Back to the Egg


Recently, I was reminiscing about the 1990 Flowers in the Dirt tour while leafing through the concert book that was handed out to attendees. In it, I was shocked to read a McCartney quote dismissing 1979's Back to the Egg as a flop because I believe it's one of the best albums he's ever made, with or without the other Beatles. His comment has prompted me to begin a comprehensive review of all his work (excepting the Beatles stuff which has been reviewed and re-reviewed ad nauseum).

Anyway, Back to the Egg is a very experimental album, and it draws on many types of popular music to create a unique sound that would be hard for anyone to match. To view a picture of the cover (this one doesn't have audio clips yet, but I'll get on CDnow's back about that), press here now. Unlike some other McCartney titles, this one is actually pretty reasonably priced at $11.49. Well, scratch that. Evidently they've run out of domestic copies. But they do offer an import for a bit more.

Best Songs:

  1. Old Siam, Sir

    Loud, primitive pentatonic guitar and bass riffs underscore a simple but effective piano intro in preparation for an intense vocal that no one else could replicate. McCartney often frets that he may not be able to rock quite as hard as Townshend or other British rockers, but this and other tracks off this album are proof that he can actually do it better when he sets his mind to it.

  2. Arrow Through Me

    This slow, experimental hybrid of blues, jazz, and something else I can't quite put my finger on features electric piano and horns and a cool bluesy McCartney vocal.

  3. We're Open Tonight

    Short and sweet. Not much to it except McCartney's expert vocals, dripping with the Blues while he alternately soars up to high notes in a fluttery falsetto and glides back down into his normal range.

  4. Spin it On

    Another great rocker, this time at high speed and with reckless abandon.

  5. To You

    Features McCartney's Elvis-esque breathiness (for lack of a better word - the same thing he does on Helter Skelter. You can tell he's imitating Elvis, but what he comes up with is much better) punctuated with a raw harmony from Linda. The mix is quite effective. Linda takes a bad rap for her participation in Paul's music, but I think she does a pretty good job most of the time. She definitely makes a contribution to what people recognize as the McCartney/Wings sound.

  6. After the Ball/Million Miles

    One of my favorites. He's just playing around with a couple of bluesy riffs here, but it's great stuff. Another great McCartney vocal.

Other Good Songs:

  1. Getting Closer

    This one doesn't grab me quite as much as the above tunes do, but that certainly isn't meant as a slam. It combines good quality and a general Top-40 feel in a way that few songs ever do.

  2. Rockestra Theme

    McCartney's idea was to put together a section of electric guitar players and have them play in unison the way the violins do in an orchestra. This seems like a silly idea considering all the special effects an electric guitarist has at his disposal. But it's a pretty cool take, punctuated with some more fantastic McCartney vocals. The ending is the best part. Great job, guys! Too bad Townshend and McCartney have never collaborated as a songwriting team. Something interesting might come of such a union.

  3. Winter Rose/Love Awake

    Slow piano ballads featuring McCartney's writing at its most melodic. WR is reminiscent of a folk melody while LA harks back to popular music from earlier eras. Part of what I like about McCartney is his ability to mimic a wide variety of musical styles while making the music all his own.

  4. So Glad to See You

    Another great rocker. This one also features the Rockestra group (McCartney, Townshend, and other virtuoso rock guitarists and bassists).

  5. Again and Again and Again

    Yet another great rocker. I think Denny Laine wrote this one. I'll have to check the credits in the CD jacket.

Not so Great:

  1. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae

    This song wasn't actually on the original album as released on vinyl. All it is is an instrumental version of the Christmas carol, and there's nothing reggae about it. Pretty lame, but then what do you expect from a B-side?

  2. Wonderful Christmas Time

    Repetitive and Overplayed. Like "Twist and Shout", I wouldn't care if I ever heard it again. Also not included in the original album.

  3. Daytime/Nighttime Suffering

    Linda called this her favorite McCartney song. I say it's okay, but it's nothing to write home about. Although I do sympathize with the message. Also not included in the original album.

  4. The Reception (short prelude to Getting Closer)

    Not really long enough to comment on. It's just the intro to the album and to Getting Closer.

  5. The Broadcast

    Experimental track with a speaking part and slow, repetitive arpeggios. Boring, but I'll give them points for trying something different.

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