The Paul McCartney catalog is dotted with many classic albums he’s released over a long stretch of time. And he’s done it by knowing how to sequence those records so they often start off with a bang.
Videos by American Songwriter
In terms of his finest album-opening songs, it’s not surprising many of them coincide with some of the best LPs of his career. Here are our picks for the five finest Side 1, Track 1 songs in Paul McCartney’s illustrious career.
5. “Tug of War” from Tug of War (1982)
The pressure on McCartney to deliver with the Tug of War album was heightened. On the one hand, it marked his definitive return to a solo career after his decision to scuttle Wings. And it was also the first album after the death of John Lennon, which ensured that all eyes and ears would be on Macca. He rose to the occasion in a big way on this record, and it starts with the title track, a stately look at the differences that unnecessarily keep people and nations apart. McCartney reunited with Beatles’ producer George Martin on this album, and Martin’s firm hand guiding the tiller can be felt on his track.
4. “My Brave Face” from Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
This was another point in McCartney’s career where he was at a bit of a crossroads and needed a solid effort to right the ship. His 1986 album Press to Play found him floundering a bit as he tried to stay current. Flowers in the Dirt plays to his strengths with melodic rockers and stirring ballads. The opening song belongs in the former category and it gets an assist from co-writer Elvis Costello, who convinced McCartney he shouldn’t be afraid to embrace a sound reminiscent of The Beatles if that’s where his instincts led. On this track, the muse did indeed guide him in that direction, and the song is a triumph.
3. “Too Many People” from Ram (1971)
You took your lucky break / And broke it in two, McCartney pointedly sings on this opener to Ram, which was credited to him and his wife Linda. It doesn’t take too much sleuthing to deduce that he was referencing his former songwriting partner John Lennon, as emotions were still raw at that time due to The Beatles’ breakup. “Too Many People” gets a lot of attention for that little bit of sniping, but that shouldn’t take a way from how dynamic it as a track. McCartney wanted Ram to sound more produced and polished after the down-home vibe of his debut solo album. Mission accomplished with this sparkling track.
2. “Coming Up” from McCartney II (1980)
McCartney decided he needed a break from Wings circa 1980. (He thought at the time it would be temporary, but it turned out to be permanent.) He went back to the DIY approach of his 1970 solo debut. But he did so while utilizing all the technology of the day, as opposed to the acoustic feel of that first solo record. McCartney II featured Paul at his loosest and most playful. While some of the more experimental moves on the record weren’t for everybody, he made sure to kick it off with an undeniable blast of pure pop energy in “Coming Up.”
1. “Band on the Run” from Band on the Run (1973)
McCartney’s greatest post-Beatles album came at a time when many had written him off. Not to mention he had Wings members leaving left and right, and the choice of Nigeria as a recording location ended up causing all kinds of headaches. “Band on the Run” seems to touch on all that, as his fictional group of escapees shows all kinds of resilience in leaving their would-be captors flummoxed. The transition from the glum middle section into the gleaming main part of the song is one of the most breathtaking moments in all of classic rock, the kind of move only McCartney would dare to even attempt.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Neville Marriner/Daily Mail/Shutterstock
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.