Paul McCartney has finally announced the release date for the next releases in his Archive Collection series. Deluxe remastered sets for the classic Tug of War and its vastly inferior follow-up, Pipes of Peace, will both be released on Oct. 2.
Tug of War was released in 1982 and reunited McCartney with The Beatles producer George Martin. Released after McCartney II’s tepid response, it was seen as a successful return to form for McCartney. It features the hit singles “Ebony and Ivory,” with Stevie Wonder, and “Take It Away.” “Here Today,” McCartney’s emotional response to John Lennon’s death, is also on the record.
The album received a full remix in addition to being remastered. The 2015 remix will be included in a 2-CD standard edition, which also includes a disc of bonus material. The 1982 mix will be exclusive to the 3-CD/1-DVD Deluxe box, which will also require you to rob a bank to buy. That big box also includes a 112-page book, 64-page scrapbook and prints of Linda McCartney photos.
McCartney didn’t list all the tracks on the Tug bonus disc, but it will at least include the solo version of “Ebony and Ivory,” eight demos, two outtakes of songs that didn’t make the album and more. Hopefully the “more” includes the B-side “Rainclouds.”
In 1983, McCartney followed Tug with Pipes of Peace, a shorter and inferior album. Also produced by Martin, it does include the Michael Jackson duet “Say Say Say” and the title track. Other tracks on the album include “The Man” with Jackson and “So Bad.”
Pipes’ bonus disc will include a 2015 remix of “Say Say Say” by Spike Stent, two outtakes, three demos, the unreleased instrumental track “Christian Bop” and more. Again, the “more” for Pipes should include the B-side “Ode to a Koala Bear.” (Yes, McCartney really recorded a tribute song to a Koala Bear.)
Pipes’ deluxe set will include a DVD, a 112-page book and a 64-page photo book about the “Pipes of Peace” music video.
There will also be new vinyl releases of both albums.
Previous albums to get the Archive treatment include Band on the Run, McCartney, McCartney II, Wings Over America, Venus And Mars and Wings at the Speed of Sound.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com