This is one of those album's that gets played over and over in my CD player. The reason is great songs and great production. Here's a song by song account:

1. Tug of War - great melody, lots of different parts, and great production by George Martin, great way to start the album. 5 stars

2. Take it Away - Another great song. Irrisistably catchy and upbeat. One to sing along with at the top or your lungs. 5 stars

3. Somebody Who Cares - Very nice melody, but Paul's already been there. 4 stars

4. What's that You're Doing - I never really got into this song. Probably Paul at his funkiest, but it still isn't one of my favorites. 2 stars

5. Here Today - Gorgeous, I definetely think this is the most effective of the Lennon tribute songs. This is one of the two or three best songs on the album. 5 stars

6. Ballroom Dancing - Entertaining. Kind of jazzy, daft lyrics. 3 stars

7. The Pound is Sinking - Fabulous, three different sections in this song. One of the best. 5 stars

8. Wanderlust - Without a doubt my favorite song on the album. Fantastic melody, great piano and horns. 5 stars

9. Get It - Fun, not the best song, but a tad rockabilly and nice to listen to. 3 stars

10. Be What You See - Not really a full song, but I really like it for what it is. 4 stars

11. Dress Me up as a Robber - Maybe the only real "rocker" on the CD. It really grew on me. 4 stars

12. Ebony and Ivory - It's not really as bad as everyone says it is. It think we've all just heard it too many times. 4 stars

Definetely recommended. Paul fan or otherwise.

"Tug of War" is the best album that Paul McCartney has produced since the mid-1970s heyday of Wings. It contains two massively successful first rate hit singles in "Take it Away" and the Stevie Wonder duet "Ebony and Ivory." Both feature McCartney's melodic songwriting sensibilities at their best. Other highlights include the fine title track, the John Lennon tribute "Here Today" and another hummable winner in "Ballroom Dancing." The rest of the material also holds its own. McCartney's post Beatles career has been an up and down affair. "Tug of War" most definately is one of the ups.

Tug Of War was the best album that Paul McCartney released in the 80's and one of the best he's ever released. This was his first release after the death of John Lennon and by the album's sound, you can tell he was thinking of the old times. He re-teamed with Beatles producer George Martin and Ringo Starr plays drums on a couple of tracks. The album has the spirit of teamwork as he duets with Stevie Wonder and one of his idols, Carl Perkins. The two tracks with Stevie Wonder are exceptional, "What's That Your Doing" and the number one smash hit "Ebony & Ivory". The former song is basically a Stevie Wonder song with him singing lead and it is easily the funkiest song ever to appear on a McCartney album, while the latter is an unabashed call for racial understanding that contains some marvelous vocal interplay. The album's opening song is the title track and it is a beautiful song with a soaring string section that has George Martin written all over it. That song merges right into one of McCartney's all time best efforts, "Take It Away, which features Ringo on drums. Mr. McCartney must of be feeling the spirit of John Lennon as with "Ebony & Ivory", "The Pound Is Sinking" is another socio-political commentary song and is quite good. "Get It" is his duet with Mr. Perkins and it is a rockabilly number. "Here Today" is his tribute to John Lennon and although the song is not one of his best, the love and feeling he puts into it outweighs any of its deficiencies. The album doesn't always hit as with the silly "Ballroom Dancing" and the typically sappy "Wanderlust", but the overall sound and production is crisp and vibrant and it shows why Paul McCartney is one of the most versatile and great artists in music history.

There's more than the usual amount of good stuff on this album--what helps to make this one a keeper are the contributions of outside people cameoing on the record, so Paul gets out of his hothouse and is charged up by some really good collaborators, in this case, Stevie Wonder with the funky "What's That You're Doing?" (which wouldn't be out of place on one of Stevie's classic 70's albums) and the ubiquitous "Ebony and Ivory" which may be appreciated more now that you don't hear it every hour on the radio. Carl Perkins drops in for "Get It," a very Perkins-like ditty, unassuming and amused with its own laid-back virtuosity--Carl likes it; you can hear him guffawing at the end (R.I.P., Carl--you were great). Some of Paul's best melodies are here--I think "Tug of War" is just beautiful, with George Martin's production wonderfully suited to this ballad--and whose idea was the extended orchestral coda? Just brilliant. That leads into "Take it Away," a picturesque life-on-the-road story--the music builds very nicely as the tale progresses. "Ballroom Dancing" is a lot of fun, even a seeming throwaway like "Dress Me Up As A Robber" attracts with its new-wavy-type instrumentation. Old wine in new bottles. Paul's lyrics don't get in the way for once--he keeps it simple--this especially works on the Lennon tribute "Here Today"; he doesn't belabor the point, and it ends up very affecting. This deserves a lot of spins on your player--one of Paul's most enjoyable. Well done!

I would give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. There's not really anything wrong with this album. It's produced well. There are several highlights for me. Of-course, Here Today is probably the seeked song because Paul sings about his relationship with Lennon, this being the first Paul McCartney album after Lennon died. Most of the songs on this album are gentle, soft and underproduced. Most of the material is also slow in tempo. The exception being my favourite song, a three way medley Get it, Be what you see and dress me up as a robebr. Get it is a rockabilly piece with Carl Perkins, Be what you see is an interesting 30 second piece singing with the vocoder and Dress me up as a robber is a haunting little R&B song. I also love the song Wanderlust, a very interesting ballad that benefits from George Martin's arrangement. The album does feature a lot of George's adventurous arrangements. The style of music is essentially ballads and soul-pop. There's very little rock n roll though Ballroom dancing is something along those lines. I think Tug of War is better than it's follow up, Pipes of peace but I do admit feeling that it could have benefitted from something light-hearted and fun like 'Average Person', but maybe I'm wrong. Something like that may not have fit the concept of this album that is perhaps too itnrospective for the likes of 'Average Person' and 'Sweetest Little Show'.
Oh yeah, and I like 'Ebony and Ivory'.