Paul McCartney Forums > McCartney- Albums
Venus and Mars
Keri:
I really like this album. The sound quality isn't very good and I'm not sure if that is because I have an early CD version or it just isn't that good. Take that as another dig at the slow re release programme of Paul's catalogue.
The title track opening I just adore, it's a nice blend of acoustic and spacey, lovely little tune.
Rock Show is a good song but it sounds like a live recording.
Love in Song - I think Paul puts some real feeling into this song, I find it magical.
You gave me the answer - Paul does the Music hall thing so well, very cute.
Magneto And Titanium Man - Another excellent song with a great bunch of comic characters
Letting Go - Great riff great singing again it sounds like Paul means it
Venus and Mars reprise - The song was so short it's nice to have a reprise
Spirits of Ancient Egypt - The first disappointment especially given it had such a cool title
Medicine Jar - Also a bit flat I don't think the attempts to make Wings a democratic band were much of a success
Call Me Back Again - Love the brass on this and Paul's singing is just great. Good song
Listen to what the Man said - Very Paul, very wings kind of cheesy but hey it makes me smile
Treat her gently/ Lonely old People - Nice end to the album, another song I find genuinely moving, I especially like the lonely old people section.
There is a vibe to this album that I really love, in some ways i prefer it to Band on the Run, but it is let down by a couple of dull songs and my copy hasn't got great sound.
kylenz:
--- Quote from: Keri on June 12, 2014, 03:03:17 am ---Spirits of Ancient Egypt - The first disappointment especially given it had such a cool title
--- End quote ---
This is one of my favourite songs on the album, in fact it was the song that got me into Egyptology at a very young age, that and 'Pyramid' by the Alan Parsons Project, got me fascinated by the mystery of the pyramids.
The great thing I like about 'Spirits of Ancient Egypt', is the recording of the drum track, and how it has so much reverb/slap-echo behind it, along with the driving rock guitar sound. And it has a kind of mystical eerie ghostly feel about it.. I love it. Was listening the other day to the 'Wings Over America' version and it's also really good.
I do agree though on the sound quality of the album. My original 1975 vinyl had that same tinny trebly sound, with very little bass and midrange frequencies. I remember thinking how rich and bassy Band on the Run and Red Rose Speedway sounded, and then putting Venus and Mars on and that was the first time I recognised high frequencies and treble vs bass etc. Unfortunately all the re-releases to date have done nothing to improve the sound quality. And I can't see Macca re-eq'ing the entire album when it comes to finally remastering it (whenever that will happen).
Another cool thing this album gave me, is an interest in astronomy as a child. The LP came with a sticker (which I put on the lid of the record player!) and a little cardboard bookmark thingy which had information on all the planets in the solar system. From there, I began to read many books on astronomy and eventually a telescope - all due to this one Wings album! :)
Keri:
--- Quote from: kylenz on June 12, 2014, 05:21:36 am ---
--- Quote from: Keri on June 12, 2014, 03:03:17 am ---Spirits of Ancient Egypt - The first disappointment especially given it had such a cool title
--- End quote ---
This is one of my favourite songs on the album, in fact it was the song that got me into Egyptology at a very young age, that and 'Pyramid' by the Alan Parsons Project, got me fascinated by the mystery of the pyramids.
The great thing I like about 'Spirits of Ancient Egypt', is the recording of the drum track, and how it has so much reverb/slap-echo behind it, along with the driving rock guitar sound. And it has a kind of mystical eerie ghostly feel about it.. I love it. Was listening the other day to the 'Wings Over America' version and it's also really good.
--- End quote ---
It could just be the execution, Paul is such a good singer I would prefer him singing, I love the title of the song, there is a glamour to Egypt which really appeals to me.
kylenz:
--- Quote ---It could just be the execution, Paul is such a good singer I would prefer him singing, I love the title of the song, there is a glamour to Egypt which really appeals to me.
--- End quote ---
There are some good harmonies between Denny and Paul on that song though.
One thing that always bugged me about the cd version of VAM, is the choice of bonus tracks - Lunch Box/Odd Sox was included despite being a B-side on Macca's 1980 'Coming Up' single. Chronologically it makes no sense to be on there, though I have read it was actually recorded during the Venus and Mars sessions. Still.. it should've been on the McCartney II cd instead, and 'Goodnight Tonight' should've been on the 'Back to the Egg' bonus tracks.
Mervap:
Again, I have dipped into the archive and found this for your perusal:
--- Quote --- I have been re-visiting "Venus & Mars" after not having listened to it in several months...as usual with Paul's solo career, I discovered something different this time around. When listened to back to back, "Venus" sounds as if it should have followed "RRS"...it sounds strange to say that, but I'm doing just that and I hear similarities, a continuity if you will, between them. One must set aside the difference in production values to hear this...to my ears, "RRS" sounds better by far in that catagory. No, I'm speaking of the type of songs to be found on each of them. Most of us have observed that Paul, for better or worse, likes to dabble in whimsy and pastiche, which has been mistaken for insubstantiality by his detractors...both of these albums have this trait in common, tunes that you love and can't get out of your head, but wonder why!
I wonder what came over Paul during the "Band On the Run" era that allowed him to create something more "meaty" from these same ingredients, while "Venus & Mars" and "RRS" are generally seen as inferior to that work...just a thought. Anyone else hear this?
--- End quote ---
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