Pipes of Peace was #1 for two weeks in the UK in January 1984. Taken from the album of the same name, the song was released as a b-side to So Bad
in the US.
So what was the subject matter of the song? It was about the Christmas truce between German and
British Troops during 1914 in the first World War. The video was filmed at Chobham Common in Surrey, and both the German and British soldier are played by McCartney. As they exchange photos of their loved ones, other soldiers form a friendship and play football together.
McCartney had his hair cut short especially for the video.
The single was actually McCartney's only solo single to reach #1. But let's not forget that he had seventeen #1 singles with the Beatles and a #1 with "Ebony and Ivory", which he sang as a duet with Stevie Wonder.
McCartney's previous hit single Say, Say, Say which was a duet with Michael Jackson also featured on the Pipes of Peace album.
The B-side featured the track "So Bad", which is from the Pipes Of Peace album, on which, Paul sings in a falsetto voice, which actually grates on me, it has to be said! A version of the song was later included on McCartney's fifth studio album, "Give My Regards To Broad Street". In the U.S. and Canada, "So Bad" was released as the A-side with "Pipes Of Peace" being the B-side. The single reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and made the Top 20 in Canada.
McCartney plays bass on the song, with Linda McCartney playing keyboards, Eric Stewart on guitar and ex-Beatle, Ringo Starr on Drums - they all appear in the official video. The song was not particularly well-received by the critics of the time, and I'm grateful that he chose "Pipes Of Peace" as the A-side for the UK release.
Pipes Of Peace - Vinyl Single Sleeve
