Venus And Mars (1975)

Venus And Mars (1975)

1. Venus And Mars

Continuing on from the success of Band On The Run, this album opens with a "semi" medley - one that also opens the great Wings Over America album (amazing live). This album has balls for the most part and shares the load amongst the other band members. Sounding like the opening to a Spinal Tap gig, this works as a send up of the traditional British band type of "rock show". Did they trash the hotel room afterwards?

Rating: 8/10

2. Rock Show

Just love this. McCartney at his rockiest. Much better than the single version that fades out before the piano ending. Never listen to the single version.

Rating: 9/10

3. Love In Song

The only problem I have with this album, is probably that I would have arranged the songs differently on the album. After rock show, keep it rockin'! "Medicine Jar" could have been next here. This song works well though.

Rating: 8/10

4. You Gave Me The Answer

I like hearing Macca do stuff like this. Where's Fred and Ginger?

Rating: 8/10

5. Magneto And Titanium Man

A couple of comic book heroes. Rocks along nicely. I try to tune out the "woar-da-doot, woar-da-doot, woar-da-doo doo" bits.

Rating: 8.5/10

6. Letting Go

An odd choice for a single, I would have thought. It's OK, for sure, but the album has much better.

Rating: 6.5/10

7. Venus And Mars (Reprise)

Longer than the first one, the reprise opens side two and leads in well to the next track.

Rating: 7/10

8. Spirits Of Ancient Egypt

Denny Laine's vocals. He was a good guitarist, our Denny.

Rating: 7.5/10

9. Medicine Jar

A good rocker with little Jimmy providing the vocals. Not bad at all. There was something about doing a naughty "drug song" in the 70's. Heroic I think.

Rating: 8/10

10. Call Me Back Again

I never used to like this song, but hearing it again recently changes my opinion. Strangely included on the Wingspan CD, the song reasonably good.

Rating: 7/10

11. Listen To What The Man Said

Different again from the single version (no fade out), the song begins with Paul warbling something like: "alright, Ok, good, great to see you down at New Orleans man, yeah yeah".

Easily the best song on the album.

Rating: 9.5/10

12. Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People

Paul winds down the album with this sweet track.

Rating: 7/10

13. Crossroads Theme

Interesting choice of inclusion. Having said that, it finishes off the album well. Maybe that's why?

Rating: 6/10

For what it's worth, I truly believe the album would have been aided by a different track order. This is how it should have gone:

Side One

1. Venus and Mars

2. Rock Show

3. Medicine Jar

4. Magneto and Titanium Man

5. Call Me Back Again

6. Letting Go

Side Two

1. Venus and Mars (reprise)

2. Spirits of Ancient Egypt

3. Love In Song

4. You Gave Me The Answer

5. Listen To What The Man Said

6. Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People

7. Crossroads Theme

Overall Rating: 100/130 Percentage: 76.9% (Distinction)

Best Song: Listen To What The Man Said

Worst Song: Crossroads Theme

Band On The Run (1973)

Band On The Run (1973)

1. Band On The Run

The signature title from the album of the same name, this song sounds a bit dated now, but is still a Wings classic.

Rating: 9/10

2. Jet
A powerful opening to the best post-Beatles album to this point. Although the lyrics are a bit unusual, "Jet" rocks along very well providing a blistering opening to a great album. With Denny S and Henry leaving after Red Rose Speedway, McCartney and Laine (and Linda of course) attempt to make the best album they could with just the three of them. This album also shows how good a drummer, and how multi-talented McCartney can be.

For more information on the making of Band On The Run, I suggest you look online or watch Wingspan.

Rating: 9/10

3. Bluebird

Simply delightful song.

Rating: 8.5/10

4. Mrs. Vandebilt

Paul's drumming on this is superb. This is one that I like to play as a "cheer up" song. It never fails to make you happy.

Rating: 8.5/10

5. Let Me Roll It

A lot of fans like this one, McCartney too. The riff is good, but can get repetitive.

Rating: 7/10

6. Mamunia

Accompanied by a really good animated short, this song opens side two (for those listening on vinyl or cassette) and makes a nice impression.

Rating: 8/10

7. No Words

Co-written by Denny (first dual credit), this is a powerful tune.

Rating: 8/10

8. Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me)

Legend has it that Paul wrote this quickly after a Dustin Hoffman challenge. Although it does sound made up on the spot, it still works. This is where the "concept" of the album comes into place -- incorporating "Jet" and "Mrs Vandebilt". Just great.

Rating: 8/10

9. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five

Can't describe how much I enjoy this song. Terrific piano and a closer of "Band On The Run".

Rating: 8.5/10

10. Helen Wheels (U.S. Release)

No reason why this wasn't on the album really. Simple, but effective. On some releases it was lodged between "No Words" and "Picasso's Last Words".

Rating: 8.5/10

Overall Rating 83/100 Percentage: 83% (High Distinction)

Best Song: Jet & Band On The Run (tie)

Worst Song: Let Me Roll It

Red Rose Speedway (1973)

Red Rose Speedway (1973)


This album would have been helped by "Live and Let Die" and "Mama's Little Girl". Originally supposed to be a double album. The addition of Paul McCartney's name to the band's title probably wasn't necessary.

1. Big Barn Bed
Nice opener to the album. Wings is now officially a group. A big step forward.
Rating: 7/10

2. My Love
A big step back. Ok, this song is quite good. Henry's guitar solo is impeccable. Just never been comfortable with the "woah-wo-woah-woah's".
Rating: 6.5/10

3. Get On The Right Thing
Good song. The band is really coming together now.
Rating: 7.5/10

4. One More Kiss
Very melodic rock song.
Rating: 7.5/10

5. Little Lamb Dragonfly
This is good. Bit lengthy though.
Rating: 6.5/10

6. Single Pigeon
Good song that sounds like it could have been on the Ram LP.
Rating: 6.5/10

7. When The Night
Sweet.
Rating: 7/10

8. Loup (1st Indian On The Moon)
A bizarre instrumental full of "Indian" clichés.
Rating: 7/10

9. Medley: Hold Me Tight/Lazy Dynamite/Hands Of Love/Power Cut
The annoying repetativeness of "Hold Me Tight" can also get dreary. "Lazy Dynamite" is OK. "Hands Of Love" is a silly love song, and "Power Cut" doesn't make sense at all.
Rating: 6/10

Overall Rating: 61.5/90 Percentage: 68% (Credit)
Best Song: Get On The Right Thing/One More Kiss (tie)
Worst Song: Medley: Hold Me Tight/Lazy Dynamite/Hands Of Love/Power Cut.

Wild Life (1971)

Wild Life (1971)

1. Mumbo
Quite often we ruminate over the fine albums over the years; from the classic, polished lyrics of Dylan, the incredible vocal talents of Nilsson, to the stunning musical genius of Bjorn/Benny, Elton, King and Goffin.

And then there's this.

Wing's first album starts off with a song aptly titled "Mumbo". It rocks along, surely enough, complete with nonsense lyrics that is a whole lot of "mumbo".
Rating: 6/10

2. Bip Bop
There's a lot of criticism directed at "Bip Bop". Just take it as it is.
Rating: 5/10

3. Love Is Strange
Good one. Nothing earth shattering on this cover.
Rating: 5.5/10

4. Wild Life
Probably the best on the album, "Wild Life" is one of the more forgotten McCartney tracks.
Rating: 7/10

5. Some People Never Know
Ok track. Nice melody.
Rating: 6/10

6. I Am Your Singer
I've always been a fan of Linda's. I like her vocals here. Cute song.
Rating: 6/10

7. Bip Bop (Link)
Short and sweet. Interesting
Rating: 4/10

8. Tomorrow
I hope the weather man is feeling fine and doesn't spoil his plans to write more insightful lyrics on his next album. Perhaps he could bring a bag of bread and cheese and find a spot beneath the (hang on, what rhymes with "cheese"? Oh yeah...) trees... and yes, write something more profound. Catchy tune though.
Rating: 6/10

9. Dear Friend
Dear Lennon, really truly, young and newly. Is this really the borderline?
Rating: 4/10

10. Mumbo Link
No, it doesn't get much better without the lyrics.
Rating: 4/10

Best Song: Wild Life
Worst Song: Bip Bop (Link), Dear Friend and Mumbo Link (tie)

Overall Rating: 53.5/100 Percentage: 53.5% (Bare Pass)

Ram (1971)

Ram (1971)

Ram Front Cover

1. Too Many People

Terrific opener to a really well balanced album. This song was a "jibe" at Lennon - or so legend has it anyway ("Too many people preaching practices"). Perhaps a response to Lennon's How Do You Sleep? Hugh McCracken, you star.

Rating: 7.5/10

2. 3 Legs

Another snipe at the three Beatles? Maybe. I prefer to think of it as his dog having 3 legs. Nuff said.

Rating: 7/10

3. Ram On

I like an album with a concept. Not sure what the concept is here, ramming?

Rating: 6.5/10

4. Dear Boy

Hmm, are we sniping again or are the other Beatles just getting a teeny bit paranoid? Dunno. Grouse song though. I think it was really about Linda's ex husband. Nice song. Like it a lot.

Rating: 7/10

5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

Honestly, what's not to like about this song? It has everything; sound effects, references to butter pies, McCartney's use of the word "bloody", and a catchy chorus and concept that sounds like it belongs on the White Album (or at least the Yellow Submarine Soundtrack). Gets 8 points to begin with, and another point for its appearance in an episode of Only Fools And Horses.

Rating: 9/10

6. Smile Away

The theme of this song is "Smiling Away when someone has bad breath, feet and teeth. I think. My favourite bit is near the end when the vocals cry "ahhhh, yi yi yi yi..." Noice.

Rating: 8/10

7. Heart Of The Country

Ah yes, the Scottish country side. You look high, you look low, you look everywhere you go, and then mutter some nonsense: "Be du be di be dub be du something or other". Still, it beats the "woah wo-wo wo" from Red Rose.

Rating: 6.5/10

8. Monkberry Moon Delight

Whatever it is, I'll try a few grams of the stuff. This is easily one of Macca's most underrated songs. Surely. Every single line is a complete joy:

So I sat in the attic, a piano up my nose,

And the wind played a dreadful cantata.

and...

Well I know my banana is older than the rest

And my hair is a tangled beretta

and of course the chorus:

Ketchup,

Soup and puree

And it goes on like that. I'm sure this song would have had Lennon's approval.

Rating: 9/10

9. Eat At Home

Great guitar, great chorus, great lyrics, great Scott!

A good one.

Rating: 7.5

10. Long Haired Lady

As the album winds down, Paul begins to tack on a few extras. This is OK, for sure, but by no means a classic.

Rating: 6.5/10

11. Ram On (Reprise)

Nothing new here in the "reprise". How do you pronounce that anyway? Repreeze or Reprize?

Rating: 6.5/10

12. The Back Seat Of My Car

Why didn't the album finish with Ram On? This is OK, but not one of his better choices for a single. Can get annoying.

Rating: 5.5/10

Best Song: Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (tie with) Monkberry Moon Delight

Worst Song: The Back Seat Of My Car

Overall Rating: 86.5/120 Percentage: 72.08% (Distinction)