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Rating:
Can one create an almost perfect album, in all its parts, from the cover to the last track? Well, the answer is yes, but then there's the risk of always disappointing someone. The work that Paul McCartney and company put together between 1974 and 1975 perfectly reflects this definition. In fact, "Venus And Mars" seems like a carefully crafted work, not very spontaneous but damn successful, so much so that for any other artist it would be a creative peak.
The lineup that records it is remarkable, besides Linda and Denny Laine, McCartney hired the young and promising guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummers Geoff Britton and Joe English. The group appears cohesive, excellently blended by Sir Paul, and the results are heard right from the first notes of acoustic guitar that open the "cosmic" "Venus And Mars," a song that sends shivers down your spine and immediately recalls the openings of the "Over The World Tour" concerts. The title track then flows into the majestic "Rock Show," a celebration of the concert world where Paul displays notable grit followed closely by the others, a perfect track to be performed live. "Love In Song" is a rare gem, excellently executed in its melodic rise, with McCartney's superb voice taking us back to the times of "Abbey Road." The eclecticism of the group's leader churns out exquisite melodies in repetition, "You Give Me The Answer," a retro atmosphere piano ballad, the powerful rhythmic section of "Letting Go," the reprise of "Venus And Mars" leading to the album’s least successful piece, "Spirit Of Ancient Egypt," sung with Laine. Beautiful is the gritty "Medicine Jar" by McCulloch, while "Listen To What The Man Said" is a classic, a song with a carefree melody characterized by the horn section with sounds typical of New Orleans. The beautiful "Treat Her Gently" closes the album, a song about elderly left alone, where the verses stand out: "Treat her gently/Treat her well/she doesn't even recognize her thoughts/", painting a portrait of loneliness dear to Paul.
The cover is by Linda, a beautiful and engaging album, only too perfect which places it a notch below Paul's must-haves.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Rock Show (05:34)
What's That Man Holding In His Hand?
He Looks A Lot Like A Guy I Knew Way Back When
Its Silly Willy With Philly Band
Could Be . . . . . Oo-Ee . . . . . .
What's That Man Movin' Cross The Stage?
It Looks A Lot Like The One Used By Jimmy Page
Its Like A Relic From A Different Age
Could Be . . . . . Oo-Ee . . . . . .
If There's Rock Show
At The Concertgebow
They're Got Long Hair
At The Madison Square
You've Got Rock And Roll
At The Hollywood Bowl,
We'll Be There . . . . . . Oo Yeah . . . . . . .
The Lights Go Down - They're Back In Town O.K.
Behind The Stacks You Glimpse An Axe
The Tension Mounts You Score An Ounce Ole!
Temperatures Rise As You See The White Of Their Eyes
If There's Rock Show
At The Concertgebow
You're Got Long Hair
At The Madison Square
They've Got Rock And Roll
At The Hollywood Bowl,
We'll Be There . . . . . . Oo Yeah . . . . . . .
In My Green Metal Suit I'm Preparing To Shoot Up The City
And The Ring At The End Of My Nose Makes Me Look Rather Pretty
Its A Pity There's Nobody Here To Witness The End
Save For My Dear Old Friend And Confidante - Madamoiselle Kitty
What's That Man Movin' To And Fro?
That Decibel Meter Doesn't Seem To Be Reading Low.
But They Was Louder At The Rainbow
Could Be . . . . . Oo-Ee . . . . . .
If There's Rock Show
At The Concertgebow
They're Got Long Hair
At The Madison Square
You Got Rock And Roll
At The Hollywood Bowl,
We'll Be There . . . . . . Oo Yeah . . . . . . .
If There's Rock Show . . . . . . .
If There's Rock Show . . . . . . .
If There's Rock Show . . . . . . .
04 You Gave Me the Answer (02:15)
You Gave Me The Answer
To Love Eternally.
I Love You And - You,
You Seem To Like Me.
Wherever We Wander
The Local Folk Agree,
I Love You And - You,
You Seem To Like Me.
Heading Back To Old Familiar Places,
Places Where The Cobwebs Blow Away
I Can Forget The Airs And Graces
Terpsichory . . . . . . .
You'll Never Be Crowned By
The Aristocracy,
To Their Delight, You'd Merely Invite
Them In For A Cup Of Tea . . . . And
I Love You And - You
You Seem To Like
You Seem To Like
You Seem To Like
Me.
07 Venus and Mars (reprise) (02:07)
Standing In The Hall
Of The Great Cathedral
Waiting For The Transport To Come
Starship 21zna9
A Good Friend Of Mine
Studies The Stars
Venus And Mars
Are Alright Tonight.
Come Away On A Strange Vacation
Holiday Hardly Begun
Run Into A Good Friend Of Mine
Sold Me Her Sign
Reach For The Stars
Venus And Mars
Are Alright Tonight
08 Spirits of Ancient Egypt (03:05)
You're My Baby And I Love You
You Can Take A Pound Of Love
And Cook It In The Stew . . . . .
When You've Finished Doing That
I Know What You'll Want To Do
'Cos You're My Baby And I Love You
I'm Your Baby -- Do You Love Me?
I Can Drive A Cadillac
Across The Irish Sea
But When I've Finished Doing That
I Know Where I'll Want To Be
'Cos I'm Your Baby, And You Love Me.
Spirits Of Ancient Egypt
Shadows Of Ancient Rome
Spirits Of Ancient Egypt
Hung On The Telly
Hung On The Telly
Hung On The Telephone . . . .
You're My Baby, I Know You Know
You Could Sell An Elevator
To Geronimo
And When You've Finished Doing That
I Know Where You'll Want To Go
'Cos You're My Baby, I Know You Know
Spirits Of Ancient Egypt
Echoes Of Sunken Spain
Spirits Of Ancient Egypt
Hung On The 'Phone
A-Hung On The 'Phone
A-Hung On The 'Phone
. . . . . Again . . . .
09 Medicine Jar (03:38)
What's Wrong With You?
I Wish I Knew
You Say Time And Tell
I Hope That's True
There's More To Life Than Blues And Reds
I Say, I Know How You Feel,
Now Your Friends Are Dead.
Dead On Your Feet, You Won't Get Far
If You Keep On Sticking Your Hand
In The Medicine Jar.
Now Don't Give Up
Whatever You Do
You Say Time Will Tell
I Hope That's True
If You Go Down And Lose Your Head
I Say, I Know How You Feel
Now Your Friends Are Dead.
Dead On Your Feet, You Won't Get Far
If You Keep On Sticking Your Hand
In The Medicine Jar.
Dead On Your Feet . . . . .
What Can I Do?
I Can't Let Go
You Say Time Will Heal
But Very Slow
So Don't Forget The Things You Said
I Say I Know How You Feel
Now Your Friends Are Dead.
Dead On Your Feet, You Won't Get Far
If You Keep On Sticking Your Hand
In The Medicine Jar.
10 Call Me Back Again (05:00)
Well When I, When I Was
Just A Little Baby Boy
Every Night I Would Call
Your Number Brought Me Joy.
I Called Your House, Every Night Since Then
But I Ain't Never, No No Never
Heard You Calling Me
Come On And Call Me Back Again . . . . .
Call Me Back Again.
I've Heard Your Name Every Night Since Then
But I Ain't Never, No No Never . . . . .
Well When I, When I Was
Just A Little Baby Boy
Every Night, Every Night
I Would Call Because Your Number
Brought Me Joy
Oh -- I've Called Your Name
Every Night Since Then,
But I Ain't Never, No No No No Never
Heard You Calling Me
Come On And Call Me Back Again.
Call Me Back Again.
11 Listen to What the Man Said (04:02)
Any time, any day
You can hear the people say
That love is blind
Well, I don't know, but I say love is kind
Soldier boy kisses girl
Leaves behind a tragic world
But he won't mind
He's in love and he says love is fine
Oh, yes indeed, we know
That people will find a way to go
No matter what the man said
And love is fine, for all we know
For all we know, our love will grow
That's what the man said
So won't you listen to what the man said
He said
Oh, take it away
Oh, yes indeed, we know
That people will find a way to go
No matter what the man said
And love is fine, for all we know
For all we know, our love will grow
That's what the man said
So won't you listen to what the man said
He said
Oh, yes indeed, we know
That people will find a way to go
No matter what the man said
And love is fine, for all we know
For all we know, our love will grow
That's what the man said
So won't you listen to what the man said
He said
The wonder of it all baby
The wonder of it all baby
The wonder of it all baby, yeah yeah yeah
Ooh
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