Unreleased.
Paul performed a version of this Buddy Holly classic live in 1990.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
"Off the Ground" by Paul McCartney – ***
First released: 1993
McCartney is definitely not at his best when he’s preachy. I guess he feels (or at least felt at the time of release) that he need to make a statement about something instead of just issuing hit after hit of meaningless songs. I prefer the meaningless stuff compared to his preaching about cats with machines in their brains and the like. "Hope of Deliverance" is pleasant enough as is the title track. "Cosmically Conscious" should have appeared in its full form, but instead appeared as a bonus track on the many CD singles issued at the time. I would have been happier with a double album release as many of the songs relegated to bonus track status actually are better than the ones placed on the album. This was McCartney’s last gasp before he again became a Beatle.
McCartney is definitely not at his best when he’s preachy. I guess he feels (or at least felt at the time of release) that he need to make a statement about something instead of just issuing hit after hit of meaningless songs. I prefer the meaningless stuff compared to his preaching about cats with machines in their brains and the like. "Hope of Deliverance" is pleasant enough as is the title track. "Cosmically Conscious" should have appeared in its full form, but instead appeared as a bonus track on the many CD singles issued at the time. I would have been happier with a double album release as many of the songs relegated to bonus track status actually are better than the ones placed on the album. This was McCartney’s last gasp before he again became a Beatle.
Off the Ground by Paul McCartney – ***
First released: 1993
Title track and second or third single depending on where you're from, from Paul's album. It's a nice bit of pop craftsmanship, but little more.
Title track and second or third single depending on where you're from, from Paul's album. It's a nice bit of pop craftsmanship, but little more.
Ode to a Koala Bear by Paul McCartney – ***
First released: 1983
Another song that's now in b-side limbo. It originally was the b-side to "Say Say Say" and was not added to the CD reissue of either "Tug of War" or "Pipes of Peace" and remains a lost Paul track, never officially released to CD. It's a pleasant tune. Lyrically, it's kind of dumb. The kind of lyric that Paul has gotten chastised about and had it been a featured album track, he probably would have gotten extra ribbing.
Another song that's now in b-side limbo. It originally was the b-side to "Say Say Say" and was not added to the CD reissue of either "Tug of War" or "Pipes of Peace" and remains a lost Paul track, never officially released to CD. It's a pleasant tune. Lyrically, it's kind of dumb. The kind of lyric that Paul has gotten chastised about and had it been a featured album track, he probably would have gotten extra ribbing.
Odd Sox by Paul McCartney – ***
First released: 1980
Though first released in 1980 coupled with another instrumental track called "Lunch Box", on the b-side of "Coming Up", these two songs have earlier origins around the time of Paul's "Venus and Mars". As such, these were added to the "Venus and Mars" CD rather than "McCartney II" as bonus tracks. Nothing terribly special about either of them.
Though first released in 1980 coupled with another instrumental track called "Lunch Box", on the b-side of "Coming Up", these two songs have earlier origins around the time of Paul's "Venus and Mars". As such, these were added to the "Venus and Mars" CD rather than "McCartney II" as bonus tracks. Nothing terribly special about either of them.
Octopus’s Garden by The Beatles – ****
First released: 1969
One of my all-time Beatles favorites from "Abbey Road". Some people don't like this song. I can't understand why. It's Ringo's best composition with The Beatles and arguably best song next to "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help". It's also on "1967-1970". Ringo is seen auditioning this song for the others in "Let it Be". This demo version appears on "Anthology 3" in 1996. It is also used for 2006's "Love".
A live version appears on 1998’s "VH1 Storytellers" with a great story as to how and why he composed the song. The superior live version appears on "Live at Soundstage" from 2007.
One of my all-time Beatles favorites from "Abbey Road". Some people don't like this song. I can't understand why. It's Ringo's best composition with The Beatles and arguably best song next to "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help". It's also on "1967-1970". Ringo is seen auditioning this song for the others in "Let it Be". This demo version appears on "Anthology 3" in 1996. It is also used for 2006's "Love".
A live version appears on 1998’s "VH1 Storytellers" with a great story as to how and why he composed the song. The superior live version appears on "Live at Soundstage" from 2007.
Occapella by Ringo Starr – ***
First released: 1974
Great brass instruments punch up this Toussaint composition for Ringo’s "Goodnight Vienna".
Great brass instruments punch up this Toussaint composition for Ringo’s "Goodnight Vienna".
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