I know you'll think I've only switched into nice mode because Macca was so nice to me when I came out of prison a couple of years ago but...
a) I think his Starbucks deal was very bright - going with a very rich company, determined to break into music and willing to spend to get there... EMI and others just couldn't bother with a 64 year old.
And it looks like his brave switch has paid off...

and
b) I actually like the single - it's a bit McGuinness Flint but very catchy.

Must admit that i liked McCartney's releases in the 80s.

Say Say Say
Ebony and Ivory
The Girl is Mine
Coming Up
Don't Say Goodnight
Pipes of Peace
Spies Like us.

to name but a few. Since the 90s i think he sort of went a bit too elitist for my liking. I think from what i heard briefly on Itunes his silky voice is showing its age. I think the album sounded a bit too retro for my liking bearing in mind his output in the 80s was timely. But he has one of the nicest voices for an aging rocker and was the handsome one in the Beatles as far as i'm concerned and did a lot for young people. I think the whole 'Heather' saga was unfortunate and i wish him well.

Seaside Shuffle (Terry Dactyl & The Dionosaurs)

...he needs to collaborate, especially on lyrics. I doubt if a song has ever said less than Dance Tonight. The music is good and he's a great performer but - especially while we're getting the refurbished Wilburys - his lyrics just don't keep up. He can do better (Band On The Run) and people expect it.

Sure, lyrics aren't that important in pop and there is worse stuff around... but Macca's audience is always going to look for more.

I hope he does well though and the Starbucks deal was a good move. Being on heavy rotation in Starbucks world-wide is a very good move.

Bemuso wrote:
...he needs to collaborate, especially on lyrics.

Are you actually aware that he wrote some of the most successful songs of all time, including the most recorded song ever?

What I saw/heard of him on Jools Holland last week was pretty poor. Maybe the lyric 'pull your socks up and put your foot down' was a comment about the ex but as far as songs go I've heard better lyrics from many an average town band.

Should have stopped in the 80's and just wheeled out the hits tour to top the coffers up every few years.

In The Know wrote:
Bemuso wrote:
...he needs to collaborate, especially on lyrics.

Are you actually aware that he wrote some of the most successful songs of all time, including the most recorded song ever?

I am aware of that but not in the past two decades. When he wrote Yesterday he was collaborating and competing with John regularly. It's hard for him to find anyone of that standard these days. On his own he is rarely as good as he was with Band On The Run. Of his solo stuff I like McCartney, Ram, Band On The Run and Back To The Egg. Otherwise it's patchy and some albums are entirely devoid of highlights... and the poor sales of those records back that up.

I'm not knocking him, I'm a big fan... but he has been making duff records more recently. John also made worse records after the split.

Having said that, I'm expecting his next album to have a bit more fire for obvious reasons.

I`m surprised nobody has mentioned "Flowers In the Dirt" with collaberations with Costello.
A marvellous record.

Hey Bemuso

I think you'll find that Yesterday was entirely self-written, and completed before John heard it ... but I take your point.

Isn't it true generally that these people lose the "oomph" when they become hugely successful?

After all, he doesn't have hot sweaty clubs to "try things out in" these days !

Totally agree... I'm not saying anything else!