Paul McCartney Pipes of Peace Album Review 

I’m disappointed that there’s so much bad blood for Pipes Of Peace - I think it’s a superb album. A lot of the tracks are left over from the final Wings sessions, and there’s no doubt that there’s some great Macca songs on this. I think that Through Our Love is sublime. I also love The Other Me.

Hi John, Glad I found this. I think these albums don't get the love they deserve. Tug is stronger.. Ballroom Dancing.... and more album tracks to chew on... but Pipes of Peace is strong a single and the Macca/Jackson duet's hit cannot be denied. I will rediscover this. A shame that the gems are hidden and not known... like diamonds in the rough.... have to scratch deeper in the album. Love your reviews as always. Love the combo with Dave. God bless Tino

Hi John. I've totally reappraised Pipes of Peace in the last few months. I really enjoy it these days. I would agree that it's very pleasant sounding album, and George Martin's contributions are largely wonderful. I wonder now if The Other Me was a kind of slightly botched attempt to write a John Lennon song. I'd certainly dispute Dave's point that the lyrics are meaningless.

Nice review, good to see a duo for a change. I didn't know about the dustbin lid being a piece of Scouse slang. Whisper it now, I must be the only McCartney fan who likes The Man.

Not his best effort, of course, but the album has its charms and those 2 singles were both huge comercially... As in other occasions in Paul's career, I wish he had skipped one album and, instead of having Tug of War + Pipes of Peace, we should only have Tug Of War. So, if I could redo this period, I would go like this: - first single: Ebony and Ivory/Bside: What's That You're Doing Album: Tug of War Side One: 1- Tug of War 2- Take It Away 3 - Somebody Who Cares 4 - Keep Under Cover 5 - Ballroom Dancing 6 - Here Today Side Two: 1 - Pipes of Peace 2 - The Pound Is Sinking 3 - Wanderlust 4 - So Bad 5 - Dress Me Up as a Robber 6 - Through Our Love - second single: Say Say Say/Bside: The Man - third single (for Xmas): Pipes Of Peace/Bside: Rainclouds (I think it's possible to to the same with Flowers In The Dirt-Off The Ground and probably with Venus And Mars-At The Speed Of Sound...)

I wish Paul would put out a version of Say, Say, Say with only his vocals like he did with Ebony and Ivory.

I like the album a lot more now thanks to the reissue than I did when it came out in 83 the other me is one of my favorite songs I think Paul is really being honest in that song

I like it more now than when it first came out,but the demos are much better than the finished product for a lot of the tracks.Thanks for the reviews.

I listened to this album again and I have to say it's my favourite Paul McCartney solo album. I find the songs very catchy and I just really like listening to it. I didn't really like Tug of War , but listen to it again . This album had a lot more hits. I am from Liverpool and Bin Lud does mean kid. I really like the Other Me and The Average Person . I know John you don't like pop singles but Say Say Say was brilliant .

First, great story of Dave meeting Paul and then Macca signing the back of the check ("as long as it's not the front" is a great line!)... but it hurt like hell to hear that the check could unbelievably have become lost afterwards (sigh.. how could he let that happen!?). There's not much I would strongly disagree with in this video... except that I didn't mind the original "Say Say Say", but I really dislike the new 2015 version. I have since heard about the Liverpudlian "Dustbin Lid" meaning, but then I just wish Paul would have said "I acted like a little kid" or something instead (which would have helped that much anyway I guess) . I think "So Bad" is my favorite track of them all.

Yes it is true not as strong as Tug Of War but then that is a classic, Keep Under Cover & Average Person very good tracks. As for the Michael Jackson duets prefer The Man but at the time thought not as good as working with Stevie a true friendship

Totally agree with this review. A good few tracks, but not a great album on the whole. I would add that 'Hey Hey' is very reminiscent of another throwaway McCartney song, 'Birthday' from the White Album, but lacks the fun.

Can you review Michael Jackson's Bad and Dangerous album?? Since those are your favorite MJ albums.

Yeah I love 'The Man' is great. I admire Jackson's music, him doing Girlfriend was a great tribute. Through Your Love is amazing and Il love Say, Say, Say, its upbeat and is a typical Micheal Jackson dancy catchy song; its number 1 in US and Number 2 in UK reflected that the public liked it. Just opinions really but its one of favourite McCartney albums and I bought Flowers in the Dirt. Thanks for the review though.

i just listened to this again after many years. wow my opinion has changed over the years i quite like this.

"Hindsight displays it's charms", - to borrow the phrase that Carr & Tyler used to describe the "McCartney" LP... Never owned the "Pipes Of Peace" album until last year when the remastered version came out, but I remember borrowing it back in 83' and being extremely disappointed by both the songs, (except for "So Bad") and the slick production, - especially after the high quality of much of "Tug Of War" the year before.. I have grown to be rather fond of "Pipes Of Peace" actually, even though it's very light weight as a whole, I like the way that Paul sings this fluff with such gusto and enthusiasm - and humor on several of the songs..And I actually find the two instrumentals to be rather fun.. I would give the album a 7.5 - I know that you will disagree with this, but I much prefer it over "Back To The Egg" and "London Town" and George's "Gone Troppo"... Enjoyed the review as always - you and Dave are a very good team - but you do well on your own too.. Take care.

Great review John. You are both right in that if Paul had taken the best songs from this album and Tug of War, he would have had a truely great album. As it is we are left with two albums that are both very good and very bad in equal measure! Say, Say, Say and The Man are both abominations in my opinion that should be nowhere near a McCartney album. For me the best track on Pipes of Peace is So Bad - I remember playing that to death as a love lorn teenager when the album first came out! Take care.

The Other Me is a superb track about the duality of human nature. The Man is superb too , what are these two reviewers on?

I bought Pipes of Piece when it was released. I listened to it once or twice and had had enough.

Paul McCartney asked George Martin to produce a “Tug Of War 2, Electric Boogaloo”, and Martin, eyes wide open for the cash, became a Sir Paul “Yes Man”. However, despite the unfavorable comparisons, I like the album much better than most of “Tug Of War” as the songs in it are less saccharine syrupy.

Great review from the both of you. Certinitly in the bottom barrel of mccartneys albums but as you's mention has some gems. Glad he didnt make this and Tug of War a double album as orogionally planned as I think that would have marred some of the material on Tug. Thanks

Enjoyable review. Great meeting of Paul story. I agree with everything said about this album. Terrible album cover(one of his worst), whereas, I think Tug of War one of his best. Could care less for the Jackson collaborations. In hindsight, IMO they just don't fit on the album. Say Say Say should have possibly been released just as a one off single. I also think Paul should have waited until he had a better collection of tracks to choose from before putting this out but I think he was also working on Broad Street around this time. So, maybe he was rushed to get this out. Hey Hey, Tug of Peace, The Man. Some real stinkers. However, from the second I layed the needle down back in '83 and heard the opening of the title track, I love. love, loved it. Still do. Also, Keep under cover, Average Person, Through Our love, not bad tracks and would have sounded great on Tug of War. I've made a compilation taking the best off of Tug of War and mixing it with the best tracks off of Pipes of Peace. Not a bad a listen and not a surprise at all how well they fit together. Again, a fun watch. Would love to see more.

I acted like a dustbin lid!, Its a dire testimony that when I think of this album now thats the first thing that pops into my head!

Great review guys. Interestingly about a month ago I spoke with a friend of mine who is a huge Jackson fan. when I asked him what he thought of the McCartney collaborations he had never heard of The Man. I played it to him and he hated it lol. is my memory playing tricks on me or was tug of war going to be a double lp. If so and this was the second disc it would have been awful and would have dragged tug of war under.

Thanks for the review lads

My feelings pretty much. I find it a frustrating curiosity and can't completely say I dislike it. Certainly don't love it though. Five I'd give it, but five in a good way, sort of. Confounding thing.

Pipes of peace was his only solo number 1 hit single. Shame he’s never done a raunchy version live?

I really don't care for say say say at all. Your right about this being just left overs from tug of war. I love the song pipes of peace. I hate to admit it but i really like the man. I don't know what it is about that song but i play it a lot. The albums not real bad but i would just give it a five.

McCartney should have skipped Give My Regards to Broadstreet all together (album and movie) and put No More Lonely Nights on side two of Pipes Of Peace (instead of Hey Hey and Tug of Peace). That would have really elevated this album and he could have taken the next three years off, if he wanted, until Press to Play. I have to say, though, I happen to be a fan of Say Say Say. I think it’s one of his better songs from the 80’s. I knew several people at the time, though, that hated it because it got so much airplay.

I like some of its songs, but “Say Say Say” is just a goofy song. The best bits did go into “Tug of War.”

The first McCartney album I heard, and I remember how disappointed I was. It took me some time and some more listenings to become a little bit involved and finally I got used to it. Anyway, there are some decent songs as Pipes Of Peace, Keep Under Cover, So Bad, Through Our Love. And I always liked The Man and Hey Hey Hey, by the way ;-). I just don't think Side 2 was successful, but there are lots of unsuccessful Second Sides on McCartney albums, honestly.

The story to the Say Say Say video is basically that McCartney is a snake oil salesman.

I never really got into POP. To me it sounds (what it basically is) like a collection of leftovers from Tug of War with only a few memorable songs (the title track, Keep Under Cover, Through Our Love). On top of that it's heavily overproduced like many albums from the 80s and generally sounds too saccharine for my taste which is difficult to distract from.

I love these reviews with Dave..I like Say,Say,Say & The Man but I was a big Michael Jackson fan at the time so it's always been a favorite, I can see how someone wouldn't warm to it as a neutral. It's an ok LP. Like Dave said a mixed bag..

Hi John, doing a review outdoors is not a great decision. Dogs barking, wind interfering also just annoys (this) the listener. Indoors is the place is for reviews. Your colleague makes a great contribution to the review, but indoors ONLY! The outdoors is NOT conducive to ANY review. Listen to the barking dogs in the back round? Like your review of Let it be by the river (Danube) I think. Horrendous traffic sounds! Its f'ing awlful.....

Leftovers premise, focus on lyrics, so difficult for them to give Paul his due as a composer, singer, and musician. Oh Well. Parting review, Weak and annoying parts, so negative at #6- 6.5. Okay.‼

There are only two weak songs imho. Hey Hey and Tug of Peace.

Can’t stand So Bad..

The cover and album are both awful and it was the first McCartney album I failed to buy and still never have.