I'm about to do what most reviewers won't dare. I'm basically going to tell you that the critics got it wrong. The two new Paul McCartney Archive Collection reissues "Tug Of War"('82) and "Pipes Of Peace" are like day & night, yet being different is a good thing. Yet, most critics don't want to touch "Pipes Of Peace" or simply slate it off and name it as the record to pin point when Macca's career took a nosedive. "Tug Of War" was, and, still is, the critics darling. "He worked with Stevie Wonder & Carl Perkins!", "He wrote a song for John!" , and "He's teamed up with the 5th Beatle, George Martin!". Oye Vay!
Personally, I like "Tug Of War" a lot, but to cast off "Pipes Of Peace" as partially unreleased and rejected songs from "Tug Of War" of little value is wrong. I even wrongly assumed that "Pipes Peace" was only of value for one song, "Say, Say, Say". I never even heard of the song "Pipes Of Peace" in the US, until last Christmas when my UK job played the song to death. "How the heck this a fooking holiday song?!?" I shouted after the 15th day straight it played in my store. So, it's about the famous Christmas Truce among the British and German troups during the first World War. Alrighty then, I guess Paul has at least three Christmas songs then(I count Wonderful Christmastime and Rudolf The Red Nosed Reggae, with the later least played yet still enjoyable!).
Truely, Pipes Of Peace is a great song. When you listen to the start of the album, it does set a high bar with the orchestral composition of the song is pure quality. Then, the second song is "Say, Say, Say" only reaching #2 in the UK but a smash #1 in several countries including the US. "Pipes Of Peace" was a B-Side in America to "So Bad" which nearly hit the top 20 at #23. So initially we have a slight marketing problem in both the UK and US with both countries thinking either the 1st or 2nd track on the LP is of more importance of the other. Set that aside, and the album actually flows well. If you really want to be objective, these songs didn't get the credit they deserve. The songs that follow- "The Other Me," "Keep It Undercover," and" So Bad" are so good! The rest is slightly choppy but still flows well among the album. Maybe save "Average Person" and "Tug Of Peace" for B-Side only tracks as they take a bit of patience to understand the motivationsver record those tracks.
On the bonus disc with the 2015 reissue, it's your standard demos that take a quick backseat to the "get on your feet" 2015 remix of "Say Say Say" where Jackson and McCartney switch vocal parts! The best remix ever at 6min58sec that blows the 2005 HiTack remix out of the water. Get Down! (Oh yeah, then it's followed by Ode To A Koala Bear, but you just quickly accept the great inclusion of Twice In A Lifetime and Christian Pop to round out the disc).
I can't say I had as much enjoyment listening to the reissue of "Tug Of War" and album that sort of didn't improve with a whole new remixing of the master tapes. Do I know of all of these songs by heart? Sure, but after not listening to it for about 10 years(I lost my original CD) and my obsession-compulsion with the 1984 Soundtrack to "Give My Regards To Broad Street", I had mixed feelings. For a start, the album is a mishmash. Variety is one thing, but these songs want respect "So Bad" (yeah, that's my pun of the day..) that each one tries to outdo the next song with mixed results. "We Expected Moooore..." Paul warbles on the title track which is a bit overdone. The next song, Take It Away, follows well and is underrated, probably on the slight misfire of the chorus which is very "too much Linda" (this is a whole other topic) but you just go with its faults for the whole, yet it's again overdone. The third track "Somebody Who Cares" mercifully brings it down a notch for a pleasant ballad.
I'm going to continue to go down the list of songs that follow. The fifth song, the 1st duet with Stevie Wonder "What's That Your Doing?" is a fun disco song. Yes, a disco song in 1982, a time when disco was dying a horrible death. I'm not going to insult the song anymore but it's surprisingly dated. This isn't better than "Ebony & Ivory", or the "Thriller" LP Michael Jackson duet of "The Girl Is Mine", or even "The Man" on "Pipes of Peace" also with Jackson. I guess I'm continuing to diss this ridiculous turkey. This really can't be helped because it's the track before "Here Today," the emotional ballad for the recently murdered Lennon. It should have followed "Somebody Who Cares." A complete misfire to place the touching song between a disco track and "Ballroom Dancing." "Here Today" was forgotten for decades, partially because it drums up a devastating period and it's stuck between these two songs forcing you to dance even if you really don't feel like it.
Ballroom Dancing was one song that greatly improved when re-recorded for "Broad Street" (etc. etc. 1984). The next song "The Pound Is Sinking" will test your patience. Following this, is the albums true hero- Wonderlust, which is interchangeable with the re-recording on Broadstreet. In fact, if you want to just chuck the rest of songs, leave "Here Today," "Take It Away," and "Dress Me Up As Robber" we got a decent EP. I don't really want to discuss the problem I have with the Perkins duet, "Get It,"(too much of Paul trying too hard) and the "Ebony and Ivory" 7th demention of hell that becomes the 8th detention when listening to Paul's solo version(Schmaltz, anyone?)
"Rainclouds", one of the B-Sides is good, but "I'll give you a ring" did nothing for me on the second CD of mostly demos.
After listening to "Tug Of War", I really don't want to sit through it for another ten years. I do wonder(not a pun) why I haven't been listening to "Pipes of Peace" for the last 32 years.
But, then again I love Wings' "Back To The Egg", and The Solo "Give My Regards To Broad Street", so make of this unpopular opinion about "Tug Of War" what you will, but I think I still made a good argument.
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