UK release date:
Apr 26, 1982
US release date:
Apr 26, 1982

Master release


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Track list

Disc 1


1.

Tug Of War

Written by Paul McCartney

4:22 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Campbell Maloney :
Military snares
Kenneth Sillito :
Orchestra lead, Violin
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Keith Harvey :
Cello
John Underwood :
Viola
Patrick Halling :
Violin
Dennis Vigay :
Cello
Laurie Lewis :
Violin
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording 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 21, 1981
Studio :
Parkgate Studio, Sussex, UK

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Overdubs:
March - December 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Dec 13, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


2.

Take It Away

Written by Paul McCartney

4:16 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Steve Gadd :
Drums
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording engineer
Unknown musician(s) :
Horns

Session Recording:
Feb 16-18, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Overdubs:
Mar 23, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
December 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


3.

Somebody Who Cares

Written by Paul McCartney

3:19 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Steve Gadd :
Drums, Percussion
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Adrian Brett :
Pan pipes
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 09, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Overdubs:
July 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Sep 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


4.

What's That You're Doing

Written by Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder

6:23 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Stevie Wonder :
Synthesizer, Vocals
Eric Stewart :
Backing vocals, Recording engineer
George Martin :
Arrangement, Producer
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Andy Mackay :
Lyricom
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording engineer
Wonderlove :
Backing vocals

Session Recording:
Mar 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Overdubs:
March 1981
Studio :
Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey

Session Overdubs:
August 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London

Session Mixing:
Oct 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


5.

Here Today

Written by Paul McCartney

2:29 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Arrangement, Guitar, Vocals
George Martin :
Arrangement, Producer
Jack Rothstein :
Violin
Bertrand Partridge :
Violin
Ian Jewel :
Viola
Keith Harvey :
Cello
Jon Kelly :
Recording 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.

Ballroom Dancing

Written by Paul McCartney

4:08 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording 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:
Jan 02, 1981
Studio :
Parkgate Studio, Sussex, UK

Session Overdubs:
Dec 14, 1980
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Overdubs:
Mar 17, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


7.

The Pound Is Sinking

Written by Paul McCartney

2:55 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording 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, UK

Session Mixing:
Sep 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


8.

Wanderlust

Written by Paul McCartney

3:49 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Keith Harvey :
Cello
Adrian Sheppard :
Drums, Percussion
Philip Jones :
Trumpet (?)
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
Jeff Bryant :
French horn (?)
Philip Jones Brass Ensemble :
Brass instruments
Paul Archibald :
Trumpet (?)
James Watson :
Trumpet (?)
Michael Thompson :
French horn (?)
John Pigneguy :
French horn (?)
Raymond Premu :
Bass trombone (?)

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.

Get It

Written by Paul McCartney

2:29 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Bass, Percussion, Synthesizers, Vocals
Carl Perkins :
Electric guitar, Vocal
George Martin :
Arrangement, Producer
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 24, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Mixing:
Oct 01, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


10.

Be What You See (Link)

Written by Paul McCartney

0:34 • Studio versionA

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.

Dress Me Up As A Robber

Written by Paul McCartney

2:43 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Dave Mattacks :
Drums, Percussion
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 04, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Overdubs:
Mar 23, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Aug 14, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK


12.

Ebony And Ivory

Written by Paul McCartney

3:43 • Studio versionA

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 :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Jon Jacobs :
Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
Mike Stavrou :
Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 28, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, Montserrat

Session Overdubs:
Mar 30, 1981
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Overdubs:
October 1981
Studio :
Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey

Session Mixing:
Jan 19, 1982
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

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. […]

From Work | Brian Clarke: architectural artist, stained glass artist and painter
From Noise Magazine – May 20, 1982

Last updated on August 2, 2023

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