About
From paulmccartney.com:
Tug Of War was Paul’s first solo album after Wings’ split was confirmed, and followed the death of John Lennon, whose memory is poignantly evoked on the track ‘Here Today’. While the title hints at an album about power struggles, Paul saw it more as an album “of opposites”. As he says, it focuses on “duality. Yes and No, Up and Down, Man and Woman. Always some kind of conflict, even if you’re married and in love, she’s still a girl, you’re still a boy… It’s not easy to bring together two sides of a coin.” The album saw him reunite with producer George Martin and included two duets with Stevie Wonder, one of which, ‘Ebony And Ivory’, was Number 1 on both sides of the Atlantic. The sessions were so fruitful that a number of songs were held over for Pipes Of Peace, which followed in 1983. Upon its release, Tug Of War was nominated for the 1983 Grammy for Album of the Year.
“Tug Of War” is supposed to be about opposites, I forget what you call it, dichotomy or something. The duality. Yes and No, Up and Down, Man and Woman. Always some kind of conflict, even if you’re married and in love, she’s still a girl, you’re still a boy… Blacks and whites. Dualities. It’s not easy to bring together two sides of a coin. So that was like the question if there was a theme on “Tug Of War”, that was the sort of theme we played with.
Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich N° 31, 1983
Last updated on February 23, 2020
Special editions
By Paul McCartney • 12" Single
By Paul McCartney • Official album
Tug Of War (B&N Exclusive) (2 LP 180g)
By Paul McCartney • Official album
By Paul McCartney • Official album
Tug Of War - Archive Collection
By Paul McCartney • Official album
Related singles
By Paul McCartney • 12" Single
By Paul McCartney • 12" Single
By Paul McCartney • 7" Single
By Paul McCartney • 12" Single
Take It Away / I'll Give You A Ring
By Paul McCartney • 7" Single
By Paul McCartney • 7" Single
Related bootlegs
By Paul McCartney • Unofficial album
By Paul McCartney • Unofficial album
Tug Of War - Ultimate Archive Collection
By Paul McCartney • Unofficial album
By Paul McCartney • Unofficial album
By Paul McCartney • Unofficial album
Related songs
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Officially appears on Tug Of War
Related films
Ebony and Ivory (Solo version - version 1)
1982 • For Paul McCartney
Ebony And Ivory (Solo version - version 2)
1982 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Keith McMillan
Ebony and Ivory (with Stevie Wonder)
1982 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Keith McMillan
1982 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Maurice Phillips
1982 • For Paul McCartney
1982 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by John MacKenzie
Tug Of War (The McCartney Years)
1982 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Maurice Phillips
1982 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Maurice Phillips
Related artists
Related Concerts, TV & radio shows
'Take It Away' promotional video filming
Jun 23, 1982 • United Kingdom • Borehamwood • Elstree Studios
Related sessions
Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London
December 1980 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Dec 14, 1980 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Jan 21, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
"Tug Of War" sessions at AIR Studios, Montserrat
February 2 till March 3, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Recording "Dress Me Up As A Robber", "The Pound Is Sinking", "Average Person"
Feb 04, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Recording "Somebody Who Cares"
Feb 09, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Recording "The Pound Is Sinking"
Feb 10, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Feb 24, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Feb 28, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Recording "What's That You're Doing", "Tug Of War"
Mar 01, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Overdubs for "What's That You're Doing?"
March 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London
March 11, 1981 - March 1982 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Overdubs for "The Pound Is Sinking"
Mar 12, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Overdubs for "Ballroom Dancing"
Mar 17, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Overdubs for "Take It Away", "Dress Me Up As A Robber"
Mar 23, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Mar 30, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Mixing "Dress Me Up As A Robber"
Aug 14, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Mixing "Somebody Who Cares", "The Pound Is Sinking"
Sep 01, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Mixing "Get It", "Wanderlust", "Ballroom Dancing", "What's That You're Doing"
Oct 01, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Overdubs for "Ebony And Ivory"
October 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Nov 30, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Dec 09, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Dec 13, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Recording and mixing "Be What You See"
Dec 29, 1981 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Jan 19, 1982 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Tug Of War
Related interviews
The Paul McCartney 'Tug of War' Track-by-Track Album Special
Dec 16, 2022 • From SiriusXM
Sir Paul on Lennon, self-loathing and gunmen in the bushes
October 2015 • From UNCUT
Tug Of War - Paul McCartney talks to Andy Mackay
Aug 01, 1982 • From Club Sandwich
Jun 01, 1982 • From Playgirl
May 03, 1982 • From Newsweek
Apr 20, 1982 • From Los Angeles Times
Paul McCartney flying on clipped wings
April/May 1982 • From Music Express
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