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McCartney II

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McCartney II is the second solo studio album by Paul McCartney, and the first since the formation of Wings in 1971. It was released in 1980, a year before the band's dissolution and while their future laid in limbo. The album is a significant departure for McCartney, as much of it relies heavily on synthesisers and studio experimentation. It was reissued on 13 June 2011 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.

Background

After the release of what turned out to be Wings' final album, Back to the Egg, McCartney went north to his farm in Scotland to begin some private recordings in July 1979. The first song he recorded was "Check My Machine" as a way to test the equipment, hence its title. By sessions' end, he had recorded over 20 songs. With no immediate use for the recordings, he put them aside for the time being and returned to work with Wings to prepare for a UK tour that November and December. Simultaneously with the performances (which included the new "Coming Up"), Paul McCartney released his first solo single since 1971, Christmas song "Wonderful Christmastime", backed with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae", which charted at number 6 in the UK,[1] and at number 10 on the Christmas Singles chart in the US.[2] The A-side was recorded during the McCartney II sessions, while its flip side had been cut in 1975. However, upcoming events were about to change McCartney's plans with Wings.

After years of visa refusals due to his past arrests for marijuana possession, Japan had finally allowed McCartney, and thus Wings, to perform. It would be McCartney's first time playing there since 1966 with The Beatles, and anticipation was running high with Wings' tour completely sold out. However, upon his arrival in Tokyo on 16 January 1980, a search of McCartney's luggage revealed a bag containing 219 grams of marijuana, prompting his immediate arrest and eventually cancelling the tour. After a nine-day jail stay, McCartney was released and returned home to his Scottish farm. Deciding to put Wings on hold while he contemplated his future, he now decided to issue his solo recordings from the previous summer.

Music and lyrics

"Coming Up"

Main article: Coming Up (song)

"Coming Up" – an uplifting dance number – appeared that April with a video (Paul playing all the bandmates, dubbed 'The Plastic Macs', except for the backing singers (played by Linda)) and with two B-sides by Wings: "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)", recorded during Wings' December 1979 show there, and the piano laden instrumental "Lunch Box/Odd Sox" (a Venus and Mars outtake). An immediate UK No. 2 hit, "Coming Up" was flipped over for the live Wings version in the US where it became another No. 1 for McCartney, greatly raising hopes for his first solo album proper in years. The live Wings version of "Coming Up" was also issued as a white-labeled, one-sided 7" vinyl bonus record in many copies of McCartney II within the US and Canada.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Robert ChristgauC[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
The Essential Rock Discography5/10[6]
MusicHound[7]
Pitchfork7.2/10[8]
The Quietus(favourable)[9]
Record Collector[10]
Rolling Stone(unfavourable)[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[12]
Smash Hits5/10[13]

McCartney II was released in mid-May to mixed reviews; many critics found the album, with its experimental, synth-based compositions and its handful of instrumentals, slight. That did not stop it from reaching number 1 in the UK[1] and number 3 in the US.[14] The next single, the introspective "Waterfalls", charted at number 9 in the UK,[1] but failed to make an impact in the US. Despite its less-than-rapturous critical reaction, McCartney II has continued to remain a favourite of McCartney devotees.[citation needed]

The initial issue of this album on compact disc featured "Check My Machine" and "Secret Friend" as bonus tracks. The two songs were originally released as the B-sides of "Waterfalls" and "Temporary Secretary", respectively. In 1993, McCartney II was remastered and reissued on CD as part of "The Paul McCartney Collection" series with Wings' 1979 hit "Goodnight Tonight" added as a third bonus track.

When the new remastered version was released in 13 June 2011 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection,[15] the album re-entered the UK charts at number 108.[16]

Track listing

All songs written by Paul McCartney.

Side one
  1. "Coming Up" – 3:53
  2. "Temporary Secretary" – 3:14
  3. "On the Way" – 3:38
  4. "Waterfalls" – 4:42
  5. "Nobody Knows" – 2:52
Side two
  2. "Front Parlour" – 3:32
  3. "Summer's Day Song" – 3:25
  4. "Frozen Jap" – 3:40
  5. "Bogey Music" – 3:27
  6. "Darkroom" – 2:20
  7. "One of These Days" – 3:35
Bonus tracks
1993 The Paul McCartney Collection bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Check My Machine"5:52
13."Secret Friend"10:30
14."Goodnight Tonight"4:21

2011 remaster

In 2011 the album was re-issued by Hear Music/Concord Music Group as part of the second set of releases, alongside McCartney, in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. It was released in multiple formats:[17]

  • Standard Edition 1-CD; the original 11-track album
  • Special Edition 2-CD; the original 11-track album on the first disc, plus 8 bonus tracks on a second disc[18]
  • Deluxe Edition 3-CD/1-DVD; the original 11-track album, the bonus tracks disc, a limited and numbered 128-page book containing many previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney. The book features album and single artwork and a full history of the making of the album, complete with a new interview with Paul and expanded track by track information. The DVD features rare and previously unseen footage (including rehearsal footage of "Coming Up" and a new video for the unreleased track "Blue Sway")[19]
  • Remastered vinyl 2-LP version containing of the Special Edition and a download link to the material[20]
  • High Resolution 24bit 96 kHz limited and unlimited audio versions of all 27 songs on the remastered album and bonus audio discs
Disc 1

The original 11-track album.

Disc 2 – Bonus Audio 1
  1. "Blue Sway" (with Richard Niles Orchestration) – 4:35
    Previously unreleased
  2. "Coming Up" (Live at the Apollo Theatre, Glasgow – 17 December 1979) – 4:08
  3. "Check My Machine" (Regular Single B-side Edited Version) – 5:50
  4. "Bogey Wobble" – 2:59
    Previously unreleased
  5. "Secret Friend (Full Length Version)" – 10:31
  6. "Mr H Atom" / "You Know I'll Get You Baby" – 5:55
    Previously unreleased
  7. "Wonderful Christmastime" (Regular A-side Version) – 3:47
  8. "All You Horse Riders" / "Blue Sway" – 10:15
    Previously unreleased
Disc 3 – Bonus Audio 2
  1. "Coming Up" [Full Length Version] – 5:34
  2. "Front Parlour" [Full Length Version] – 5:15
  3. "Frozen Jap" [Full Length Version] – 5:43
  4. "Darkroom" [Full Length Version] – 3:45
  5. "Check My Machine" [Full Length Version] – 8:58
  6. "Wonderful Christmastime" [Full Length Version] – 4:15
  7. "Summer's Day Song" [Original without vocals] – 3:25
  8. "Waterfalls" (DJ edit) – 3:20
Disc 4 – DVD
  1. "Meet Paul McCartney"
  2. "Coming Up"
    Music video
  3. "Waterfalls"
    Music video
  4. "Wonderful Christmastime"
    Music video
  5. "Coming Up"
    Live at Concert for the People of Kampuchea – 29 December 1979
  6. "Coming Up"
    Taken from a rehearsal session at Lower Gate Farm, 1979
  7. "Making the Coming Up Music Video"
  8. "Blue Sway"
    Music video

Accolades

Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1981 "Coming Up" Best Rock Vocal Performance – Male[21] Nominated

Personnel

Charts

Peak positions

Notes

  • A^ Until January 1987, Japanese albums chart had been separated into LP, CD, and cassette charts. McCartney II also entered the cassette chart, peaking at number 13.
  • B^ Combined sales of LP and audio cassette.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Christmas in the Charts (1920–2004). Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 48. ISBN 0-89820-161-6.
  3. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r12654
  4. ^ "CG: Paul McCartney". Robert Christgau. 14 June 2007.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th edn). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. p. 1257. ISBN 0-19-531373-9.
  6. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 696. ISBN 978-184195-827-9.
  7. ^ Graff and Durchholz, p. 730.
  8. ^ "Paul McCartney: McCartney / McCartney II | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 15 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Reviews | Paul McCartney". The Quietus.
  10. ^ "Paul McCartney – McCartney II CD". CD Universe/Muze. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ^ Holden, Stephen (24 June 1980). "Music Reviews : McCartney II by Paul McCartney". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2008Template:Inconsistent citations {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2 April 2008 suggested (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  12. ^ "Paul McCartney: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  13. ^ Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (29 May – 11 June 1980): 30.
  14. ^ a b Paul McCartney – Chart history | Billboard
  15. ^ 27 April 2011: McCartney and McCartney II reissue details announced | The Beatles Bible
  16. ^ Chart Log UK – New Entries Update 25.06.2011 (week 24)
  17. ^ http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/album-details?p_p_id=AlbumDetails_WAR_AlbumDetailsportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1&p_r_p_564233524_tag=album-mccartney+ii&#p_AlbumDetails_WAR_AlbumDetailsportlet #TOP
  18. ^ "Paul McCartney – McCartney II (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Paul McCartney – McCartney II (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Paul McCartney – McCartney II (Vinyl, LP, Album, LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  21. ^ "Rock on the Net: 25th Annual Grammy Awards – 1981". Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  22. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  23. ^ "Paul McCartney – Tug of War – austriancharts.at". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 33, No. 20" (PHP). RPM. 9 August 1980. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  25. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney – McCartney II". dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  26. ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste". infodisc.fr. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  27. ^ a b "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1980" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  28. ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  29. ^ "charts.org.nz Paul McCartney – McCartney II". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  30. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Paul McCartney – McCartney II". VG-lista. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  31. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  32. ^ "swedishcharts.com Paul McCartney – McCartney II". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  33. ^ "Number 1 Albums – 1980s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  34. ^ "Album Search: Paul McCartney – McCartney II" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  35. ^ "lescharts.com Paul McCartney – McCartney". lescharts.com. SNEP. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  36. ^ ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of McCartney II (2011 reissues) by Paul McCartney". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 3 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ "spanishcharts.com – Paul McCartney – McCartney". Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  38. ^ "Take That progress back to the top of album charts". musicweek.com. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  39. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  40. ^ Paul McCartney – Chart history | Billboard
  41. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1980". RPM. 20 December 1980. Retrieved 31 January 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  42. ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1980 par InfoDisc" (PHP) (in French). infodisc.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  43. ^ "日本で売れた洋楽アルバムトップ23". Archived from the original on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  45. ^ "British album certifications – Paul McCartney – McCartney II". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type McCartney II in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  46. ^ "American album certifications – Paul McCartney – Mc Cartney II". Recording Industry Association of America.
Preceded by UK Albums Chart number one album
31 May 1980 – 13 June 1980 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McCartney_II&oldid=645783319"