Tug of War is the fourth solo studio album by the English musician Paul McCartney, released on 26 April 1982. It is his 11th album overall following the breakup of the Beatles in 1970, his first album released after the dissolution of his band Wings the previous year, and his first album following the murder of his former songwriting partner John Lennon.McCartney: Songwriter p. 128 The cover features an abstract oil painting by the artist Brian Clarke, a frequent McCartney collaborator, incorporating an overpainted transparency of a portrait of Paul taken by Linda McCartney.
Tug of War was produced by former Beatles producer George Martin and was a number-one hit in many countries, selling over one million copies in the United States in the year of its release. The 2015 re-release, in a remastered deluxe edition, received a nomination for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Recording Following the release of the solo album McCartney II, McCartney's band Wings regrouped in July and October 1980 to rehearse several songs which later appeared on Tug of War and Pipes of Peace. Feeling the need for direction, McCartney called upon his former producer, George Martin,McCartney: Songwriter p. 129 to begin recording a song written for the animated Rupert Bear character (to which McCartney acquired the film rights in 1970),(UPI) "McCartney's solo efforts may bring an end to Beatles as recording group" The Bulletin April 7, 1970: 9 titled "We All Stand Together", among others. The productive sessions continued until 9 December, the morning McCartney woke up to learn that his former songwriting partner and fellow ex-Beatle, John Lennon, had been murdered in New York City the previous night. Abandoning that day's session (in which he and Denny Laine were recording future B-side "Rainclouds") part-way through, both Martin and McCartney felt it was best to leave the project for the time being and start anew once they were ready.
In February 1981, two months after Lennon's death, McCartney resumed the sessions, recording that month with Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Carl Perkins and Ringo Starr, and laying down several songs in the process. The sessions were held at AIR Studios in Montserrat, in the Caribbean, and lasted from 3 February to 2 March, ending with "Ebony and Ivory" and "What's That You're Doing",The end of the Beatles? p. 184 two songs featuring Stevie Wonder.Luca Perasi, Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969–2013), L.I.L.Y. Publishing, 2013, , pp.213–225. 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart also became a frequent collaborator of McCartney during this period.The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years p. 105 Further sessions were undertaken that summer at Martin's AIR Studios in Oxford Street, London. The sessions were so productive that several resulting tracks were held over for McCartney's next album, Pipes of Peace, which followed in 1983. The rest of 1981 was spent in a quiet fashion, with McCartney and Martin giving the finishing touches to the album.
Release, critical reception, and aftermath
In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, music critic Stephen Holden hailed Tug of War as "the masterpiece everyone has always known Paul McCartney could make", and particularly admired its vivid music and consistent songwriting. In The Boston Phoenix, M. Howell felt that the album "is bouncy, joyful, sweet and melodic—things we expect from Paul McCartney. It's also frightened and fierce—things he’s not supposed to be. To say that Tug of War is a far better record than McCartney’s ever made is to slight it—Tug of War goes beyond anything that McCartney ever indicated he was capable of." Robert Palmer was less enthusiastic in his review for The New York Times, and found the album "exquisitely crafted though lyrically flawed", as he thought McCartney's lyrics were often "clichéd or mawkish", but that the album "at its best, is as finely crafted as his work with the Beatles".
In March 1982, McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder, "Ebony and Ivory", was released to considerable commercial success, reaching number one in many countries. Tug of War followed in April, and similarly became a worldwide number one. The follow-up single, "Take It Away", reached the top ten in the United States. The album restored McCartney's critical reputation after what was viewed as a lean period for him. Tug of War was nominated for the "Album of the Year" Grammy in 1983. Wingspan author Mark Lewisohn thought it was a better album than Band on the Run. In The Village Voice annual Pazz & Jop critics poll, compiling the best albums of 1982, Tug of War placed at number 34.
Track listing All songs were written by Paul McCartney, except "What's That You're Doing?" co-written by Stevie Wonder.
Side one "Tug of War" – 4:22 "Take It Away" – 4:14 "Somebody Who Cares" – 3:19 "What's That You're Doing?" – 6:19 "Here Today" – 2:27
Side two "Ballroom Dancing" – 4:07 "The Pound Is Sinking" – 2:54 "Wanderlust" – 3:49 "Get It" – 2:29 "Be What You See (Link)" – 0:34 "Dress Me Up as a Robber" – 2:41 "Ebony and Ivory" – 3:46
Reissues The album was issued in the US on compact disc on 29 February 1984. In 1993, Tug of War was remastered and re-issued on CD as part of The Paul McCartney Collection series. There were no bonus tracks: "Rainclouds" and "I'll Give You a Ring", B-sides of "Ebony and Ivory" and "Take It Away", respectively, were omitted. In 2007, Tug of War was remastered and re-released on the iTunes Store adding a solo version of "Ebony and Ivory".
A further reissue of Tug of War was released on 2 October 2015, as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. This edition included a remixed version of the album, along with the original mix, and a series of videos.
Archive Collection reissue In 2015 the album was re-issued by Hear Music/Concord Music Group as part of the sixth set of releases, alongside Pipes of Peace, in the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. It was released in multiple formats:
Standard edition 2-CD; remixed version of the original 12-track album on the first disc, plus 11 bonus tracks on a second disc. Deluxe edition 3-CD/1-DVD box set + 112-page essay book and 64-page scrapbook; Super deluxe CD/DVD 3-CD/1-DVD box set + 112-page essay book and 64-page scrapbook + limited edition acrylic slipcase Remastered vinyl The albums were also released in special gatefold vinyl editions (vinyl editions include a download card).
Disc 1 – Remixed album
Remixed version of the original 12-track album.
Disc 2 – Original album remastered (deluxe edition only)
The original 12-track album.
Bonus audio (disc 2 for standard version, disc 3 for deluxe edition)
All songs written by Paul McCartney, except "Rainclouds", co-written with Denny Laine.
"Stop, You Don't Know Where She Came From" – 1:44 "Wanderlust" – 1:46 "Ballroom Dancing" – 2:04 "Take It Away" – 5:37 "The Pound Is Sinking" – 2:35 "Something That Didn't Happen" – 2:17 "Ebony and Ivory" – 1:46 "Dress Me Up as a Robber/Robber Riff" – 3:42 "Ebony and Ivory" – 3:50 "Rainclouds" – 3:13 "I'll Give You a Ring" – 3:09
Note: Tracks 1–8 previously unreleased.
Additional download tracks available via paulmccartney.com "Take It Away" – 4:05
Disc 4 – DVD "Tug of War" music video "Tug of War" music video "Take It Away" music video "Ebony and Ivory" music video "Fly TIA" – Behind the Scenes on Take It Away
Personnel Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album. Paul McCartney – arrangements, vocals, backing vocals (1–4, 6–9, 11, 12); synthesizers (1, 7, 9, 12); acoustic guitar (1–3, 7–9); electric guitar (1, 4, 6, 7); bass guitar (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12); drums (1, 4, 6, 7); acoustic piano (2, 6, 8, 12); Spanish guitar (3); guitars (5, 10–12), percussion (6, 9, 12); vocoder (10, 12) George Martin – arrangements, Fender Rhodes (2, 11) Stevie Wonder – vocals, backing vocals and synthesizers (4, 12); Fender Rhodes, drums and percussion (12) Denny Laine – electric guitar (1, 6, 11); guitar synthesizer (3); acoustic guitar (7); bass guitar (8); synthesizers (11) Eric Stewart – electric guitar (1); backing vocals (1–4, 6–8) Carl Perkins – electric guitar and vocals (9) Stanley Clarke – bass guitar (3, 7) Campbell Maloney – military snare drum (1) Steve Gadd – drums (2, 3); percussion (3) Ringo Starr – drums (2, 6, 8) Adrian Sheppard – drums and percussion (8) Dave Mattacks – drums and percussion (11) Kenneth Sillito – orchestra conductor (1) Adrian Brett – pan pipes (1) Andy Mackay – Lyricon (4) Jack Brymer – clarinet (6) Keith Harvey – cello (5) Ian Jewel – viola (5) Bernard Partridge – violin (5) Jack Rothstein – violin (5) Philip Jones Brass Ensemble – brass section (8) Linda McCartney – backing vocals (1–4, 6–8, 11) Peter Marshall – narrator (6)
Production George Martin – producer Geoff Emerick – engineer Jon Jacobs – assistant engineer Mike Stavrou – assistant engineer Alex Wharton – mastering Hipgnosis – cover coordination Sinc – cover coordination YES – creative direction, design Brian Clarke – cover painting Linda McCartney – photography
Accolades
Grammy Awards
| width="35" align="center" rowspan="5"|1983 || Tug of War || Album of the Year || |- |rowspan=3| "Ebony and Ivory" (Duet with Stevie Wonder) || Song of the Year || |- | Record of the Year || |- | Best Pop Vocal Performance – Duo or Group || |- | "What's That You're Doing?"(Duet with Stevie Wonder) || Best R&B Vocal Performance – Duo or Group || |- | width="35" align="center" rowspan="1"|2017 || Tug of War (Remastered Deluxe Edition) || Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package ||
American Music Awards
| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1983 || Paul McCartney (performer) || Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist|| |- | "Ebony and Ivory"(Duet with Stevie Wonder) || Favorite Pop/Rock Single ||
Brit Awards
| width="35" align="center" rowspan="3"|1983|| rowspan=2| Paul McCartney (performer)|| Best British Male Artist || |- | Sony Trophy for Technical Excellence || |- | George Martin (producer) || Best British Producer ||
Charts
Weekly charts +Original album Chart (1982) Peakposition Australian Kent Music Report2 Austrian Albums Chart 2 Belgium Albums Chart 3 Canadian RPM Albums ChartLibrary and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 October 2011 1 Dutch Mega Albums Chart 1 French SNEP Albums Chart 2 Israeli Albums Chart 2Italian Albums Chart Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Tug of war". 1 Japanese Oricon Weekly LP Chart [B] 1 New Zealand Albums Chart 4 Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart 1 Spanish Albums Chart 2 Swedish Albums Chart 1 UK Albums Chart 1 US Billboard Top LPs & Tape [A] 1 West German Media Control Albums Chart1
+Reissue Chart (2015) Peakposition UK Albums Chart 49 US Billboard 200 56
Year-end charts Chart (1982) Position Australian Albums Chart 7 Austrian Albums Chart 7 Canadian Albums Chart 14 French Albums Chart 12Italian Albums Chart 13 Japanese Oricon Chart 37 UK Albums Chart 16 US Billboard Pop Albums 28
Certifications and sales
Notes A^ In the United States, Tug of War also entered the R&B chart, peaking at No. 11 there. B^ Until January 1987, Japanese albums chart had been separated into LP, CD, and cassette charts. Tug of War also entered the cassette chart, peaking at No. 12 and entering top 100 for 19 weeks. Tug of War also reached number 1 on the Music Labo albums chart in 1982.Billboard, 5 June 1982, p 61. C^ Combined sales of LP, CD, and audio cassette.
References
External links
JPGR's Beatles site: Paul McCartney's Tug of War