rlr (06/02/82)
Yes, many of us like to make jokes about Paul McCartney's creative work (or lack thereof) since the demise of the Fab Four. But if you really want to hear some interesting McCartney material from the '70s, listen to McCartney II. This album was released just a couple of years ago, and didn't sell all that well (for a McCartney album). The copies that were bought probably owed their purchase to the live single "Comin' Up" included with the album. The album itself consists of work that Paul did himself in his basement in his own studio, playing all of the instruments as on his first solo album. The result is, however, drastically different. In addition to the studio version of "Comin' Up" (if you get a chance to see the 'video' of this song, check it out----Paul overdubs all the parts on this song---visually as well as aurally!! You see him as the drummer, sax player(s) (including a parody of Andy Mackay), guitarist, and all the other instrumentalists; even the bass player, who bares a strange resemblance to a famous pop star of the '60s, down to his Hofner bass and his collarless jacket)... ahem, in addition to that song, there are cuts reminiscent of Eno (names escape me) and, yes, believe it or not, the Residents!!!! Listen to "Temporary Secretary" and see what I mean. (Maybe the Beatles really are the Residents---an oft-proposed rumor around my house) (or vice versa) This album is proof that there is no reward for pop stars to venture out and experiment in their craft----a really interesting album that the public just wasn't interested in. Rich Rosen pyuxjj!rlr