Paul McCartney
Flowers In The Dirt

THE REVIEW

"Flowers In The Dirt" was received by critics, at the time of its release, as Macca's most enjoyable and convincing album since "Tug Of War", seven years earlier. The album contains a series of moderately successful singles inspired by rock'n'roll, family memories, the Beatles spirit of yesteryears, and its consistent production makes it a direct and compact record.

The much-talked-about collaboration of those years between McCartney and Elvis Costello produced a series of unique and particular tracks. "You Want Her Too" is a song with sixties flavors where Costello's voice accompanies McCartney's in pure Lennon-esque style, "That Day Is Done" is a touching gospel ballad, the lively "My Brave Face", the first single released from the album, is rich with nostalgic Beatles echoes while "Don't Be Careless Love" is just a weak filler. However, it should be noted that the best composition by the two great artists remains the track "So Like Candy", which appeared in 1991 on Costello's ambitious album "Mighty Like A Rose". The most significant and interesting tracks, however, bear only McCartney's signature. The superb "Distractions" is a sumptuous love song rich in atmosphere, "Put It There" is a simple acoustic vignette with a percussive arrangement borrowed from Buddy Holly, while "Motor Of Love" is a classic broad ballad endowed with a good melody part, perhaps just overly arranged. "We Got Married" is a rock-tinged piece with David Gilmour as a guest, while "Figure Of Eight" and the well-known "This One" are two pleasant, catchy pop-rock tracks that are anything but trivial.

The funk detours of "Rough Ride" and the light reggae of "How Many People" fit nicely and are appealing within the work. Much of the credit for the overall success of "Flowers In The Dirt" goes to Macca's new solid and cohesive band comprising Robbie McIntosh, Hamish Stuart, Chris Whitten, Paul Wix, and naturally his wife Linda. The first regular group since the days of Wings. The album achieved great success everywhere and was praised by both critics and the public, enthusiastic to have found a musician reborn, convinced, mature, and nostalgic. An absolutely optimistic McCartney on the eve of one of his greatest triumphs ever: the 1989/90 World Tour.