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Tug Of War |  | Artist: Paul McCartney
Label: Parlophone Records
Category: Music
List Price: £10.99
Buy New: £2.48
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New (37) Used (3) from £2.48
Seller: tiptop_seller
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 2379
Format: Original recording remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 077778926627
EAN: 0077778926627
ASIN: B000005RT9
Release Date: August 9, 1993
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Tug Of War | | • | Take It Away | | • | Always Somebody Who Cares | | • | What's That You're Doing | | • | Here Today | | • | Ballroom Dancing | | • | Pound Is Sinking | | • | Wanderlust | | • | Get It | | • | Be What You See (Link) | | • | Dress Me Up As A Robber | | • | Ebony And Ivory |
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
 Enough to make you forget the Beatles...! May 31, 2001
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
One of perhaps five essential albums Paul has made since leaving the Beatles, Tug of War was the first time McCartney had worked with George Martin since those heady times, and he rose to the occasion by producing an album that included some of his best tunes (with or without the other fab three) and his most concise lyrics.pThose who are annoyed by McCartneys tendency not to take himself seriously will not be impressed by the mildly ingratiating Ballroom Dancing, and Ebony and Ivory is a track whose trite sentiment is simplistic in the extreme.pBut the pleasures on this album are to be found elsewhere, the fantastic production of the title track, the heartfelt hymn to Lennon 'Here Today', and the excellent 'Pound is Sinking' a track who's multiple parts remind one of a lower key Band on The Run or Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.pBut these all pale into insignificance compared with 'Wanderlust', a song so breathtakingly beautiful that it will leave you literally speechless. In my opinion his finest post Beatles song, it counterpoints two contrasting melodies to incredible effect. In fact it may make you want to go and single handedly take issue with all those people who claim that McCartney was a spent force after the Beatles. It's that good - you may even forgive him for Ebony and Ivory...
One of his Best. February 19, 2005
PJ ASHWELL (UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Tug of War was Paul's first new album since the disappointing McCartney II. Much had happened in the 2 years since this, the break up of Wings, the irreparable loss of his old friend and bandmate John Lennon and a brief reunion of Paul, George and Ringo in 1981. The question was "Could he still cut it?!". Tug of War was a stunning return to form silencing all the critics. Paul was approaching his 40th birthday during the album's production and you can see that he was looking back through the years; the title track sums up the relationship of the post-split Beatles, "Ballroom Dancing" the Hamburg years and of course the touching tribute to John Lennon. It's FAB!!!!
One of Paul's best solo albums August 10, 2008
A. Sweeney (London, England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
1982's George Martin-produced 'Tug Of War' is rightfully lauded as one of the highlights of Paul McCartney's solo career. Although there are times during the album when the instrumentation and production date this recording badly (specifically 'Take It Away' and 'Ebony And Ivory'), the wonderful thing about this album is that the songs are mostly fantastic and have no problem shining through the sometimes heavy 1980's feel, making this arguably Paul's best release of the decade - with the possible exception of 1989's 'Flowers In The Dirt'.
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br /The powerfully uplifting anthem for peace, 'Tug Of War', starts the album brilliantly and is closely followed in terms of impact by the exuberant ode to music itself, the impossibly catchy 'Take It Away', which also features Ringo Starr on drums and George Martin on piano. 'Somebody Who Cares' is a beautiful song, reassuring someone who is down and lonely that there is always someone there for them and includes a rather heavenly acoustic guitar solo. Up next, the first collaboration of the album with Stevie Wonder, 'What's That You're Doing', has a feel of Stevie's magnificent 'Superstition' to it although it never really hits the heights of that track despite being a perfectly enjoyable, funky song.
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br /As this album was Paul's first since the untimely and tragic murder of his former bandmate and songwriting partner, John Lennon, the fifth track (which would have been the last song on side 'A' of the original album) is the outstandingly touching and genuine tribute to his fallen friend, 'Here Today'. For me, it captures the relationship Paul had with John and the openly sentimental, honest lyrics coupled with the beautifully composed music, augmented by a tastefully arranged string section. It was a song likely to have been subject to careful scrutiny by fan and media alike and if ever there was a difficult subject to write about it was that, but Paul manages to write almost the perfect tribute and a truly classic song.
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br /If you can almost imagine - you're back in 1982, you've dried your tears, took the record off the turntable, flipped it over and then put the needle back onto the vinyl... and then you're treated to bouncy, near-honky tonk piano and an uplifting, silly rock ode to 'Ballroom Dancing' which is infectious enough to get the feet tapping and a smile creeping across your face. It is just an example of the McCartney magic, to be tugging on your heartstrings one minute and then to make you filled with silly joy the next - a whole range of emotions all contained within one album.
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br /'The Pound Is Sinking', a song about international currency, is an excellent three-part song which is also, post-Euro, fun to listen to and identify all of the now obsolete currencies. Because of the strength of some of the tracks around it, it is easy to miss the appeal and songwriting craft of this one, but it's a real corker, as is 'Wanderlust', a ballad of such shimmering beauty, that it is quite difficult to reconcile the fact that it was written about a drugs raid. Certainly one of the many highlights of this album and perhaps even one of his greatest songs ever, it features a soaring McCartney vocal and an excellent brass score.
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br /From there on, the album peters out a little. 'Get It' is an admittedly foot-tapping song notable only for the fact that it was recorded with Carl Perkins. 'Dress Me Up As A Robber' is a little more interesting than enjoyable and reminds me slightly of the style of the man Paul was about to work with, Michael Jackson. Lastly, we have 'Ebony And Ivory', Paul Stevie's pop duet about racial harmony which has a fantastic sentiment. Some people have criticised the song for being over simplistic about such problems but often the simple way of looking at things can really cut through a lot of complicated matters and I think, for the message, this song is great. Personally, I'd rather criticise it for the dated synthesizer sounds, but I really do like the song - unashamedly so.
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br /Part of why this album is such a winner is because of the range of styles exhibited here - from the balladry of 'Somebody Who Cares', 'Here Today' and 'Wanderlust' to the funk of 'What's That You're Doing' - from the pure pop of 'Take It Away' and 'Ebony And Ivory' to the rock sensibilities of the title track and 'Ballroom Dancing', you're given an album which highlights most of Paul's strengths as a songwriter and very few of his weaknesses. This is an essential buy for any Paul McCartney or Beatles fan and justifiably regarded as one of his finest achievements as a solo artist.
Sweet solo music October 22, 2002
Danny Costello (Manchester, UK)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Following the (unexpected) commercial success of "McCartney II" - Paul returned for a trilogy of albums with brGeorge Martin. Released in 1982, this is my favourite - br"Tug Of War", his touching tribute to John "Here Today" andbrcompetent/melodic works such as "Wanderlust" - it is a finebrpiece of work. Anybody who doesn't have a secret love forbr"Ebony and Ivory" is lying as well!
Best solo album? July 30, 2009
L. Maxfield (UK)
Tug of War really is up there with Ram, Flowers in the Dirt and Chaos and Creation, as one of McCartney's best solo albums. Tug of War the track is lyrically stunning and a fabulous anti war anthem. The album's real stunners include Take It Away (very, very catchy), Ballroom Dancing (Macca reminiscing on those Beatle Days) and Wanderlust. Don't forget Ebony and Ivory (really underrated and often dismissed)with that hypnotising melody and the haunting Here Today and you've got a fabulous album.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
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