Pipes of Peace
Album reviews
All reviews
Timothy Scott Furnier (April 23, 2008)
It was Paul's most unfortunate career choice for him to release this album as-is. I don't think that most people realize this album was conceived with Tug Of War (1982) as a double album. Paul did what John Lennon did with Double Fantasy (1980). John also conceived Double Fantasy and his post-mortem follow-up, Milk And Honey, as a double album project (hence the name DOUBLE Fantasy). John and Paul took the best songs from those sessions, changed their projects to single albums, and released them as such with varying degrees of success and artistic achievement.
I would have to say that the worst songs on Paul's album are the ones from the TOW sessions and ones done with the over-rated "talent" of Michael Jackson. The best songs are the songs written anew for this album such as Sweetest Little Show and Average Person (they were THE best songs on the album). They had a fresh sound ala TOW, without the sickeningly sweet, over-produced sound of the TOW song remnants. They also had an integrity that they other songs on POP lacked.
It was an interesting idea for Paul to combine himself with other artists and it worked well with Stevie Wonder, but it was a POOR choice for him to try to mix with such a pop-oriented person such as Jackson. Paul's career took a nose-dive after this album and I'm sure it had much to do with this collaboration. Paul even mentioned this mistake in a lyric on his MUCH under-rated album from 1991, Off The Ground, when he said in his song, C'mon People, that "people are ready to forgive a few mistakes."
I often wonder why Paul didn't team up during this time with the great talent of Billy Joel; he, too, was having much success during these years. Mr. Joel always admired Paul's salient talent in the Beatles. In fact, much of Mr. Joel's album, The Nylon Curtain (1982), was done as a tribute to, and in the style of, Paul McCartney. I often lament what they could have achieved together.
The problem for me with POP is that it is comprised of songs that are normally B-side, throw-away songs that Paul always would put on his singles. In the past, though, he had the sense to confine those kinds of songs to his singles; he never made an album out of them. Paul always did have a commercial facet to his style, but with this album, he went too far. I don't totally hate this album, I just wish that he didn't rush to put it out (I think he thought he could be a little sloppy with it after the success of TOW), he really didn't have any reason to do that. Also, I wish that he would've taken a different direction with the sound.
I would have to say that the worst songs on Paul's album are the ones from the TOW sessions and ones done with the over-rated "talent" of Michael Jackson. The best songs are the songs written anew for this album such as Sweetest Little Show and Average Person (they were THE best songs on the album). They had a fresh sound ala TOW, without the sickeningly sweet, over-produced sound of the TOW song remnants. They also had an integrity that they other songs on POP lacked.
It was an interesting idea for Paul to combine himself with other artists and it worked well with Stevie Wonder, but it was a POOR choice for him to try to mix with such a pop-oriented person such as Jackson. Paul's career took a nose-dive after this album and I'm sure it had much to do with this collaboration. Paul even mentioned this mistake in a lyric on his MUCH under-rated album from 1991, Off The Ground, when he said in his song, C'mon People, that "people are ready to forgive a few mistakes."
I often wonder why Paul didn't team up during this time with the great talent of Billy Joel; he, too, was having much success during these years. Mr. Joel always admired Paul's salient talent in the Beatles. In fact, much of Mr. Joel's album, The Nylon Curtain (1982), was done as a tribute to, and in the style of, Paul McCartney. I often lament what they could have achieved together.
The problem for me with POP is that it is comprised of songs that are normally B-side, throw-away songs that Paul always would put on his singles. In the past, though, he had the sense to confine those kinds of songs to his singles; he never made an album out of them. Paul always did have a commercial facet to his style, but with this album, he went too far. I don't totally hate this album, I just wish that he didn't rush to put it out (I think he thought he could be a little sloppy with it after the success of TOW), he really didn't have any reason to do that. Also, I wish that he would've taken a different direction with the sound.
Erika (June 8, 2007)
This is my least favorite McCartney album. There\'s not one song I really like on the album - \"Pipes of Peace\" I almost like, it has a nice sentiment and a good melody, but comes off as preachy and those pipes are just annoying. My overall impression of this album is that Paul thought, \"Oh no! I just released an album with the word WAR in it!!! Ohh nooo! I better get something else out so that people know I like PEACE.\" Paul could have done MUCH better.
Bruce Beatlefan (June 17, 2006)
This album is a hard sell, but I do enjoy it. The strong tracks show Paul McCartney in good form, but each suffer one of two major flaws: (1) \"Pipes of Peace\", \"Sweetest Little Show\", and \"Average Person\" are fine pop music, but are more akin to Broadway show tunes than to classic rock and roll. (2) \"Say Say Say\", \"So Bad\", and \"The Man\" are also fine songs but suffer the stigma of the Michael Jackson association--he is an incredible talent and was as hot as the sun at the time, but his subsequent notoriety has nearly obliterated all memories of how good he was (is). The album also suffers from two absolutely awful tracks, \"The Other Me\" and \"Through Our Love\". A fan of McCartney\'s can purchase this CD and find enjoyment, but I won\'t be using this material to try to win over a McCartney skeptic.
CARLA (November 29, 2005)
NECESITO ENCONTRAR LOS VIDEOS MUSICALES DE PAUL MAC CARTNEY ES UN REGALO PARA MI HERMANA QUE LE GUSTA MUCHO SU MUSICA Y COLECCIONA TODO LO RELACIONADO CON EL YA SEA DE SAY,SAY SAY ,THE PIPES OF PEACE,SO BAD ETC SI ME PUDIERAN AYUDAR Y DECIR DONDE LOS PUEDO COMPRAR O A QUIEN SE LOS AGRADECERIA MUCHO
John (September 14, 2005)
Maybe's it's just nostalgia since I can remember listening to the old vinyl album as a youngster, but Pipes of Peace is not as bad as it's reputation. Over produced as so many of the newer McCartney albums are, and one must admit that the association of Michael Jackson with the album which helped it out initially has definatley hurt this album in the long run. Plus it followed Tug of War which was one of McCartneys top solo albums overall.
John (July 14, 2005)
A very disappointing follow up to McCartney's classic Tug of War. Paul jumps on the popular at the time Michael Jackson bandwagon and scores his last U.S. number one with Say,Say,Say. It's just alright.
Another hit was So Bad which really is so bad.
Pipes of Peace is a nice sentimental thought. Forget the song and watch the video.
Really nothing to get excited about with this album.
Another hit was So Bad which really is so bad.
Pipes of Peace is a nice sentimental thought. Forget the song and watch the video.
Really nothing to get excited about with this album.
Harry (May 27, 2004)
A couple of pleasant enough songs but too many sterile duds. Bad album cover, bad album.
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