Sir Paul McCartney brings his ‘One on One’ tour to Amalie Arena

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Paul McCartney is coming to Tampa tonight, July 10. Even if you’re not a fan, you must admit that’s he’s been one of the biggest stars in the world for over half a century, and you have to admit that’s he’s written some of the best songs ever.

But even if you are a fan, you have to admit he’s also written his share of insipid and cloying songs.

So here’s an admittedly subjective look at the best and worst McCartney songs on each album (not counting compilations and covers albums, and not counting his experimental work with the Fireman), going back to his days in the Beatles. In the early Beatles days McCartney and John Lennon were truly collaborating on their songwriting, so picking McCartney songs is a judgment call at best.

▪ “Introducing the Beatles.” Best: “I Saw Her Standing There.” Worst: “Misery.”

▪ “Meet the Beatles.” Best: “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Worst: None. (Lots of covers on this album, and all the Lennon/McCartney songs are great.)

▪ “The Beatles’ Second Album.” Best: “She Loves You.” Worst: “I’ll Get You.”

▪ “A Hard Day’s Night.” Best: “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Worst: “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You.”

▪ “Something New.” Best: “I’ll Cry Instead.” Worst: “Any Time at All.”

▪ “Beatles ’65.” Best: “She’s a Woman.” Worst: “Baby’s in Black.”

▪ “Beatles VI.” Best: “Eight Days a Week.” Worst: “What You’re Doing.”

▪ “Help.” Best: “Yesterday.” Worst: “Tell Me What You See.”

▪ “Rubber Soul.” Best: “You Won’t See Me.” Worst: “Wait.”

▪ “Yesterday ... and Today.” Best: “Yesterday” (again). Worst: “What Goes On.”

▪ “Revolver.” Best: “Here, There and Everywhere.” Worst: “Good Day Sunshine.”

▪ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Best: “Lovely Rita.” Worst: “Fixing a Hole.”

▪ “Magical Mystery Tour.” Best: “Penny Lane.” Worst: “The Fool on the Hill.”

▪ “The Beatles” (a.k.a. “the White Album”) Best: “Martha My Dear.” Worst (tie): “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La Da” and “Wild Honey Pie”

▪ “Yellow Submarine.” Best: “Yellow Submarine.” Worst: “All Together Now.”

▪ “Abbey Road.” Best: “Because.” Worst: “Her Majesty.”

▪ “McCartney.” Best: “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Worst: “The Lovely Linda.”

▪ “Ram.” Best: “Smile Away.” Worst: “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.”

▪ “Wild Life.” Best: None. (This is maybe the worst album of his entire career, with no exceptional songs.) Worst: “Mary Had a Little Lamb” (Obviously not a McCartney song, but so awful it had to be listed.)

▪ “Red Rose Speedway.” Best: None. (This album is almost as bad as “Wild Life.”) Worst: “My Love.”

▪ “Band on the Run.” Best: “Jet.” Worst: “Bluebird.”

▪ “Venus and Mars.” Best: “Listen to What the Man Said.” Worst: “You Gave Me the Answer.”

▪ “Wings at the Speed of Sound.” Best: “Let ’Em In.” Worst: “My Love.”

▪ “London Town.” Best: “With a Little Luck” Worst: “Famous Groupies.”

▪ “Back to the Egg.” Best: None. (Okay, maybe this album is even worse than “Wild Life.”) Worst: “Wonderful Christmastime.”

▪ “McCartney II.” Best: “Frozen Jap.” Worst: “Temporary Secretary.”

▪ “Pipes of Peace.” Best: Pipes of Peace.” Worst: “Say, Say, Say.”

▪ “Tug of War.” Best: “Get It.” Worst: “Ebony and Ivory.”

▪ “Give My Regards to Broad Street.” Best: “Yesterday” (yet again). Worst: “My Love” (again).

▪ “Press to Play.” Best: “Press.” Worst: “Only Love Remains.”

▪ “Driving Rain.” Best: “Freedom.” Worst: “From a Lover to a Friend”

▪ “Flaming Pie.” Best: “The World Tonight.” Worst : “Used to Be Bad.”

▪ “Flowers in the Dirt.” Best: “You Want Her Too.” Worst: “We Got Married.”

▪ “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.” Best: “Too Much Rain.” Worst: “Jenny Wren”

▪ “Memory Almost Full.” Best: “Dance Tonight.” Worst: “Vintage Clothes.”

▪ “New.” Best: “Early Days.” Worst: “Appreciate.”

It’s hard to pick a best and worst from each album (and it’s easy to quibble with every single choice) and it’s pretty much impossible to pick a best and a worst from Sir Paul’s entire career. But since we’ve come this far: overall best, “Yesterday” (a beautifully heartbreaking song, even though we’re all sick of it), overall worst “Silly Love Songs.”

Details: 8 p.m. July 10, Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $31.25, $61.25, $91.25, $166.25 and $251.25. 813-301-2500, amaliearena.com.

This story was originally published July 5, 2017 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Sir Paul McCartney brings his ‘One on One’ tour to Amalie Arena."