VENUS AND MARS

VENUS AND MARS : Their third straight winning album in a row. Somehow I prefer this album much more than "Band On The Run." Maybe it was due to over exposure of the former. I just couldn't get enough of this album when I first got it. Together with the album, there were two black and white posters, stickers and what's not which implied that Paul's baby face look does not just rest on his face alone. I never ever like to lend nor borrow anybody's album but when a relative asked to borrow this, I meekly broke my own rule and against my better judgement lend it to him. When I finally got it back after asking for it times and times again, I was almost in tears. It was all so badly scratched that I couldn't even bear to look at it. In the end, I just gritted my teeth and bought another copy. What was a lad of 16 supposed to do. I can't for the life of me remember what happened to the original album. So now there's no way
in hell anybody's gonna borrow my CD, not even on bended knees.

VENUS AND MARS / ROCK SHOW ( McCartney ) : This slow charmer ( Venus And Mars ) was for many years the starter for Paul McCartney's concerts and for good reason. It acts as a teaser and gives the audiences a chance to warm up to the awesome sight of the man in person. Paul singing in his clearest of voice and his voice is one of the finest in rock history that has few equal. Then it merged into this fantastic awesome fine rocker ( Rock Show ) that only Paul can come up with. It's written with the sole purpose of engaging the audiences and watching the videos of his performance of this song, it did just that.

Love In Song ( McCartney ) : The mood slow down with this fine ballad. One of Paul's best and one of my favorite. Don't know why he never includes this in his live show.

You Gave Me The Answer ( McCartney ) : Paul goes back to the 30's type of music for this delightful little song that his father or another guys' fathers would surely approve.  John Lennon called this 'Grannies' music. Don't know about the rest but I sure find his grannies music appealing. My brother does too from his constant whistling of this tune.

Magneto And Titanium Man ( McCartney ) : The fifth song and things are still going strong. This time Paul gets his inspiration from the Marvel Superhero's comics which he obviously was a fan of. A fine rocker.

Letting Go ( McCartney ) : Due to the superb songs that goes before it, this one seems a little bit lower on the rack but nevertheless this was still released as a single so you tell me what you think.

Venus And Mars [ Reprise ] ( McCartney ) : A longer version of this track which is more satisfying then the former shorter version.

Spirits Of Ancient Egypt ( McCartney ) : Like the first version of 'Venus And Mars', this one merges into this song which for a good many years, I thought was Paul singing. It was actually Denny Laine who was singing. Another fine track.

Medicine Jar ( McCulloch / Allen ) A great anti drug which was also a non - Paul's song sung by their lead guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. I loved this track and I wish Paul have allowed Jimmy a few more songs to sing. .

Call Me Back Again ( McCartney ) :  One of those songs that grows on you the more you listen to it. Initially I always skipped this song but now I don't. Like one record reviewer said " It's a worthwhile track" and I agreed. Paul recalled his 'Lady Madonna" kind of vocal.

Listen To What The Man Said ( McCartney ) : The smash hit of the album. If somehow or other you don't like this song, then you should stop here and now. You shouldn't be reading all these stuffs. This was Paul doing everything just right to a T. Crystal clear vocal, right riff, right lyric and with a killer hook and it went No.1 naturally.

Treat Her Gently / Lonely Old People ( McCartney ) : The kind of double medley of songs that Paul is so fond of doing. Paul have lots of this spread out on all his albums but this track is somewhat weaker. The melody was not bad but somehow something is missing that makes a medley from good to great. Still, I wouldn't trade this song for any other.

Crossroad Theme ( Hatch ) : A short instrumental to one of those TV theme songs. No idea why Paul's doing it but it's yet another one to fill up the short empty space in your cassette.

BONUS TRACK

Zoo Gang ( McCartney ) : Refers to "Band On The Run" album.

Lunch Box ' Odd Sox ( McCartney ) : There's even an instrumental medley. There's so much melodies in Paul that if he don't do this, he'll never get all the melodies out. This turns up as the B side of the single 'Coming Up.'

My Carnival ( McCartney ) : A Mardi Gras inspired track from the same sessions. It eventually ended up on the B sides of the single 'Spies Like Us."