[.ca] Pipes of Peace

From Amazon.com:
Released in late 1983, Pipes of Peace peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard album charts, thereby becoming the first Paul McCartney LP to run out of gas before reaching the U.S. top 10. Which is not to say that it deserved better--despite the well-meaning title track and the duet with Michael Jackson on "Say Say Say," Pipes of Peace marked a definite artistic low for Sir Paul. Coming on the heels of 1982's effervescent Tug of War, Pipes of Peace sounded surprisingly sleepy and uninspired, and the few half-decent songs ("Keep Under Cover," the unfortunately titled "So Bad") didn't stand a chance against the album's bland, state-of-the-'80s production values. "Say Say Say," a big improvement over "The Girl Is Mine," Macca and Michael's previous collaboration, easily outclasses the album's other tracks. Happily, you can also find it on All the Best, where it gets the company it deserves. --Dan Epstein

Your troubles cease when you play Pipes of Peace:
With McCartney in his 40's, his world conscience shows up in the title track, a sweet mid-paced affair which displays a universal message: "Help me learn the songs of joy instead of/burn baby burn/won't you show me how to play/the pipes of peace, play the pipes of peace." The marching rhythm complete with drum machine and choir adds a nice touch. Like Stevie Wonder did on Tug Of War, Michael Jackson shows up for two songs here, and one of them became a big hit. "Say Say Say" is a more effective number than "The Girl Is Mine," featuring harmonica and a brass section and computerized voices. Things would not be so cozy between McCartney and Jackson, as the latter outbid McCartney for the rights to the Beatles songs. But that line, "baptised in all my tears" really caught my eye. "The Other Me" is a mid-paced apology to a sig. other for really bad behaviour--"I acted like a dustbin" and asks for a second chance--"I wish I could take it back/I'd like to make a different mood/and if you let me try again/I'll have a better attitude." That's the other me he sings of. Quick Vivaldi-type strings and quick guitar pop distinguish the chorus of "Keep Under Cover." There's some nice electric Wings-type guitar reminiscent of his early days. It's a promise to share life with someone despite the uncertain journey ahead, but without that special one, one might as well "keep under cover." Or play ostrich, in other words. And as DLR said, you know what happen to ostrich's hind ends. OK, my favourite track here. "So Bad", later to be done live in Give My Regards To Broadstreet is a nice slow ballad with Paul and Linda singing together in the chorus. Paul's falsetto makes this all the more better. In addition to the chorus, :"Girl I love you so bad" there's this dynamic: "Well it feels so good, sometimes it feels so bad/this is worse than anything I've ever hard." "The Man" is the second song with Jacko, a more chirpy soulful pop, is about a man who can do anything with his cheery outlook on life. The acoustic guitar of "Sweetest Little Show" recalls 70's-style pop he did with the Wings, especially the harmony backing vocals in the chorus. "Look at the average person/speak to the man on the beat/can you imagine the first one you'd meet". A sung interview best describes "Average Person" trying to find out what they do for a living and what they'd rather like to do or what kept them from pursuing their dreams. This is a quick-paced kitchen-sink type rock-pop song, with some special effects, clapping, and harmony vocals. "Hey Hey" is a fiery jazz-rock instrumental co-written with jazz bassist Stanley Clarke, which leads to "Tug Of Peace" a funky accompaniment to the title track coupled with Tibetan chanting, with lines from "Tug Of War" and "Pipes Of Peace" fighting it out. How true, "your troubles cease when you learn to play the pipes of peace." "Through Our Love" is another schmaltzy and idyllic McCartney ballad with strings (I enjoy those, actually) with some equally schmaltzy lyrics: "Whenever you get some time/I'd like to roll it all/up in a ball/and spend it with you." The brass section and kettle drums that come on later heightens the tempo of the song, which basically says "through our love we can learn to do things that they said were impossible." Another worthy effort from Macca and his last album of all-new material until the experimental and flawed Press To Play.

Pipes of peace:
What can i say? Paul McCartney gives us here another couple of great melodies ("Pipes of peace","The other me") - surely he is one of the most genius songwriters in the world.it is not a good album to start with Paul, but in my opinion it is really interesting and also sometimes moving.Why 4 stars? because of "Average person" (one of his worst songs) and flat, weak production

Not Paul's best album but definitly worth listening:
After popular "Tug of war" Paul Recorded a continuation of it with another smash hits and more of McCartney's eighties pop... Many fans hate it but i found that iti s not as bad album as many of fans say. songs like "pipes of peace" (the best song on album),"Keep under coer","sweetest little show" (awesome bass playing) or experimental "Tug of peace" are making this album worth owning. and of course there are two classic collaborations with Michael Jackson - smash hit "Say say say" and less known but also good "The man". If you are Paul's beginner fan i recomend you "Driving rain" or "Off the ground" instead of this one...But as is said before there are too many great songs that even the bad songs ("average person","Too bad") are staying hidden under Paul's golden melodies!

Burn baby Burn:
hmmm....there are great tracs like "Keep under cover" or "Pipes of peace" but also a lot of material that should have been b-sides.too many bad songs to give it 4 stars but i give it 3 stars for Title track which is amazing.

A continuation of "Tug of war":
"Tug of war" was the second album in eigties signed by Paul McCartney - not Paul McCartney and Wings.this solo album became a great hit because of mixing modern-styled soul,rock and pop wit his typical post-beatles melodies. shorty after releasing he album "pipes of peace" appeared... What's the problem with this album? it is well produced (george martin).it continues his way of pop-soul-rock era.Michael Jackson saved this album from forgetting with hit "Say say say" sung with Macca. but sadly Even if the naive pop songs on "tug of war" sounded nice and interesting here they shine half less than of his previous album. "So bad","Keep under cover","Through our love" are good songs but they all are lacking something...maybe some madness or freshness? (haha -"Average person" sound exactly like many songs from band called Madness...) i don't really know what's wrong with it - i like this album and i love the title track but it is not enough - compared to "Back to the Egg","Flowers in the dirt" or "Press to play" it is a bit boring and pretentious. in the end - a good album but it has much more weaker melodies than on any of his other albums.anyway you can check it out.

• Pipes of Peace
• Say Say Say
• Other Me
• Keep Under Cover
• So Bad
• Man - Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney
• Sweetest Little Show
• Average Person
• Hey Hey \oInstrumental\c
• Tug of Peace
• Through Our Love