BACK TO THE EGG

BACK TO THE EGG : Wings' seventh and final album after 8 years of activity. Eight albums if you included "Wing Over America." After the folksy "London Town", this one was more rock oriented and noisy and unfortunately my least liked Wings' album. I even preferred the rather weak "Wildlife" album to this. As their last album. you'll think Paul would have the band go out with a bang like The Beatles' " Abbey Road" but then to be fair, Paul himself reportedly have said that he wasn't aware it was to be their swan song. It just happened. Here, Paul sounded like he is either trying too hard or not at all. Overall, I hate to say it but it's rather hard on the ears. The original album came with a bonus single of his then disco smash 'Goodnight Tonight' c/w 'Daytime Night Time Suffering.' Not a total write off though for there are some gems to be found here.

Reception ( McCartney ) : Made to resembled the tuning of a radio station. Don't know what's the point of it. Is Paul being childish or innovative.

Getting Closer ( McCartney ) : The kind of song we expected from Paul. A good track thought somewhat marred by the sudden loudness at the end. I like to play my music loud and I don't like it when it suddenly get too loud that I have to tone down the volume.

We're Open Tonight ( McCartney ) : Usually, the crystal clear v Paul McCartney plus acoustic strumming of the guitar equals to a great song but somehow this doesn't work here. Maybe we have come to expect to much of the man.

Spin It On ( McCartney ) : Another throw away track. The lead guitar strumming just seems to go on and on and on till you wanna scream. Noisy and unbecoming of someone of Paul McCartney's status.

Again And Again And Again ( Laine ) : When it takes somebody else to save the day on a Paul McCartney's album, you know he have problem. I loved this Denny Laine original. One of my favourite here.

Old Siam, Sir ( McCartney ) : Yet another McCartney original that I just can't stand. I don't like Paul singing in that high pitch voice of his. Just doesn't work and this was released as a single, can you believe that and a fail one too, unsurprisingly.

Arrow Throw Me ( McCartney ) : A jazzy kind of song that seems to go nowhere. After the noisy 'Old Siam, Sir,' this one offered the ear a rest but not with pleasure.

Rockestra Theme ( McCartney ) : Paul's on an ego trip here. Assembling quite a few of the top musicians of the day to give this instrumental a blast and it does have a decent enough melody. The legends assembled here includes Dave Gilmour, Hank Marvin, Pete Townshend, John Bonham, Kenney Jones, John Paul Jones. Ronnie Lane and Gary Brooker among others. Noisy though.

To You ( McCartney ) : A fine acoustic opening and that was it. The song was again another mess. Honestly, sometimes I think I deserved a medal for the things that I've endured for Paul McCartney.

After The Ball / Million Miles ( McCartney ) : Now we are back in business. This is the Paul McCartney that I've loved and the songs that I've endured since track one for. Totally and absolutely loved this one. The kind of medleys that Paul likes to do. 'After The Ball' is the kind of song that showcased the musician's vocal prowess and guitar mastery. 'Million Miles' is somewhere lesser after the majestic first medley.

Winter Roses/ Live Awake ( McCartney ) With these two medleys, Paul have'Winter Rose' played like a nursery rhymes with its childlike lyrics and the melody is absolutely gorgeous. One wondered how the song would have turned out if John Lennon have been around to polish it up. 'Love Awake' is no less musically. Made me want to press the repeat button again and I did so several times.
redeemed himself in my eyes.

The Broadcast ( McCartney ) : After the two great performances, we are back to self indigence time again. Another track of non sufficient featuring a radio broadcast what else.

So Glad To See You Here ( McCartney ) : Clearly it was time to let 'Wings' rest. Although loud and brash, this could still sent me to slumber land. A snippets of 'We're Open Tonight' could be heard midway through the song but it failed to ignite any interest.

Baby's Request ( McCartney ) : A final 30's style 'Granny' type of music to close a not too great album. This was a relatively quiet moment after the gut wrenching loud assault music to the human ears music. I love this and Paul seems to like ti too when he did a new take of this song on his 2012 album of almost all covers ' Kisses On The Bottom."

DOP : 25th October 1996.