WILD LIFE

WINGS WILD LIFE : Coming out after the wonderful "Ram", this was a big disappointment. The critics was still at his throat and Paul seems contented in giving them a chance to tear him apart. And this time, they have good reasons to.This was Wings first ever album and all the materials here sounded substandard and the things seems like a big rehearsal.. Hardly the stuffs that you expect from the guy who gave us 'Yesterday', Hey Jude' and 'Let It Be' not too long ago. I didn't buy this when it first came out due to the bad reviews. I only got it quite a few years later when I was in Hong Kong. The only song I was familiar with was 'Bip Bop' which I had taped onto a cassette tape from a record shop. The rest were new to me. Listening to it now, it didn't sound as bad as when I first heard it. Nothing memorable here but there are still charms abound. There are still a truly awful Paul McCartney album further down the line.

Mumbo ( McCartney / McCartney ) : Quite a lengthy track that borders like a jam but saved by find production. If this have sounded muffed, I wouldn't even have bothered.

Bip Bop ( McCartney / McCartney ) : 'Bip Bop, Bip Bop Bop....'. Paul is a master at this kind of delightful little ditty that is a joy to sing to your kids. Pure rock fans will hate this but if you have kids, you will learnf Beatles songs that includes 'All Together Now' which I've only just discovered too during that time.
to love it. I can't remember how I got to hear this track but somehow I have it taped onto a cassette o

Love Is Strange ( Baker / Smith ) The Beatles were not known to do covers so this reggae remake of Mickey & Sylvia's oldie sounds rather strange and possibly the best track here. At one time it was considered to be a single release but thankfully they let the idea drop.

Wild Life ( McCartney / McCartney ) : As a rule, the title track was supposed to be good but this sounds rather light weight. Meant as a statement for animal lovers, Paul was never as good as John Lennon in statement songs.

Some People Never Know ( McCartney / McCartney ) : A lost opportunity, this rather infectious track does have the melody to be a great song had Paul taken more time to flush it out. As it is, it's a nice song but not memorable. One of my favourite track though.

I Am Your Singer ( McCartney / McCartney ) : Same as the above. Another lost opportunity.

Bip Bop Link ( McCartney / McCartney ) : Another song to add to the end of your cassette of songs.

Tomorrow ( McCartney / McCartney ) : Paul trying to write a sequence to his mammoth hit but didn't quite make it. Who could ?

Dear Friend ( McCartney / McCartney ) : Paul's attempt at reconciliation with his once best friend, John Lennon. Not his best but his heartfelt attempt cannot be denied.

Mumbo Link ( McCartney / McCartney ) : And with this short acoustic refrain, we came to the end of the album.

BONUS TRACKS :

Give Ireland Back To The Irish ( McCartney / McCartney ) : Wings' first single. I've have this and I've always loved this song. The flip side which was an instrumental version of this song was even better instrumentally. Have been searching for it for years and only in recent years managed to find it online as an MP3. It was the inclusion of these few bonus songs that raises the value of this otherwise rather weak album.

Mary Had A Little Lamb ( McCartney ) : A children's nursery rhyme that Paul effortlessly turned into a cute singalong. I once bought this single too but as the record was scratched, I had it changed for another one.

Little Woman Love ( McCartney ) : The B side of 'Mary Had A Little Lamb', this was another charming little song that Paul seems to churn out endlessly and effortlessly.

Mama's Little Girl ( McCartney ) : A fine Wings recording that was unissued until it turned up on the 'Put It There' single.

DOP : 9th November 1996.