London Town

Paul McCartney, Wings

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: June 28, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000DQWC
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,329 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The previous time Paul McCartney's Wings had been pared down to its core trio (Macca, wife Linda, and singer-guitarist Denny Laine), the band endured a star-crossed series of crises (the sudden defection of two band members and near-disastrous sessions in Nigeria) to produce its enduring 1973 masterpiece, Band on the Run. Conceived and recorded five years later under considerably more idyllic circumstances, London Town often seems like the previous album's laconic twin. It's also a collection whose softened edges often foreshadow the tone of not only McCartney's later, oft-critiqued solo work, but that of old partner John Lennon's final album, Double Fantasy. Suffice it to say that "With A Little Luck" is not "Band on the Run," nor will "I've Had Enough" ever challenge "Jet" for pop-icon status. Still, there are enough natural McCartney-isms here ("Café on the Left Bank," "I'm Carrying") to suffuse it with a consistent, breezy tone. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly underrated!, July 15, 2000

By	Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

Though this album is generally considered rather weak, it is actually an exceptional record with many catchy Paul songs included. "Cafe on the Left Bank" is an engaging rocker and "I'm Carrying" is one of Paul's better ballads. Beautiful acoustic guitar work here.

This is a much superior album to "Ram," "Venus and Mars" and some other McCartney albums which inexplicably are regarded as better products than this. As an extra treat, one of the bonus tracks here is one of Paul's greatest and catchiest rock songs from his Wings years, "Girls School." A great song and a fine album.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I like this album -- I am not sure why, July 10, 1999

By A Customer

The songs on this album have a nice, dreamy quality, e.g. London Town, With a Little Luck, Deliver Your Children. A good mix of acoustic and synthesizer stuff. Even the filler songs are pretty good, with the exception of Morse Moose and the Grey Goose. In my opinion this is McCartney's best, with the exception of Band on the Run (the only "five star" McCartney album). The bonus track -- Girl's School -- is great.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wings over London, April 13, 2001

By	C.H. (Beach Park, IL) - See all my reviews

Originally titled "Water Wings", and recorded on a yacht in the Virgin Islands (to dodge the British taxman), this is a more polished and consistent album than "At The Speed Of Sound". Like during the recording of "Band On The Run", a few inconveniences took place. Denny Laine had to be hospitalized for sunstroke, Jimmy McCulloch lost his hearing in one ear, and drummer Joe English (and his drum kit) took a tumble when the seas got rough. McCulloch and English then left before the album was complete. Nonetheless, Paul, Linda, and Denny perservered and gave us a pleasant pop album with several decent tunes. Many of the tracks have a British theme, like the tuneful title track and "Cafe on the Left Bank", which boasts a typically good Jimmy McCulloch guitar solo. "I'm Carrying" is a sweet Paul ballad, and I love "Backwards Traveler", although that seems more like a fragment than a complete song. Denny Laine really delivers with "Deliver Your Children" and Paul sings a wonderful falsetto on "Girlfriend", a track that former pal Michael Jackson later covered. Hit single "With a Little Luck" opens the second side, which includes the rocking "Name and Address" as well as the boring "Don't Let It Bring You Down". CD includes bonus track "Girls' School". Like "Band On The Run" and "Venus and Mars" this is pretty even and consistent.