Tug Of War

This album was a reunion for McCartney and the Beatles' producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, and includes McCartney's ballad to the late John Lennon, "Here Today". It also includes 2 collaborations with Stevie Wonder, "What's That You're Doing?" and the number 1 hit, "Ebony and Ivory".

Chartwise, TUG OF WAR was McCartney's biggest post-Beatles moment, and, not surprisingly, it found him reunited with Beatles producer George Martin for the first time since their ABBEY ROAD heyday. Yet, the album was also an artistic triumph, showing off McCartney's wide range as songwriter and performer and his ability to incorporate an incomparable supporting cast (Ringo, Carl Perkins, Stevie Wonder) into a variety of roles. After nearly a decade in Wings, all too often structured as a (semi-) democratic vehicle, McCartney flexed his superstar muscle and came up with a smash.

TUG OF WAR is most remembered for "Ebony & Ivory," a harmonious pop duet with Wonder that, even upon first inspection, sounded like part wondrous natural meditation, part brilliantly calculated songwriting. Of course it's both, and, as such, stands next to "Every Breath You Take" and "With or Without You" as a great pop standard of the '80s. But take note that the album's other Paul-Stevie duet, Wonder's funky "What's That You're Doing?," is the most groove-ridden song McCartney ever recorded. And the album's other big hit, "Take it Away," is vintage McCartney in reminiscence mode (ala Ray Davies' "Come Dancing"), with possibly the last great chorus he ever wrote.