Tug of War is the third solo
studio album by English musician
Paul McCartney, released on 26 April 1982. It is his 11th album overall following the break up of
the Beatles in 1970, his first album released after the dissolution of his band
Wings the previous year, and his first album following
the murder of his former songwriting partner John Lennon.[1] The cover features an abstract oil painting by the artist
Brian Clarke, a frequent McCartney collaborator, incorporating an overpainted transparency of a portrait of Paul taken by
Linda McCartney.[2][3]
Tug of War was produced by former Beatles producer
George Martin and was a number-one hit in many countries, selling over one million copies in the United States in the year of its release.[4] Some critics hailed it as a 'return to form' for McCartney. The 2015 re-release, in a remastered deluxe edition, received a nomination for
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package at the
59th Annual Grammy Awards.
Recording
Following the release of the solo album McCartney II, McCartney's band Wings regrouped in July and October 1980 to rehearse several songs which later appeared on Tug of War and Pipes of Peace. Feeling the need for direction, McCartney called upon his former producer,
George Martin,[5] to begin recording a song written for the animated
Rupert Bear character (to which McCartney acquired the film rights in 1970),[6] titled "
We All Stand Together", among others. The productive sessions continued until 9 December, the morning McCartney woke up to discover his former songwriting partner and fellow ex-
Beatle,
John Lennon, had been
shot and killed in New York City on the previous night. Abandoning that day's session (in which he and
Denny Laine were recording future B-side "Rainclouds") part-way through, both Martin and McCartney felt it was best to leave the project for the time being and start anew once they were ready.
In February 1981, two months after Lennon's death, McCartney resumed the sessions, recording that month with
Stevie Wonder,
Stanley Clarke,
Carl Perkins and
Ringo Starr, and laying down several songs in the process. The sessions were held at
AIR Studios in Montserrat, in the Caribbean, and lasted from 3 February to 2 March, ending with "Ebony and Ivory" and "What's That You're Doing",[7] two songs featuring Stevie Wonder.[8]10cc guitarist
Eric Stewart also became a frequent collaborator of McCartney during this period.[9] Further sessions were undertaken that summer at Martin's AIR studios in
Oxford Street, London. The sessions were so productive that several resulting tracks were held over for McCartney's next album, Pipes of Peace, which followed in 1983. The rest of 1981 was spent in a quiet fashion, with McCartney and Martin giving the finishing touches to the album.
In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, music critic
Stephen Holden hailed Tug of War as "the masterpiece everyone has always known Paul McCartney could make", and particularly admired its vivid music and consistent songwriting.[16]Robert Palmer was less enthusiastic in his review for The New York Times, and found the album "exquisitely crafted though lyrically flawed", as he thought McCartney's lyrics were often "clichéd or mawkish", but that the album "at its best, is as finely crafted as his work with the Beatles".[19]
In March 1982, McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder, "
Ebony and Ivory", was released to considerable commercial success, reaching number one in many countries. Tug of War followed in April, and similarly became a worldwide number one. The follow-up single, "Take It Away", reached the top ten in the United States. The album restored McCartney's critical reputation after what was viewed as a lean period for him. Tug of War was nominated for the "Album of the Year"
Grammy in 1983. Wingspan author
Mark Lewisohn thought it was a better album than Band on the Run.[20]
The album was issued in the US on compact disc on 29 February 1984.[21] In 1993, Tug of War was remastered and re-issued on CD as part of The Paul McCartney Collection series. There were no bonus tracks: "Rainclouds" and "I'll Give You a Ring", B-sides of "Ebony and Ivory" and "Take It Away", respectively, were omitted. In 2007, Tug of War was remastered and re-released on the iTunes Store adding a solo version of "Ebony and Ivory".
A further reissue of Tug of War was released on 2 October 2015, as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. This edition included a remixed version of the album, along with the original mix, and a series of videos.
Standard Edition 2-CD; remixed version of the original 12-track album on the first disc, plus 11 bonus tracks on a second disc.
Deluxe Edition 3CD/1DVD Box Set + 112 page essay book and 64 page scrapbook;
Super Deluxe CD/DVD 3CD/1DVD Box Set + 112 page essay book and 64 page scrapbook + limited edition acrylic slipcase
Remastered vinyl The albums will also be available on special gatefold vinyl editions (vinyl editions include a download card).
Digital
Standard:
Standard Res – without Ebooklet
Standard Res – with Ebooklet
Mastered for iTunes – without Ebooklet
Hi-Res – 24-bit/96 kHz – with Ebooklet
Deluxe:
Standard Res (with or without Ebooklet)
Mastered for iTunes (with Ebooklet)
Hi-Res – 24-bit/96 kHz (with Ebooklet)
Disc 1 – Remixed album
Remixed version of the original 12-track album.
Disc 2 – Original album remastered (deluxe edition only)
The original 12-track album.
Bonus Audio (disc 2 for standard version, disc 3 for deluxe edition)
All songs written by Paul McCartney, except "Rainclouds", written with
Denny Laine.
"Stop, You Don't Know Where She Came From" (demo) – 1:44
"Wanderlust" (demo) – 1:46
"Ballroom Dancing" (demo) – 2:04
"Take It Away" (demo) – 5:37
"The Pound Is Sinking" (demo) – 2:35
"Something That Didn't Happen" (demo) – 2:17
"Ebony and Ivory" (demo) – 1:46
"Dress Me Up as a Robber/Robber Riff" (demo) – 3:42
"Ebony and Ivory" (solo version) – 3:50
"Rainclouds" (b-side to "Ebony and Ivory") – 3:13
"I'll Give You a Ring" (b-side to "Take it Away") – 3:09
Note: Tracks 1-8 previously unreleased.
Additional download tracks available via paulmccartney.com[23]
"Take It Away" (single edit) – 4:05
Disc 4 – DVD
"Tug of War" Music Video (Version 1)
"Tug of War" Music Video (Version 2)
"Take It Away" Music Video
"Ebony and Ivory" Music Video
"Fly TIA" – Behind The Scenes on Take It Away
Personnel
Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Notes
A^ In the United States, Tug of War also entered the R&B chart, peaking at No. 11 there.[41]
B^ Until January 1987, Japanese albums chart had been separated into LP, CD, and cassette charts. Tug of War also entered the cassette chart, peaking at No. 12 and entering top 100 for 19 weeks.
^Miles, Barry; Badman, Keith, eds. (2001). The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 (reprint ed.). London: Music Sales Group.
ISBN9780711983076.