London Town (1978)

London Town is a unique, out-of-the-ordinary record from Paul McCartney and Wings. As their penultimate record as a group, they began playing around with their style, folding in a lot of folk and country rock influences. The experimentation works surprisingly well, making for a refreshing and enjoyable listen and one of the group’s more underrated records.

The album kicks off with the self-titled track London Town, which drops you into a mellow yet engaging atmosphere. The song pairs a gentle, lilting melody with a lush arrangement, setting a dreamy, introspective tone. 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 gorgeous Cafe on the Left Bank. Many reviews I’ve read of this record, and this track in particular, don’t rate it 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, building a rich and immersive soundscape.

However, this is where the album starts to lose momentum a bit. Unfortunately, I’m Carrying begins the stretch 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 them, resulting in a slightly boring track.

Once the soulful, poppy Girlfriend comes around, London Town picks back up. Imagine if McCartney arranged a Michael Jackson song, this is what you’d get. It’s a decent soulful, poppy, funky tune that reinvigorates the album’s energy. I later found out Paul originally wrote this song for Michael Jackson himself to sing, but it didn’t come together on this record. 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 imaginative, different, and honestly some of the best on the record. You go from an old-school rocker to swirling synths and pop rock, then 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 a stab at a tiny progressive-folk rock song. These tracks add an extra layer of variety and lean further into the band’s willingness to experiment.

Overall, London Town is an underrated, fun record with more ups than downs. It’s an absolute joy to hear something new and refreshing 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 hold its initial momentum throughout. Despite a few forgettable bumps, the 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, REALLY work.

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Overall Rating:

4 Stars