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Rating:
The idea is one of the happiest: to create a concept album about a rock band's concert and follow its development through the various tracks that make up the album's and the live show's setlist. This is the project that should bring Paul back to a raw and powerful sound, a return to the egg, the primordial broth of his music, good old rock'n'roll. However, the whole thing is inexplicably abandoned, and the Wings forsake the concept in favor of a classic album format. Paul, however, despite strong pressure from the record label, does not want to include the danceable hit "Goodnight Tonight", rightly considered unsuitable for a rough and not immediate album.
Good old Macca has an excellent band on his side: drummer Steve Holly, young and promising guitarist Laurence Juber, the seasoned Denny Laine, and the irreplaceable Linda. The result of the sessions is a surprising work; listening to it for the first time, one is disoriented. The melodic Paul in the first songs disappears to make way for his hard-hearted and less commercial clone.
The intro is entrusted to "Reception", radio sounds and spoken word over a strong bass and drum base; this was supposed to be the introduction of the old "Back To The Egg". "Reception" fades into the overwhelming "Getting Closer", an extraordinary song in its melodic line sung by Paul and executed by his Wings impeccably. The following "We're Open Tonight" is an acoustic piece that relaxes the nerves before the Punk of "Spit It On", based on a single guitar riff by the great Juber. Denny Laine's "Again and Again and Again" is decidedly out of context, a weak song, the only flaw of an almost perfect album. An intriguing and captivating guitar riff combined with Linda's keyboards introduces the beautiful "Old Siam, Sir". Notable are the contributions of "After The Balls/Million Miles" and the edgy "To You"; curious is "The Broadcast", in which Paul has the owner of the castle where Wings recorded the album read an excerpt from an essay on sports.
However, the work owes its fame to the two gems Paul creates by inviting some of the greatest Rock musicians of the period to play with his group. In fact, "Rockorchestra Theme" and "So Glad To See You Here", two extraordinary rock tracks, feature performances by: David Gilmour, Hank Marvin, Pete Townshend, John Bonham, Kenny Jones, Gary Brooker, John Paul Jones, and many others on percussion and vocals, highlighted by Robert Plant. A unique experiment of its kind, which is also documented by a short film, bears witness to a very lively and unrepeatable period in Rock music history; only a genius mind like McCartney's could have succeeded in such an endeavor.
In the end, the album is completed by excellent supporting tracks, like the successful, with its Jazz atmospheres, "Babe's Request". Unfortunately, it lacks a Hit capable of taking it to the top of the charts, since the gem "Cage" is masochistically removed from the final mix. It remains, nonetheless, a great work, the last official one from the Wings.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Getting Closer (03:21)
Say You Don't Love Him, My Salamander.
Why Do You Need Him?
Oh No, Don't Answer, Oh No.
I'm Getting Closer,
I'm Getting Closer To Your Heart.
Keeping Ahead Of The Rain On The Road,
Watching My Windscreen Wipers.
Radio Play Me A Danceable Ode,
Cattle Beware Of Snipers.
When Will You See Me, My Salamander?
Now Don't Try To Tell Me
Oh No, Don't Answer, Oh No.
L'm Getting Closer,
I'm Getting Closer To Your Heart.
Hitting The Chisel And Making A Joint,
Glueing My Fingers Together.
Radio Play Me A Song With A Point,
Sailor Beware Of Weather.
I'm Getting Closer, My Salamander.
Well When Will We Be There?
Ah No, Don't Answer, Oh No.
I'm Getting Closer,
I'm Getting Closer To Your Heart.
I'm Getting Closer To Your Heart.
I'm Getting Closer To Your Heart.
04 Spin It On (02:11)
(This is it)
Spin it on, don't stop. Take it back to the top.
'Cos I gotwhole lotta love for you
I wanna spin it on. Spin it on!
Off to the flicks with the piddle in her nicks, to the fair with her hair
in curlers.
Their cousins didn't get all down to the pleasure dome
Their cousins didn't send their night in an aircraft hanger.
Memories...!
Spin it on, don't stop. Take it back to the top.
'Cos I got whole lotta love for you
That's why I wanna spin it on. Spin it on! Spin it on!
Spin it on!
Spin it on, don't stop. Take it back to the top
'Cos I got whole lotta love for you
That's why I wanna spin it on. Spin it on!
Off to the fields with a missionary's zeal for the life
of the wife of the farmer
Their cousins didn't get all down to the billiard hall
Their cousins didn't spend their time on a pinball table.
Memories...!
Spin it on, don't stop. Take it back to the top
'Cos I got whole lotta love for you.
I wanna spin it on. Spin it on!
Spin it on! Spin it on! I wanna spin it on! I wanna spin it on!
Spin it on! Don't Stop! Take it back to the top!
'Cos I got a whole lotta for you!
06 Old Siam, Sir (04:08)
In a village in Old Siam, sir, there's a lady who's lost her way
In an effort to find a man, sir, she found herself in the old UK
She waited 'round in Walthamstowe, she skated 'round in Scarborough
She waited 'round in Walthamstowe, she skated 'round in Scarborough
In a village in old east end, sir, she mea fellow who made her real
Took her rushes to show, this man, sir,
He met her dad at the wedding meal
In a letter from Old Siam, sir, came an awful tale of woe
She decided the only answer was to get off a pile of dough
She waited 'round in Walthamstowe, she skated 'round in Scarborough
She waited 'round in Walthamstowe, she skated 'round in Scarborough
When a relative told her man, sir, he directed her not to stay
In a village in Old Siam, sir, there's a lady who's lost her way
In a village in Old Siam, sir, there's a lady who's lost her way
In an effort to find a man, sir, she found herself in the old UK
She waited 'round in Walthamstowe, she skated 'round in Scarborough
She waited 'round in Walthamstowe, she skated 'round in Scarborough
+ repeat first two lines of last verse, then repeat until fade:
Walthamstowe . . . Scarborough . . .
07 Arrow Through Me (03:33)
Ooh, baby, you couldnt have done a worse thing to me
If youda taken an arrow and run it right through me. ooh.
Ooh baby, a bird in the hand is worth two flyin
But when it came to love, Id knew youd be lyin.
It could have been a finer thing,
Would have been a major attraction
With no other thing: offering a note of distraction.
Come on, get up, get under way, bring your love.
Ooh baby, you wouldnt have found a more down hero
If youda started at nothing and counted to ze-e-ro.
Oo-oo-oo.
Ooh baby, you couldnt have done a worse thing to me
If youda taken an arrow and run it right through me.
It could have been a finer thing
Would have been amajor attraction
If no other thing than offering a no love distraction
Come on, get up, get under way, bring your love.
Ooh baby, you wouldnt have found a more down hero
If youda started at nothing and counted the ze-e-ro.
10 After the Ball / Million Miles (03:56)
After the ball, after the ball, you were the one out in the hall
You were the one, the one who would love me, after the ball.
After the ball, after the ball, you were the one out in the hall
You were the one, the one who would love me, after the ball.
Well, I arrived, looked around but the room was full of strangers
Nowhere was a freindly face to be found.
Later on, I awoke, but the party it was over
There you were waiting to bring me 'round.
How many million miles, day-oh?
How many million miles, day-oh?
When I get up, up, up in the morning, whoa! Lord I know.
When I look up, up, up in the morning, whoa! Lord I know.
How many million miles, day-oh?
How many million miles, day-oh?
How many million miles, day-oh?
12 The Broadcast (01:27)
We're got a chance and we'll take it;
We may win or we may lose;
We may even have to cut and run for it.
Well, it won't be the first time I've run
And it won't be the first time I've been caught.
It's the game that matters.
Brother, I am proud to know you.
This is one of the greatest moments I have ever experienced.
I think I sense the situation when we can all esteem it, and honour,
To breathe the rather inferior atmosphere in this station
Here along with our little friend.
I guess we should all go home and treasure the memory of his face
As the whitest thing in our museum of recollection.
And, perhaps, this good woman will also go home
And wash the face of our little brother here.
I'm inspired with a new faith in mankind.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to present to you
A sure enough saint only one a halo to be transferred.
Stand right on.
13 So Glad to See You Here (03:17)
Someones got a home tonight.
Someones got a road tonight.
Someones got a wad, action will be red,
You you wanna worry?
Oo, youre gonna knock em dead.
Someones got a show tonight.
Someones gotta go tonight.
Someones doing rhyme, someone turn your mind.
Someone to lift your eyes up
Leanin toward the light.
So glad to see you here, so glad you could come. (yeah!)
So glad to see you here. carry on. carry on.
Yeah, yeah!
Oh, were going up tonight.
Well in time to make a flight.
The airplanes standing on the runway
Engine nervously waiting for something to bite.
Got to roll tonight.
You got to roll tonight.
Some have got it bad, some have got to do it,
You got it better, and theres nothing to it. no no no no.
So glad to see you here, so glad you could come. yeah!
So glad to see you here. carry on. carry on!
* repeat first verse, then say: ya, oh no no no no, yeah. repeat until end:
Were open tonight for fun.
14 Baby's Request (02:47)
When the moon lays his head on a pillow
And the stars settle down for a rest,
Just do me one small favour, I beg you,
Please play me my babys request.
Its the song that we heard when we started.
Now the birds have all flown from our nest,
But you could bring back memries departed
By playing my babys request.
My baby said that she knows how it goes
But youre the one who really knows,
So go ahead, just one more time and then well go to bed.
- solo -
But you could bring back memries departed
By playing my babys request.
My baby says she knows how it goes but youre the one that really knows.
So go ahead, just one more time and then well go to bed.
When the moon lays his head on a pillow
And the star settles down for a rest,
Just do me one small favour, I beg you,
Please play me babys request.
Mh-hm, play me babys request.
Please! play me my babys request -- one more time.
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Other reviews
By vitols4
"Back to the Egg is a truly classy LP, devoid of certain weaknesses typical of Paul James McCartney’s solo career, rich in very interesting musical ideas and characterized by a very modern sound for the time."
"Personally, I consider ‘Baby’s Request’ a true gem, a playful swing ballad that exudes such compositional and performance class as to inspire envy."
