Search - Paul McCartney :: Back in the World

The Best Album Ive Heard For A While

MR NC SHACKLEY | London, England | 04/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Certainly the greatest album I've heard in a long time, Paul McCartney's 'Back in the World' is a rock and roll party all the way through, featuring some of the best (mainly) McCartney penned Beatles songs mixed with some of his solo career highlights. His voice is still amazingly strong for his age, so much so that I prefer many of the songs on this album to their studio versions, and I really couldn't pay a higher compliment to this album than that. I was even more surprised when I saw Paul live at Earls Court, London the other week, in that I thought his voice may perhaps be a let down because this album features his best live recordings, but I was proved wrong as it sounded almost identical to how it does on this album.'Hello Goodbye' is a great opener, turned, like many on this album, from being a lightweight pop song into a rousing, foot stomping live anthem. 'Jet' sounds better than ever before, as does 'Let Me Roll It'. Three songs from his latest album are then played, 'Your Loving Flame' being my personal favourite. What follows is a nice acoustic session, my only complaint is 'Carry That Weight' being a part of it. It isn't really suited to an acoustic sound, and would have been better near the end in its original rock sound. 'Blackbird' and 'Mother Nature's Son' are two of the best in this section, and it finishes with two fine tributes; 'Here Today', a touching ode to John Lennon, of what McCartney would have said to him had he been alive today, and 'Something', probably the album's most interesting song, a ukulele version of George Harrison's classic hit, done so in this fashion because of Harrison's love of the instrument. I found it quite odd that there was no tribute to his late wife Linda, why not?Onto the second half. It begins with 'Eleanor Rigby' and 'Here There and Everywhere', both more lively versions than their originals. Then comes the magnificent 'Calico Skies' from the equally magnificent 'Flaming Pie' album, the only song featured from it on this disc. Then follows one of McCartney's greatest ever songs, 'Band on the Run'. 'My Love' and 'She's Leaving Home' provide a soft touch to this part of the album. 'Live and Let Die' is tailor-made for stadium singalongs, and doesn't disappoint here, I will never forget the explosions at the beginning and end when he played it onstage. Towards the end it features four of not only McCartney greatest songs, but four of the twentieth century's greatest; 'Let It Be', 'Hey Jude', 'The Long and Winding Road' and of course 'Yesterday', all done with the necessary onstage enthusiasm. 'Hey Jude' is the exceptional standout. This wonderful album finishes suitably with 'Sgt Peppers' and 'The End', complete with an extended jam.
My only disappointment was the fact that because Paul has so many great hits, there could have been many more that I would have loved to listen to. However, you can't have everything."

The Best concert of Paul McCartney

Alberto Ramos | Madero, Tamaulipas Mexico | 05/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was in the concert of november the 3rd in "Palacio de los Deportes" in Mexico City.. It was amazing...Paul was in great voice and he was full of energy. I think it was the day where Hey Jude was recorded for this cd. Paul was amazed about the thounsands of lighters that appeared right after he started to sing "Hey Jude" and all lighters were on and off following the rithm of the song.It's a great CD, specially because it includes some songs that were recorded during the first concert in Mexico City, which has been considered the best concert of the whole tour."

Asombroso Concierto

Enrique Salazar Ruiz | Lima, Lima Peru | 08/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Siguiendo la linea del Wings Over America, Tripping The Live Fantastic y Paul is Live aqui tenemos al segundo beatle con las mejores de sus canciones en solitario y con los fab four en vivo!!!. Versiones nunca escuchadas en vivo como Getting Better, momentos memorables como la versión de Something (tocado a capella con un ukelele, instrumento preferido de George) y Here Today dedicada a John. En este disco se siente la nostalgia por la ausencia de Linda al lado de Paul. A mi personalmente me da tristeza ya que eran la pareja perfecta. A todos los que somos fanaticos de los beatles y Paul es un CD que no puede faltar en casa."