UK Release date : Monday, October 31, 1983
Pipes Of Peace
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Studio albums”
Last updated on December 19, 2022
UK Release date : Monday, October 31, 1983
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Studio albums”
Last updated on December 19, 2022
Previous album Nov 30, 1982 • "Thriller" by Michael Jackson released in the US
Single Oct 03, 1983 • "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
Article October 4 to October 7, 1983 • Filming of the "Say Say Say" promotional video
Album Oct 31, 1983 • "Pipes Of Peace" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
Album Oct 31, 1983 • "Pipes Of Peace" by Paul McCartney released in the US
Interview Nov 12, 1983 • Paul McCartney interview for Titbits
This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Written by Paul McCartney
3:56 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums (?), Piano, Shaker (?), Synthesizer (?), Tambourine (?), Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Adrian Brett : Pan flute James Kippen : Tabla Pestalozzi's Children Choir : Choir Unknown musician(s) : Horns, Strings
Session Recording: Sep 10, 1982 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Overdubs : October 1982 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Jun 30, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
3:56 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Electric piano (?), Percussion (?), Synthesizers (?), Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Michael Jackson : Backing vocals, Vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Jerry Hey : Horns Nathan Watts : Bass Bill Wolfer : Keyboards, Synthesizers David Williams : Electric guitar Chris Smith : Harmonica Ricky Lawson : Drums Ernie Watts : Horns Gary E. Grant : Horns Gary Herbig : Horns
Session Recording: May 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK ; Odyssey Studios, London, UK
Session Recording: April 1982 • Studio Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, USA ; Sigma Sound Studios, New York City, USA
Session Mixing: Feb 15, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
3:59 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass (?), Electric guitar (?), Keyboards (?), Piano (?), Tambourine (?), Vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
Session Recording: Jan 11, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 06, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
3:06 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Drums (?), Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Tambourine (?) Denny Laine : Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar (?) Stanley Clarke : Bass Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Unknown musician(s) : Strings
Session Recording: Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 8, 1980 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Overdubs: Feb 11, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, Montserrat
Session Overdubs: Mar 23, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Jan 25, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
3:21 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric piano (?), Piano (?), Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards (?) Ringo Starr : Drums Eric Stewart : Backing vocals, Electric guitar George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Unknown musician(s) : Strings
Session Recording: Sep 16, 1982 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Mixing : Unknown • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
3:56 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar (?), Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass (?), Drums (?), Electric guitar (?), Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Vocals Michael Jackson : Backing vocals, Vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Unknown musician(s) : Flutes, Strings
Session Recording: May 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Overdubs ? : April 1982 ? • Studio Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Session Recording: Aug 25, 1983 • Studio Sigma Sound Studios, New York City, USA
Session Mixing: Jun 08, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
2:54 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Castanets (?), Drums (?), Electric guitar, Piano (?), Shaker (?), Synthesizers (?), Vocals, Vocoder George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
Session Recording: Jan 02, 1981 • Studio Parkgate Studio, Sussex, UK
Session Recording: Jul 11, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Jan 25, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
4:33 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar (?), Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar (?) Ringo Starr : Drums Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Mike Stavrou : Recording engineer assistant Unknown musician(s) : Horns
Session Recording: February 16-18th, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, Montserrat
Session Recording: July 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Sep 01, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Stanley Clarke
2:55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Keyboards (?), Synthesizer (?) Denny Laine : Electric guitar (?) Stanley Clarke : Bass George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Gadd : Drums Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant Mike Stavrou : Recording engineer assistant
Session Recording: Feb 10, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, Montserrat
Session Mixing: Feb 01, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
2:55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar (?), Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass (?), Drums (?), Electric guitar (?), Garden canes, Keyboards (?), Shaker (?), Tambourine (?), Vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Garden canes, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant
Session Recording: Jan 29, 1982 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 06, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
3:39 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar (?), Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Shaker (?), Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Bicycle wheel, Piano, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Dave Mattacks : Drums Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Geoff Whitehorn : Acoustic guitar Unknown musician(s) : Horns, Strings
Session Recording: Sep 14, 1982 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Jul 04, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
“Tug Of War” is supposed to be about opposites, I forget what you call it, dichotomy or something. The duality. Yes and No, Up and Down, Man and Woman. Always some kind of conflict, even if you’re married and in love, she’s still a girl, you’re still a boy… Blacks and whites. Dualities. It’s not easy to bring together two sides of a coin. So that was like the question if there was a theme on “Tug Of War”, that was the sort of theme we played with.
So, on ‘Pipes Of Peace,’ I wanted to answer that, I didn’t want to just leave the question posing ‘How do you ever get the dualities together?’ And on ‘Pipes Of Peace,’ there’s a little quote from Rabindranath Tagore would you believe, Indian lovers? He was an Indian poet, and he just has a thing about ‘In love, life’s contradictions dissolve and disappear.’
It seems to me that that’s the kind of thing. There is this big paradox, and duality. But in love, somehow, it mystically goes away. Somehow there aren’t problems with black and white if they sort of love each other. So in trying to find an answer, this one is a bit more towards ‘The answer is love.’ And it’s very corny, and it’s been said a million times before. But if you can’t find another answer, what are you going to do? I would like to have been able to say the answer is Ralph! And I’ve got it, and it’s very original…
But the only one I could find was love. I ask myself, what is the answer to that duality? So that’s what this one became about, ‘Pipes Of Peace’, love! ‘The Other Me,’ ‘So Bad,’ ‘Keep Under Cover’ stuff. It’s all about trying to answer the dilemma of ‘Tug Of War,’ and that’s enough serious talk — for months!
Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich N° 31, 1983
Way back, when we started ‘Tug of War,’ my thoughts to Paul were ‘Let’s make a slightly harder, a more funky album than perhaps you have done in the past’… In fact, the ‘Pipes Of Peace’ album became more what we were looking for in ‘Tug Of War,’ and certainly Michael Jackson’s tracks turned out that way. Although they were Paul and Michael’s songs, they seemed to get more of that dynamism on those tracks.
George Martin, from Club Sandwich N° 31, 1983
From Wikipedia:
Pipes of Peace is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, released in 1983. As the follow-up to the popular Tug of War, the album came close to matching the commercial success of its predecessor in Britain but peaked only at number 15 on America’s Billboard 200 albums chart. While Pipes of Peace was the source of international hit singles such as “Say Say Say” (recorded with Michael Jackson) and the title track, the critical response to the album was less favourable than that afforded to Tug of War.
Background and structure
Upon its release, many were quick to notice that Pipes of Peace mirrored its predecessor in many ways. It was produced by George Martin, it featured two collaborations with the same artist (this time with Michael Jackson; the Tug of War collaborations being with Stevie Wonder), and continued McCartney’s alliance in the studio with Ringo Starr, former 10cc guitarist Eric Stewart and his last session work with Wings guitarist Denny Laine. The reason for all of this is that many of the songs released on Pipes of Peace were recorded during the 1981 sessions for Tug of War, with “Pipes of Peace“, “The Other Me”, “So Bad”, “Tug of Peace” and “Through Our Love” being recorded afterwards, in September–October 1982. By November, McCartney would start shooting his self-written motion picture Give My Regards to Broad Street, co-starring wife Linda, Ringo Starr and Tracey Ullman, which would take up most of his time throughout 1983. Due to the filming commitments (and to allow a reasonable lapse of time between his new album and Tug of War), Pipes of Peace was delayed until October for release.
With momentum building for his film project – and the accompanying soundtrack album – McCartney would spend much of his energies finishing and preparing Give My Regards to Broad Street for its release in the autumn of 1984.
In 1983 Pipes of Peace made its debut on CD on Columbia Records. In 1993, the album was remastered and reissued on CD as part of “The Paul McCartney Collection” series, with the previously unreleased “Twice in a Lifetime” (the title song for a 1985 film); his 1984 hit from the Rupert Bear project, “We All Stand Together“; and “Simple as That“, released in 1986 on the charity album The Anti-Heroin Project – It’s A Live-In World – all as bonus tracks. “Ode to a Koala Bear” (the B-side to “Say Say Say”) was overlooked for inclusion. The album was reissued in remastered form in 2015 as part of the ongoing ‘Paul McCartney Archive Collection’ series of releases. The version with “enhanced packaging” contains three discs: the remastered album itself, a bonus audio disc containing mostly demo versions of the songs found on the first disc, and a disc with a film.
Critical reception
Critical reaction was less than that which had greeted Tug of War, many feeling that Pipes of Peace was a weaker execution of its predecessor’s formula. In addition, author Howard Sounes writes, the album’s commercial reception was “slightly disappointing, considering the quality of the work“. Sounes views Pipes of Peace and its predecessor as “abounding with well-crafted tunes” that almost match the standard of McCartney’s work with the Beatles; yet, he adds, the two albums “must be marked down for a surfeit of love ballads with lamentable lyrics“.
Reviewing the album for the NME, Penny Reel described Pipes of Peace as “A dull, tired and empty collection of quasi-funk and gooey rock arrangements … with McCartney cooing platitudinous sentiments on a set of lyrics seemingly made up on the spur of the moment.” Reel opined that the “one decent moment” was the title track, which he found to be “a Beatlish soiree surely destined as a Christmas single“, before concluding: “Even here, however, a note of insincerity in the vocal finally defeats the lyric’s objective.“
The album featured the duet between McCartney and Jackson, “Say Say Say“, which reached number 2 in the UK and number 1 in the US, where it remained for six weeks through to early in 1984.
Following “Say Say Say“, the album’s title track became a UK number 1, while in the US, “So Bad” was a top 30 hit. Pipes of Peace peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 15 in the US. […]
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Stav • 4 years ago
isn't it the 5th album?
Mc I
Ram
Mc II
Tag
Pipes
Wiki is wrong
The PaulMcCartney Project • 4 years ago
Hi Stav, there are so many ways to count his solo albums ... I guess Wikipedia said 4th one, because Ram is credited to Paul & Linda McCartney (they consider McCartney II to be his 2nd solo album)
George • 4 years ago
This background and recording detail is fantastic - thank you. I love listening to this album on streaming, so it's also fascinating to look at the full album art and packaging. All this gives a much better sense of the whole project, its intention and context.
The PaulMcCartney Project • 4 years ago
Thanks for your message @george !
Jacob • 2 years ago
are there stand alone releases of the demos of Tug of War and Pipes of Peace? i know some are bundled on the more recent remaster/reissues but interested in a stand alone albums of those, thanks!
The PaulMcCartney Project • 2 years ago
Hi Jacob, I don't think there is such standalone releases. At best, you should be able to find a 2-CD bundle with the first CD being the remastered album and the 2nd CD being the demos.
Jacob • 2 years ago
ok thanks, I love the demos for these albums, I like the proper albums too but personally feel the spirit of the songs shine through a bit more in the demos as the production styling on the albums (especially Pipes of Peace) feels dated to me, cheers!
