Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
Give My Regards to Broad Street is certainly a controversial album. Boy, is it ever. This album is a soundtrack to the film of the same name, starring Paul McCartney himself. I have never seen the movie, but from what I hear, it is awful and indefensible. Maybe it would be a fun movie to “hate” watch? Like a cult classic such as The Room or The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I will check it out one day.
The album itself has a mix of original songs, reimaginings of popular Beatles songs and a few of Paul’s solo hits. I will keep this short-ish and not go into a big detailed review of all the songs. All of the reimaginings are fine. There is nothing about them that is offensive or unlistenable. In fact, some of them are pretty cool and creative.
The hit single, No More Lonely Nights (Ballad), is an absolute smash. Before reading the details of the song, I could already tell that David Gilmour was all over this track. That trademark, iconic David Gilmour guitar solo elevates this song to unreachable heights. I love it. Perhaps some Pink Floyd bias there … sue me.
Now, a few of the following tracks are “updated” versions of Beatles and Paul solo songs that, frankly, aren’t bad, but they just feel emotionless. It sort of feels like Paul is walking through these incredible hit songs in an ever so slightly lackluster way.
There really aren’t too many differences in the arrangements, but the energy and the heart feel missed. After releasing Silly Love Songs with Wings a few years prior, Paul received a lot of criticism. I am a massive defender of the song. I think it is great. I think it is a silly little love song, but there is nothing wrong with that. It is amazing and makes me feel joyous. The rearrangement of that same song is featured on this record with a slightly altered bass line. I prefer the original, but the new one is just as fun. Especially with the incorporation of new bass, guitar, and horn solos. I wouldn’t take it over the original, but I would definitely like to have both.
We get back into two more original songs for this soundtrack, and they are fantastic. Them being Not Such a Bad Boy and No Values. They are killer rock songs and they were sadly overshadowed by the criticism of the film. After these two smash hits, things start to get weird… but I kind of like it. McCartney turns the ever so short and iconic Eleanor Rigby into a ten-minute pretentious, self-indulgnt classical piece of composition. It is truly one of a kind, and you just have to applaud his creativity and attempt to do this. It works. It really does, and it is beautiful.
If you don’t like it then I am so sorry for you. You clearly don’t enjoy most things in life.
Right after, we get a totally different arrangement of the sensational The Long and Winding Road. Show of hands... who here likes smooth jazz? Who here likes to sit in a coffee shop on a rainy day and listen to some soft jazz? Well, I do. It is a guilty pleasure of mine. This album features the doctor's office, elevator, coffee shop smooth jazz rendition of “The Long and Winding Road.” Is it better than the original? Absolutely not. Is it fun and creative, and are you glad it exists? Just for fun? Hell yes, I am!
The oddness of this album then comes to a close with a new, upbeat version of “No More Lonely Nights,” which kickstarted the album. The song is meant to play out the end of the story, and we are finally greeted by the sweet “Goodnight Princess.” It is a wonderful palate cleanser to the bizarre journey we all just embarked on. It was definitely memorable.
———————————————
Highlight Songs:
No More Lonely Nights (Ballad)
Not Such A Bad Boy
No Values
Eleanor Rigby/Eleanor’s Dream
The Long and Winding Road
———————————————
Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Probably best to avoid the film, but I say go for owning the record. Why not? It’s fun. Will you play it more than his other albums? No, probably not. Will you enjoy the trip listening to it every now and then? I did, and I hope you would to.
———————————————
Overall Rating
3 Stars
