PAUL MCCARTNEY I II III Limited Edition Box
( MPL / Capitol / UMe )
Paul McCartney made use of his “ rockdown ” time in 2020 to release III , notching a Billboard # 2 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album . Like his prior two self-titled albums , III featured McCartney performing all instruments . III is now gathered into a box set with its predecessors from 1970 and 1980 . Options include audiophile 180-gram vinyl or CD . The vinyl box includes three 8 ” x10 ” photos representing each individual album ’ s year of release and new liner notes from the former Beatle . III was built upon the back of a lovely chestnut from the songwriter ’ s vault called “ When Winter Comes ” ( recorded by George Martin alongside Flaming Pie ’ s “ Calico Skies ,” and dusted off to accompany an animated film project ). The song conjures the homespun imagery of simple country life on the farm . The creative joy of a kid making castles in the sandbox is audible in tracks like the expansive “ Long Tailed Winter Bird .” “ Find My Way ” maintains that loose spirit , offering a timely chin-up message . “ You never used to be afraid of days like these , but now you ’ re overwhelmed by your anxieties ,” he sings , helping a friend reclaim a more positive outlook . The dark mood of “ Women and Wives ” is underpinned by rumbling acoustic double bass . “ Slidin ’” rides a deliciously heavy riff , with echoes of “ Come Together ” in the chorus . “ Deep Deep Feeling ” builds a pensive mood into its ode to the pain of love . “ The Kiss of Venus ” is charming acoustic folkpop that would be a tuneful concert addition in McCartney ’ s solo segment alongside “ Blackbird .” The cartoonishly wicked “ Lavatory Lil ” is a daffy pop stomper .
1980 ’ s II marked McCartney ’ s foray into the world of synthesizers . Although he received plenty of flak for the burbling synth-pop novelty “ Temporary Secretary ” at the time , history has proven more accepting of the eccentricity of the song and overall album . The song ’ s lyrical approach , filling out a newspaper want ad for part-time help , isn ’ t far removed from “ Paperback Writer .” McCartney scored a Billboard chart-topper with the supremely catchy soul-pop of “ Coming Up ,” featuring spedup vocals and synthetic trumpets . “ On the Way ” finds Macca chasing the muse of British bluesman Alexis Korner . Strippeddown ballad “ Waterfalls ” found McCartney singing a gentle admonishment accompanied by electric piano and distant synth strings . There ’ s enough similarity in the chorus of TLC ’ s 1995 # 1 hit “ Waterfalls ” to suggest that McCartney ’ s song was an uncredited inspiration . “ Front Parlour ” is a light and spirited instrumental that answers the post-Wendy Carlos question , “ What would a Beatle do with a well-tempered synthesizer ?” “ Summer ’ s Day Song ” does sound like the work of a pop songwriter , but its tones also suggest that McCartney was aware of Brian Eno ’ s work with David Bowie on Low tracks like “ Warszawa .” McCartney had to deal with offended reactions for retaining the working title to instrumental “ Frozen Jap ,” released in Japan not long after his incarceration there for cannabis possession . The song ’ s crystalline sound suggests images of shimmering icicles in the sunlight , adorned with an Eastern-styled melody . Laced with innuendo , the slinky “ Darkroom ” sounds like a track Prince would have approved . The album-closing acoustic ballad “ One of These Days ” might have suited Simon & Garfunkel . The song ’ s sentiment is relatable to anyone weary of chasing something other than their own dreams .
McCartney ’ s first self-titled solo album arrived a month before the Beatles ’ 1970 swan-song release Let it Be . The album ’ s approach deliberately and defiantly opposes the Beatles ’ studio craftsmanship built alongside producer Martin . The tools used to create McCartney at home included a handful of instruments , a Studer 4-track recorder with no level meters , a single microphone , and sheer nerve . Wife Linda joins on vocal harmony for songs including “ Junk .” The song ’ s trace of melancholy is balanced by the idea of a young couple building memories together . “ Man We Was Lonely ” fuses the acoustic folk of “ Blackbird ” and the then-forthcoming “ Two of Us ” for another song that finds the couple contented and comforted while settling into marital bliss . The set ’ s most enduring track is “ Maybe I ’ m Amazed ,” which became a top ten hit when the live version from Wings Over America was released in 1977 . “ Kreen- Akrore ” and “ Glasses ” include pure experimentation with ethno-percussion and wineglasses , respectively .
The three albums together present McCartney at his most playful . The production and hooks may not match McCartney ’ s biggest hits with the Beatles , Wings , or his broader solo career , but for any committed fan there are sparkling gems , time-capsule insights , and intrigue to be found among these uncontrived songs .
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– Jeff Elbel october 2022 illinoisentertainer . com 23