Paul McCartney – Wild Life (Special Edition) (1971/2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:21:57 minutes | 1,51 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Paul McCartney Catalog

The embers of The Beatles are still smoking as Paul McCartney continues to work like a madman. After two fairly successful solo albums (McCartney and Ram), Macca released Wings’ first album, Wild Life. From July 25th to August 2nd, 1971, in the Abbey Road studio that he knows so well, he surrounded himself with a tight-knit trio made up of his wife Linda on the keyboard (she co-wrote almost all the tracks), ex Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine and drummer Denny Seiwell, who was also on the scene for Ram. The ex-Beatle wanted to sign off on the recording of this record in less than ten days to give it a raw feel. The result – which is indeed raw – is quite confusing given the name of its author. And after his works of art from the previous decade, the compositions on Wild Life seem very anecdotal. Upon its release in December 1971, the press unanimously massacred the record.

Taking a closer look at the album, Wild Life’s repertoire is quite eclectic between Mumbo, with its percussive visceral rock intro, and the reggae cover of Love Is Strange by 50’s soul duo Mickey & Sylvia. The album also includes the pleasant folk ballad Bip Bop (which inspired Voulzy and Souchon for the hit J’ai 10 ans) as well as the song that gives the album its title on which Paul and Linda apologise to the animal world with a blend of fairly classic folk rock… Even if Wild Life isn’t a masterpiece, it deserves a second listening and some close reassessment. And this remastered deluxe edition with an array of bonus tracks is the perfect opportunity for a second chance.  – Marc Zisman
(more…)

Paul McCartney – Venus And Mars (Deluxe Edition) (1975/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:33:36 minutes | 2,01 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2605/Hear Music

Venus and Mars is the fourth album by Paul McCartney’s band Wings and was originally released on May 27, 1975. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, as well as portions being recorded at Sea Saint in New Orleans and Wally Heider’s Studio in Los Angeles. The album followed the enormously successful album Band on the Run, and was itself a huge success. Venus and Mars peaked at #1 on the UK Albums Chart, the US Billboard 200, and a number of other international albums charts. It has been certified Platinum in the UK, US, and Canada. Singles from the album included “Listen to What the Man Said” and “Letting Go”.

This Deluxe Edition features 14 additional tracks including the hit single “Junior’s Farm” and several rare and previously unreleased songs.
(more…)

Paul McCartney – Flaming Pie (Archive Collection) (1997/2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 03:08:35 minutes | 3,87 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Paul McCartney Catalog

This remaster of 1997’s Flaming Pie is a most pleasant surprise and includes, in addition to the original album, an array of demos, home recordings and acoustic versions. The album, which was as popular with the critics as it was with the public at the time of its release, totals forty-five tracks including plenty of surprises and variations. It’s the tenth album in Sir Paul’s solo discography, coming four years after its predecessor. During his four-year solo hiatus, Paul was preoccupied with The Beatles Anthology project from which he emerged with a renewed energy. In fact, the experience inspired him to record little pop tunes again as had been done during The Beatles era. Upon listening, one can truly feel an atmosphere of freshness and self-enjoyment in which things aren’t taken too seriously. It is not an entire success, but it is convincing overall and several critics hail this album as his most successful since Tug Of War in 1982… On the bluesy Really Love You Paul is joined by his old friend, Ringo Starr, who cowrote the track – in fact, its the first song to ever be cowritten by Paul and Ringo. We also find Starr on Beautiful Night… A special mention should go the outstanding closing track, Great Day, complemented by choirs and little syncopated percussion instruments which accentuate Paul’s beautiful vocal performance rooted in soul. For context, the title Flaming Pie references an anecdote from his friend John Lennon who explained in 1961 to Mersey Beat magazine the origin of The Beatles’ name: “It came as a vision… a man appeared on a flaming pie and said to us ‘from this day forward you are The Beatles with an A’”. As for the rest of the album, the demos and preliminary, often acoustic, versions of tracks are real gems which demonstrate the true talent of Paul McCartney, whose pleasant and down to earth personality makes us almost forget that he isn’t just any ordinary guy… A legend through and through.
(more…)