Every Paul McCartney Album Ranked Worst to Best
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- Опубліковано 20 чер 2024
- #PaulMcCartney is obviously best known for his work in #TheBeatles but after the Fab Four broke up in 1970, McCartney kickstarted his prolific solo career which includes his work in the 70s rock band #Wings with his wife #LindaMcCartney.
Over the last fifty-one years he has managed to release a further twenty-two studio albums plus dozens of others that include live albums, cover albums, reinterpretations of previous releases, movie soundtracks, classical albums and even underground techno collaborations. In this video I rank his twenty-two studio albums and then sum up the rest of his work in a lightning round list towards the end.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
03:57 - The Ranking
1:43:30 - Post-List Summary
1:45:04 - Misc Albums Lightning Round
1:59:47 - Conclusion
Patreon: / elliotroberts
Instagram: / elliotroberts
Twitter: / elliotroberts5
Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/elliotroberts
🎶 🎧 My Paul McCartney Playlists 🎧🎶
Spotify:
Paul McCartney • Rock - open.spotify.com/playlist/3FP...
Paul McCartney • Love Songs - open.spotify.com/playlist/0ZR...
Paul McCartney • Dance -open.spotify.com/playlist/57p...
Paul McCartney • Psych/Groove - open.spotify.com/playlist/58n...
Paul McCartney • Domestic Bliss - open.spotify.com/playlist/48p...
Paul McCartney • Weird - open.spotify.com/playlist/3FV...
Apple Music:
Paul McCartney • Rock - / paul-mccartney-rock
Paul McCartney • Love Songs - / paul-mccartney-love-songs
Paul McCartney • Dance - / paul-mccartney-dance
Paul McCartney • Psych/Groove - / paul-mccartney-psych-g...
Paul McCartney • Domestic Bliss - / paul-mccartney-domesti...
Paul McCartney • Weird - / paul-mccartney-weird
Anyone send this to McCartney’s PR team? Such a love letter to his work. Couldn’t help smiling throughout the whole video.
Please
Promotion?
Why would it get sent to his PR team?!
bro smiled for 2 hours
Always wares his heart on his sleeve, does our Paul. This was very apparent, a lot of the way through.
Love how a third of your videos could be summed up by: "Here's why Ram fucking slaps"
Hahaha very true
@@ElliotRobertsVideos Teddy Boy HAS to be about John Lennon. John was a "teddy boy" when Paul met him. The lyrics read like a conversation John had with Paul about his childhood, don't they?
Am I the only one who thinks this?
respectable lmao
@@comfortat Hell I always assumed it was about John
@@ElliotRobertsVideos, "With a Little Luck" is an "OKAY" song?
Are you serious? It's DEFINITELY one of his finest post-Beatles songs.
You are not a composer, I would posit.
"McCartney" came out when I was 13. I remember mowing the lawn, and thinking, I'm going to make music all by myself some day. It took me 50 years to learn how to play all the instruments, compose music, build a studio, and operate the gear well enough to do so. Macca remains my hero.
Amazing story!
Did the same brother!!
All I did was spend $200.00 and buy a mini- digital recorder that has as much technology as the first four Beatles albums. The sound is killer!! I recorded with THE BEAST AND GLORIONBLAK., and my cass tapes of my first group TYRANT, N.J. are coming out in a cd this year. The BEAST WAS SIGNED with MEGAFORCE RECORDS!! Did an e.p. on Mutha records, had three bootlegs come out in France ( The BEAST) and been on three compilations albums and a 20 song cd and DVD come out in 2020! Glorianblak had a video for the film Scarlet Moon !! Not bad for a white boy!
The fact that Paul still makes music shows that he doesn’t even do it for money anymore, he just does it because he loves music. Making music is hard and takes a while, he wouldn’t waste his time making new music just for money because of how long it takes and the fact that he doesn’t even need any more money.
Yes , Dylan admires him more than anyone else , but as John Lennon said, "you are only 25 once".
He may not record albums for the money, but he sure charges a mortgage payment for a half decent seat at his concerts.
@@manolokonosko2868 I thought so, too, but someone stated that it is the venue that sets the prices and not the performer. I don't know if that is true, but if it is then McCartney can't be blamed for the high prices.
He likes the money! Why else would he put out multiple different color versions of the same album? He's knows die hard fans will by multiple copies.
@@michaelharrington75 Paul McCartney is creatively music genius, he's everything in music ! He should be considered distinctively best music composer - performer of five centuries so far ( from 19th, 20th, 21th, 22th, 23th ) and its on going, starting from Johann Sebastian Bach ( 16th - 17th ) !
cant even imagine how long this took to research, make and edit but it was totally worth it PLEASE DO THIS FOR GEORGE'S CAREER AS WELL I LOVED THIS
Yes, please! (But I, for one, absolutely love Gone Troppo!)
yes please. George had the best solo career of any Beatle, don't @ me
@@Krabadaque I find myself often defending somewhere in England. of course all things must pass is the best but cloud nine is fantastic and George Harrison as well as 33 1/3 are criminally underrated. there are some good tunes on dark horse and, extra texture, nobody’s perfect. brainwash is great as well. That instrumental slide guitar song, fantastic
@@TomboTime 😐
@@Krabadaque finally! I thought I was alone in this
This is the most time I've EVER spent watching a UA-cam piece. It was So rewarding, and as a guy who grew up with the Beatles (I'm 3 years younger than Paul), I am astounded, despite being a fan, at how much I didn't know about this most prolific artist that is Paul McCartney. Well done, Elliot Roberts, 10/10 !
SIR Paul McCartney to you, feller ! ( lol )
Mr Roberts to you ....lol. Fella indeed.
@@multipipi1234 Why... Mr. Roberts...! I never knew you had been knighted ! Before or after SIR Paul ?
What a nice thing to say. It's rare to see such genuine appreciation in the comments
@@GameMasterWLC thank you.
I still think "Maybe I'm Amazed" is Paul's best song ever and it's on the album McCartney. I really love that album! I also love the song "Junk" on that album.
Junk is a gem.
First time I heard “junk” was on anthology 3
Yep, but that’s two songs out of many other fillers on that album
@@hw343434I kind of like the filler on it. It’s not an album I listen to much, but it makes sense given what he was dealing with at the time, and the rawness of it just makes it feel more “honest” to me and inspires me to do my own recording.
However, if you’re expecting it to basically be Abbey Road 2.0, then it’s *very* disappointing. Lol
Nod Your Head being the ending of Memory Almost Full instead of The End Of The End is just the modern equivalent of Dizzy Miss Lizzy being the ending of Help! instead of Yesterday.
Dizzy miss Lizzy is such a great closer!
@@Monkforillayesterday as a closer would have been more legendary, track sequencing is important
@@draga_I disagree, Yesterday may be a better song than Dizzy Miss Lizzy but ending on a rocker is a better choice than ending on the melancholy of Yesterday.
If anything it would have been better opening side 2
Or Her Majesty being the end of Abbey Road instead of The End
3:57 Driving Rain
7:37 Press to play
12:08 Flowers in the dirt
16:07 Off the ground
20:30 London Town
24:01 Wildlife
26:59 Red rose speedway
30:44 Back to the egg
33:56 Pipes of peas
38:01 Flaming pie
42:00 McCartney 3
46:05 Memory almost full
50:55 New
56:32 Wings at the speed of sound
1:00:36 McCartney
1:03:40 Venus and Mars
1:07:21 McCartney 2
1:13:02 Egypt station
1:20:07 Chaos and creation in the backyard
1:27:40 Tug of war
1:33:08 Band on the Run
1:38:10 -Kisses on the bottom- Ram
Great job but one little mistake. Pipes of Peace, not peas.
You're a hero, thanks
I just needed this, thanks
@@deadmanwalking1930 I think they are joking (look at the last timestamp) ;-)
Haha. Pipes of Peas was Dirk McQuigleys solo album
I LOVE this style of ranking. You really go deep into each track and the history behind it. Sure it takes longer but it really helps us understand the album more and your opinion of it more
Thanks James Dean! Huge from you.
wtf james dean, didn't know you were an elliot roberts watcher! how's tupac doing these days with you in cuba?
@@thebasedgodmax1163 Oh he's alright, came down with a cold recently. Elvis says hi, he and Marc Bolan recently had an argument so everyone's been treading lightly.
@@ElliotRobertsVideos There's no such thing as "manmade climate change." And Trump was a great president, especially compared to the clown who has followed him.
Socialism sucks, and your generation has been duped, brainwashed, and indoctrinated. It's very sad.
@@comfortat damn ma is it that serious 😳
This is the gold standard of ranking videos. Beautifully presented - detailed, articulate and informed. Excellent use of well-chosen, supporting video and sound clips. But most of all you communicate a great knowledge and genuine love of McCartney’s music. Of course all rankings are subjective (being dependent on personal preference) but I agree with most of your judgements (However, Flaming Pie would be higher and Wings at the Speed of Sound would be lower in my ranking). It’s great to see your high appraisal of more recent albums such as the brilliant Egypt Station. I am in the process of collecting McCartney’s discography on vinyl. And your video has really fired up my enthusiasm. Thank you!
Thank you!
I love the guy. Just remember that if it wasn't for Paul telling the other Beatles to get their butts in the studio, we wouldn't have MMT, White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be. John
and Ringo even said Paul would call them up and tell them to get into the studio to make new music.
I never knew that Coming Up inspired John Lennon to make music again, that's so cool. Just shows that even after all their years apart, they were still able to inspire each other and it's such a shame they never got the chance to work together again.
Their lives were destined to be forever intertwined
Don’t make me cry 😭
@@themangoman9315 Yes they were T_T They'll meet again someday
If you listen to "I Don't Wanna Face It" on Milk and Honey, That's John's nod to Coming Up.
Yeah, John figured that between the B52s’ “Rock Lobster” yelling ( they claimed they owed their success to Yoko) and McCartney’s huge success while experimenting with sound - a field John had pioneered but failed to cash in on - he felt the time was right to strike while the iron’s hot and not be left out of the 80s trend. The 1970s were a shit decade for everyone whether you were in the music business or not.
I love your praise of Silly Love Songs, it's an absolutely flawless pop song that also has two and three part vocal counterpoint. It's really a subtly complex masterpiece that is also one of the best pop songs of the 70s.
Bless your heart....
@@JimHancock Ah, cowardly southern passive aggressiveness, I see.
@@sbesbesbe lol, I mean it with all sincerity, and you are not alone, that song sold a lot of singles..
@@JimHancock Sorry, UA-cam comments are a cesspool and I tend to assume sarcasm is intended. Thanks.
SILLY LOVE SONGS is a POP MASTERPIECE!
'here today' was the first piece of music i ever cried over, and i love it! my brother died in 2017 of a cocaine laced with fentanyl overdose and we were very close. i heard this song for the first time in his old bedroom. his old bedroom is also my music room, so i wanted to learn to play 'here today' on piano. i tried listening to it to learn it since i heard so many great things about it, and i was just BAWLING the ENTIRE time. i calmed down a little, tried to play it on piano, and my shaky voice was no match for the depressing but full-of-love lyrics. i love a song that can make me feel something, and paul definitely succeeded there.
I'm so sorry for your loss...I'm sure you'll be able to learn & play that song soon, be patient with yourself. Much love & sympathy.
So sorry for your loss. Fentanyl is a terrible scourge.
Isabelletepe8178, so sorry for the loss of your brother.
Keep in mind that he lives in your heart, mind, and soul.
It was also the first song I ever cried to
At my advanced age of 65 I bought RAM when it came out. It became one of those albums that stays on your turntable for ages. I was thrilled that you chose RAM for number one and you managed to throw me back to a sweet time. I actually giggled from anticipation. Also, as a whole you did an amazing job!!
Given the justifiable love for 'McCartney' I was quite surprised to hear 'Junk' dismissed as 'enjoyable enough' and merely consisting of words that are nice on the ear - surely it's more than that? It's a beautiful impressionsitic elegy about change/loss and memory. Paul surveys junk and points out that it's somebody's memories and life in objects. There's wonderful story-telling with the images of 'bicycles for two/broken hearted jubilee' and 'sleeping bags for two/sentimental jamboree' - like a relationship broken up, or lost, and the meanings these objects have only to the old owners. Th refrain about 'buy buy in the shop/why why says the junk in the yard' is so magical with that melody, and again makes you think about the emotional power that old objects have. It's one of the best tracks on the album.
Junk had me shivering for years... one of my very favourite for the past 25 years 😊
Agreed, that track's the highlight of the album for me. It's also beautifully arranged on Working Classical.
“Junk” is such a lovely song. Definitely one of Paul’s best.
You expressed everything great about Junk in a few, concrete sentences, thank you
Think Junk is a great song.
I feel bad as for years I always considered Paul the "corny" one. I grew up in the era when Paul always seemed like he wanted to be Pop's "Mr Nice guy" so I just dismissed all of his solo stuff and especially Wings.
I was a fool. The last year or so I have been looking into Paul's solo stuff and I've realised just how great he is. I'm actually fascinated by him these days
Good for you. There’s some absolute masterpieces there to enjoy from the 70s..
I think your initial hunch was the correct one.
*I was a fool on the hill.
@@ignacioclerici5341 He can't read or write music. Relied heavily on George Martin. Both with the Beatles and solo work.
Nevertheless Happy Christmas 🎄 to you.
@@steffanhoffmann8937 He can. He said he couldn’t when they started. Lennon was the member that relied the most on George Martin, not McCartney.
Pauls vocal note/scream in “ Beware my Love” at around 1.34/35 the third( no no NO!) is a sound that bewitches me!
Absolutely amazing.
I think it’s a sound that only his prepubescent self could’ve made before the male voice breaks.
I’m glad it was captured in the recording of the song, which btw is a tremendous track.👏🏻👏🏻
Chaos and Creation is one of the most amazing late-career albums ever... extremely underrated, Nigel Godrich is a god producer
Really? His bare-bones, minimalistic, nothing-production is exactly why it was so much less than it could’ve been, for me. Everyone gets their opinion, though, so respek…
I have to agree, Chaos and creation When released is way ahead of its time I never thought Paul McCartney could make a blues album But this piece of work is beautifully done And as aged very well Still sounds very contemporary .
@@anthonyvaldez6892 Chaos has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the blues! It doesn't even come close!
@@vampyros1 I would actually argue that the production is so much more heavily involved with the album than other albums. Rather than being stripped back, I think it's simply more subtle - it goes for cleaner, solitary sounds, but there's so much thick production in each and every one of those sparse sounds.
This video actually inspired me to check it out. I'm a bit overwhelmed by Paul's career, and I personally didn't care as much for Egypt Station so I kind of wrote off most of Paul's post Beatles and early Wings/solo stuff but omg...it may in fact be one of my favorite albums. Every single song, almost, I was thinking this is just so lyrically and musically interesting. Granted, I also enjoy Radiohead's sound and music that has kind of a 'broody' feel to it so I guess this was right up my alley. The fun thing about it is that every song on it was new to me.
I've always loved the Beatles, but I've only recently begun to fully explore their music and that of the individual members post-Fab Four. And my God...Paul's discography is just. So. Damn. Good. McCartney, Ram, Band on the Run, McCartney II, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Flaming Pie, New...all so rich and unique and technically stunning. I mean, the fact that he recorded McCartney III entirely by himself in the middle of a pandemic at the age of 78 is mind-boggling to me. The man's talent is utterly undeniable and to see someone delve so deeply into his solo career, all while demonstrating their wholehearted appreciation and affection for the albums he's produced, is a joy to behold. Love the man and love this video.
well said and I agree 100 percent...in my opinion if you took Paul's beatles catalog and solo catalog together you have the deepest and best catalog in popular music history.
Yep ! He really IS our Mozart .
Let's appreciate him while he's still
with us.!
Don’t forget back to the Egg. Diverse and solid. My personal favorite.
@@rikkousa Back to the Egg is the one John Lennon wrote a note to his assistant to buy it for him. I hope he liked it!
This video has really just made me appreciate how lucky we are that Paul is still with us and still making music 💗
Ranking - Timestamps:
00:04:01 Driving Rain (2001)
00:07:38 Press to Play (1986)
00:12:08 Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
00:16:18 Off the Ground (1993)
00:20:30 London Town (1978)
00:24:02 Wild Life (1971)
00:26:58 Red Rose Speedway (1973)
00:30:44 Back to the Egg (1979)
00:34:05 Pipes of Peace (1983)
00:38:00 Flaming Pie (1997)
00:41:59 McCartney III (2020)
00:46:15 Memory Almost Full (2007)
00:50:56 New (2013)
00:56:32 Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
01:00:35 McCartney (1970)
01:03:39 Venus and Mars (1975)
01:07:20 McCartney II (1980)
01:13:01 Egypt Station (2018)
01:20:12 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005)
01:27:40 ***************** (19**)
01:33:07 ***************** (19**)
01:38:10 ***************** (19**)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
01:43:30 Post-List Summary
Thank you!
Not revealing the top 3...very good move
Thank you you are my hero
Before I got into McCartney and the Beatles, I heard Fuh You as it was on trending. I fell in love immediately and just melted into the album. What a joy. Who cares how old he is, you simply can't deny raw talent and genius.
chaos and creation in the backyard is incredible
Shut up and take my money.
That's a anagram for (he died in a car crash on a batty conk
Yes
While this album is sonically gorgeous, I'm very surprised how highly it was ranked
It's good, but he ruins it with those last few tracks. I don't know how Nigel gave him a pass with those ones, after recording a masterpiece like "How kind of you".
I LITERALLY SCREAMED OH MY GOD I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED
Same!! This is the kind of thing I do on my own, spending way too much time making rankings in the notes app, so this video is right up my alley 😁
@@TheBeatlesToday yep- just totally great when you realise that other people do this too and that- yes- the music is as fantastically good as you think it is. Strongly recommend the work of breathless345 with his Understanding McCartney series.
And if you don’t have hours to watch it all at least the 2min Bob Dylan on Paul McCartney one from the same channel. It’s like yep. Despite all his success Macca don’t get the recognition he deserves.
3:57 Driving Rain
7:37 Press to Play
12:08 Flowers in the Dirt
16:07 Off the Ground
20:30 London Town
24:01 Wildlife
26:59 Red Rose Speedway
30:44 Back to the Egg
33:56 Pipes of Peace
38:01 Flaming Pie
42:00 McCartney III
46:05 Memory Almost Full
50:55 New
56:32 Wings at the Speed of Sound
1:00:36 McCartney
1:03:40 Venus and Mars
1:07:21 McCartney II
1:13:02 Egypt Station
1:20:07 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
1:27:40 Tug of War
1:33:08 Band on the Run
1:38:10 Ram
Well fuck! I wasn't expecting a two hour documentary, but 20 minutes in, I was hooked. This is a surprising work of art I just wasn't expecting. I grew up in the shadow of Paul McCartney making his way after the Beatles breakup. This is really something. Thank you for doing it.
When I first hit "play" and saw the run time of over two hours, I thought "no way." And yet ... I watched the entire thing in one go and thoroughly enjoyed it. Really well done & engaging all the way thru, sir. Now if I could just find an affordable copy of Twin Freaks ...
I waited and rewatched your Love and Mercy Video countless times in anticipation for this and let me tell you that I'm nothing short of impressed. 2 damn hours?! All albums?! The effort that this man takes is above and beyond, I have the highest regard for you and your channel Elliot, you never cease to amaze me and you are criminally underrated. Best channel on UA-cam, nay, the internet. Don't let anything get in the way of what you're doing now. Perfect blend of serious documentation and humour throughout. Just awesome, and when you add the fact that this comes from Australia... Damn proud man, you are a gem to our country
Thank you!
Well said
PERIODT.
So... Where's Ringo's video?
Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr (Greatest Hits) is his only great album 😁
I borrowed Ram from a friend in 1978, and I loved it so much I traded him back a couple of albums that are now long forgotten. I recorded it onto a Maxell casette tape and it pretty much lived in my car's Pioneer SuperTuner. God, I still love every one of those songs and still listen to it! Ive always thought it was quite quirky, in a classic rock album kinda way. Totally agree that this is Paul's best work too!
Elliot''s video's are like a suprise,they come when you dont know it.
So it’s like a surprise?
@@bradrules49 yes
"While George was finding God and John was expunging his deamons..." Classic line.
I honestly love Wild Life. It feels like an extension of the quirky rejuvenation of the first solo album but with some sort of a band.
100%
The title song is one of his best
I love both those albums! Title track on Wild Life is so gooddddd
Far Out UK put Wild Life as dead last. Blew my mind.
@@trekkiejunk ridiculous. It's a masterpiece
As a huge Beatles fan who has only really explored John's solo career, this was a great primer on how to explore Paul's, and the keystone holding everything together is your enthusiasm and love of the music. Even your lowest-rated reviews are so swelling with a love and respect of this immense talent that it's hard not to want to follow you in the deep dive.
I’m really surprised Flaming Pie was so far down, I really liked it and saw it as his greatest album since wings with nothing else coming close (save maybe Egypt Station) since. To each their own though, I’m glad so many people enjoy McCartney III and Chaos and Creation more than I could :)
I agree 100. If he has this ranked low, not sure I can watch it!! Lol
@@eddieleclair6389 aw, watch it! It’s much lower than I would put it but the videos just about Elliot sharing what he loves about Paul’s music for two hours.
Absolutely agree about Flaming Pie being way to low in this list.
Totally agree. It was the start of him having a creative comeback. He also rated Flowers In the Dirt really low, which while it wasn't one of his best, was better than his other albums from that period. There's a few really good ones on there.
And _I’m_ glad so many people enjoy Egypt Station more than I remember enjoying it. I was under the impression that McCartney III was the first great album Paul had come up with in decades. Maybe it’s time to revisit some.
HOLY SHIT I DIDNT EXPECT THIS! I've been slowly chipping away through Paul McCartney's solo catalogue (I adore everything this man did between 1970 to Tug of War) for the past two years so I'm stoked to watch through this!
I agree...his voice was in perfect shape till pipes of peace era...by 86 he began to show a regression due to age and his past years of smoking and he was still smoking weed...he still sang better than most artists, but to me from 70 - tug of war/pipes of peace he was up there with the best voices in rock
00:01 Introduction: Today, I'm going to be talking about Paul McCartney
01:20 Outline
01:45 Discoveries and recommendations
02:38 About Paul
03:09 What constitutes as a new album
03:27 One final thing before we get into the list...
03:37 Patreon ad
03:58 Driving Rain (2001)
04:35 Lonely Road
04:56 Spinning on an Axis
05:04 From a Lover to a Friend
05:12 Magic
05:15 Rinse the Raindrops
05:36 Freedom
05:55 "Why is this my least favorite album?"
07:37 Press to Play (1986)
08:24 Profile: Hugh Padgham
08:42 Profile: Eric Stewart
08:48 The Problem with "Press to Play"
09:00 Stranglehold
09:27 Talk More Talk
09:52 Only Love Remains
10:03 Press
10:29 Pretty Little Head
10:45 Angry
11:18 However Absurd
11:38 "I will give him points for this..."
11:42 "But because he leans so hard on this..."
11:52 The kickstarts of my least period in Paul McCartney's career
12:08 Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
12:28 Profile: Elvis Costello
12:56 You Want Her Too
13:16 My Brave Face
13:36 Rough Ride
14:05 This One
14:33 How Many People?
14:42 Motor of Love
14:57 "My Real Problem with this album"
15:56 "These songs have not stood the test of time"
16:06 Paul McCartney: Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) (1991)
16:18 Off The Ground (1993)
16:50 "The Beatles Revival Era"
17:29 Off the Ground
18:06 Looking for Changes
18:31 Big Boys Bickering
19:02 Biker Like an Icon
19:08 Mistress and Maids
19:13 Winedark Open Sea
19:17 Hope of Deliverance
19:29 C'mon People
19:38 (hidden track) Cosmically Conscious
20:07 "Supremely average the entire way through"
20:30 London Town (1978)
20:36 Profile: The three core member that never changed: Paul, Linda McCartney and Denny Laine
21:07 "Sea shantie quality to them"
21:17 Children, Children
21:23 Famous Groupies
21:30 Almost called Waterwings
21:52 London Town
22:00 I'm Carrying
22:08 Girlfriend
22:24 Backwards Treveler / Cuff Link
22:37 With A Little Luck
23:04 I've Had Enough
23:16 Morse Moose and the Grey Goose
23:44 "Consistently middle of the road"
24:02 Wings Wild Life (1971)
24:34 Bip Bop
24:43 Profile: Denny Seiwell
24:57 Mumbo
25:09 Love is Strange
25:16 Wild Life
25:20 Dear Friend
25:36 Some People Never Know
25:43 I Am Your Singer
25:55 Tomorrow
26:06 "This album should not be written off"
26:58 Red Rose Speedway (1972)
27:35 Hi, Hi, Hi
28:09 Live and Let Die
28:16 Big Barn Bed
28:28 My Love
28:49 Sideline: Dreaming the Beatles
29:20 Get on the Right Thing
29:27 Only One More Kiss
29:31 Little Lamb Dragonfly
29:40 Single Pigeon
29:45 Medley: Hold Me Tight / Lazy Dynamite / Hands of Love / Power Cut
30:44 Back to the Egg (1979)
31:00 Spin It On
31:15 Getting Closer
31:22 Rockestra Theme
31:48 So Glad to See You Here
31:52 Arrow Through Me
32:13 Profile: Steve Holly
32:22 "It never quite captured a single mood"
32:40 The Broadcast
32:59 Baby's Request
33:36 Goodnight Tonight
33:57 Pipes of Peace (1983)
34:42 Pipes of Peace
34:51 Say, Say, Say
35:33 The Man
35:39 The Other Me
35:53 Keep Under Cover
36:14 So Bad
36:34 Average Person
36:58 Tug of Peace
37:23 Sweetest Little Show / Hey, Hey
37:28 Through Our Love
37:31 "Nothing too heavy or melancholic here"
38:00 Flaming Pie (1997)
39:05 The Song We Were Singing
39:15 Somedays
39:21 Calico Skies
39:57 Flaming Pie
40:10 Profile: Steve Miller (Young Boy / Used to be Bad / If You Wanna)
40:17 In the World Tonight
40:25 Really Love You
40:38 Beautiful Night
41:03 Great Day
41:32 "Thank goodness for Flaming Pie"
41:53 McCartney III (2020)
43:24 Long Tailed Winter Bird
43:37 Find My Way
44:01 Pretty Boys
44:15 Woman and Wives
44:30 Lavatory Lil
44:35 Deep, Deep Feeling
44:59 Seize the Day
45:04 The Kiss of Venus
45:07 Winter Bird / When Winter Comes
46:04 Pause: Like this video
46:15 Memory Almost Full (2007)
46:39 Ever Present Past
47:14 Dance Tonight
47:19 Only Mama Knows
47:35 Sea your Sunshine
47:41 Gratitude
47:49 Vintage Clothes
48:16 That was Me
48:27 Feet in the Clouds
48:48 House of Wax
49:14 The End of the End
49:38 Nod your Head
50:02 "His sense of fun is definitely back"
50:55 New (2013)
51:40 Profile: Paul Epworth (Save Us)
51:56 Profile: Paul Epworth (Queenie Eye)
52:04 Profile: Marc Ronson (Alligator)
52:18 Profile: Marc Ronson (New)
52:56 Profile: Ethan Jones (Hosannah / Road)
53:08 Profile: Ethan Jones (Early Days)
54:32 Profile: Giles Martin (On My Way to Work
55:12 Profile: Giles Martin (Appreciate)
55:22 Everybody Out There
55:36 I Can Bet
55:42 Looking at Her
55:49 "So that was New!"
56:31 Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
57:05 Let 'Em In
57:20 The Note You Never Wrote
57:25 She's My Baby
57:42 Beware My Love
57:57 Silly Love Songs
58:26 Pause: "Hold on, one second!"
58:50 Profile: Rickenbacker Bass / Silly Love Songs
59:18 Cook of the House
59:25 Time to Hide
59:30 Must Do Something About It
59:35 San Ferry Anne
59:37 Warm and Beautiful
1:00:01 "A little uneven"
1:00:35 McCartney (1970)
1:01:14 The Lovely Linda
1:01:27 That Would Be Something
1:01:44 Valentine's Day
1:01:49 Oo You
1:01:55 Every Night
1:02:15 Hot As Sun/Glasses
1:02:34 Teddy Boy / Junk
1:02:49 Maybe I'm Amazed
1:03:10 "Unfiltered Lo-Fi Brilliance"
1:03:39 Venus and Mars (1975)
1:04:06 Venus and Mars / Rock Show
1:04:34 Love In Song
1:04:45 You Gave Me the Answer
1:05:07 Magneto and Titanium Man
1:05:20 Letting Go
1:05:33 Venus and Mars (Reprise)
1:05:50 Spirits of Ancient Egypt
1:06:00 Medicine Jar
1:06:23 Call Me Back Again
1:06:44 Listen to What the Man Said
1:06:59 Treat Her Gently / Lonely Old People
1:07:04 "Brilliant nugget of 70s Rock"
1:07:20 McCartney II (1980)
1:08:40 Coming Up
1:09:27 Temporary Secretary
1:10:10 On The Way
1:10:15 Waterfalls
1:10:44 Nobody Knows
1:10:52 Front Parlour
1:11:00 Frozen Japanese
1:11:38 Bogey Music
1:11:43 Darkroom
1:11:49 One of these Days
1:12:21 "It succeeds in the sheer fearlessness of his own creation"
1:13:01 Egypt Station (2018)
1:13:23 "Your list reads: Paul McCartney"
1:13:43 Profile: Greg Kurstin (Opening Station)
1:13:57 I Don't Know
1:14:28 Come on to Me
1:14:41 Happy with You
1:15:24 Who Cares
1:15:39 Profile: Ryan Tedder (Fuh You)
1:16:41 People Want Peace
1:16:58 Dominoes
1:17:07 Back in Brazil
1:17:29 Do It Now
1:17:34 Context on Despite Repeated Warnings: "Paul's most successful political song of his career"
1:17:54 Despite Repeated Warnings
1:18:55 Station II
1:19:09 Hunt You Down
1:19:13 Naked
1:19:23 "Egypt Station is McCartney through and through"
1:20:07 Pause: Lightning change! It's a new day!"
1:20:12 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005)
1:20:29 Profile: Nigel Godrich
1:21:30 "Piano led, stripped back vulnerability quality to them"
1:22:00 Fine Line
1:22:20 How Kind of You
1:22:39 Sideline: "Hail to the Thief" by Radiohead
1:22:53 Jenny Wren
1:23:11 Profile: George Harrison (Friends to Go)
1:23:47 English Tea
1:24:33 Too Much Rain
1:25:02 Riding to Vanity Fair
1:25:27 Follow Me / Promise to you Girl / Anyway
1:25:42 (hidden track) I've Only Got Two Hands
1:25:54 "The most confessional music Paul ever created"
1:27:39 Tug of War (1982)
1:28:07 Profile: Ringo Starr and George Martin
1:28:33 Tug of War
1:28:56 Take It Away
1:29:05 Profile: Eric Stewart (I'm Not in Love - 10cc)
1:29:36 Somebody Who Cares
1:29:52 Profile: Stevie Wonder (What's That You're Doing?)
1:30:23 Profile: John Lennon (Here Today)
1:30:57 Ballroom Dancing
1:31:08 The Pound is Sinking
1:31:14 Profile: Carl Perkins (Get It)
1:31:26 Be What You See (Link)
1:31:41 Dress Me Up Like A Robber (*as a Robber)
1:31:51 Ebony and Ivory
1:32:15 "Paul's most multi-faceted record to date!
1:33:08 Band on the Run (1973)
1:34:50 Band on the Run
1:35:08 Jet
1:35:29 Bluebird
1:35:41 Mrs. Vanderbilt
1:35:59 Let Me Roll It
1:36:26 Mamunia
1:36:32 No Words
1:36:37 Picasso's Last Words
1:36:54 Helen Wheels
1:37:22 Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
1:37:35 "The album that saved his career"
1:38:09 Kisses on the Bottom (2012) ;)
1:38:17 "wow, could you guess!?" RAM (1971)
1:38:29 Too Many People
1:38:43 Ram On
1:38:50 Dear Boy
1:39:07 Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey
1:39:25 Smile Away
1:39:37 "Quickly while we're on Smile Away..."
1:39:52 3 Legs
1:40:13 Heart of the Country
1:40:25 Monkberry Moon Delight
1:40:41 Eat at Home
1:41:01 Long Haired Lady
1:41:13 The Backseat Of My Car
1:41:31 "This is Paul showing us what kind of first grade artist he is!"
1:42:26 "To start a conversation"
1:43:31 "So, that's the list!"
1:45:03 Lightning round list: all the other Paul McCartney albums
1:45:09 "How it is going to work"
1:45:14 Give My Regards to Broadstreet (1985)
1:46:01 The Family Way (1967)
1:46:30 Profile: Youth (The Fireman)
1:46:40 Strawberry Ocean Ship Forests (1993)
1:47:10 Rushes (1998)
1:47:35 Electric Arguments (2008)
1:48:40 Profile: Youth, Super Furry Animals (Liverpool Sound Collage) (2000)
1:49:24 Pause (I'll be back tomorrow and I'll finish this list!)
1:49:28 Thrillington (1977)
1:50:20 McCartney III Imagined (2021)
1:51:20 Снова в СССР (1988)
1:52:03 Run Devil Run (1999)
1:52:50 Kisses on the Bottom (2012)
1:54:05 Pause: "Near the end"
1:54:08 Profile: DJ Freelance Hellraiser (Twin Freaks) (2005)
1:55:11 Paul McCartney's Live Albums
1:55:39 Good Evening New York City (2009)
1:55:48 Paul McCartney: Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) (1991)
1:56:32 Wings Over America (1977)
1:57:13 Compilation: Pure McCartney (2016)
1:57:18 Paul McCartney's Classical Albums
1:57:35 Liverpool Oratorio (1991)
1:58:14 Standing Stone (1997)
1:58:30 Working Classical (1999)
1:58:39 Ecce cor Meum (2006)
1:59:10 Ocean's Kingdom (2011)
1:59:50 Top 6 Miscellanous Albums
2:00:32 Conclusion
2:01:25 Patreon!
You monster
holy moly
How long did this take??!!!
You're a fucking hero
I finally finished this video😁 I'm 21 and have only recently started getting into McCartney's solo music (it's a bit overwhelming given how much there is to explore so this video is a great roadmap😅) but Ram is an album that I literally cannot stop listening to. The more I listen to any particular song, the more interesting it gets. It blows my mind on a daily basis. True genius.
Your videos are amazing man! Keep it up🤙🏻
Yes, Ram is my favorite as well.
After working with Micheal Jackson in the 1980s it went downward , maybe he neds a inspiration from co musican to make good songs an Michael were the last world artist
You get it... That makes me strangely THRILLED/HAPPY to hear someone your age say this... LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. This album is INCREDIBLE, without exception. When you realize the setting and circumstances in which it was made, it makes the work even more INCREDIBLE. For me, aged 52 and fan of Janes Addiction, Pumpkins, Nirvana, PJ, Alice in Chains, STP(underrated), Radiohead, Beatles, etc etc.... this work will ALWAYS remain in my Top 5 all time.
Ram is a classic, I love that we've changed the stigma about it! I've done most of Paul's solo albums now! Just missing a few but diving properly into wings now, having only done 2 albums from them - I've done john, it'll be george next :)
This is definitely the best Beatles related ranking video on UA-cam. It's not even close. Can't wait to see more!
The production history of Band On the Run is eerily similar to Back in Black by AC/DC. Both were albums that would make or break the band recorded in a foreign country with a tropical climate after losing significant members of the band where EVERYTHING went wrong during production. And both albums went on to become the biggest hits of each band's respective careers.
I've recently started deep diving into Paul's solo stuff after being a Beatles fan for years and he definitely did not peak in the 60s as far as his songwork goes.
Right now I'm in love with Take it Away from Tug of War, everything bout that track is just beautiful and harmonious.
Glad I found your channel and this vid! 👍
I’m a lifelong Paul lover, songwriter and musician. I’ve studied these albums and your presentation here is fantastic. Right on! This is great insight for all future watchers!
I think one of the tracks you underrated is “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five. It is an astounding track, and one of the best tracks on the album. It’s my friends favorite Paul McCartney song
The guitar riff and brass at the end of that song are amazing!
I would be really interested in seeing you do a similar video about the rest of The Beatles solo work. I feel like John's career has this legendary mystique to it but when I go back and listen to it the albums all feel wildly uneven when compared to Paul's solo work.
Idk… Paul has many uneven albums as well. The only Lennon album that I would consider to be a clunker is Sometime in NYC. Lennon started his solo career with two masterpieces and have other great albums (Walls and Bridges, Double Fantasy) on his resume as well. I try not to compare the solo careers of Paul and John because it’s truly unfair. Paul had time to create many more albums, and thus opportunities to strike gold, than Lennon did. If you think about it, Lennon only had a solo career that lasted 6 years…
I would love videos like this for every Beatles' solo career, especially Ringo's. That would be a long video
@@marcusthompson5390 oh I don’t deny Paul’s work is uneven. I think every Solo record the 4 have done is wildly uneven. Each feels like they are missing something and obviously it’s eachother. But I feel Ram and Band On The Run are the two post Beatle works that feel the most whole. I think John’s solo career has a ton of classic songs but for me personally the albums always ring hallow for me. Even a album like Plastic ono band which has nothing but great songs. It just doesn’t flow together for me.
The best 2 post Beatles albums belong to George ... All Things Must Pass and Living in the Mayerial world are such perfect albums from start to end (notwithstanding the Apple Jam 😋😂)
@@fredericlatreille Naah
I have watched 1000s of videos on Paul McCartney, Beatles, solo Beatles, etc. etc. This has got to be one of the best. Don't know that anyone has covered his solo career like you did here. Well done. Looking forward to more videos from you. I watched till the end....
I'm not much of a solo McCartney fan, and I haven't been drawn much to even his best albums -- except for Band on the Run. This video helped me appreciate his body of work. I've listened to most of these albums at some point in my life. Maybe Paul's style doesn't click with me (I'm more of a John/George fan), but it was enjoyable to hear you share your passion and knowledge of these albums.
I feel the same, though for me it's McCartney (his first album) that I do like -- a lot! Just re-listened to Band on the Run and Ram and they still don't do it for me. His work with the Beatles was stellar and I do like a few of his solo songs.
opposite foe me George had one good solo album and John Just had a few good songs.
@@mlo-opp1298 John is consistently ranked as having the greatest solo Beatles album in pretty much any all time albums list. And that’s without getting into the iconic “Imagine” album. And if you think George had one good solo album, you simply haven’t heard George, his second album is arguably better than his first and Cloud 9 is also good
RAM's "Monkberry Moon Delight" is one of my favorites from Paul's early years as a solo artist following the Beatles' breakup. Who else loves this quirky, fun an' frolicsome song?
*raises hand*
Me
That song made me put Paul as one of my Top 5 favorite singers. Dude can belt out high stuff with so much distortion and it’s insanely impressive.
@@oddracir28doesn’t Monkberry Moon Delight follow Heart of the Country?
You haven't lived 'til you've 'gazed at that terrible sight'!
Shouts out to Mega64 for getting Temporary Secretary performed live in 2016 when an inside joke on their podcast led to their fans voting for it's inclusion on that tours setlist.
I saw it performed live twice in 2016 and it was MAGICAL!!!!!! So glad I now know who to thank for that!!
An unsung hero
McCartney II is very special
As an Internet Soldier, I made sure to wear my Mega64 logo shirt in honor of the occasion when I got to see him perform it live around then. And it goes without saying but seeing that song played live was genuinely surreal.
@@soyuz_blues love that! And wasn’t it amazing live? The look of joy on the faces of everyone who knew it and the look of confusion on the faces of everyone who didn’t was just magical!!!
I have to say, I've never checked the Ram album, but after your video, I've became a big fan of this piece of music!
Thank you for this video. It finally made me want to go through and listen to McCartney’s solo work again after failing to do so last year, and know Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is one of my favorite albums of all time.
I wish that in sometime in the future, he'd make a boxset like the Elton John Jewels Boxset. There are so many songs that are currently unavailable for streaming services like his songs Summer of '59 (2005), Maybe Baby (2000), Spies Like Us (1985), In the Blink of An Eye (2016), and etcetera. Of course there are also his unreleased recordings which the Paul McCartney Archive Collection doesn't really touch on that much (especially Flowers in the Dirt which had Return to Pepperland, P.S. Love Me Do, and so many more). The man's got 50 years worth of music and not all of them are widely available and I hope MPL would be able to sort that out soon.
A LOT of stuff only exists on vinyl (or cassette) and can get very expensive, very quickly, trying to obtain it.
@@flyingkillerrobots877 Yup...however they've all surfaced onto the internet via low sound quality uploads to UA-cam or other video platforms.
He did make compilations ... Wingspan an Pure ... I bought the 1st orginals before knowing he would put out some more ... i payed alot of money for a scealed vinyl copy of an original 2004 version of "chaos and creation" and bought a used box set CD version to listen to it ... then came Spotify 😂😂😂
@@flyingkillerrobots877 I knoooow!!!! Got almost everyone of 'em before he decided to do reissues 🙄 ... I could've saved 100$ for scealed copies of Flaming pie and Chaos and Creations knowing that about 10 years ago
In the Blink Of An Eye is on Spotify.
Thanks Elliot...I really enjoyed your thoughts. I have loved his music all my life. I am in my early 70's so I was one of the girls who was affected by the Beatles music. I went to their concerts although I wasn't a screamer. My fave Beatle was Ringo, but then I have always liked drummers. Paul was a close second. I liked all of them even when they got older.
You’re welcome, and I’m super jealous you got to see them live!
@@ElliotRobertsVideos I was there at Shea Stadium in August for the first concert. It was a wall of shriek that was painful and lasted without a decibel of letup for the entire time. It was however exciting to this nine year old and the best part was when some fans broke onto the field at the end. One fan had the moves and evaded 5 or 6 cops with some great broken field running in a futile attempt to reach the Fab Four. The crowd roared!
It's so crazy! I love Paul McCartney so much. This is the first time I got to see someone listen to some of his very unknown songs. Great video!
As a big McCartney + Wings Fan for a long time, this was fun! Thank you so much for the video. What I always appreciated most about Paul McCartney: he experimented and didn't care about 'genre', he blasted them all within one album if necessary! There is no busier artist like him. Thank you Paul!
“RAM”, the originally misunderstood album masterpiece that was way ahead of its time and set the highest bar for all other Beatles as individuals and for Paul himself. In fact, its mastery was never matched, as much as all four continued to produce fine work.
Actually, “RAM” sits right up there with any Beatles album and, as Elliott has manifested, is perhaps the ultimate foundation and origin of a genre, indie rock.
I thought it was brilliant from the beginning, always been in my desert island top 3
Meh.
ehhh I would Argue "All Things Must Pass" by George Harrison is on par with it
@@violinmke why are you here?
@@TomboTime No doubt, it's better actually
God u made the perfect video for me. Yes im watching all 2hrs of this
Interesting discussion! I agree with a few of the worst, however Flowers in the Dirt was THE album that launched me from a Beatles fan into a Macca fan specifically and I really connected with it so much. I have countless memories of playing it from start to finish, and to this day, it’s one of my go-to Paul albums when I need a little nostalgia comfort of my childhood.🙌👌❤️
It is such a consistent album.
I called Camelot Music at our mall for weeks asking if they had it yet.
What he calls the worst period in McCartney's solo career was my time of buying the most albums.
I was so happy to see "Chaos and Creation" so high up on the list. It's my 3rd favorite McCartney album, and I could listen to "Fine Line" every day and never get tired of it. Such an underrated collection of songs.
fine line is so good
Damn. And I thought my 18-minute ranking of the Pink Floyd albums was my magnum opus. But a 2 hour one for McCartney? I’ve gotta step up my game.
😉
I’ve never listened to a McCartney album from front to back but I watched this entire video, that’s how entertaining and well put together this is! Must’ve been a nightmare to edit so hope you enjoy a bit of rest before starting the Lennon/Harrison rankings.
What a wonderful list. I think a lot of our favorite albums comes from when or age when we first started listening to an artist. I’m 48. Press to Play has a special place in my heart. ❤
Bloody hell fella what an absolute piece of work this was. Respect
I've just recently begun to delve into McCartney's post Beatle work and this has made me want to dig deeper. Like many Beatle fans I dismissed his solo and Wings work for decades and am now realizing what I've been missing. I think rock critics hated him because he rejected the artificial distinction between rock and pop that had taken hold in the late sixties and still persists to this day. But his eclecticism, universality, and insistence on having fun is exactly what I'm coming to love, especially with such a large and varied body of work that touches on almost every kind of music imaginable.
You certainly have some catching up to do...enjoy!
Same here. I really should have listened to McCartney properly many years ago. And only been on this McCartney journey the last 6 months. I am still only up to off the ground as I take a while giving albums a good number of plays before moving on. Ram is my favourite and I doubt anything will ever beat that. But I'm delighted to see people saying the albums I still have not heard rank above other albums I like. I love it that he's just having fun but also always trying to be different. Some things don't work but most of it does work imo. I'm more a melody and music person over lyrics. So really I should have known this is McCartneys strengths and should have known I'd like his work as I love his Beatles work. He is a genius arranger as well as songwriter. There's just so much. So many b sides and unreleased hidden gems. What I disagree with on this video is that late 80s early 90s time. Ok I have to say flowers in the dirt production has aged badly and is over the top 80s sound. But some of the songs are fantastic, but it does need fixing into a personal playlist of demo versions of songs I prefer like my brave face. And songs from that time that were left off the album should be added and some taken away. As for off the ground, I actually think that's a great cohesive album. I really like it. I don't get why so many don't rate it!
Man I understand people's criticisms of Wildlife but I just love that album, it'd be in my top 5 for sure.
Totally agree! In its laid-back simplicity and atmosphere, typical of the early 70's, Wild Life is way superior to many of the later albums. Pretty shocked it was so low on the list.
I liked it too.....
Me too
And I don't know why "Bip Bop" gets such a bad rap. I LOVE that song!
Mate these videos are SUCH a pleasure, so incredibly well-researched and thoughtful. Absolutely fantastic, thank you SO so much. You're putting more light into the world :)
My parents had Wings Over America on 8-track. I loved it so much in my teens that I played those tapes until they broke. Tug of War and Pipes of Peace were both my favorites, though I really loved Venus and Mars and Band on the Run. This video has gotten me very curious about so many other albums I hadn't even heard of. Thanks!
Damn, you are probably the best youtuber i have found in recent years. You really know how to articulate your opinions in a simple but descriptive way. And most people who make a ranking video with this kind of length would keep the editing to a minimum. But this feels just as seamlessly entertaining as your other videos. Really great, man.
Thanks Karisma!
Agreed, definitely one of my favourite UA-camrs. Such an exciting surprise to find new content up.
@@ElliotRobertsVideos Safe to say that Paul is your favourite Beatle, Elliot ? Don't be coy - you can be honest.
For some reason many people don't like to admit they like Paul the most. To me he was the most talented of a brilliant band.
@@gribwitch When I was a teen I liked them all fairly equally. I had a friend who was obsessed with George and my mom liked John. I’m in my 40’s now with much more musical knowledge (and learned bass and piano) and I’m 100% a Macca diehard. I adore his voice(s), his basslines, his musical craftsmanship, and his outlook on life. I’d imagine John is probably the most popular one among fans, but Macca is #1 of all time for me and I’ll never be ashamed of that!
@@thesilvershining Good man !
i would’ve ranked most of his albums completely different, but that’s the best thing about this video, because you just made me change my perspective on some i didn’t like that much
Me too. Flaming Pie would get much higher, Venus and Mars much lower. McCartney II much lower too. McCartney I much higher. But lists are always very personal.
Some of his songs become ear worms: You Gave Me The Answer, Magneto, Arrow Through Me and My Brave Face. Can't get them out of my head till I listen to I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit.
Me too, Flowers in the Dirt would have been higher for sure. Ram is probably his best solo work, in my opinion.
I like Tug of War a lot but McCartney 1 is my favorite solo work followed by Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard. Then RAM.
I would have ranked "Off The Ground" way higher.
~20:30
London Town was a hit LP in its day. Felt like every kid’s parents had it in their living room.
With A Little Luck was definitely regarded as a disco tune and it was played on the radio constantly. I was in grade school and it kind of went along with the cheesy synth lasers in disco tunes referencing Star Wars.
Didn’t age well, I guess, but the pleasure everyone took in pop culture at the end of the 70s was unique in my memory… and this LP was on in the background for a lot of it.
I bought it the day it came out in 1978. (I was 14.) It remains my favorite Paul solo album!
Very enjoyable list. I think it has made me realise how influenced I was by 'being there' for some of these album's releases. For example both Press to Play and Flowers in the Dirt came as a huge relief after Broadstreet because they both felt like he was arresting a slip into middle age irrelevance. My friend and fellow Macca fan also developed a routine of buying the album and listening to it together. So while maybe in retrospect they are not brilliant they hold a special place in my heart.
And I might as well add my list, but it is one that changes and rearranges itself from time to time as I keep on hearing new things in pretty much every album. Anyway, a bit indulgent but my top 20 studio albums.
20 - Off The Ground (Golden Earth Girl is a rip off of Warm and Beautiful, and there is a lot of dross, but I do enjoy the 'live feel')
19 - Back to the Egg (New Wave weirdness plus those twin 'double ballads' of After The Ball/Million Miles and Winter Rose/Love Awake charm me to this day)
18 - Press to Play (Yeah I know, see above for explanation)
17 - Driving Rain (if you cut half the run time this could have been a tight little rock album)
16 - Wings at the Speed of Sound (Proof that democracy doesn't work at least in Maccaland. But Time to Hide and The Note You Never Wrote are great additions from Denny)
15 - New (Macca at his least Macca for me, but a fun experiment)
14 - RAM (I enjoy this album for all its sloppiness but when Back Seat of My Car strikes up I want the whole album to sound like that)
13 - Red Roe Speedway (Too many fragments, but saved by My Love and the wonderfulness of Little Lamb Dragonfly)
12 - McCartney II (Yes it's fun to see Macca be experimental but his gift is for melody and this just feels like a goof off with a few tracks that save it where he combines contemporary sounds with his melodic genius)
11 - Wild Life (I adore the second side of this album, the wonky harmonies, the subdued orchestra and just a feeling of him searching for a new direction. Shame about side one.)
10 - Pipes of Peace (First Macca album I ever bought. Keep Under Cover, The Man and So Bad all spoke to me)
9 - Flowers in the Dirt (Over produced, but he was competing with EC as a songwriter again and that upped his game IMO)
8 - Venus and Mars (A bit slick, but you can't deny some of the stone classics on this)
7 - Tug of War (Wanderlust is probably my fave Macca ballad ever. Again a collaborator inspired him to some great music)
6 - Flaming Pie (Somedays is Macca's first yearning love song in a long time. And when Ringo starts to sing on Beautiful Night I get chills. Glorious)
5 - McCartney - Lo fi bravado, the album of a broken man starting to fix himself)
4 - Egypt Station ( a surprisingly psychedelic album. Lush, weird and a late entry for best Macca albums)
3 - Chaos and Creation ( Macca proving he still had the musical chops for the 21st century. This Never Happened Before is a wonder)
2 - Memory Almost Full (Macca acknowledging ageing, dying, and the persistence of memory,)
1 - Band on the Run (Made under the worst circumstances, Macca steps up with great songs, a great sound and a confidence and swagger everyone though he'd last after Abbey Road)
Sorry for going on. I love this channel. Don't always agree with your views, but your love of The Beatles shines though.
G
Great list! Perhaps McCartney III is too new to be ranked, but what about London Town?
I think a list of Paul’s worst to best has a lot to do with age. Those who grew up in the 60’s fell in love with him and his songs done as a Beatle and the closer his post-Beatles output comes to that target, the more we like the results. Conversely, the further way he gets from what made us initially love him, the less we like it. At least that’s been my experience. For that reason, other than an occasional tune here and there, the last Paul album I cared anything about was Back to the Egg. I give the man huge credit for not slipping into the old, comfortable pair of Beatle slippers album after album and, instead, expanding his palette as the times changed - and that’s where I think younger listeners, such as yourself, will be more accepting and even excited. For that, I give you huge kudos. Thank you for this incredible video. 😊❤️
Well said, but it’s hard to relate to that since I always think of The Beatles as the band that taught me and many others how an artist grows and changes to expanding and various delights. Change is arguably the most constant aspect of The Beatles music so I would expect the same from all their solo work.
I mean say what you want but chaos and creation in the backyard is mind blowing
The lyrics for riding to vanity fair are so biting and refreshingly honest, Jenny wren is beautiful and has a delicate haunting tone, and anyway sounds like a song you’ve always known but just remembered
It’s an absolutely fantastic record
It sounds so little and yet so much like him at the same time
I'm 63 and remember watching the Beatles as a five year old on Ed Sullivan. I officially got into music when I was 11 when I got my first album, Revolver. When The Beatles ended, like most people, I was deeply impressed with the first two albums John put out as well George's All Things Must Pass. With Paul, I felt frustration initially. McCartney and Ram both had a handful of good tunes but the rest felt like filler. The Band on the Run album showed my that Paul was back in the groove and each Wings album thereafter was decent, with Back to the Egg being his best album since Band on the Run. McCartney II and Tug of War were decent, with a number of good tunes on both albums. After that, Paul faltered a bit, though he was fully back on track with 1989's Flowers in the Dirt, which was a strong album. Since then, he mostly released fairly solid if not downright good albums, namely Off the Ground, Flaming Pie, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, NEW and Egypt Station. McCartney III is good as is Memory Almost Full. Driving Rain is the only album in the last 30 years I wouldn't recommend. A project he did under the pseudonym The Fireman, 2008's Electric Arguments, is excellent and showcases Paul's experimental range.
So no, you're wrong. I fell in love with the Beatles over 50 years ago but unlike you have kept up with their careers, though Ringo's not so much. Your problem is that you never gave any of Paul's albums a proper chance. You heard the occasional single, saw the occasional video and that was it. You never really sat down and LISTENED to his ALBUMS. Every album I've mentioned above as being good and worthwhile is just that and you should stop being lazy and just take the time to familiarize yourself with them. Or not, I don't care. You want to not know his good music? That's your right. But here, I'll make it easier for you. Here's a 145 song, nine hour long Spotify playlist I put together recently. And yeah, it starts off with selections from Back to the Egg and includes eight songs from the album.
open.spotify.com/playlist/01kC1FHtNDOwMn5ifu5NeW?si=a3464fa9e5ff45a6
The further McCartney got AWAY FROM THE BEATLES the MORE I LIKED HIS MUSIC! I don't want a REPEAT OF THE BEATLES, been there done that!
I personally think Jimmy McCulloch was a vastly underrated singer/songwriter. Medicine Jar and Wino Junko are some of my favorite Wings songs, and I think that had he not died at such a young age, he could have had an illustrious rock career.
Interesting that both songs were about drugs & alcohol, which within a few years would do him in. BTW, his solo on Jr’s Farm . . . whew!
@@carlbaumeister3439 What’s super weird is that I remember reading a Wings biography like 15 years ago that said he struggled with drug addiction, but now that seems to have been corrected in more recent biographies - so I’m not sure what the truth is! He died from an overdose of morphine and alcohol, but maybe he wasn’t a hard drug user? Confusing for sure.
@@TheBeatlesToday Could be. I heard an interview with Henry McCullough, Wings’ first lead guitarist. He said when Paul put the band together, it was important to him that none of the members be hooked on hard drugs.
I agree 100%. A while back, a music-oriented UA-camr with a million subscribers made a video about the 10 greatest solos in rock history. One entry was the solo on "Maybe I'm Amazed" from the 'Wings Over America' album...but he credited the solo to Denny Laine. I commented that the solo was by Jimmy McCulloch and even sent a video time-stamp that shows Jimmy playing the solo. The comment was totally ignored.
@@Justin_Kipper I remember that-Rick Beato, right? I think I also commented that it wasn’t Laine, and prolly got no response. I never get any response on that channel. Too many viewers and comments I suppose. BTW, Music is Win also rated it in the top-ten most melodic solos ever, but it was the album version, played by McCartney.
Awesome video! Totally expected Band On The Run to be #1, so you surprised me (in a good way) by listing RAM on top - which now seems to be his “Pinkerton” (also in a good way!).
I personally really love NEW and rank it Top 5 McCartney albums, and your analysis of it was spot-on!
I love your insights and details. Could you do this for Bowie? I love him so so much but I'm not very musical myself and I like hearing other peoples take on music. Anyway, wanted to check out some McCartney albums and this gives me some inspiration what to listen to first. Thank you!
A Bowie ranking would be a great starting point for new fans. He has so many albums, it's difficult to know where to begin.
FLAMING PIE ❤❤❤
Such a beautiful album and a very rare McCartney-album in which he offers us some moment of personal insight and emotion: Something critics always say is lacking in Paul's work (I disagree on that...)... But here there are unmistakable emotional moments thinking about his past, about Linda who was allready ill... It's such a beautiful album!
I may be wrong, but I think it's also the first time James guested on one of Dad's albums.
I watched the whole thing in one sitting. I thought 'Band on the Run' was going to be the obvious #1, but I have played Ram over and over. It reminds me of the smell of rain on hot pavement. Summery, warm and personal, with a hint of sadness. Yes, and so many have never even heard it.
Thanks for the hard work to produce this opus. Now I'm off to listen to some more.
My dad raised me on the Beatles and John Lennon‘s solo album so much that I just never took interest in Paul’s so honestly this is a first exposure to me I’m a lot of McCartney‘s work. John‘s solo stuff I know like the back of my hand but finding stuff I’ve never heard Paul do is quite amazing
He was part of two revolutions. One, his Beatle songs and his first two solo albums which revolutionized how songs are created sonically that are still used today.
ram is like an old friend that will never leave and seemed to be always there, but reveals more secrets every time you listen closely
that is a perfect description wow
I've listened to this entire catalog enough to have it nearly committed to memory, and as such, I certainly disagreed with some things in your analyses, but - I so appreciate the depth of your research, the respect you have shown, and the obvious joy which you derive as an individual from Paul's work, all making for a highly enjoyable and worthwhile video. Thank you for making it!
What are your top 5 albums may I ask?
@@thesilvershining I'll tell you mine.
1. Red Rose Speedway (Doudle Album Versuon)
2. Egypt Station (with all available session tracks)
3. Band On The Run
4. Ram
5. Tug Of War
@@BuckBenny It surely makes me happy to see Red Rose Speedway getting the love it deserves. His voice was still in prime condition back then ♥️
Does anyone else feel that "Wild Life" and "Red Rose Speedway" are monstrously underrated? Early Wings is one of the best periods of Paul's career imo
I slept on Red Rose Speedway for a long time, the Medley is amazing, especially Powercut.
RAM counts as a semi-Wings album, so I agree.
@@Meneervdberg does it? Is it because Denny Seiwell is on it?
@@beatlecristian Yes indeed! 'Wings greatest' album has some songs of the RAM album on it.
Wild life is hugely slept on
Elliot, I’m here watching this again. STOP ME.
Elliot, no words (for my looooooove HA band on the run, I will always love you), honestly no words. I've just finished this epic and I'm overjoyed - you've done it phenomenally. it was just so clever, funny, coming from a place of love and knowledge of music. I'm in awe how you've clearly scavenged through hours upon hours of interviews and picked some great material, both visually and informatively. I adore how your criticisms were not only respectful, but also perfectly argumentated. I'm a musicologist and I love writing about The Beatles, and whilst they obviously they are so acclaimed and so extensively covered in the field, Paul isn't (thinking about doing my PhD on his musical aesthetics, actually) and it just makes me so happy how you're showcasing all the colours he has to offer and also how influential he is and was, despite the critics loving to slander him. Paul is my favourite musician (and just person, really) of all time and this video further solidified you as my favourite youtuber. thank you so so much for this, it was a joy!! already looking forward to what you'll offer with that tease you've mentioned discussing give my regards to broad st.... gotta have a drunk rewatch of that... number eventually
PS I honestly agreed with pretty much most of your opinions so I'm going to further shout TASTE at you, although personally I'd definitely gush more over the pound is sinking, deep deep feeling (that shift to major key at the very end?! holy MOLY) as well as dominoes which has got to be in my top of the tops of Paul's songs, I don't know, it just feels... hopeful. it's like the music looks into the future with a certain good feeling about it, yet is paradoxically so nostalgic, both musically and lyrically. the 'in time we know it's all a show, it's been a blast' frame just makes me tear up man
Julia, thank you so much for this comment. I really appreciate it, and yes, I watched hours and hours of McCartney footage for this video, glad to see it didn’t go unnoticed! Also, wonderful dissection of ‘Dominoes.’
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is an AMAZING album
I feel like Speed of Sound is definitely my desert island album. I just love how each song is almost like a different taste of music. It's refreshing to your ears because no song sounds like the one before
Wow it broke my heart seeing Driving Rain in last place. I very much love that album. Driving Rain has songs that aged well, the songs don't sound dated, some corny songs are thrown in there, I'll admit. But the album is fun, has sing along tunes, and some absolute rockers.
I've definitely been discovering this one recently. I think it's much better than Elliot gives it credit for (that said, I am a bit more fond of 'dad rock', haha.)
I came to the McCartney album in my "really digging into the Beatles" period in my teens. I had heard and enjoyed the songs over the years, but I hadn't realized it wasn't part of a Beatles album (makes since, given it was during the Beatles). I hooked onto that one hard, as the playful spirit and lo-fi charm completely won me over. He may have made greater records since, but McCartney 1 is absolutely more special than the other 3 Beatles gave it credit for at the time. At the very least, George saw the appeal in "That Would Be Something" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."
This video has me obsessed with Paul's music. He's my new fav beatle.
Elliot, you've crafted a comprehensive and gripping history of my favorite musical artist's long, prolific career. Thank you for posting it.
Excellent in-depth reviews/rankings. Personally I would rank London Town and Back To the Egg higher but it may have to do with the fact that these were the first Macca/Wings albums I bought at the day of release back when I was a teenager.
I think Back to the Egg is great, top 6 in my ranking, and London Town is a charming little album.
Honey get the kids in here, Elliot uploaded again!
Red Rose Speedway is still one of my favorite albums of all time.
This is one of the best UA-cam channels I’ve ever discovered in my life. Incredible work
Fantastic video! I remember going through the ex-Beatles’ members entire solo catalogues back in circa 2010, in an attempt at compiling what the Beatles albums would have sounded like each year after their break-up. A incredibly daunting task, but satisfying listening.
Ooh that’s a great idea.
I can’t believe you put Wild Life so low on the list. Beats so much of his solo work.
People really don't like Wild Life for some reason - I think it's his second best album
@@Awwwwwyeeeee it’s so good. I actually think most of Paul’s stuff after McCartney 2 is crap… so maybe I’m different tho. Like Bip Bop to me is a better song than anything on Tug Of War. 🤣
@@AnthonyRecenello But Take It Away has those gorgeous classic Linda harmonies and beautiful horn section. Makes me cry lol. It was his last true McCartney song before his dad rock phase kicked in. Freaking love that song. But you're right. The rest of the album is mildly meh.
@@ontheruntonowhere Yeah, agree....................I like Tug of War, but it's a little too MOR-ish for me.
Bottom is even too low for it IMHO.
The worst.
I absolutely adore Junk. It always calms me down when I'm feeling down :)
Sometimes I'm Down too (see what I did there?).😀
Awesome, amazing video !!! I'm a life long McCartney fan (I'm named after him back to front, Paul James) and absolutely loved hearing all your thoughts and insights into his frankly mind boggling volume of music. As you said at the end there will never be anyone else who could possibly even come close to achieving what he has achieved and when you look at all his back catalogue the overall quality of it is in my opinion outstanding.
Can’t stop listening to Paul after watching this. Thank you so much for enlightening me as what of his is actually worth listening to. One of the most deserved likes I’ve ever tapped!