After McCartney II, Paul and the world suffered the horrible loss of John Lennon in 1980. Tug of War picks up the plot in 1982 with Paul’s touching tribute to his brother Beatle “Here Today”; two duets with Stevie Wonder, including the smash hit “Ebony & Ivory”; and collaborators like former Beatles producer George Martin, Ringo Starr, Eric Stewart, and Carl Perkins. We named our podcast after a song on this album. You might want to stop and listen up to this one. Take it away, take it away ….

This episode edited since initial publication.

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After Wings’ dissolution, Macca hid at home and recorded another truly solo album in the vein of 1970’s McCartney. Paul is responsible for nearly everything on this record. The real difference this time around? Synthesizers. Despite its experimental nature, the album birthed the number-one hit single “Coming Up” – a favorite of John Lennon’s. Believe it or not, the perennial “Wonderful Christmastime” originates from these sessions. Is this album true genius or absolute garbage? Nobody knows.

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As the 1970s come to a close, Wings takes its last flight with Back to the Egg. McCartney’s answer to New Wave, the album features a brand-new Wings lineup, a dizzying array of genres, and incredible LP artwork. Although commercially unsuccessful, Back to the Egg is revered in the McCartney canon as an underground fan favorite. Love it or hate it, Chris and Ryan give their spin (it on) on it.

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Chris and Ryan are back with Season Two and one of Paul McCartney’s most unusual and yet rewarding and relaxing releases of the 1970s, London Town. With a working title of Water Wings, it is no surprise we find Paul and crew recording on a boat in the Virgin Islands. Album highlights include “Girlfriend,” “Don’t Let It Bring You Down,” as well as the number-one smash hit “With A Little Luck.”

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In 1976, Paul McCartney triumphs with his new band Wings, enjoying number one hits and a blockbuster tour. In the last episode of Season One, Ryan and Chris cover these Wings milestones and also find a moment to check in with George. Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing.

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In a wide-ranging episode, Ryan and Chris cover Wings’ great Venus and Mars. Along the way, they touch on Jimmy McColloch’s background, the “secret Wings album” McGear by Paul’s brother Mike, solo Beatles output from 1974, and even a little something from Paul’s dad.

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Ryan and Chris dig into Paul McCartney’s most celebrated solo album, Band on the Run. Released in 1973, it appears alongside a flood of high-quality solo Beatles material. Ryan and Chris place Band on the Run in the context of this peak period of solo Beatles output. We thought the only lonely place was on the moon.

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In 1972-73, Wings is making progress, and their second album is a considerable improvement over their first. Originally planned as a double LP, Red Rose Speedway is a modest hit and yields a number one single, “My Love.” As with Ram, however, the leftovers are as interesting as the album itself. Ryan and Chris provide a guided tour of the Red Rose Speedway that never was. Listen in and get on the right thing.

An error regarding the attribution of the saxophone solo on "Leave It" is corrected in Episode 12 Tug of War. The solo is played by Tony Coe, not Paul McCartney.

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During a difficult period in 1971-72, McCartney starts his new band Wings. Their first album, Wild Life, leaves fans and critics puzzled. The series of singles that follows does not help. Ryan and Chris dig into the details of this little-known material and take a quick look at John and Yoko’s Some Time in New York City.

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In an explosion of creativity, McCartney produces enough material for his first solo masterpiece, Ram (1971), and has enough left over for singles, B-sides, and even future album tracks. In part two, Ryan and Chris look into the fate of Ram’s voluminous high-quality outtake material.

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