LONDON TOWN Album Review with JOHN HEATON |
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- Опубліковано 18 гру 2023
- John Heaton joins Matt for the 5th edition of their solo Beatles album reviews with this review of Paul McCartney's London Town from 1978.
Visit John's channel here where he discusses the Beatles and other favorites: / @johnheaton5667
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Don't Let it Bring You Down is so moving, it's like Paul's got an arm around you and whispering assurances. Especially with Paul's low, quiet voice.
They don't even mention it's his most show-off-y tune, vocal range-wise. It's astonishing.
It's always a treat to listen to a Matt and John discussion.
i agree. i heard mccartney once say that HE didn't like this record. he was incorrect!
“There was a young guitarist who lived in Epping Forest” was a nod towards Jimmy who had lived in Epping Forest.
When the album came out, my friend and I were very disappointed in it as it was pretty laid back and we wanted Wings to rock. After a few listens we started to appreciate it more. I now would probably have it in my top 5 McCartney/Wings albums of all time. Morse Moose is amazing, although back in the day I didn't like it much. Hope the remastered album comes out in 2024!
I love London Town. I listened to over and over for months. With a Little Luck is a typical McCartney song that was very likable. I still think Back to the Egg is his best and very underrated Wings album.
Maybe John and I will tackle Egg one day. That was my first Beatles solo album. 8-track!
I also love BTTE!
Great discussion w/ John, Matt. This is not my favorite Wings album, but it does have its great moments. DLIBYD is a definite highlight, I had to buy the album to discover it, very underrated song. I would love to hear a discussion with you guys on the contributions of Mr. Laine to Wings. It would make a nice tribute. Also looking forward to your next album discussion!
I agree about Back To The Egg. 1st McCartney album I bought that was current with the time.
Yes! I love Back to the Egg!
I was 20 years old when London Town was released. At that time I was visiting London alot to see Japanese friends with my good friend Graham. We both loved this record particularly I'm Carrying, Cafe on the left Bank, London Town & With a little Luck. It was released the same time as the Rutles Album too, so I was playing both LPs. It has a warm place for me. 👦👍🎶❤
Thanks for giving this underrated album some time on your already excellent channel. I fondly remember being 15 and so excited to buy this album from Korvettes (the best department store source for music in the Chicago area in the 70s.) I still enjoy listening to it 45 years later.
Thanks for weighing in Laura!
Man I had forgotten about Korvette's! We had one in the Baltimore area, and you're right....they did have a very good music section!
There was a Korvette’s 1.5 miles from my childhood home. Great music selection for a department store, pretty good compared to many standalone record stores of the time too.
I’m a big fan of LT! It’s my rainy day record.
Always a good day when Matt posts a video!
I love the long form reviews with you two! Two of my favorite channels coming together! More please! Would love to see a video for Mind Games!
I will let John know!
I really LOVE this album.
I'm with John on "Morse Moose..." which is an absolute highlight for me on what I consider to be one of Paul's finest post-Mops albums. There's actually a fan's mix of it on YT that goes for 11 minutes and works really well too. I wish he'd played it live whilst his voice was up to it but don't believe it'll happen now.
Great discussion on a fun album, chaps. Thank you both. I've always thought the animal names used in Morse Moose are CB users' monickers which make much more sense in that light (at least to me).
I grew up with this album too. I bought it on 8 track in 1978 with my own money when I was 9 years old. The LP ordering always confused me since the 8 track ordering is forever etched in my mind. I think Mull of Kintyre is the perfect album closer which is why I loved hearing it in Wings’ Greatest when I got it for Christmas the same year. I can’t imagine it being on London Town since Morse Moose is epic! 😊
I actually love the middle section of Grey Goose. It feels like a sea shanty and ties into that Denny Laine folk style.
I really love London Town, Back to the Egg, and also Press to Play (including the non-album tracks and mixes). I wish they would get released in deluxe format on CD. I think CDs are just not very popular anymore, so they have to charge these exorbitant amounts to try and earn back the money it takes to produce them. Although I’m sure they are also factoring their profits in there, as well. (I know CDs are cheap to manufacture, but there are also costs of research, mastering, package design and production, and distribution.)
I love this album!
Let It Be... Naked probably came out when it did because Paul had long been itching to illustrate Spector had messed up the album, but he had to wait for the two Spector-advocates (Lennon and Harrison) to pass before he could move ahead with the endeavor.
I'm very glad I have "Let It Be : Naked", but I do miss the tidbits in-between the songs the original has.
Interesting conversation, Matt and John. These meetings are a joy to listen to. Regardless of what we, listeners, think of the records. Continue them. Best wishes to you and your families.
Thank you Antonio!
Love these. I hope you guy’s review all the major solo albums
Great job!! 👏 McCartney has been the greatest songwriter and music producer of our generation!!
There is Bob Dylan!
@@davidrowe7967 a folkie🥳
Water Wings
1. Cafe on Left Bank 2. Backwards Traveller 3. Cuff Link 4. Girlfriend 5. Don't Let It Bring You Down 6. Morse Moose And The Grey Goose (edited length) 4:26
Side B
7. With A Little Luck 8. Children Children 9. I'm Carrying 10. Deliver Your Children 11. Mull of Kintyre (bagpipes underdubbed)
non-album single - London Town/Girlschool
With Little Luck/Waterspout
Name And Address - Cold Cuts
I've Had Enough, and Groupies buried under the sea with DAvy Jones
What an excellent discussion. The review of London Town was nicely in-depth, and compelled me to dig the album out and remember how good it is*, and then there's the broader discussion at the end, which covers a lot of ground. A very enjoyable longform conversation.
* I didn't actually dig anything out, literally, I just went to my McCartney MP3 album rips on my PC.
Great discussion as always, guys. I have to say I personally get a kick out of the broad English music hall kind of humor in "Famous Groupies." It reminds me of something Ian Dury might have sung (and Macca was even a Dury fan!). And I totally agree with your side discussion of the "endless reinventions" at the end. I think all of these remixes are getting ridiculous. The essence of the songs is starting to get lost in the technology and people are losing sight of what's important about the music. The "Revolver" and red and blue remixes were especially hit and miss for me and have really made me lose just about any interest I had left in the project, which was already pretty moderate. I think people have this obsessive need for the Beatles to sound contemporary, which is just bizarre to me. The original monos and stereos will always provide the most authentic listening experience and, perhaps arguably, even the better audio fidelity.
Love this channel. Never expected to experience such a deep dive into "Morse Moose".
Matt, I’m a relatively new viewer. I’ve watched several reviews by Mr. Heaton the last few years.
I greatly appreciate your content. Thank you.
Thank you for watching! I hope to do more with Lord Heaton in the future!
Great timing for this review! I just bought London town for a dollar last weekend.
Wonderful, I have a soft spot for London Town, It was the Wings high point (in Britain anyway) The DJs loved the album it was plugged everywhere, and, strangely, it didn't get to number 1. What I do remember is that Back to the Egg didn't leave much of an impression on the public or the media, plus the new line up confused people.
That is good to hear how invested the British DJs were on this lp. Yes the revolving band members always undermined the idea that this was a “regular band” which it could never be with McCartney in charge.
@@popgoesthe60s52 the problem with DJs liking the album was that most of the DJs had been in position since the early 60s and their choices were usually naff and uncool 🤣
Eric Troyer was the backing vocalist on Lennon's 1980/81 single "Woman" "With A Little Luck" couldn't close side 1 because of groove cramming distortion on the chosen single.
The problem actually afflicted "Ebony and Ivory", mastering engineers always as you to open a side with the single for the benefit of audio quality.
FM radio in the US beat "I've Had Enough" to death for years, it was at least a big turntable hit, and the video played on Midnight Special and other places.
Love when You bring on guests , Matt...You & John are "Young" Beatle Fans with very interesting Views !,,,London Town was good but My Fav... His 1st solo Album, McCartney...well done as always,Matt!...Happy Christmas, Best Wishes to You & Family...Take Good Care!...👍😃...
Thank you Barb!
London Town was actually the first Wings album I ever bought and I like it better than BOTR. I love I had enough which sounds as close to a Beatles song as McCartney ever got. Memory almost full to me is one of McCartneys best but sadly overlooked. I recently discovered Ringorama and it's actually very good! Ringo deserves some love.
Thank you for weighing in, Johny!
Haven't listened to this album in its entirety in years, probably since the 90's. Much better than I remember - great review guys!
An absolute mystery why Paul is not fond of one of the high points of his post Beatles career. Archive Edition please. Bearing in mind Denny's contributions would be nice to dedicate to him
Great vid. Hope theres more along the way. Cheers. Would love the idea of material world next
19:17 Can i guess something? A lot of people from outside UK think that LONDON BRIDGE is the one on the album cover. That's actually Tower Bridge, but i guess it is more known than the other bridges, and probably that's the reason it was used as background.
Love the dig against Waters. He gets so wrapped up in the concept and his words that he forgets that he is supposed to be making music.
These 🎉are wonderful long form interviews. Thanks to Pop Goes the 60s! Must add that when I heard Macca singing about “Let’em In” and that with a little luck it will all work out, well that sealed it. The clues were there: the entire second side of Ram, then “My Love” … I prefer Jet and Smile Away….
Thank you, David!
Merry Christmas to you and yours Matt, thanks for another great year. Your site with new material always eagerly dipped into! 🧑🎄
I appreciate that Bob!
I must point out that “Name And Address” is not merely a tribute to Elvis, it is an imitation of his voice and the type of playing on Elvis’s Sun Records performances. Even the laugh at the end is an imitation of his type of laugh.
Great song but too short
I love London Town now. I dismissed it then, but I had dismissed all the solo Beatles by 1977. Paul was the last. There’s an interview with Denny on UA-cam talking about Deliver the Children as Skiffle inspired with a little Spanish guitar thrown in to confuse everyone
Great discussion of a great album. And Material World next? Yes please!
Good discussion. Those aren’t strings on I’m Carrying. That’s Paul playing Lol Creme and Kevin Godley’s invention: The Gizmo. Very expertly as well. Trivia note: Paul is the only person to ever play a Gizmo solo on a UK hit single. He played the instrument on Scaffold’s top ten Liverpool Lou.
John, I loved your “particularly depressing Roger Waters solo album” comment! They’re all depressing, aren’t they? 😂
Haha me too, and I love Roger. I disagree with the sentiment however. Music isn’t supposed to be uplifting…it isn’t supposed to be any one thing. It could be light, dark, meaningful, trite, whatever etc…
@@patrickthomas8890 agree. some of my favorite pieces are the darkest. Beethoven's 5th for example.
I've always been surprised that there have been so few cover versions of McCartney's solo material.
That is a video topic, captainape! I think McCartney makes songs for listening to not for playing. That is the only reason I can think of why more of his catalog isn't covered.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Yes, but there is poppy/ catchy stuff(sometimes too syrupy), it doesn't even get covered by boy bands or X factor contestants. This does surprise me. Personally. I think that there was so much criticism against Mecca for so long that only his real fans were listening to him. Like your guest, I remember how unhip it was to be a Wings fan back in the day.
@@captainape6807 There are a few young musicians that do McCartney covers but I agree that there are less than you'd expect. I think that both of you are right on the reasons, McCartney was (and still is but not so much since he got older) villified and considered too corny but his music is also very idiosyncratic, personally I have a very hard time listening to any of his songs without him. Even hit covers, like Live and Let Die by Guns N Roses, seem a little odd...
I don't know . I can think of three off the top of my head that are excellent covers. G n R - Live and Let Die, The Faces- Maybe I'm Amazed, and Michael Jackson- Girlfriend.
I don't think so. I´m making a playlist of covers and there are many great ones of his solo career on UA-cam:
ua-cam.com/play/PLhvLUcTI0wRhKVARnN0-iKBvRejEcg9oT.html
Needs a box set!
Gosh John, I do feel badly that my comment about the album remains stuck in your craw to this day…..all in good fun, of course. Admittedly, the album continues to merely collect dust up in my attic not to be played for the foreseeable future. But then, there are other McCartney solo albums doing the same thing so “London Town” does have plenty of company. But as you taught me at the time………horses for courses ‼️‼️. Hope you’re doing well, my friend.
Love from Brazil
Thanks for the video! ‘London Town’ was the first solo Beatles album I bought, within a couple of months of it coming out, with some birthday money. I bought it on the strength of the ‘With A Little Luck’ single, although I actually prefer other songs on the LP. ‘I’m Carrying’ is possibly my favourite number; it’s so simple yet I find it very moving. It would be another two years before I bought any actual Beatles albums.
I stll have a soft spot for ‘London Town’ and I hope that we have an archive collection release soon.
My original copy was on cassette; subsequently I bought the CD (1993 version). Girls’ School follows Moose, with Mull of Kyntyre being the closer. Strange thing about Mull: outside of UA-cam I’ve never found anyone who will actually admit to liking it. Yet it sold over 2 million copies in the UK and remains the best-selling non-charity single in this country.
Some lovely melodies on this record. I was getting into folk-rock bands like Fairport and Lindisfarne when this came out and I loved the folkiness of it - and still do.
Deliver your children great song....I bought London Town first day released.....Very Beatley album
Another great video gentleman.
I do really enjoy the new mixes of Beatles songs, but they don’t replace the originals. Hoping they do Rubber Soul soon.
Nice review gents! I love this record. Pretty sure this was the first Wings album I got when I was around 15 in 1980 just before John was killed. The only song I had ever heard on the radio before I bought it was With A Little Luck which I absolutely loved. Why he's never performed any of the songs from this album live I have no idea. Anyway, great memories associated with this record. Plus I loved the art work especially the poster! That was up on my wall for years. Cheers!
I have to agree with Heaton re: Morse Goose is great closer, very cinematic and epic. Matt should go back to it pay more attention.
I find it amusing that London Town was criticized for being too lightweight and out of touch with the real world. As Thomas Boswell once wrote: "Something has to bring joy into the day. Everything can`t be about big issues and heart surgery." As McCartney sang once upon a time "Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs. What`s wrong with that?" Music can be political, it can be filled with existential angst and call out injustices, but it can also be escapist fun. McCartney has given millions a lot of joy and fun.
Very engaging conversation Matt.
Thank you Robert!
London Town Is By Far My Favourite Wings Era McCartney Album. I've Always Felt It To Be The Spiritual Successor To The Beatles Revolver, It Just Has That Warm And Magical But Also Homey Vibe To It.
Nottingham Forest FC play Mull Of Kintyre at their matches. Never sure why, but maybe because it was a hit the year when they won the Championship.
Re: Famous Groupies, the ending with Paul riffing on pulchritude (or beauty as we know it) and luminosity is clearly him pretending to be a compere at a night act, the tune is a musical hall comedy riff, not to be taken seriously, but one can perhaps imagine a line of famous groupies trotted out in spangly costumes. Silly lyrics yes, but not without charm in my opinion
Beautiful album all-round...only sometime skipper is Name and Address. Love the simplicity and beauty of I'm Carrying and Don't Let It Bring You Down!
I won a competition ( I think it was with Capital Radio in London in 1978) and received a copy of the album. I didn’t have a record player but I did buy it on cassette. Played it 24/7 to the annoyance of my girlfriend and flat mates. Also had the poster up on our bedroom wall. The poster made it back to Australia but I was burgled and the poster was stolen in 1980. Waiting for the Archive collection!
Sorry to hear about the burglary and that the girlfriend didn't like it!
I so love London Town, and Back to the Egg - but what's your opinion on why there’s no archive for either? I never wanted to believe Paul just didn’t like these. But with another BOTR coming out and another Macartney III yet again! I'm beginning to wonder if it’s true - he doesn't want to do these as archives. Too bad, lots of love for these albums.
Really great talk again ! Please "Living In The Material World" for the next time !
I also got the album when it came out, age 13, and also had the poster on the wall. I would put it 3 on my list of wings albums, behind BOTR and Back to the egg. I also like “Morse moose” and also “name and address”. Also, regarding Matt’s comment re “Revolution”, that the single version is almost the same as the others, I would disagree. I bought the single in the 70s and it blows the others away. I am not sure if it’s Mono, it doesn’t say either way on the label. However, I think the 2023 version is pretty good, seems to take the best aspects of the single with the stereo versions together.
Best song on that album is Don’t Let it Bring You Down. The tin whistles hit your soul.
I still prefer RAM by a long way, London Town is my second favourite solo album.
Fave part of this is long and winding road discussion! Brilliant (I STILL love the song btw)
As regards Linda... Paul has often been criticised for a commercialism focus in his music. But including her in Wings should surely demonstrate that he didn't give a shit about what the critics said. He included her at a time when his focus was going back and recapturing the magic of building a band from the ground up. Was it the safe and conservative choice? Well no. He loves being number 1 but equally doesn't give a shit. Somewhere inside he knows it all comes out in some porcelain Liverpool washbasin.
It is a mistake to believe that "he didn't give a shit about what the critics said." He has a long history of giving a shit. What you are seeing is a guy who wants to have his cake and eat it too. The band concept allowed him to downplay Linda more, which was critical move. He did throw her a bone once in a while (Cook of the House) but many feel those bones should be left off the album.
The Remastering is necessary I think, in an age of streaming endlessly...playlists...mixtapes on demand, they want The Beatles to sound on par EQ wise with anything else. Technology trumps time.
The Remixes are cool to me, but are a bonus and/or for younger fans.
PS: I Love THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD..melody and lyrics, absolutely brilliant McCartney. My objection to the Spector version is NOT the strings it’s the over done Choir on there! But it’s still great, I like both the lush and naked versions.
Even if I'm a big McCartney fan, never listened to this album ! I know what I'm gonna buy soon. Thank you.
One of my favorite albums. The only song that no longer appeals to me is Morse moose. Don’t Let It Bring You Down helped get me through cancer. :)
A suggestion for solo album discussion: "Walls and Bridges." I would like to hear your thoughts on it.
Londontown is defintely one of the strongest Wings efforts. I luv "Morse Moose and the Grey Goose"
Listened to this LP just a couple of days ago… a good album, and an enjoyable listen… waiting for a remastered release!!!🥸
I'd like to hear a discussion of "The Concerts for the People of Kampuchea" which has never had an official CD releases. The album was culled from 4 concerts, there must be lots of unreleased material. Is it tied up with the charity? Various records company rights? For the lineup of Wings, The Who, Queen, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, Rockpile, The Specials and The Clash I'm sure the corporations could come to some agreement.
You'll get your Christmas wish. I've just made a video on location in Cambodia. It will drop on my channel on 29 December, 44th anniversary of Wings' final performance
At the time London Town was released, my slightly younger brother was into Kiss (an "edgy" band for the time). I was into Wings. (It sounds like John Heaton and I are about the same age.) "Wings' Greatest Hits" was one of the first albums I ever owned, and I was grateful "Mull of Kintyre" was on it. The US's failure to promote this song represents, I think, an inborn prejudice against anything culturally outside the US. I thought the song was transcendent and beautiful. Leave it to McCartney to popularize bagpipes!
Let's not give our kid too much credit. Denny DID co-write the song but seldom gets mentioned and the Animals used a good dose of bagpipes in Sky Pilot, which was a top 10 hit in 1968.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I'm all for giving Laine credit, and, yes, he's always the third wheel in the Paul and Linda show,. Thanks for mentioning "Sky Pilot." I had forgotten there were bagpipes on it. They are much more subdued than in "Kintyre," For me (as I said, I'm the same age as John Heaton), "Kintyre" was the first time I'd heard bagpipes in a hit song,
Thanks for bringing this album to my attention. I wasn't interested in Wings when they were actually together. In those days I was into Jazz-rock fusion. McCartney has made a comeback, at least in my soul!
Like millions of others, I grew up with the Beatles. They were a huge part of my life and I always looked forward to every new thing that they produced. And they broke up exactly when I graduated high school. Then, throughout the 70s, with the release of every new record by JohnPaulGeorgeRingo, it became increasingly apparent that the seperate parts of the Beatles were far less than the collective whole. So I adjusted my expectations. Most of Paul's albums were and are mediocre, but he was almost always able to come up with one or two or a few catchy songs per album. John less so. George's music was always interesting to me, so I remained hopeful there. And I stopped paying attention to Ringo after "Goodnight Vienna". Anyway, I always enjoy listening to your discussions and look forward to more. (apologies for the lengthy comments, but, you see, the Beatles were HUGE in my life). THANKS!
Hey OldFloaty! I appreciate the long comment and I agree with your assessment of the quality of the solo material paling in comparison to the Beatles. It is the most natural comparison in the world and mediocrity that pervades their solo work.
Refreshing to hear two intelligent people discuss Paul’s music rather than the usual fan boys doing their thing..thanks guys…always enjoyed this album..Dennys strongest, very folky….London town a beautiful opener and HILARIOUS vid(three stoners in that vid)
PS great point on jimmy mccullough a wiz kid indeed sadly his lyrics told us what was going to happen!
Ps in regards famous groupies being better than anything in past 20 years…(John said) play women and wives and find my way 😀
Thanks Martin! I appreciate it.
I love "London Town", like John it was the first album I bought with my own money, I was fourteen. My copy is getting a little old at this point, I wish McCartney would do a archival release. A lot of people love this album. I have found out at Beatlesfest that it is one of his most popular albums amongst the fans.
Great discussion guys !! tend to be on Matts side as far as Linda's contribution to Pauls solo work ! Back to The Egg is a far superior Album IMO , bought both on release !! talking Macca lyrics flute toot toot toot !! REALLY !! 😀
I love this series with you guys. I'd like one of Lennon's albums next. Walls and Bridges would be ok but especially Imagine or Plastic Ono Band. As for London Town , good but not great. I'm Carrying, and Don't Let it Bring You Down are excelent. But I'm with Matt on Grey Goose it's just goofy and pointless. I would have had Mull of Kintyre as the closer.
Hi Matt great review of LONDON TOWN, with John Heaton. Agree it's one of the Better McCartney albums. We are now waiting for the Archive Release,
But, I won't be holding my Breath. One Nosey Question. Behind you in the Video. The Beatles RED Album cover. It maybe me, but I can't work-out what album it is.
Happy Christmas & Happy New Year.
p.s. Awaiting your Beach Boys Episode 6
That is The Compleat Beatles laser disc 🙂
Hi guys. Great video. I really enjoyed it. Funny that you both like the album & agree/disagree on various songs. I am now reengaging more with the album & really look forward to a deluxe box set. GAZ (Melbourne/Australia) PS In my opinion.... The Beatles' legacy is best preserved by what the Beatles originally intended. English album versions - Mono only to/including white album. Stereo for Abbey Road & Let it Be.
1:11:54 There is an interview with George Harrison done in 1970 before Let it be was released and before the Beatles broke up and in that interview George talks briefly about TLAWR saying "that's one of that McCartney ballads that 100 of people will cover" and that was actually happened (there's a long list on Wikipedia).
Wiggling her hips to KC and the Sunshine band 😂😂😂😂
That was too funny Matt!
Nice discussion on a forgotten album. 1978 wa a great year for music and as a 14 year old myself at the time I really enjoyed Londontown, but there was so much coming out that moat younger music fans were enamoured by The Cars, Foreigner, Boston, Talking Heads etc all who issued great albums that year, and perhaps Wings and Paul McCartney were uncool to the average teenager. Remember we were listening to Steely Dan's Aja, and was about to be hit with Van Halen, There wasn't much room for this album that year. The Rolling Stones had the block buster of Some Girls, and another veteran act, The Who had a tougher go, especially with the death of Keith Moon. Who Are You to me is a great album and critics kind of treated it poorly. But I found friends treating the Who similar to Wings....and of course 1978 is disco. McCartney's vision lasted 2 minutes and was gone that summer. 45 years later it still sounds good to me.
morse moose a let down, wow, haha? that is literally one of my top 3 all time favourite wings songs and IMO maybe the most underrated song in pauls career. but everyone is of course entitled to his opinion :-) but still very enjoyable video - as usual -matt (and john), loved your discussion!
Thank you Stefan!
Many thanks for the reply and btw I love these album deep dives : ) However I must counter your claims about Long Winding and McCartney not asking choir etc to be removed..... George Martin said "That made me angry - and it made Paul even angrier, because neither he nor I knew about it till it had been done. It happened behind our backs because it was done when Allen Klein was running John. He’d organised Phil Spector and I think George and Ringo had gone along with it. They’d actually made an arrangement with EMI and said, ‘This is going to be our record.’
Agree that “Girlfriend” is too long and not that great. The copy of London Town I listen to is an altered version that replaces “Girlfriend” with “Rainclouds.” For me that makes it a perfect album.
I like mull of kintyre added and with little luck to end..
Never heard such a passionate defence of morse moose and the grey goose lol
I was 13 when LT came out. It might not have been what we expected but it grew on us. Weird that Mull of Kintyre wasn't that big in the US. It sure seemed big up here in Canada. It was a shock losing Jimmy. Such a fabulous guitar player. IMHO, the Wings over America lineup was the greatest.
I love your channel, Matt, and I really enjoyed this one. London town is the first wings or McCartney solo album I didn’t buy so I’m really enjoying learning about it and listening to it. It’s classic. Maybe it’s just me but I hear Paul singing to John in “I’m Carrying.” It sounds like he’s revisiting a memory from their trip to Paris when John turned 21. Same with Cafe on the Left Bank, as was pointed out. I think Capitol misjudged the US by not releasing Mull of Kintyre. Talk about music lifting us up!
Thank you for the comments, Cynthia. You may be right about I'm Carrying.
I always enjoy Matt the back and forth talk between you and Sir John Heaton 👍 I can relate to John's fondness for this album, as when I was 11 years old my first album I ever bought from Paul McCartney was Tug Of War, and to this day has a special place for me as a favorite Paul McCartney album. London Town is an above average album IMO, my favorite is the title song London Town, it has a Penny Lane kind of style in its lyrics. Cafe On The Left Bank is a good follow up tune. Im Carrying is a pretty ballad. Children Children is a nice Denny Laine tune. Girlfriend gets stale very fast and a bland pop ditty. Ive Had Enough is a good rocker. With A Little Luck is as close Paul ever got to making a Yacht Rock kind of song, but I love his vocals on this song. Deliver Your Children is a good acoustic number as is Dont Let It Bring You Down. Name And Address sounds like an outtake from the Beales Let It Be/Get Back sessions. Morse Moose & The Grey Goose is a throwaway number that I agree with you Matt that should have gotten the boot, its a terrible song to close the album and I totally agree that London Town would have been better served with Mull Of Kintyre in its place. I think as you and John mentioned what this album has against it is the music styles of the time such as Disco, Punk and Hard Rock that make's Paul sound a bit out favor and not very hip. Something of interest that John brings up is what John Lennon thought about this Wings album there is a book that I highly recomend by Tim English is John Lennon's 1980 Playlist, this book talks about the music and bands that Lennon listened to from the late 70's until his death which gives great insight to his musical tastes. -Another great backstory is during the recording of London Town in the Virgin Islands on the yacht the Fair Carol, the captain nicknamed the Bull was very uptight about the heavy pot smoking on his ship and made some kind of threat to Paul and the Band that he would turn them over to U.S. Customs Officials, in turn Paul and the Band jumped ship to another yacht called the Wanderlust which inspired the song for the Tug Of War Album.
I bought this album in ‘83. I really didn’t give it a lot of plays. To me, there was something about it that bored me. Anyway, maybe if I had given it more of a chance it would become a favorite. Great job as always!
Many thanks for the reply and btw I love these album deep dives, I must counter your claims about Long Winding and McCartney asking choir etc to be removed, George Martin said "That made me angry - and it made Paul even angrier, because neither he nor I knew about it till it had been done. It happened behind our backs because it was done when Allen Klein was running John. He’d organised Phil Spector and I think George and Ringo had gone along with it. They’d actually made an arrangement with EMI and said, ‘This is going to be our record.’
I believe I may even have the documentation of Paul's directions to Spector, with regard to the changes. but I am traveling and I do not have access to my archives. Martin has often shown to be a poor source for this type of information that did not involve him directly. I will make a point to dig out the documentation for a future video. This a good example of how history gets recorded and how certain people, like Martin, are not scrutinized enough. I could do a whole video on Martin's "wrong speak", which I don't think he intends to mislead, it's just how he remembers it.
Hi great video Matt with John getting into beatle solos got this album back in the day wasn’t one of my fav Paul s wings period for me overshadowed by mull single. Not a bad album by any means but further down Paul/Wings list for me.
The Beatle fan kids in school bought it and loved it and the rest of the school never knew it existed other than the huge hits. I personally had to wait until the next year, 1978 to get my mainstream album, Some Girls by the Stones. Maybe the most important part of your conversation here is the bit about how Paul really didn't matter to pop music anywhere nearly as much as Blondie, etc.
There is a more folky feel to London Town for sure. Denny had more input on the album and his guitar playing and writing and harmonies gave it an acoustic feel. I never liked Lindas flat vocals at the time but she was part of the WINGS sound. When I hear Paul doing wings songs on Tour they dont sound right somehow. You can have perfect backing singers and it loses a bit of edge. Its not WINGS without her or Denny.
This may motivate me to to visit this release......as others, I dismissed it beyond liking the single on the radio.
I saw Paul play Mull of Kintyre live in Toronto in 2002. There is a bag pipe group that is based outside of Toronto that he likes. They came out of stage and did the live backing. Don't quote me, but I only think he plays Mull of Kintyre in Toronto because of that pipe band