Ranking the 5 Best Album-Openers by Paul McCartney

The Paul McCartney catalog is dotted with many classic albums he’s released over a long stretch of time. And he’s done it by knowing how to sequence those records so they often start off with a bang.

In terms of his finest album-opening songs, it’s not surprising many of them coincide with some of the best LPs of his career. Here are our picks for the five finest Side 1, Track 1 songs in Paul McCartney’s illustrious career.
5. “Tug of War” from Tug of War (1982)

The pressure on McCartney to deliver with the Tug of War album was heightened. On the one hand, it marked his definitive return to a solo career after his decision to scuttle Wings. And it was also the first album after the death of John Lennon, which ensured that all eyes and ears would be on Macca. He rose to the occasion in a big way on this record, and it starts with the title track, a stately look at the differences that unnecessarily keep people and nations apart. McCartney reunited with Beatles’ producer George Martin on this album, and Martin’s firm hand guiding the tiller can be felt on his track.
4. “My Brave Face” from Flowers in the Dirt (1989)

This was another point in McCartney’s career where he was at a bit of a crossroads and needed a solid effort to right the ship. His 1986 album Press to Play found him floundering a bit as he tried to stay current. Flowers in the Dirt plays to his strengths with melodic rockers and stirring ballads. The opening song belongs in the former category and it gets an assist from co-writer Elvis Costello, who convinced McCartney he shouldn’t be afraid to embrace a sound reminiscent of The Beatles if that’s where his instincts led. On this track, the muse did indeed guide him in that direction, and the song is a triumph.

Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com

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