martes, octubre 22, 2024

Rocktrospectiva: The Fairly Odd Soundtrack "Give My Regards To Broad Street" Turns 40

Released on 22 October 1984, "Give My Regards To Broad Street" was the fifth studio album by English rock musician Paul McCartney, it's also the soundtrack to the film of the samen name, featuring covers of the Beatles, Wings and solo track by Paul McCartney with a few new songs, the album peaked at No. 1 on the UK Charts and lead and solo single "No More Lonely Nights" featuring the David Gilmour guitar, peaked at No. 6 in the United States and No. 2 in The UK. 

About the album/soundtrack, it's a sort of retrospective-sequenced that follows the order of the songs appearance in the film, many of these songs features re-interpretations of McCartney classics with The Bealtes and Wings such as "Good Day Sunshine", "Yesterday", "Here, There and Everywhere", "Silly Love Songs" , "For No One", "Eleanor Rigby" and "The Long and Winding Road". 

There were also interpretations of songs from McCartney's more recent albums back then such as "Ballroom Dancing" and "Wanderlust" (Tug Of War) and "So Bad" from (Pipes Of Peace). "No More Lonely Nights" also heard in a dance version, was the last songs recorded late 1983/early 1984 for the film, other previously-unheard tracks were "Not Such a Bad Boy", "No Values" and a symphonic extension of "Eleanor Rigby" here entitled as "Eleanor's Dream". 

Back then, the lenght of the album was so long, that its vinyl release had edited versions of the songs, nevertheless, the cassette and the later CD edition preserved the tracks' full lengths, the CD contains a bonus track a 1940s-styled song called "Goodnight Princess". 

Don't remember too much the movie, but many people and critics alike said the movie is utterly awful, and probably this album despite enjoyed a certain worldwide-success it's not amongst fans/critics Paul's favourites, perhaps the fact, Mccartney following-up was "Press To Play" help to released a certain weight, because that album is generally considered as the worst of the worst ever released by Paul, but going back to this soundtrack, critics and fans alike complained a lot about the new re-imagined versions of the Beatles, liketh gasthly sound of “The Long and Winding Road” McCartney does his damnedest to lounge lizard the hell out of what was once an earnest, emotional song.

Sames as "Yesterday", "Good Day Sunshine", and "Eleanor Rigby" all suffer from the same comparing the original version of "Yesterday" where he sounds maybe at least a little broken up about it, compared to the Broad Street version where he sings like he is showing off one of his greatest compositions in a failed attempt to shore up his lame movie. The original "Good Day Sunshine" was bursting with sunny enthusiasm the version here sounds laid back, same with "Eleanor Rigby".

The pointless remake of "Ballroom Dancing" sounds a lot looser than the original, for "So Bad”  the arrangement on this one is pretty bland compared to the Pipes of Peace version, but there are two Beatles remakes on this album that are better than the originals, those are "Here, There, and Everywhere".  with an especial Paul’s acoustic treatment suits the song better than the electric guitars on the original and "For No One".  it blows the original because the song always had an amazing melody, and some of McCartney’s best lyrics, the acoustic guitar and strings are far more emotive in the Broad Street remake than the piano in the original.  And there’s that cool violin part in the last chorus and a marvelous French horn solo is better in the remake. 

"Wanderlust" is a major improvement, this is a more majestic and graceful version than the original from Tug of War. obviously, the brilliant "No More Lonely Nights" is something pretty special.  It’s got a fantastic Paul McCartney melody, emotive vocals, exceptional production, and some incredible guitar work David Gilmour, "Not Such a Bad Boy" is kind of fun, "No Values" is pretty good too. 

Possibly the worst rock movie ever made but there are some things to love about the Broad Street album, which isn't a bad album, at least and enjoyable one depends you're mood. 

Give My Regards To Broad Street Track List: 
 
1. No More Lonely Nights (Ballad)
2. Good Day Sunshine/Corridor Music
3. Yesterday
4. Here, There And Everywhere
5. Wanderlust
6. Ballroom Dancing
7. Silly Love SOngs/Silly Love Songs (Reprise)
8. Not Such A Bad Boy
9. So Bad
10. No Values
11. No More Lonely Nights (Reprise)/"Bor No One"
12. Eleanors Rigby/"Eleanor's Dream"
13. The Long And Winding Road 
14. No More Lonely Nights (playout version)
15. Goodnight Princess

 

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