Paul McCartney and Wings: Band on the Run

Oh yes the legend is back. With Christmas right around the corner, we are looking for that perfect gift for our dads. I know mine would love love love this new re-release of the original Band on the Run. Featuring

1.  Band on the Run                                                                     

2.  Jet                                                                               

3.  Bluebird                                                                      

4.  Mrs Vandebilt                                                              

5.  Let Me Roll It                                                               

6.  Mamunia                                                                      

7.  No Words                                                                    

8.  Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)                                          

9.  Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five        

And Bonus Tracks:

1. Helen Wheels

2. Country Dreamer

3. Bluebird [from One Hand Clapping]

4. Jet [from One Hand Clapping]

5. Let Me Roll It [from One Hand Clapping]

6. Band on the Run [from One Hand Clapping]

7. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five [from One Hand Clapping]

8. Country Dreamer [from One Hand Clapping]

9. Zoo Gang 

All the songs digitally re-mastered and brought to the best that they could possibly be. I am not a huge Paul McCartney fan, but even I can't help signing along with Band on the Run. LOL Seeing the kids faces as I am bebopping around the living room to the Band on the Run CD was priceless. 

 

The musical achievement of Band on the Run is nearly matched by the amazing story behind its creation. Intrigued with recording abroad in the summer of 1973, McCartney searched for a list of studios around the world.  Spotting one in the remote location of Lagos, Nigeria, he became enthralled with the idea of recording in Africa. Days before departure, lead guitarist Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell quit the band leaving the entire project to the three core members, Paul, his wife Linda McCartney and band-member Denny Laine (along with recording engineer Geoff Emerick). Recorded in August and September of 1973 (with further work done at AIR Studios in London in October 1973), they persevered through a tumultuous, yet creatively invigorating 2 month recording process battling difficult studio conditions, oppressive heat and a dangerous mugging at knife point. The thieves made off with the demo tapes (among other valuables), forcing the band to record the entire album from memory. 

Band on the Run triumphed both critically and commercially.  The album topped the US album chart 3 separate times, won a Grammy and went on to sell more than 7 million copies.  Upon the release of Band on the Run, then Rolling Stone reviewer Jon Landau famously gushed, “The finest record yet released by any of the four musicians who were once called The Beatles.” 

Paul is currently playing five songs from the album on his ‘Up and Coming Tour’.  Live favorites over the last 8 years of touring have included “Jet”, “Band on the Run” and “Let Me Roll It”.  In 2008 when Paul played a free outdoor show to over 500,000 people in Kiev, a Ukrainian poll listed “Mrs Vandebilt” as their all time favorite Paul McCartney song. It’s been included in the set ever since.  At the start of this tour Paul added “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” to the set. 

Band on the Run marks the first release from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, an ambitious reissue program that encompasses 40 years of cherished, classic material from the most successful songwriter and recording artist in music history. It’s also the initial physical release of the recently announced agreement between McCartney’s MPL and Concord Music Group to globally market and distribute McCartney’s venerated solo and Wings catalog.

Band on the Run can be purchased for as little as $8.99 (digital only) up to $89.99 (Deluxe Edition with 4 discs and digital).