Paul McCARTNEY


Press To Play
(Digitally Remastered)

(1986 / 1993)



1. Stranglehold 3'37
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
2. Good Times Coming / Feel The Sun 4'55
(Paul McCartney)
3. Talk More Talk 5'18
(Paul McCartney)
Engineered: Steve Jackson
Spoken Word: Linda and James McCartney, Eddie Klein, John Hammel, Matt Howe, Steve Jackson
4. Footprints 4'32
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
5. Only Love Remains 4'17
(Paul McCartney)
Orchestra Arranged: Tony Visconti
6. Press 4'43
(Paul McCartney)
Mixed by: Bert Bevans and Steve Forward
7. Pretty Little Head 5'13
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
8. Move Over Busker 4'06
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
9. Angry 3'36
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
Features Pete Townshend on Electric Guitar and Phil Collins on Drums
10. However Absurd 4'59
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
Orchestra Arranged: Anne Dudley
Additional Engineering: Jon Kelly, Matt Butler, Matt Howe, Peter Mew, Tony Clark, Haydn Bendall
In the Studio: Eddie Klein, John Hammel, Trevor Jones. Behind the Scenes: Stephen Shrimpton, Alan Crowder, John Hegarty, Billy, Shelagh and the MPL gang. Food: Marie Moore and Kerry Belsham; and Baz to the best kids.
11. Write Away 3'02
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
Also Released as "Pretty Little Head"'s B-Side in October 1986
12. It's Not True 5'53
(Paul McCartney)
Originally Released Remixed as the B-Side to "Press" in July 1986
Features Phil Collins on Drums
13. Tough On A Tightrope 4'52
(Paul McCartney / Eric Stewart)
Also Released as the B-Side to "Only Love Remains" in December 1986

Bonus Tracks


14. Spies Like Us 4'48
(Paul McCartney)
15. Once Upon A Long Ago
(Alternate Mix) 4'36
(Paul McCartney)

Total Time: 68:22


  • Paul McCartney
  • Jerry Marotta
  • Carlos Alomar
  • Eric Stewart
  • Eddie Rayner
  • Phil Collins
  • Pete Townshend
  • Nick Glennie-Smith
  • Dick Morrissey
  • Ray Cooper
  • Simon Chamberlain
  • Graham Ward
  • Lennie Pickett
  • Gary Barnacle
  • Gavin Wright
  • John Bradbury

    Harmonies:

  • Linda McCartney
  • Eric Stewart
  • Kate Robbins
  • Ruby James

    Tracks 1-13 Produced hy Paul McCartney and Hugh Padgham
    Track 14 Produced by Paul McCartney, Phil Ramone and Hugh Padgham
    Track 15 Produced by Phil Ramone
    Special Contribution by: Eric Stewart
    Engineered and Mixed by: Hugh Padgham
    Track 6 Mixed by Bert Bevans and Steve Forward
    Track 12 Mixed by Julian Mendelsohn
    Track15 Mixed by George Martin; violin solo hy Nigel Kennedy
    Original Artwork
    ©1986 MPL COMMUNICATIONS Ltd.,
    Revised Layout
    ©1993 MPL Communications Ltd.
    under exclusive licence to
    EMI RECORDS Ltd.

    ©1986 except 14 ©1985 and 15 ©1987 MPL COMMUNICATIONS Ltd.
    Digital Remaster ©1993
    MPL COMMUNICATIONS Ltd., under exclusive licence to EMI RECORDS Ltd.

    George Hurrell took the Cover Photograph with the same box camera he used in Hollywood in the thirties. The images on the lyric pages are stereo drawings made by Paul during mixing, to pin-point the position of sounds in the stereo picture. The musicians, producers, engineers, tea breaks, tension and performances, were laid on just for you.

    PRESS TO PLAY.

    All Tracks Composed by McCartney, except 1, 4, 7-11, 13 McCartney / Stewart.
    Published by
    MPL Communications Ltd.

    Recorded March - May & October - December 1985





    1. Stranglehold

      Can I Get You To Give Me A Minute Of Your Time?
      Can I Get You To Slip Me The Answer?
      Can I Get You To Slow Me A Little Of Your Mime?
      You Were Always A Very Good Dancer
      I'd Be Happy To Show You A Bit Of What I Found
      I'd Be Happy To Share In Its Beauty
      I'd Be Happy To Lay Low Inevitably Bound
      I Would Only Be Doing My Duty.
      I Wait, I Wait, I Can Wait, I Can Wait Back In The Bar
      I Can Wait, I Can Wait , I Can Wait Back In The Car
      I'll Be Waiting For You
      Stranglehold, You Know You've Got On Me
      I Don't Want To Go Without You.
      Stranglehold, You've Got Me Where You Want Me
      But I Want To Know More About You I Want To Know More
      About You.
      Are You Willing To Wager A Little Of Your Life?
      Are You Willing To Take Such A Gamble?
      Are You Ready To Walk On The Edge Of The Knife?
      Then I Think We Can Skip The Preamble.
      I Wait, I Wait, I Can Wait. I Can't Wait Back In The Bar,
      I Can Wait, I Can Wait, I Can Wait Back In The Car
      I'll Be Waiting For You. I'll Be Waiting...
      Stranglehold, You Know, You've Got On Me
      I Don't Want To Go Without You
      Stranglehold, You've Got Me Where You Want Me
      And I Want To Know More About You I Want To Know More
      About You.
      I Can Wait, I Can Wait Back In The Bar I Can Wait, I Can Wait
      I Can Wait Back In The Car I'll Be Waiting For You.

    2. Good Times Coming / Feel The Sun

      I Was Thinking About That Summer So Long Ago
      Pack Up Your Bags And Yell "Geronimo".
      That Was A Golden Summer, Laught A Lot.
      Laughing At The Good Times Coming,
      Laughing At The Good Times Coming In.
      Good Times Coming, Laughing At The Good Times Coming In.
      There Was Something About The Weather, What Can I Say?
      Nothing Like Any Other Holiday.
      That Was A Silly Season, Was It The Best?
      We Didn't Need The Reason, Just A Rest.
      Happy At The Good Times Coming,
      Happy At The Good Times Coming In.
      Good Times Coming, Happy At The Good Times Coming In.
      I'm Loving You, I'm Loving You, I'm Loving You Now.
      I'm Loving You, I'm Loving You, I'm Loving You Now.
      There Was A Golden Summer Before The War
      They Laughed A Lot That Summer, Lah De Dah
      Laughing At The Good Times Coming,
      Laughing At The Good Times Coming In.
      Good Times Coming, Laughing At The Good Times Coming In.
      Good Times Coming... Good, Good. Good Times Coming In... Good,
      Good.
      Feel The Sun Shine In, Shine In, Shine In. Feel The Sun
      Shining In On You.
      Feel The Sun Shine In, Shine In, Shine In. Feel The Sun
      Shining In On You.
      All The Beauty, All The Pain. Will It Ever Be The Same Again?
      If You Love Me, Show Me Now. It's The Only Way That We Know
      How.
      Feel The Sun Shine In, Shine In, Shine In. Feel The Sun
      Shining In On You.
      Feel The Sun Shine In, Shine In, Shine In. Feel The Sun
      Shining In On You.

    3. Talk More Talk

      A Master Can Highlight The Phrases,
      Sleasy Instruments, Half Talked, Half Baked Ideas...
      Dad, You Didn't Say O.K....
      The Window Was Open, Outside Was A Spaceship,
      (A Master Can Highlight The Phrases) It Took Off Into The Sky
      Leaving A Trail Of Smoke Behind It...
      Short Of The Standard. Was It The Sun?
      What Was Rehearsal? Conventional Drum?
      Not Quite A Hundred. Less That A Ton.
      Clearly The Time Came, The Plan Had Begun.
      With Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat.
      Words Of A Feather Are Worn In A Hat.
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat. I'm Happy To Do It For
      You...
      Developed Since Earlier Days At The School
      Cheapest Sensations Were Used As A Rule.
      Outstanding To Memory, Major Free Flow.
      Bio-Degradable, Look Out Below For...
      Talk, More Talk, Oh I Love To Hear The Gentle Sound
      Of Conversation Sprinkled Around
      A Room Where I Can Be At One With You For...
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat,
      Words Of A Feather Are Worn In A Hat.
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat. Happy To Do It For You...
      I'm Happy To Do It For You... I'm Happy To Do It For You,
      I'm Happy To Do It, I'm Happy To Do It... I'm Happy To Do It
      For You.
      Digital Organ, Finishing Stretch, Instrumentation, Analogue
      Gretsch.
      Not Quite A Thousand, Lower Than That.
      Possible Bargain For Listening At That...
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat.
      Words Of A Feather Are Worn In A Hat.
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat.
      I'm Happy To Do It For You...
      All You Want Is A Handyman And All You Want Is Quick Service.
      Because I'm A House Owner. I'm A House Owner.
      It May Be Worth Something Someday.
      I Hear Water Going Through The Pipes.
      I Don't Actually Like Sitting Down Music. Music Is Idea.
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat.
      Words Of A Feather Are Worn In A Hat.
      Talk, More Talk. Chat, More Chat.
      A Master Can Tell, Highlight The Phrases His Words To Digress
      Grey Flannel Trousers... Grey Flannel Trousers.
      A Blazer And Grey Flannel Trousers.

    4. Footprints

      It's Beautiful Outside, An Old Hand Gathers Wood,
      Can He See Me Sitting Here? His Mind Is Somewhere Else.
      His Friend Have Flown Away, He's Left Out In The Cold.
      He Won't Sit By My Fire, He Says He Likes It In The Snow.
      Where Footprints Never Go, He Likes It In The Snow.
      It's Getting Dark Outside, The Old Hand's Going Home,
      Has He Someone Waiting There? Or Is He Living On His Own?
      Where Footprints Never Go, He Likes It In The Snow...
      White Blanket, Hiding The Traces Of Tears She Didn't See,
      Oh White Blanket Covers The Memory
      Of All That Used To Be. All That Used To Be.
      But His Heart Keeps Aching In The Same Old Way,
      He Can't Help Feeling That She Might Come Back Someday.
      It's Beautiful Outside, A Magpie Looks For Food.
      The Old Hand Throws A Crumb,
      Do You Think He's Found A Friend?
      Where Footprints Never Go, He Likes It In The Snow...
      White Blanket, Hiding The Traces Of Paths He Didn't Take
      Oh White Blanket Covers The Memory
      Of Moves He Didn't Make
      Oh White Blanket, Hiding The Traces Of Tears She Didn't See
      Snow White Blanket Simply Covers The Memory
      Of All That Used To Be.
      But His Heart Keeps Aching In The Same Old Way
      He Can't Help Feeling That She Might Come Back Someday.

    5. Only Love Remains

      And If You Take Your Love Away From Me,
      I'm Only Going To Want It Back.
      I'll Probably Pretend I Didn't See,
      But Knowing Me, I'll Want You Back Again, And Again,
      'Til The Word Has Lost It's Meaning,
      And Love Is All That Stays. Only Love Remains.
      If You Should Ever Feel That Something's Wrong,
      I'm Going To Want To Put It Right,
      To Bring A Happy Ending To Our Song,
      I'll Carry On Believing In A Love.
      If Your Love Was To Trickle Through My Fingers,
      What Would It Leave Me With?
      Only Love Remains. Only Love...
      Old Enough And Strong Enough To Stretcch Across The World.
      Taking The Sand Inside An Oyster, Changing It Into A Pearl.
      Making Another Magig Transformation,
      Find The Right Boy For The Right Girl.
      When All Our Friends Have Gone Away And We're Alone,
      There's Nothing Left To Show About,
      Together We'll Explore The Great Unknown.
      I'd Say We Won't Be Going Out Tonight,
      Let Tonight Be The One That We Remember,
      Hen Love Is All That Stays,
      Only Love Remains... Only Love Remains...

    6. Press

      Darling, I Love You Very, Very, Very Much,
      And I Really Am Relying On Your Touch.
      But With All These People Listening In,
      I Don't Know Where I Ought To Begin.
      Maybe We Could Hit Upon A Word,
      Something That The Others Haven't Heard,
      When You Want Me To Love You,
      Just Tell Me To Press.

      Right There, That's It. Yes. When You Feel The Stress
      Don't Just Stand There, Tell Me To Press.

      You Can Give Me What I Want I Must Confess,
      My Body Needs Attention My Mind Is In A Mess,
      Oklahoma Was Never Like This.
      Never Like This, It Was Never Like This,
      Ever Like This, Say Was It Ever Like This?
      Oklahoma Was Never Like This.
      It Was Never Like This ...

      Darling, I Know It Really Wouldn't Be A Crime,
      If I Say I Want To Lnve You All The Time.
      But With All These People Listening In,
      I Don't Know Where I Ought To Begin.
      Maybe We Should Have A Secret Code,
      Before We Both Get Ready To Explode.
      When You Want Me To Love You,
      Just Tell Me To Press. Press ...

      Right There, That's It. Yes.
      When You Feel The Stress,
      Don't Just Stand There.
      Won't You Tell Me To Press?

    7. Pretty Little Head

      Hillmen, Hillmen, Hillmen, Hillmen.
      Oh, Oh. Oh, Oh.
      Hillmen Come Down From The Lava.
      Forging Across The Mighty River Flow. Oh, Oh.
      Always Forever, Only So You Don't Worry
      Your Pretty Little Head.
      Ursa Major......Ursa Major......
      Hillmen, Hillmen, Hillmen, Hillmen.
      Oh, Oh. Oh, Oh.
      Hillmen Bring Garments, Spices.
      Carrying Trinkets, Slik And Precious Stones. Oh, Oh.
      Exotic Legends,
      Only So You Don't Worry
      Your Pretty Little Head.
      Hillmen, Hillmen, Hillmen, Hillmen.
      Oh, Oh. Oh, Oh.
      Hillmen Are Sworn To Allegiance.
      Living A Life Of Silent Dignity. Oh, Oh.
      For Your Protection,
      Only So You Don't Worry
      Your Pretty Little Head.
      Ursa Major......Ursa Major......
      The Hillman......
      Living In The Higher Reaches.

    8. Move Over Busker

      Well The Rest Of My Life Lay In Front Of Me,
      I Was Pedalling Down The Road,
      When I Saw Nell Gwynne And Her Oranges
      And I'll Have One Of Those.
      She Said Move Over Busker, Don't Bang Your Drum
      Move Over Busker, Your Time Will Come.

      Well I Was Hanging Around For A Miracle,
      Struggling With A Rhyme,
      When I Saw Mae West In A Sweaty Vest,
      And I Said I'll Come Up And See You Sometime.
      She Said Move Over Busker, Don't Bang Your Drum
      Move Over Busker, Your Time Will Come.

      You've Got It Coming, Come On Come On,
      You've Got It Coming, Coming To You.
      You've Got It Coming, Come On Come On,
      You've Got It Coming, Coming To You.

      Well I've Been Waiting, But I'm Impatient,
      No-One Can Hold Me Back, I Want To Stay With The Action.
      But I Won't Get It, My Great Illusion
      Will Vanish Anyhow If I Don't Grab It Now.

      Well I Was Hacking My Way Throught The Undergrowth,
      Juggling With My Pride,
      When I Saw Errol Flynn In A Tiger Skin,
      And I Said You Look Satisfied!!
      Well He Looked Down At Me From His Motor Home,
      And He Gave Me A Dirty Smile,
      He Said Well Yes I Am But She's Calling Me,
      Would You Excuse Us For A While

      Move Over Busker, Your Day Is Done.
      Move Over Busker, My Time Has Come.

    9. Angry

      What The Hell Gives The Right To Tell Me What To Do With My
      Life?
      Especially When You Made A Mess Of Every Chance You Had To
      Success.
      Look At You... Just Look At You. I Said I'm Angry Just
      Looking At You.
      I'm Sick And Tired Of Sitting Back Listening To All Of
      Your Clap-Trap
      If You Could Get Me To Take The Rap I Guarantee
      You'd Leave Me With A Backslap.
      Push Me To The Left, Push Me To The Right Try To Take Me
      Out Of The Way
      Ven If You Kick Me Off The Edge Of The World,
      You're Still Going To Hear Me Say...
      When The Hell Gives You The Right To Tell Me What To Do With
      My Life?
      Especially When You Made A Mess Of Every Chance You Have To
      Success.
      Look At You. Oh Look At You. I Said I'm Angry Just Looking At
      You.
      Shouting Down Again Mahama. Shouting Down Again.
      Shouting Down Agaun Mahama. Shouting Down Again.
      I Can't Begin To Tell You All The Reasons
      Why You're Making Me Crazy.
      I've Got So Many Answers.
      Like You're Stupid, Like You're Crooked, Like You're Lazy.
      Hit Me With Your Left, Hit Me With Your Right.
      Hit Me From The Top To The Toe.
      Even When You Chew Me Up And Spit Me Out,
      I'm Still Going To Want To Know.

    10. However Absurd

      Ears twitch, like a dog,
      Breaking eggs in a dish.
      Do not mock me when I say
      This is not a lie.

      It's funny thing, half serious,
      With our hands on our ears.
      Living dreams with mouths ajar,
      Wide awake, we go to sleep.

      However absurd, however absurd... It may seem.
      However absurd, however absurd... It may seem.

      Something special between us,
      When we mmade love the game was over.
      I couldn't say the words,
      Words wouldn't get ny feelings through,
      So I keep talking to you...

      However absurd, however absurd... It may seem.
      However absurd, however absurd... It may seem.

      Custom made dinosaurs,
      Too late now, for a change.
      Everything is under the sun,
      But nothing is for keeps...

      However absurd, however absurd... It may seem.
      However absurd, however absurd... It may seem.

    11. Write Away

      You need love, write a letter, you need love write away
      Get it down, you'll feel better, send it now, write away

      Hey Cinderella, did you need that other fella?
      On the wrong side of midnight your defences slipped away
      You need attention, so I think it's worth a mention
      That if I can deliver
      Well there wouldn't be no heavy price to pay

      You need love, write a letter, you need love write away
      Get it down, you'll feel better, send it now, write away

      You need love, write a letter
      You need love write away
      If you need to feel better, do it now, now, now write away

    12. It's Not True

      Some People say she's a bad girl
      Some people think she's a fool
      Some people tell me she's no good
      But I'm telling you
      It's not true, it's not true, it's not true

      They say that my girl's a mad girl
      No saying what she might do
      Some people tell me she's crazy.
      But I'm telling you
      It's not true, it's not true, it's not true

      Ooh...Ooh...Ooh...They've been talking to the fella's
      Ooh...Ooh...Ooh...Have they never heard of jealousy?
      Ooh...Ooh...Ooh...If she helps me write the melody
      I'll let the words take care of themselves.

      It's not true, it's not true, it's not true
      It's not true, it's not true, it's not true

      Ooh...Ooh...Ooh...They've been talking to the fella's
      Ooh...Ooh...Ooh...Have they never heard of jealousy?
      Ooh...Ooh...Ooh...If she helps me write the memories
      I'll let the words take care of themselves.

      Some people say she's a loser
      Some people tell me that she's through
      Some people say I don't love her
      But I'm telling you
      It's not true, it's not true, it's not true
      What they're saying about her isn't true

      Don't you know it isn't true?

      It's not true ....

    13. Tough On A Tightrope

      You don't feel right when I come on strong
      Don't get me wrong..
      I wait all night but you won't be long
      Don't get me wrong

      Hear me right. I love you from the bottom of my heart
      You make the answer bright
      You touch me in a way that no-one else could ever do
      If you'll only love me, I'll love you

      And if you're tempted to tell a lie
      Don't get it wrong..
      Well it breaks my heart when I see you cry
      Don't get it wrong

      Get it right
      The brightest light that's shining in the skies
      Is shining from your eyes
      I love you in a way, that no-one else could ever do
      If you'll only love me, I'll love you

      I'm often accused of giving to little
      It's got me confused I'm split down the middle
      Conflicting reviews of our life coming in
      It's tough on a tightrope, Yes it's tough on a tightrope

      Hear me right. I love you from the bottom of my heart
      You make the picture bright
      You touch me in a way that no-one else could ever do
      If you'll only love me, I'll love you

      Tough on a tightrope

    14. Spies Like Us

      Ooh ooh what do you do
      No one else can dance like you
      So what's all the fuss
      There ain't nobody that spies like us

      Hey hey what do you say
      Someone took your plans away
      So what's all the fuss
      There ain't nobody that spies like us

      Hey don't feel afraid
      Of an undercover aid
      There's no need to fuss
      There ain't nobody that spies like us

      Spies like us

      We don't know the meaning of fear
      We play every minute by ear
      One for all and all for one
      Everybody's on the run
      Especially at this time of year

      Ooh ooh what do you do
      No one else can dance like you
      So what's all the fuss
      There ain't nobody got spies like us

      Hey hey what do you say
      No one else can look that way
      So what's all the fuss
      There ain't nobody got spies like us

      We get there by hook or by crook
      We don't do a thing by the book
      Never needed special clothes
      How we did it no one knows
      I guess we must have had what it took

      Ooh ooh, ooh
      Oh when things get tough
      (Oh when things get tough)
      Guys like us act rough
      (Guys like us act rough)

      Hey hey what do you say
      Someone took your plans away
      So what's all the fuss
      There ain't nobody that spies like us

      Spies like us

    15. Once Upon A Long Ago

      Picking up scales and broken chords
      Puppy dog tails in the house of lords
      Tell me darling, what can it mean?
      Making up moons in a minor key
      What have those tunes got to do with me?
      Tell me darling, where have you been?
      Once upon a long ago
      Children searched for treasure
      Nature's plan went hand in hand with pleasure.
      Such pleasure.
      Blowing balloons on a windy day
      Desolate dunes with a lot to say
      Tell me darling, what have you seen?
      Once upon a long ago
      Children searched for treasure
      Nature's plan went hand in hand with pleasure.
      My pleasure.
      Playing guitars on an empty stage
      Counting the bars of an iron cage
      Tell me darling, what can it mean?
      Picking up scales and broken chords
      Puppy dog tails in the house of lords
      Tell me darling, what can it mean?
      Once upon a long ago ...