is folk tinged and charming, yes Linda CAN sing, and Some People Never Know a delicate, beautiful, hook laden rebuke to John Lennon's vicious How Do You Sleep. Now to the two stone-cold classics. Tomorrow is an upbeat Yesterday, with wonderful piano and vocals from Paul. Dear Friend is simply magnificent, a sad, atmospheric, monumental song that makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. And yes, I believe this too is directed to John - Paul was never as unsubtle, or cruel, as his old friend.
Wild Life is unlike Paul's previous albums, and unlike those that would follow, when he decided to polish up his music and take the route to megastardom, leaving his old bandmates trailing in his wake. It has soul and integrity, and how I wish he performed some of these songs in his concerts today. As someone else said, if this is McCartney's weakest album, it only proves just how amazingly talented the man is. Pure genius. Buy it now. Don't even hesitate. And keep an open mind!

I fully realize that Wings Wild Life is generally dismissed and one of the least liked McCartney/Wings efforts. Yet after all these years I continue to find it a fascinating, raw, adventurous, and top notch album. This album comes right after Paul's RAM album (billed to Paul & Linda), and was recorded in very little time (anywhere between 3 days and 2 weeks, depending on who you believe).

The opening track "Mumbo" sets the stage: the band unleashes an energy that pops out at you, with few (and hard to understand anyway) lyrics. Ditto for "Bip Bop". "Love is Strange" is reggae-influenced, and irresistable. The title track (concluding Side 1 of the album) is Paul and Linda's earliest environmentally themed song. The best songs are yet to come!! "Some People Never Know" may be Paul at its very best, period. Linda delivers "I Am Your Singer", a sweet 2'15" track that flows well in the scheme of things. "Tomorrow" is the most commercial track of the album. "Dear Friend" closes out, with Paul on the piano, supposedly addressing John Lennon.

If you are thinking of buying this excellent album, by all means AVOID this domestic pressing, and instead buy the "import" version (also available on Amazon) which is remastered AND has better bonus tracks: "Give Ireland Back to the Irish", "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Little Woman Love" and "Mama's Little Girl".

If your idea of Paul at his best is "My Love" or "With a Little Luck", avoid this album. If on the other hand you've always wished for Paul to think "outside the box" musically, he most certainly did on Wings Wild Life. You won't be dissapointed.

When talking about Paul McCartney, people expect great epic ballads and catchy 3-minute songs. Not with this one and that's exactly what makes this album so great (and so misunderstood). If this album was recorded by anyone but an ex-Beatle, it would have the light it so richly deserved. Raw, straight to the point, bitter and inspiring, this is Paul at his most "alternative" persona, going away form all excesses of 1972, without being necesarily difficult. As soon as people leave their prejudices aside, this will be heralded as one of his best albums ever. "Some People Never Know" and "Dear Friend" are much cleaver slap-on-the-face responses to Lennon than Lennon's HEY-this-is-about-Paul's "How Do You Sleep". "Wild Life" is one of his best vocal exercises, and "Tomorrow" highlights his genius at taking a simple melody into a masterpiece.

....I'm a big fan of post-Beatles Macca, have been for years. While this did not produce any burning up the charts singles like "Jet" did a year or so later, it has some great sounding McCartney styled pop-rock. And that probably was the idea. No saving the world, no deep messages, no "Save Ireland" styled tunes. Near flawless. Was he conceding to his partner in high crime Lennon as far as who was the best record maker overall (their friendly competition was legendary) with these accessible pop ditties? ("Dear Friend") I dunno. But I would say that just because something is obscure and veddy, veddy European doesn't neccesarily make it great...James Joyce notwithstanding. So Paul did a great set of pop tunes on this one. My favorite here is the rendering of the oldie "Love is Strange" with that funky neo-Jamaician beat. "Wild Life" may have been a McCartney take on his Beatlemania years, but with that (follow me, now) Abbey Road "Oh, Darlin'" cigarette ravaged, gruffed up lead vocalising, more than likely he was just having some studio fun. "You Are My Singer" may have been a Paul lovesong to Linda/a Linda lovesong to Paul and, it, to me, just sounds great. In fact, even the wordless tunes are good on the ears. Regardless of a lil rawness here and there, "Wild Life" is a great recording. Get it for your collection.

This is definately an underrated album with some strong tracks. The raw, heavy song "Wildlife" features some great vocals from Paul reminiscent of "Oh Darling", and the ballad "Tomorrow" is simply a wonderful song. There are some things to keep in mind about this album however; this album was written and recorded in a matter of weeks due to contractual obligations-a very rushed affair. And if the childish, singalong bonus track "Mary Had A Little Lamb" hurts some people to listen to, it needs to be pointed out that this was Paul's response to the critics at this time. In 1972, Wings' single "Give Ireland Back To The Irish"(one of his best all time rockers) was banned for being too political, and then his next single "Hi Hi Hi"(another great rocker)was banned for being about sex and drugs-Paul was understandably ticked so he churned out the most inoffensive tune he could, a kids song-it's not a serious song. Strangely, the remastered Cd i have has the bonus tracks-"Give Ireland Back...", "Little Woman Love", "Mary Had A Little Lamb", and the wonderful "Mama's Little Girl"(which could be compared to "Mother Nature's Son"). All in all, it's a great Cd!

Eager to be part of touring band again, Paul assembled Wings in 1971. On board was wife Linda (who reluctantly complied), old mate Denny Laine; formerly of the Moody Blues, and drummer Denny Seiwell, who performed on Paul's previous album "Ram". Their debut opens with "Mumbo", and the song itself doesn't make much sense either. Then we get "Bip Bop", which is performed to a three note melody. I admit I like that one, even though it is sloppily performed, like much of the album. Their rendition of "Love Is Strange" is catchy, but the title track sounds awful. The second side opens with the pleasant "Some People Never Know", followed by the god awful "I Am Your Singer", with Linda's horrific backing vocals. "Tomorrow" is a decent track that Paul thought might launch the album (it didn't) and we close with "Dear Friend", a soft response from Paul to John Lennon's vicious "How Do You Sleep?" Wings tried to emulate Bob Dylan's style of just coming into the studio and laying down tracks with minimal rehearsing, but that didn't come off here. Fortunately the band redeemed themselves with the wonderful "Red Rose Speedway" two years later.

Let's face it, Dear Friend and Tomorrow could be slipped into just about any Beatles album and they would have been applauded. Once you get past the slight and rather annoyingly cute, Bip Bop, the album takes off.

This record should start with Mumbo..a hard driving rocker. Some People Never Know skewers Lennon and Wildlife is raw and painful.

Give this one a chance...

too silly and commercial. McCartney's first three solo albums still seemed to have an artistic purpose. From "Band On The Run" on I lost track of his point as an artist and a musician. The instrumental arrangements were the best of his solo career. "Mumbo" and "Bip Bop" are truly strange. But they work. Raw and uncomplicated when his life had been anything but uncomplicated. He was having some serious musical fun here. Songs like "Wild Life", "Some People Never Know", "I Am Your Singer" and "Tomorrow" remind me of the McCartney medley on side two of "Abbey Road". They all blend in together in a harmonic way. None of them are going to be a hit. It doesn't seem that was the purpose. He was being a bit mellow and introspective at this point. There's even a melodic strangeness that begs your ear and, perhaps, your patience. The pay off is some good music. "Dear Friend" is one of his best. Maybe the single he should have put out. Probably too personal though. Almost as good as "Maybe I'm Amazed", his best post-Beatle song. How nice to hear McCartney in a tender and inspired mood, especially when you think of his later solo music. "Oh Woman, Oh Why" would have fit well on either this album or his "McCartney" album. This was a creative period for McCartney. This was a strong "B" side to an even stronger "A" side "Another Day". I think "Mary Had A Little Lamb" is one of his greatest triumphs. You laugh! Why? He took a silly nursery rhyme and made it a serious and believable love story between a human and a lamb. He plays it in a minor key that makes it anything but a childrens' nursery rhyme. I liked this one from the very first time I heard it and was thrilled that they put it on my favorite McCartney album. For all the silly songs he wrote, this is not one of them.