•
Rating:
Recorded in 1976 during a break from the world tour, "Wings At The Speed Of Sound" has always been criticized as a rushed and unsuccessful work. Listening to it today, that judgment is not so justifiable; in fact, it turns out to be an enjoyable work, at times evocative. Paul's biggest sin is having paired pleasant tracks with less interesting songs, like "San Ferry Anne," more suitable for a B-side of a single, or having minor members like English sing mediocre tracks, the anonymous "Must Do Something About It."
Nevertheless, the album was a colossal success, driven by singles that are still regularly programmed today, like "Let Them In" and "Silly Love Songs;" the difference with "Venus And Mars" is significant. Here, the tones are very mellow, the melodies lighter, the rock moments are limited to only "Beware My Love," performed by the group in a weak and unconvincing manner compared to the sensational live version. "Let Them In" is a pleasant march opened by a doorbell sound, in which Paul mentions in the lyrics, Martin Luther King, Lennon (Brother John), Linda (Sister Suzie), and the Everly Brothers, all invited to enter the house. "Silly Love Songs" is McCartney's response to those critics who reproach him for writing simple love songs, and so Paul takes the opportunity and on a remarkable bass rhythm sings about the desperate need for silly songs to hum by people, repeating in the chorus "I Love You" together with Linda and Denny Laine to the point of exhaustion, a stroke of genius, nothing to say. The most beautiful song on the album is written by Paul, but sung by Laine, "The Note You Never Wrote," is a small masterpiece of alienating atmosphere, in which keyboards, a slow progress of acoustic guitar lead to the entrance of the drums and McCulloch's superb guitar, all enriched by the sweet singing of Denny Laine. The other pieces are less memorable, exercises in style, like the graceful "She's My Baby" or the good piano rendering of "Warm And Beautiful." It's hard to understand why Paul had Linda sing an insignificant piece like "Cook Of The House," when Mrs. McCartney had recorded decidedly better material. "Time To Hide" by Laine must be performed live to be truly appreciated; the rest is superfluous.
If all the poorly executed works were like this, we wouldn't have much to criticize, but from Paul, it was fair to expect more, and the more will come, not in a continuous flow, but it will come.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 The Note You Never Wrote (04:21)
Later on, the story goes, a bottle floated out to sea,
after days when it had found the perfect spot, it opened up.
And I read the note that you never wrote to me.
After all, I’m sure you know, the mayor of Baltimore is here,
after days, now he can finally appear, now at last he's here.
but he never is gonna get my vote, cause he never is gonna get a quote
from the little note that you never wrote to me. To me, to me, to me.
further on, along the line, I was arrested on the shore,
holding papers of governments galore, I was taken in.
But I read the note that you never wrote, yes, I read the note that you never wrote,
oh, I read the note that you never wrote to me. To me, to me, to me.
03 She's My Baby (03:08)
She’s my baby, she comes out at night, she's taking me by surprise, she's my baby.
Like gravy, down to the last drop, I keep mopping her up, yeah, yeah, she's my baby.
She's a baby in the morning time when the sleep is in her eyes and the world is waking up,
she has a rhythm, oh, believe me, I ain't lying, she's a woman.
she's a lady in the evening tide, when the stars are in the skies,
that's the time she changes back into a kitten, oh, believe me, I ain't lying.
She’s my baby, she comes out at night, she's taking me by surprise, she's my baby.
Like gravy, down to the last drop, I keep mopping her up, yeah, yeah, she's my baby.
Well, she's a baby in the morning time when the sleep is in her eyes and the world is waking up,
she has a rhythm, oh, believe me, I ain't lying, she's a woman.
she's a lady in the evening tide, when the stars are in the skies,
that's the time she changes back into a kitten, oh, believe me, I ain't lying.
She’s my baby, she comes out at night, she's taking me by surprise, she's my baby.
Like gravy, down to the last drop, I keep mopping her up, yeah, yeah, she's my baby.
Oh, like gravy, down to the last drop, I keep mopping her up, yeah, yeah, she's my baby.
Oh, like gravy, down to the last drop, I keep mopping her up, yeah, yeah, she's my baby.
Oh, like gravy, down to the last drop, I keep mopping her up, yeah, yeah, she's my baby.
05 Wino Junko (05:21)
Doctor Tom is getting on,
All he does is sign his name.
I get things my brainbox sings,
but I'll go down again.
Play with fire, getting higher,
Higher than a nine foot flame.
My soul is pent and so's the rent,
but I'll go down again.
Wino Junko can't say no,
Wino Junko, eyes aglow.
Pill freak, spring a leak, you can't say no
till you go down again
This and treat you crazy cat,
Flying sideways once again.
I'm in a spin it makes me grin,
but I'll go down again.
Wino Junko can't say no,
Wino Junko, eyes aglow.
Pill freak, spring a leak, you can't say no
till you go down again.
Till you go down again.
Till you go down again.
Till you go down.
Take what I need until I bleed,
People will say I've gone insane.
Ain't scared to die, it's such a high,
till I go down again.
Wino Junko can't say no,
Wino Junko, eyes aglow.
Pill freak, spring a leak, you can't say no,
Till you go down again.
Wino Junko can't say no,
Wino Junko, eyes aglow.
Pill freak, spring a leak, you can't say no,
Till you go down again.
Wino Junko...
07 Cook of the House (02:39)
All you rocking hep cats, come on!
Ground rice, sugar, vinegar, seco salt, macaroni too, cook of the house.
I’m the cook of the house.
No matter where I serve my guests, they seem to like the kitchen best,
cause I’m the cook of the house, cook of the house.
The salad's in the bowl, the rice is on the stove,
green beans in the colander and where the rest is heaven only knows.
Cinnamon, garlic, salt, pepper, cornbread, curry powder, coffee too,
cook of the house, I’m the cook of the house.
No matter where I serve my guests, they seem to like the kitchen best,
cause I’m the cook of the house, cook of the house.
And where the rest is heaven only knows.
Cinnamon, garlic, salt, pepper, cornbread, curry powder, coffee too,
cook of the house, (I’m the cook of the house),
I’m the cook of the house (she's the cook of the house).
No matter where I serve my guests, they seem to like the kitchen best,
cause I’m the cook of the house (she's the cook of the house),
cook of the house (I’m the cook of the house), I’m the cook of the house. Take it, fellas.
08 Time to Hide (04:32)
If I have to run, I’m not running out on you. If I have to shake a little sand out of my shoes.
I’m running from the law or they'll put me inside.
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
I’ve been on the run since the good Lord knows when. And the day I die, I’ll still be running then.
Running from the days when I would lay me down and cry.
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
Will I love you tomorrow? Yes, I will my love, yes, I will, my love.
Will I beg, steal or borrow? Yes, I will my love, yes, I will, my love
to spend a little time happy to be by your side.
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
If I have to run, I’m not running out on you. If I have to shake a little sand out of my shoes.
I’m running from the law or they'll put me inside.
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
Baby, won't you let me have a little time? Baby, won't you let me have a little time?
Baby, won't you let me have a little time to hide?
09 Must Do Something About It (03:45)
I've just seen another sunset on my own.
All day long I've been alone,
and I must do something about it,
yes I must do something about it.
Played another losing cardgame with myself.
Lonely joker on a shelf,
and I must do something about it,
yes I must do something about it.
No one on the party line,
No one seems to need a dime,
No one even knows that I'm feeling this way.
I've just seen another suset on my own.
All day long I've been alone,
and I must do something about it,
yes I must do something about it.
No one seems to need my vote,
No one has to change a note,
No one here to hold my coat,
Oh, what a day.
I've just watched another movie on T.V.
No one's in the house but me,
and I must do something about it,
yes I must do something about it.
Oh, oh, something about it.
I've just dialed another number on my phone.
All day long I've been alone,
and I must do something about it...
10 San Ferry Anne (02:10)
You've got a lot, and from what you've got I'd say you're doing well, dear.
Dressed like a dream, and if things are what they seem, you're doing swell, dear.
Your little man, (your little man) brings you trinkets when he can but he can't stay, dear.
That's very well, (that's very well) but inside your shiny shell you dance all day, dear.
So go be gay, (so go be gay) let your feelings leap away into the laughter.
San Ferry Anne, (San Ferry Anne) and the world keeps turning happy ever after.
11 Warm and Beautiful (03:15)
A love so warm and beautiful
stands when time itself is falling,
A love so warm and beautiful
never fades away.
Love, faith and hope are beautiful
when your world is touched by sadness,
To each his own is wonderful,
love will never die.
Sunlight's morning glory
tells the story of our love,
Moonlight on the water
brings me in spiration ever after.
A love so warm and beautiful
stands when time itself is calling,
A love so warm and beautiful
never fades away,
never fades away.
14 Sally G. (03:39)
Sowhere to the south of New York City
Lies the friendly state of Tennessee,
Down in Nashville toen I met a pretty
Who made a pretty big fool out of me.
And they call her Sally,
Sally G, why d'you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G.
The night life took me down to Printers Alley,
where Sally sang a song behind a bar.
I ran my eyes across her as she sang a tangled mime,
I used to love to hear her sweet guitar.
And they call her Sally,
Sally G, why d'you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G.
Me and Sally took up,
things began to look up,
Me and her were going strong.
Then she started lyin',
I could see our love was dyin'.
I heard a voice say,
"Move along, move along".
Well now. I'm on my own again,
I wonder if she ever really understood.
I never thought to ask her what the letter "G" stood for,
But I know for sure it wasn't good.
And they call her Sally,
Sally G, why d'you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G.
Sally G.
Loading comments slowly
