O/T - Lennon Vs McCartney

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Marc, Dec 20, 2021.

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  1. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Just finished watching the 'Get Back' film. Dragged on a bit, as does anything from Peter Jackson, but fascinating nonetheless.

    The Lennon/McCartney dynamic gets covered quite a bit, which got me thinking. They had a well documented beef for years, and McCartney has always felt a bit aggrieved that he didn't get the recognition he deserved.

    As a massive Beatles fan I realise I'd get shot down for saying this - but I genuinely believe McCartney's body of work post-Beatles is bang average.

    So here's the quiz question...

    Does any of McCartney's solo work match the best 20 songs from John Lennon's solo work? Beyond 'Maybe I'm Amazed' and 'Junk', I'm really struggling to find any.

    Go...
     
    Marc, Dec 20, 2021
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  2. Til

    Tilertoes Well-Known Member

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    Frog chorus was a real beauty, a magnificent record for the wireless.
     
    Tilertoes, Dec 20, 2021
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  3. Ste

    Steve Wood Well-Known Member

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    I love the Wings Over America triple live album and Back To The Egg has got some great tracks...
     
    Steve Wood, Dec 20, 2021
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  4. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    classic example that. I reckon if anyone else had done that, it would have been hammered.
     
    Marc, Dec 20, 2021
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  5. Redarmy87

    Redarmy87 Well-Known Member

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    As solo artists I just don't think Macca touches John's greatness. I haven't properly delved into McCartney solo/Wings, but the bits I have heard haven't been worth listening to (although my dad really rates McCartney's latest album, McCartney III?). Lennon was on another plain.
     
    Redarmy87, Dec 20, 2021
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  6. sadbrewer

    sadbrewer Well-Known Member

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    I tend to agree, it's all down to taste obviously but I thought the Wings stuff was garbage in the main.
     
    sadbrewer, Dec 20, 2021
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  7. Jack Tatty

    Jack Tatty Well-Known Member

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    Who were Wings?


    They're only the band the Beatles could have been.
     
    Jack Tatty, Dec 20, 2021
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  8. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    I did spend some time going through the solo and wings stuff. generally found the odd good song, but not much more than that.
     
    Marc, Dec 20, 2021
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  9. Ste

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    They were better together. I never skip a track when listening to a Beatles album (apart from number 9, number 9, number 9). I do skip tracks listening to them solo.
     
    Stephen Dawson, Dec 20, 2021
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  10. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    plastic ono band is a great example. first proper solo release after the split (I'm ignoring the experimental two virgins/wedding album stuff) is outstanding. exactly what I'd expect from someone who was still writing Beatles songs at the time. McCartney I by contrast, is really poor. It's almost like he just immediately forgot how to write songs.

    The most scathing line from Lennon (How Do You Sleep?): "The only thing you done was Yesterday, and since you're gone it's Just Another Day"
     
    Marc, Dec 20, 2021
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  11. Ste

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    When John Lennon was with Mai Pang him and McCartney reconciled. However, he got back with Yoko and the rest is history.
     
    Stephen Dawson, Dec 20, 2021
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  12. KamikazeCo-Pilot

    KamikazeCo-Pilot Well-Known Member

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    I'd agree with many of the above comments, particularly SD's. In the massive body of work that McCartney had done since the Beatles he has sometimes done some good stuff imo. Band On The Run has got some good tracks on it for example...
     
    KamikazeCo-Pilot, Dec 20, 2021
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  13. Tomi

    Tomi Well-Known Member

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    I think you'll find that a lot of people share that opinion. McCartney's solo stuff does have its great moments - he has always known how to write those beautiful melodies, but then on the next track he goes all granny rock again. Ram is a great album though, and McCartney I, II & III are all pretty good. Most other albums have the odd great track, a few decent ones, and a couple of real stinkers. I respect him as a musician though.

    But like @Stephen Dawson said above, Lennon and McCartney were better together. Lennon's solo career is quite hit and miss as well. He was capable of writing some great and unique songs, but there's some absolute garbage too.
     
    Tomi, Dec 20, 2021
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  14. Mr C

    Mr C Well-Known Member

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    John would have definitely won in a scrap.. :)
     
    Mr C, Dec 20, 2021
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  15. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    yeah I think that's what I mean really. it's 'ok' but not much more. there isn't a single McCartney solo/wings album I'd buy. by contrast, plastic ono band & imagine are both excellent, and while the other Lennon solo albums aren't as good, there's excellent songs on every one (I'm not including live/cover albums).
     
    Marc, Dec 20, 2021
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  16. Marc

    Marc Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    which is interesting, cos on Get Back McCartney comes across as a bit of a tyrant, while John seems quite passive through it all. I think by this time though it was probably a case of 'I can't be ar$ed arguing'
     
    Marc, Dec 20, 2021
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  17. LiverpoolRed

    LiverpoolRed Well-Known Member

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    Best album got to be the best of the Beatles
     
    LiverpoolRed, Dec 20, 2021
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  18. x11barnsley

    x11barnsley Well-Known Member

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    It wouldn’t have got that far …. It would have been a band on the run
     
    x11barnsley, Dec 20, 2021
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  19. Redarmy87

    Redarmy87 Well-Known Member

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    Let's not forget Georgie boy..

     
    Redarmy87, Dec 20, 2021
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  20. Merde Tete

    Merde Tete Well-Known Member

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    Although he was far less prolific than Lennon and McCartney, in my opinion the consistency and originality of George Harrison's output is something quite incredible.
     
    Merde Tete, Dec 20, 2021
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