- Timeline See what happened in 1982
- UK release date:
- Apr 26, 1982
- US release date:
- Apr 26, 1982
- Sessions This album has been recorded during the following sessions
- Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London (December 1980)
- Recording "Tug Of War", "Ballroom Dancing", "Wanderlust", "Sweetest Little Show" (Jan 02, 1981)
- Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, Montserrat (February - March 1981)
- Recording "Dress Me Up As A Robber", "The Pound Is Sinking" (Feb 04, 1981)
- Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London (March - December 1981)
- Mixing "Get It", "Wanderlust", "Ballroom Dancing", "What's That You're Doing" (Oct 01, 1981)
- Recording "Here Today" (Nov 30, 1981)
- Mixing "Here Today" (Dec 09, 1981)
- Recording and mixing "Be What You See" (Dec 29, 1981)
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Track list
Disc 1
1.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:22 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Synthesizers, Vocal
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Electric guitar
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Campbell Maloney:
- Military snares
- Kenneth Sillito:
- Orchestra lead, Violin
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Keith Harvey:
- Cello
- John Underwood:
- Viola
- Patrick Halling:
- Violin
- Dennis Vigay:
- Cello
- Laurie Lewis:
- Violin
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Alan John Peters:
- Violin
- Galina Solodchin:
- Violin
- Michael Rennie:
- Violin
- George Turnlund:
- Viola
- Ken Essex:
- Viola
- Alexander Kok:
- Cello
- Peter Willison:
- Cello
- David Ogden:
- Violin
- Nicolas Reader:
- Bassoon
- Session Recording:
- Jan 02, 1981
- Studio:
- Parkgate Studio, Sussex, UK
2.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:16 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangements, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Ringo Starr:
- Drums
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals, Guitar
- George Martin:
- Arrangements, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Steve Gadd:
- Drums
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 16-18th, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- December 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
3.
Written by Paul McCartney
3:19 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Spanish guitar, Vocal
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Electric guitar, Synthesizer
- Stanley Clarke:
- Bass
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Steve Gadd:
- Drums, Percussion
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Adrian Brett:
- Pan pipes
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 09, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- July 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 01, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
4.
Written by Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder
6:23 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Stevie Wonder:
- Synthesizer, Vocals
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Andy Mackay:
- Lyricom
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Wonderlove:
- Backing vocals
- Session Recording:
- March 1st-2nd, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- March 1981
- Studio:
- Strawberry Studios South
- Session Overdubs:
- August 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 01, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London, UK
5.
Written by Paul McCartney
2:29 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Arrangement, Guitar, Vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Jack Rothstein:
- Violin
- Bertrand Partridge:
- Violin
- Ian Jewel:
- Viola
- Keith Harvey:
- Cello
- Jon Kelly:
- Engineer
- John Underwood:
- Viola
- Patrick Halling:
- Violin
- Dennis Vigay:
- Cello
- Laurie Lewis:
- Violin
- Alan John Peters:
- Violin
- Galina Solodchin:
- Violin
- Michael Rennie:
- Violin
- George Turnlund:
- Viola
- Ken Essex:
- Viola
- Alexander Kok:
- Cello
- Peter Willison:
- Cello
- Renate Blauel:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 30, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London, UK
- Session Mixing:
- Dec 09, 1981
- Studio:
- Odyssey Studios, London
6.
Written by Paul McCartney
4:08 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Percussion, Piano, Vocal
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals, Piano
- Denny Laine:
- Electric guitar
- Ringo Starr:
- Drums
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- John Barclay:
- Horn
- Jack Brymer:
- Clarinet gliss
- Peter Marshall:
- Narration
- Chris Spedding:
- Guitar
- David Ogden:
- Violin
- David Willis:
- Saxophone
- Raymond Swinfield:
- Saxophone
- Thomas Whittle:
- Horn
- Session Recording:
- Dec 07, 1980
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Recording:
- Dec 14, 1980
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 17, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 01, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London, UK
7.
Written by Paul McCartney
2:55 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Synthesizers, Vocal
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Acoustic guitar
- Stanley Clarke:
- Bass
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 04, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Recording:
- Feb 10, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 12, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Sep 01, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
8.
Written by Paul McCartney
3:49 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Bass
- Ringo Starr:
- Drums
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Keith Harvey:
- Cello
- Adrian Sheppard:
- Drums, Percussion
- Philip Jones:
- Brass ensemble
- John Underwood:
- Viola
- Patrick Halling:
- Violin
- Dennis Vigay:
- Cello
- Laurie Lewis:
- Violin
- Galina Solodchin:
- Violin
- Michael Rennie:
- Violin
- George Turnlund:
- Viola
- Ken Essex:
- Viola
- Alexander Kok:
- Cello
- Peter Willison:
- Cello
- Alan Peters:
- Violin
- David Ogden:
- Violin
- Session Recording:
- Jan 02, 1981
- Studio:
- Parkgate Studio, Sussex, UK
- Session Recording:
- July 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 01, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London, UK
9.
Written by Paul McCartney
2:29 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Bass, Percussion, Synthesizers, Vocals
- Carl Perkins:
- Electric guitar, Vocal
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 24, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 01, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London, UK
10.
Written by Paul McCartney
0:34 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Arrangement, Guitar, Vocals, Vocoder
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
- Session Recording and mixing:
- Dec 29, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London, UK
11.
Written by Paul McCartney
2:43 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Guitars, Vocal
- Linda McCartney:
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine:
- Electric guitar, Synthesizer
- Eric Stewart:
- Backing vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Electric piano, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Dave Mattacks:
- Drums, Percussion
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 04, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 23, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 14, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
12.
Written by Paul McCartney
3:43 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney:
- Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizers, Vocals, Vocoder
- Stevie Wonder:
- Backing vocals, Drums, Electric piano, Percussion, Synthesizers, Vocals
- George Martin:
- Arrangement, Producer
- Geoff Emerick:
- Engineer
- Jon Jacobs:
- Second engineer
- Mike Stavrou:
- Second engineer
- Session Recording:
- Feb 27th-28th, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, Montserrat
- Session Overdubs:
- Mar 30, 1981
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1981
- Studio:
- Strawberry Studios South
- Session Mixing:
- Jan 19, 1982
- Studio:
- AIR Studios, London
About
From Wikipedia:
Tug of War is the third solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in April 1982. It was McCartney’s first album released after the dissolution of Wings in April 1981. The album was produced by former Beatles producer George Martin and was a number #1 in numerous countries.
Recording
Following the release of the solo album McCartney II, 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 old producer, George Martin, to begin recording a song written for the animated Rupert Bear character (to 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 songwriting partner and fellow ex-Beatle, John Lennon, had been shot and killed 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. The recordings 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, two songs featuring Stevie Wonder. 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart also became a frequent collaborator of McCartney’s during this era. Further sessions that summer were also undertaken at George Martin’s AIR studios at Oxford Street, London – with the producer manning the controls and giving McCartney’s music the benefit of 1980s 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.
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“, particularly because of its vivid music and consistent songwriting. 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 “cliched 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 great commercial success, reaching number one in many countries. Consequently, when Tug of War appeared in April, it was an worldwide number one, selling several million copies and did much to restore 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. The follow-up single “Take It Away” was a US Top 10 entry as well.
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”.
Another reissue 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. […]
Last updated on October 10, 2015
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