My first listen to Driving Rain

I picked the cd up this morning. I listened to it while I was cleaning up my place, because I was curious to see which songs would break through my concentration and demand I pay closer attention. First of all, I want to say that the album has a harder edge than we usually get with Paul. Nothing here is overproduced, either. That has sometimes been a problem in the past. The songs that really grabbed me on my first listen were Lonely Road, She's Given Up Talking, Tiny Bubble, and Your Way. There were others that I also enjoyed, but those were the ones that really made me prick up my ears. I like the recording of Freedom on here. When I heard the live version during the concert for New York, I wasn't particularly impressed. I thought the song was weak lyrically. It still is, but the recording here on the album sounds really great. I've always loved Paul's voice and thought his singing has been underappreciated through the years, but he really has a strong, supple voice, and sounds at the top of his game here. I will listen to the album again later and this time give it my complete attention. I just wanted to dash off my first impressions and share with everyone here at Beatlelinks.

Angelle

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Thank you, Angelle! And I do agree with you, with all... and I love Your Way, which I dare say it't my favourite among them, untill now...

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"Because there wasn't any reason left to keep it all inside"
- Paul McCartney 1982

Thanks for your thoughts, Angelle! I'm going to pick it up on my way home from work tonight, so if anybody calls me, I'm screening my calls!! (Ha!)

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If I had some more time to spend, then I guess I'd be with you, my friend....

yes, thanks for the insight, angelle - you always have great things to say!

i am so excited - i will be picking up my copy today as well! i am so excited.



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I picked it up on my way home from work and am giving it a first listen now. Your Way is the one that "caught my ear". I had to play it a second time, I liked it that well on first listen! I'll have more to say (of course) when I've listened to the whole thing.

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So many of you have said that "Freedom" is weak lyrically. I couldn't disagree more. The beauty of these lyrics is in it's simplicity. It's an emotion. A piece of art. An anthem. Those few lyrics and the way they're sung say more than many, many others.
Thanks, Paul.

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"Why don't you say it in your famous James Mason impersonation?"

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Tahoma, Arial, Sans-Serif">Quote:</font><HR>Originally Posted By jtal909:
So many of you have said that "Freedom" is weak lyrically. I couldn't disagree more. The beauty of these lyrics is in it's simplicity. It's an emotion. A piece of art. An anthem. Those few lyrics and the way they're sung say more than many, many others.
Thanks, Paul.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My sentiments exactly. It reminds me of "Give peace a chance":

- Hard, contagious, driving beat
- Not to many lyrics, just get the message out ! (Peace & Freedom).

In my books, it gets the job done ! One thing though, I do love the version on Paul's album, but I thought I'd read that this would be a studio version, this one was recorded a Madison Square Garden. Is there an actual studio version of "Freedom" ?



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"There may not be much difference"
"Between Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao"
"If we strip them naked"

Haven't seen it (yet)

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Give me hope
Help me cope, with this heavy load
Trying to, touch and reach you with, heart and soul -
GH

Thanks for the review though.

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There'll come a time when all of us must
leave here
Then nothing 'Sister Mary' can do
Will keep me here with you
As nothing in this life that I've been trying
Can equal of surpass the Art of Dying.

I only got a chance to listen to it once last night, but on first listen, I'd have to say it's probably not going to be one of my favorite McCartney albums. I only really liked "Your Way" and "Heather" (am going to HAVE to learn that on piano!) on first listen. But sometimes his stuff takes a while to grow on me....didn't much care for "Flaming Pie" at first either and now it's one of my favorites!

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If I had some more time to spend, then I guess I'd be with you, my friend....

Rell', I agree that it's not going to be my fave Paul album, but now that I'm giving it a second listen, it's already growing on me. Bet you'll feel the same after a few more listens!

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Well,I have ran through the CD three times and I have to admit that it's really good!!! I'm hooked on "Your Loving Flame","Riding in Jaipur" and "Rinse the Raindrops" which kinda sounds like No Doubt's "Bathwater". Plus "Freedom" does sound something that John might write but it's so good!

But overall,I have to agree that the songs will have to grow on me but his voice still has that power and still sounds good after all these years.

Billie

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"Everyone has choice,when to and not raise their voices. It's you that decides,which way you'll turn..."-George Harrison "Run of the Mill"

I've had one run through now.

I still like "Lonely Road" as it's just catchy to me! The other one that grabs me is "Riding into Jaipur". (A pleasant surprise to hear such sounds on this CD! *sigh*) Another vote for "Heather" as well!

I need another run through.

And I agree with the note by ABCKO. Something about "Freedom" reminds me of "GPAC"!

Nice work, Paul!!!

FT

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I've only gotten to listen to it once so far. I didn't fall in love with the first half of the cd, but by the end I was thinking it was great. I think the Rinse the Raindrops jam was my favorite.

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As I listened again, there was one thing that confused me - maybe you all can help! In the song "Heather", Paul sings "..dance to a runcible tune"...what the H*LL does "runcible" mean????? I have looked it up in 4 dictionaries (online and book form) and I can find nothing!

I have a pretty good vocabulary, but this one has me stumped! Can anybody help??

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If I had some more time to spend, then I guess I'd be with you, my friend....

The lyrics are:

"I'm gonna fly to the moon, checking outer space,
Find me a suitable plot, build myself a place
There I will stay for a year and a day
Until the cares of my life blow away
And I will dance to her warm simple tune
With the queen of my heart

Source here


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"Peace, remember, peace is how we make it" ~
Ringo Starr, 1971

Thanks for the reference, darkhorse, but it does say "runcible" on the liner notes to the CD, so I'm still not sure I'm convinced!

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If I had some more time to spend, then I guess I'd be with you, my friend....

After about 6 listens now I'm changing my vote for favorite to Heather too! It's the one I find myself humming in the middle of the night.

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I found runcible in my dictionary, and it says it is a nonsense word coined by Edward Lear.
I think Heather might be my favorite song on the CD so far.

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God Bless America

After 2 listens, I like the ballads over the heavier, less melodic songs. That old boy still can sing.

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"Why don't you say it in your famous James Mason impersonation?"