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Rating: Year 1979. A certain Paul James McCartney, voice and bass of the Wings, gathers what remains of the band along with a certain Chris Thomas, who was then a producer of none other than the Sex Pistols, and had previously been seen during the "White Album" era, a work from a few years earlier by a group of four lads who called themselves the Beatles.
"Back to the Egg" is the swan song of a band, the Wings, that took the world by storm with whirlwind tours and record-breaking sales. Just to not make the single name Paul (a never truly successful endeavor) feel too burdensome, he invites to the party people who usually spend their time playing in Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, and The Shadows, and gathers them in a recording studio (Abbey Road studios, St John's Wood, London), quite well-known for other circumstances which don't immediately come to mind...
The result of all this movement 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, above all, by a very modern sound for the time.
The best tracks, coincidentally, in my opinion, are the more intimate ones, without the truly pompous features. I'm referring to "Old Siam Sir", edgy and gutsy, and the rounded "Arrow Through Me" (fun fact: completely devoid of guitars!), both characterized by very experimental musicality and a voice that never ceases to amaze. Heartbreaking and moving is the refrain of "Winter Rose", and "Getting Closer" is enjoyable. Personally, I consider "Baby's Request" a true gem, a playful swing ballad that exudes such compositional and performance class as to inspire envy.
Highly negligible is the contribution of Danny Lane (again again and again) who peeks into the post-Wings oblivion, and a bit lightweight are other tracks, among which I only save a quick and fun but slightly off-target "Spin it On". The songs rich in collaborations are "Rockestra Theme" and "So Glad to See You Here"; certainly interesting and curious for the names of those playing them, but in my opinion, not very successful.
I point out that the single that precedes the LP, "Goodnight Tonight/Daytime Night Time Suffering" would alone be sufficient to prove the grace period of Sir. Paul, inspired, amused, and amusing as in the latter part of the sweet sixties.
The album, initially received in a cold manner by critics, has deservedly reached worldwide recognition and platinum records. In my opinion, it is a truly successful project, still very listenable today, which ranges across many genres winking at high-quality POP, as would be expected.
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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