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Pipes of Peace is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney using his own name, 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
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. Accordingly, the album has many things in common with its predecessor - 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. By November, McCartney would start shooting his self-written motion picture Give My Regards to Broad Street (film), 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.
However, unlike Tug of War, the album features an electro-tinged sound.[1] On the track "Tug of Peace", McCartney blended the title song to Tug of War with that of the new album. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic describes the mix as "an almost-electro collage that twists the songs into McCartney II territory".[2]
With momentum building for his film project – and the accompanying soundtrack album – McCartney spent much of his energies finishing and preparing Give My Regards to Broad Street for its release in the autumn of 1984.
