Here is a little clue for all you pop pickers. If a buncha tier ones get together to do a tribute album and if they haven’t named some charity organization for whom it is in aid of, the charity is the tributing partner. In this case Paul McCartney, who might need many things, for one thing he could be with being 25 years old again, but he sure don’t need money and that’s all there is to it.
Anyway, undoubtedly McCartney is the guiding hand behind .
Also the name of the album, The Art Of McCartney is a bit of a giveaway. Anyway, I’ve only heard the Cure (check it out below) but I won’t let that stop me from reviewing every track…
1. Billy Joel – “Maybe I’m Amazed” – Nice match for the piano man – B+
2. Bob Dylan – “Things We Said Today” – Terrible idea but what were they gonna give him? – C
3. Heart – “Band on the Run”- Yeah, nothing to see here folks – C
4. Steve Miller – “Junior’s Farm” – Miller has the rock sensibility to tread but not trample the melody – B
5. Yusuf Islam – “The Long and Winding Road” –Too much, they should have given him something else – B-
6. Harry Connick, Jr. – “My Love” – This is a great idea, the song as a song sucks but as a singing exercise should be great – A-
7. Brian Wilson – “Wanderlust” –Off the Tug Of War album, strange choice when so much of McCartney’s work intercedes better – B+
8. Corinne Bailey Rae – “Bluebird” – Terrific singer, a very soulful woman, should do an excellent job – B+
9. Willie Nelson – “Yesterday” – Wow, and you didn’t think it could be sung any slower – B-
10. Jeff Lynne – “Junk” – Nice one, the ultimate McCartney song covers an ultimate McCartney track – A
11. Barry Gibb – “When I’m 64” – No, no, no, we already sat through Sgt Peppers once – C
12. Jamie Cullum – “Every Night” – hey, we already have one Connick here – C+
13. Kiss – “Venus and Mars”/”Rock Show” – The mind boggles – C
14. Paul Rodgers – “Let Me Roll It” – The man who would be Queen is always bad company – C+
15. Roger Daltrey – “Helter Skelter” – Sure, why not? – B+
16. Def Leppard – “Helen Wheels”- Terrible idea – C
17. The Cure, featuring James McCartney – “Hello Goodbye” – I’ve heard it, lame as humanly possible – C
18. Billy Joel – “Live and Let Die” – Yes but where is Axl when you need him – B
19. Chrissie Hynde – “Let It Be” – Jesus, man, get her something better than this – C+
20. Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen – “Jet” – A great song from the Us equivalent to ELO – A-
21. Joe Elliott – “Hi Hi Hi” – Low low low – C
22. Heart – “Letting Go” – This is a better idea than BOTR – B
23. Steve Miller – “Hey Jude” – And this is a worse idea than “Junior’s Fram” – C
24. Owl City – “Listen to What the Man Said” – Geez, why? – C
25. Perry Farrell – “Got to Get You Into My Life” – Jesus Fucking Christ, why???? – C-
26. Dion – “Drive My Car” – With Dion there, I dunno man. Maybe – B
27. Allen Toussaint – “Lady Madonna” – Great pianist tackles a great piano song but ain’t it a shame they couldn’t get Fats Domino out of retirement – A-
28. Dr. John – “Let ‘Em In” – Works for me, he’ll undercut the twee – B
29. Smokey Robinson – “So Bad”- A good song with a great song – B+
30. The Airborne Toxic Event – “No More Lonely Nights” – A lousy song with a crappy band – D+
31. Alice Cooper – “Eleanor Rigby” – I think Alice will acquit himself nicely – B
32. Toots Hibbert with Sly & Robbie – “Come and Get It” – Calypso! – B
33. B.B. King – “On the Way” – This is a great idea, King will kill the guitar on this, tailor made for him – A
34. Sammy Hagar – “Birthday” – well, he should be able to scream it – B-
Bonus Tracks:
1. Robert Smith – “C Moon” – Yeah, whatever -C
2. Booker T. Jones – “Can’t Buy Me Love” – Why not? Then again, why? – B
3. Ronnie Spector – “P.S. I Love You” – I dunno, I think maybe something more like “For No One” – B
4. Darlene Love – “All My Loving” – Not bad, I guess this was the height of their US girl group fetishism – B+
5. Ian McCulloch – “For No One” – What it would sound like if the Doors covered it? – B
