CD REVIEW: VARIOUS – The Art Of McCartney

CD REVIEW: VARIOUS – The Art Of McCartney
Bulletproof
October 2014
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9.5/10

The true test of a great song is arguably whether it retains its essence when filtered and refracted through the eyes of other acts and musical styles. In this respect this double album tribute featuring some of rock n’ roll’s biggest and brightest talents shows the sheer genius in Paul McCartney’s songwriting.

With nary a dud over the 36 tracks herein (even the uber-bland Jamie Cullen brings a little charm to Every Night), Macca’s work as a solo artist is showcased alongside that with Wings and The Beatles.

Breathing new life into his biggest hits and lesser known tracks with neither pride nor prejudice, The Art Of McCartney also shows that whilst Sir Paul wrote a helluva lot of songs about relationships (his own and others), he wasn’t entirely about what his sparring partner John Lennon labelled ‘silly love songs.’

Highlights – and they are many – range from Billy Joel’s raw takes on both Maybe I’m Amazed and Live And Let Die; Bob Dylan’s raspy Things We Said Today; Heart’s faithful Band On The Run and Letting Go; Willie Nelson’s twanging tackle of Yesterday; Def Leppard glamming up Helen Wheels; KISS’s bombastic Venus & Mars/Rock Show; Harry Connick Jr’s Sinatra-styled My Love; Smokey Robinson’s beautifully soft So Bad; Dr John’s voodoo-infused Let ‘Em In; the incomparable Darlene Love’s take on All My Loving and Wanda Jackson’s whoop-and-holler through Run Devil Run.

Hearing these songs filtered through reggae, hard rock, country, folk, rockabilly and other styles show not only the versatility of the songs themselves, but also give some glimmers of insight into the early musical inspirations and influences that have affected and shaped McCartney’s art. A triumph.

Category: CD Reviews