OBSCURITY special edition - Paul McCartney songs

[Triple J]

Welcome to a special edition of...
[glow=green,9,300]OBSCURITY[/glow]
Today, June 18th, in honor of Paul McCartney's birthday, I'd like to share with you some obscure Macca songs that I like. You know 'em? Share your thoughts. Don't know 'em? Check 'em out! You can also comment on any other of his lesser-known songs that you like, OK? Here we go...

1. Young Boy ('97 album "Flaming Pie") - Guitar by special guest Steve Miller. Very fun tune! The opening really hooks you in. If this was released at the height of Paul's popularity, like in the mid-70's, it probably would've been a big hit.
He's just a young boy looking for a way to find love... it isn't easy, nothing you can say will help him... find love... he's gotta do it for himself, and it can take so long... he's just a young boy looking for a way to find love

2. A Love For You ('03 soundtrack "The In-Laws") - A song written in '70 during the "Ram" sessions, it was dusted off and featured in the Michael Douglas & Albert Brooks film. I like the original demo... Paul sings in a strange high voice, sometimes screaming.
Where will I run to, where would I hide... if you ever leave me by my side... where will I run to, what would I do... I really am, I really can, I really do, I really have a love for you

3. Somedays ('97 album "Flaming Pie") - A melancholy but pretty acoustic number. I love the lyrics.
Somedays I look... I look at you with eyes that shine... somedays I don't... I don't believe that you are mine... it's no good asking me what time of day it is... who won the match or scored the goal... somedays I look... somedays I look into your soul

4. Not Such A Bad Boy ('84 soundtrack "Give My Regards To Broad Street") - The film totally flopped, but this is one of the better tracks written for it. Has a catchy guitar riff, and some cool drums by Ringo!
I followed the leader... into her tent... but nobody told me, that she owed some rent... she wanted to love me... I wanted to go... but she taught me things that I needed to know... I'm not... such a... bad boy no more, no more, no more, I'm not... such a... bad boy no more, no more, no more

5. Monkberry Moon Delight ('71 album "Ram") - Tune about a potent potable. Bizarre lyrics, more screaming from Paul, and off-key vocals from Linda, but still... I like it!
So I stood with a knot in my stomach... and I gazed at that terrible sight... of two youngsters concealed in a barrel... sucking monkberry moon delight

6. Did We Meet Somewhere Before? ('81 film "Rock 'N' Roll High School") - Sweet, easy listening. The lyrics repeat redundantly, but I like it a lot. I didn't know the song was in this movie, but that was the only source I could find for it. I have the track on a bootleg CD called "Cold Cuts."
Did we meet somewhere before, far behind that half closed door... or is this just one more thing that's happening... to both of us... happening time, and time again, happening over and over... will the king's horses and all the king's men, ever find out... what it's about

7. Waterfalls ('80 album "McCartney II") - More sweet stuff. Soft electric piano with some acoustic guitar. One verse, about polar bears, to me is unintentionally hilarious.
Don't go jumping waterfalls... please keep to the lake... people who jump waterfalls sometimes can make mistakes... and I need love, yeah I need love, like a second needs an hour, like a raindrop needs a shower... yeah I need love, every minute of the day... and it wouldn't be the same... if you ever should decide to go away

8. Get Out Of My Way ('93 album "Off The Ground") - Good rockin' beat. Sounded GREAT when he performed it on his '93 tour.
Get out of my way, get out of my life, I don't need anybody to tell me how to be right... don't try to stop me, I've got the answer, I won't need anybody except my woman tonight

9. Tug Of War ('82 album, same title) - Another pretty acoustic one. Love his voice on this.
It's a tug of war... what with one thing and another, it's a tug of war... we expected more, but with one thing and another, we were trying to outdo each other, in a tug of war

10. Beautiful Night ('97 album "Flaming Pie") - No lie, this is my favorite song... ever! Most of it is a slow piano tune, that climaxes with a ROCKIN' finale! Another guest appearance from Ringo on drums.
Someone's gone out fishing, someone's high and dry, someone's on a mission to the lonely Lorelei, some folk's got a vision, of a castle in the sky... and I'm left stranded, wondering why... you and me together, nothing feels so good, even if I get a medal from my local neighborhood, I won't need a castle, they've got castles in Versailles... and I'm still stranded, wondering why... make it a beautiful night for me... it`s a beautiful night for love... a wonderful sight, for lovers of love to behold

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Wow, why didn't anyone ever respond to this?

1-3-10. I know all three of these as I have the disc. But right now, I don't remember how any goes! LOL! But I know the whole disc is pleasant.

2. Wow, brought out over 30 years later! Interesting!

4. I thought this was a cool song! My dad taped the clip from the movie.

5. I have Ram-sorta weird song, but not awful.

6. Never heard about this!

7. First heard this on Wingspan. Sorry, don't like it.

8. Good one from Off the Ground.

9. Again, first heard this on Wingspan. Not too bad.


I think you should do this feature again soon! I like it.

[Triple J]

SAT-Laney's said:

Wow, why didn't anyone ever respond to this?

Heh... one reason why I quit doing these posts.

SAT-Laney's said:

I think you should do this feature again soon! I like it.

Eh... I guess I can work on it. I kinda ran out of steam for a while. It got too tedious researching every song. I probably just need some time to really dig around in my song collection and come up with some goodies to post here once a month or something.

[Dawn]

Some great songs here! It's been awhile since I listened to Flaming Pie, but it's a very solid album, his best overall since the '80s, IMO. Waterfalls has a very pretty melody, but I agree that the lyrics are a bit unusual.

[Pete70s]

This seemed to slip by me as well! Better late than never.....

2. Interested in hearing this, as I feel he wrote some of his best solo stuff in the early 70's.

4. This and "No Values" are the only reason I'd want "Broadstreet" on CD. Both good songs.

5. Very strange song. "The b-side that never was" (I say this because it sounds like it should have been a b-side).

6. I found a download of this a few years back. Got halfway through it when I lost the connection. Never got the rest of it, so I'm stuck with half a song.. Wish I could find it, sounds better than most of his post-Wings material.

7. This is just depressing. Nice melody, but it bums me out. He released this as the second single from McCartney II, it bombed completely!

9. Good, but a weak choice for a third single. Nowhere near as good as "Take It Away".

Off The Ground I never bought. Flaming Pie I did, but never listened to it much. I far prefer his 70's output!

[edehl]

Why am I now discovering some of these great old posts?? I guess four years after the last one is still legal, right? ;D

Obscure/less popular Paul tunes I really like (off the top of my head):
Getting Closer
Teddy Boy
Junk
Press
Dress Me Up As a Robber
Distractions

And my response to the posted items:

1. Young Boy--- This one always seemed to me to be "So Bad, part 2" (the James songs), although I like this song much better. I agree--- if this song had been released in the 70s and would have had more radio play, I think it would have been a hit. It's upbeat and an easy one to listen to.

2. A Love For You--- It kind of sounds thrown together.....very repetitive and LONG. Bleah.

3. Somedays--- Beautiful song. It kind of has that "Eleanor Rigby" feel to it. When I think of him writing and singing this to Linda, it makes me want to cry for him.

4. Not Such a Bad Boy--- I've always loved this song. It's very catchy. (I actually enjoyed the Broadstreet soundtrack!)

5. Monkberry Moon Delight--- Not a huge fan of this song.... Paul needs a lozenge.

6. Did We Meet Somewhere Before? Mellow and long, but an easy one to listen to.

7. Waterfalls--- I think I'm one of the only people who actually like this song, even though I admit it's a bit sappy. I like the video even more--- he was absolutely darling.

8. Get Out Of My Way-- Very good rockin' song. He doesn't need anybody 'cept his woman tonight!

9. Tug of War--- One of my favorite Paul albums, although "Take it Away" is my favorite track off this album. Tug of War is a good song, but it's a bit slow and long. I admit that I usually skip over it when playing the album. The beginning sounds like severe gastric distress.

10. Beautiful Night--- Beautiful, heartfelt song. LOVE the rockin' ending. Go Ringo!!

[Ken]

I also have no idea how this slipped by me!

1. Young Boy ('97 album "Flaming Pie") - Awesome

2. A Love For You ('03 soundtrack "The In-Laws") I seem to recall that I heard a brief clip of this at the time the movie was current. I saw the movie later on, on cable, but now can't recall the song. lol

3. Somedays ('97 album "Flaming Pie") A great track, Flaming Pie was (and is) a very strong album, very, very enjoyable.

4. Not Such A Bad Boy ('84 soundtrack "Give My Regards To Broadstreet") I've always enjoyed this as well, loved seeing Ringo
and Dave Edmunds as well, playing with Paul.

5. Monkberry Moon Delight ('71 album "Ram") Paul using his "Helter Skelter" vocals once again. I remember hearing this when I was maybe around 5 years old and really didn't know what to think, it really wasn't a fave although, I liked the rest of the album, very much, Ram is one of his best, over the years the song had grown on me.

6. Did We Meet Somewhere Before? ('81 film "Rock 'N' Roll High
I know the song by title only, I don't believe I have ever actually
heard it.

7. Waterfalls ('80 album "McCartney II") - Nice melody, I think Paul should have spent a little more time tweaking the lyrics lol.

8. Get Out Of My Way ('93 album "Off The Ground" - I remember watching (and recording) Paul's appearance on SNL and that's where I first heard this. This song was the reason I bought the CD. A terrific rocker, there are a few other good tracks on the album, but I found the album kind of "preachy" if you know what I mean.

9. Tug Of War ('82 album, same title) Yes, a very fine song.

10. Beautiful Night ('97 album "Flaming Pie") Ringo gives it everything he has, on this one. Love it!

[Dawn]

I must have been in a bit of a hurry when I originally responded to this, so I'll expand a bit more.

I absolutely love Somedays. Along with House of Wax, it's probably my favorite song that he has done in the past dozen years or so. Beautiful melody, great lyrics. I agree with Nance that it has a very "Eleanor Rigby" quality.

I really enjoy Monkberry Moon Delight. It's quirky, and Paul's voice is a little strained, but there's something very catchy about it. I heard on one of the Beatles radio shows that Paul had written this song immediately after an argument with someone - can't recall if it was Linda, John Lennon, or someone else. "Ketchup! Soup and puree!"

Waterfalls - I've sometimes wondered if this was the inspiration for TLC's song of the same title, as there's some similarity in the lyrics. The melody is lovely, very timeless, but I agree with Ken that Paul could have taken a bit more care with the lyrics.

Tug of War is a great collection, in my top five Macca albums. The title track is good, although there are a few others from the album I prefer to it.

[Dawn]

For Ken, Pete, or anyone else who hasn't heard or would like a copy of Did We Meet Somewhere Before? - let me know, as I have an mp3 of it.

[Pete70s]

Jan 25, 2009 22:38:58 GMT -5 Dawn said:

For Ken, Pete, or anyone else who hasn't heard or would like a copy of Did We Meet Somewhere Before? - let me know, as I have an mp3 of it.

I'd be interested!

[dave910]

I had the chance to see Paul McCartney with my friend Jody back in Sept. 2005. It was one of my favorite concert experiences. I could write more about that one on a future piece. I am a fan of Paul's, but I only own Wingspan - Hits & History, Driving Rain and Chaos & Creation in the Back Yard. I think the last CD, is a very strong release and I highly recommend it. Here's a few of my personal favorites from Paul's solo years.

Let Me Roll It - Hearing him preform this one live blew me away!

Backseat of My Car - Another great rocker that I don't hear very often!

My Brave Face - This was co-written with Elvis Costello and was Paul's last top 40 hit to date! Paul returned the favor by co-authoring "Veronica" for Costello's album released the same year as Paul's.

So Bad - This ballad was the sleeper on "Pipes Of Peace". It was the follow-up to the #1 monster duet with Michael Jackson "Say, Say, Say".

Fine Line - The first single from his last CD with Capitol Records. Sadly, this track didn't get a lot of airplay, however, it has a strong R&B dance feel.

[Ken]

Jan 25, 2009 22:38:58 GMT -5 Dawn said:

For Ken, Pete, or anyone else who hasn't heard or would like a copy of Did We Meet Somewhere Before? - let me know, as I have an mp3 of it.

Hey Dawn,

I'm also interested!

[m c dornan]

Only ones I've heard ar "Monkberry Moon Delight" and "Tug of War".

"Tug of War" is supposed to be his tribute to John Lennon, and his view of their relationship.