London Town (1978)
London Town is a unique and out-of-the-ordinary record from Paul McCartney and Wings. As their penultimate record as a group, they began to play around with their style, incorporating a lot of folk and country rock influences. This experimentation works surprisingly well, resulting in a refreshing and enjoyable listening experience to one of the group’s more underrated records.
The album kicks off with the self-titled track London Town, which immerses listeners in a mellow yet engaging atmosphere. The song features a gentle, lilting melody combined with a lush arrangement, setting a dreamy and introspective tone for the album. The lyrics paint vivid scenes of everyday life in London, offering a sense of place and narrative that feels both personal and universal. It’s soft and contemplative, with McCartney’s soothing vocals perfectly complementing the intricate instrumentation.
This is followed by the absolutely mesmerizing Cafe On The Left Bank. Many reviews I have read of this record, and this track in particular don’t rate this song nearly high enough or give it the credit it deserves. The electric guitar is sizzling, the organ playing is bouncy, and the synths are utterly fantastic, creating a rich and immersive soundscape.
However, following this is where the album starts to lose momentum a bit. Unfortunately, I’m Carrying begins a portion of the album that feels the most like filler. These songs are good but ultimately kind of forgettable. Backwards Traveller is too short to make a significant impact, despite its promise, and Cuff Link, a decent funky instrumental, feels out of place within the album’s overall context. Children Children starts to introduce folk elements into the mix, but not enough is done with it, resulting in a slightly boring track.
Once the soulful and poppy Girlfriend comes around, London Town picks up where it left off. Imagine if McCartney arranged a Michael Jackson song – this is what you would get. It’s a decent soulful, poppy, and funky tune that reinvigorates the album’s energy. I later found out that Paul had written this song initially for Michael Jackson himself to sing, but didn’t come together on this record. But, Michael Jackson would end up covering Girlfriend on his following release.
The run from I’ve Had Enough through Deliver Your Children features some of Paul McCartney’s finest work to date. These tracks are utterly incredible, imaginative, and different. You go from an old-school rocker to swirling synths and pop rock, then transition from a stadium-sized folk rock anthem to an acoustic-driven gem with guitar strumming reminiscent of Styx’s Boat On The River. Not quite the same, but similar in feeling – don’t argue … let me have this comparison!
The Expanded Edition and bonus songs are worth listening to as well. You get an Elvis-inspired 50s rockabilly number, a 3/4 time Scottish-inspired folk waltz, and an attempt at a minuscule progressive-folk rock song. These tracks add an extra layer of variety and showcase the band’s willingness to experiment.
Overall, London Town is a fun record with more ups than downs. It’s an absolute joy to listen to something new and refreshing in style from Paul McCartney and Wings. The album’s eclectic mix of folk, country rock, and classic McCartney pop sensibilities makes it a standout in their discography, even if it doesn’t quite maintain its initial momentum throughout. Despite a few forgettable bumps, the record’s highlights make it a worthwhile listen for any McCartney fan.
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Highlight Songs:
Cafe On The Left Bank
With A Little Luck
I’ve Had Enough
Famous Groupies
Deliver Your Children
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Again, I’d suggest owning this one. Always stream it until you can get a hard copy and like always .. play the hell out of it. The things that work on this album, I feel REALLY work.
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Overall Rating
4 Stars
