University of Virginia Library

RECORDS

Paul's Progress On 'Red Rose Speedway'

By ANDY BALLENTINE

Paul was always the cute
one. For ten years, John
supplied the spark, while Ringo
contributed his zany antics and
George held the band together
with his quiet musical
excellence.

The break-up of the Beatles
is common knowledge to most
rock fans. Lennon quit in a
huff, fed up with McCartney's
attitude, saying later, "I'll
never record with an
egomaniac again."

Since the band's demise,
each former Beatle has
experimented on his own.
Lennon has sought out the life
of an avant-garde artist,
supporting his wife's ventures
and making records that reflect
his militant attitudes about
current controversies. Ringo
Starr, showing little talent,
began by recording two albums
that were miserable flops,
turned to an unsuccessful
acting career, and now is
directing films that are panned
before they are even released.

George Harrison surprised
and impressed music critics
with his three-record set
entitled All Things Must Pass, a
collection of consistently
excellent and musically rich
recordings. But All Things was
released three years ago, and
although he has since
masterminded the successful
concert to provide relief funds
for Bangla Desh, he has only
recently released anything new.

Somehow, McCartney has
been the biggest
disappointment to Beatle fans
because many people credited
him with the elements in
Beatle music that set it apart.
Even Lennon admitted that
McCartney played a large role
in holding the band together
after the death of their
manager, Brian Epstein.

But up until now,
McCartney's best music has
only been second-rate bubble
gum quality. His first album,
McCartney, embarrassed his
followers, and a second
album (this time with wife
Linda playing and singing) gave
only hints of his former
effectiveness.

A little over a year ago,
McCartney formed a new band
called Wings, enabling him to
tour and record with set
personnel. McCartney is
certainly the group's headliner.
He writes all the music, sings
lead on all the songs, and has
his picture on the album
covers. They are, in effect, his
plaything, and he has used
them as the vehicle to perfect
his easy-going music.

The first Wings album was
inconsistent. Some of the
music was downright ugly,
while other selections on the
same disc equaled the quality
McCartney attained as a Beatle.
One listened to that album and

agonized. Why couldn't
McCartney attain his former
greatness?

With the new Wings
offering, Red Rose Speedway,
he has gotten closer. The music
is consistently appealing, and
includes all types. On the one
hand. "Get On The Right
Thing" is his best raw rocker to
date, while "My Love" is the
most beautiful romantic ballad
he has done, with or without
the Beatles.

Our hero dominates the
album with his versatile
musicianship. When he plays
bass, a heavy, driving bass line
unmistakably marks the
music. If he turns to the
keyboard, the entire song
revolves around a piano as in
"Single Pigeon" and "Hold Me
Tight."

McCartney has improved,
but the question remains of
whether he has progressed.
"Get On The Right Thing" is
only one of several selections
on Speedway that is
reminiscent of Pre-Sgt. Pepper
Beatle music.

While Red Rose Speedway
is good, it could be better. Too
often, boring stretches of
repeating lyrics drag the
album's selections out far
longer than is necessary.
McCartney rarely ends a song,
taking the easy way out by
employing fade-out endings.

And the singing. McCartney
was only a mediocre singer
anyway, but the Wings' chorus
reminds one of the Mamas and
the Papas at best, and a
screaming ensemble of
mid-60's Beatlemaniacs at
worst.

Fans of Paul McCartney
will be pleased with Red Rose
Speedway. It is the best he has
done on his own. But as each
former Beatle puts out an
almost-great album, we can
only hope against hope that
the "fabulous foursome"
would only get back together
to once again offer that magic
and talent that dominated rock
music for so long.