Tug of War

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For the game, see Tug of war.

For the Upstairs, Downstairs episode, see Tug of War (Upstairs, Downstairs).

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Tug of War

Studio album by Paul McCartney
Released	26 April 1982
Recorded	February - March 1981, Summer 1981 and early 1982
Genre	Rock
Length	41:10
Label	Parlophone/EMI
Producer(s)	George Martin
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link
Paul McCartney chronology
McCartney II (1980)	Tug of War (1982)	Pipes of Peace (1983)

Tug of War is a Paul McCartney album released in 1982. The follow-up to 1980's McCartney II, Tug of War is also his first official solo album after the dissolution of Wings, who were disbanded by McCartney in April 1981. Probably his best solo album to date. The lengthy recording of Tug of War encompassed the reunion of an old collaborator and the death of a beloved one.

Following McCartney II's release, Wings regrouped in October 1980 to begin what would be their final recording sessions, whereby several songs later to appear on Tug of War and Pipes of Peace were rehearsed, recorded and unreleased. Feeling the need for direction, McCartney called upon his old producer, George Martin, to begin recording a song written for the animated Rupert Bear character (of which McCartney owned the rights), entitled "We All Stand Together", among others. The productive sessions continued until 9 December, the morning McCartney woke up to discover his old partner, John Lennon, had been murdered the night before in New York City. Abandoning that day's session part-way through (where he and Denny Laine were recording future B-Side "Rainclouds"), 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, Paul McCartney resumed his sessions, recording that month with Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Carl Perkins and Ringo Starr and laying down several songs in the process. Ex-10cc guitarist Eric Stewart also became a frequent collaborator of McCartney's during this era. Further sessions that summer were also undertaken at McCartney's studio on his Scottish farm - all with Martin manning the controls and giving McCartney's music the benefit of 1980's technology. The sessions were so productive that several of its tracks would be held over for the next album, Pipes of Peace, which followed in 1983. The rest of 1981 would be spent in a quiet fashion, with McCartney and Martin touching up the album and perfecting it.

In March of 1982, McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder, "Ebony And Ivory", was released to enormous acclaim. It reached #1 worldwide and did much to restore McCartney's critical reputation after what was viewed as a lean period for him. Consequently, when Tug of War appeared in April, it was an instantaneous worldwide #1, selling several million copies and with its stunning quality was received as a veritable masterpiece by the public, even being nominated for the "Album of the Year" Grammy in 1983. Follow-up single "Take It Away" was a US Top 10 entry as well.

Amid the musical greatness of the album were other notable collaborations. In addition to "Ebony And Ivory", Stevie Wonder sang on and co-wrote "What's That You're Doing?", while Carl Perkins appeared on the R&B-styled "Get It". McCartney also found space to pay tribute to his fallen mate - without naming him - on "Here Today".

As 1982 progressed, and with McCartney now having recovered from Lennon's death, the now forty-year-old ex-Beatle would spend the rest of the year completing the projected follow-up to Tug of War, as well as writing and developing a film project which would begin shooting that November.

In 1993, Tug of War was remastered and reissued on CD as part of "The Paul McCartney Collection" series - surprisingly without any bonus tracks, although "Rainclouds" and "I'll Give You A Ring" had been issued as B-Sides from "Ebony And Ivory" and "Take It Away", respectively.

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Paul McCartney, except where noted.

"Tug of War" – 4:22
"Take It Away– 4:14
- Features Ringo Starr on drums
"Somebody Who Cares" – 3:19
"What's That You're Doing?" (Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder) – 6:19
- A duet with the song's co-writer, Stevie Wonder
"Here Today" – 2:27
- McCartney's tribute to John Lennon
"Ballroom Dancing" – 4:07
"The Pound Is Sinking" – 2:54
"Wanderlust" – 3:49
"Get It" – 2:29
- A duet with 1950's rock and roll legend Carl Perkins
"Be What You See (Link)" – 0:34
"Dress Me Up As A Robber" – 2:41
"Ebony and Ivory" – 3:43
- A duet with Stevie Wonder