Paul McCartney and Wings’ iconic, Grammy winning, smash #1 album, “Band on the Run” is set for reissue on November 2nd, 2010. Originally recorded in 1973 in Lagos and London, “Band on the Run” was McCartney’s fifth album since the breakup of The Beatles, and Wings’ third album. It became Wings’ most successful album and remains the most celebrated of McCartney’s post-Beatles albums. It revitalized McCartney’s critical standing.
Personally supervised by Paul McCartney at Abbey Road, the reissue of “Band on the Run” see McCartney join forces with the same team who recently re-mastered the complete Beatles’ catalog. It also marks the first release from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, which encompasses 40 years of music from the most successful songwriter and recording artist in music history.
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” Track List
Remastered Album
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
Bonus Audio 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
Audio Documentary
Remastered documentary disc originally produced for the 25th Anniversary release of Band on the Run. Featuring interview contributions from Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Geoff Emerick, Tony Visconti, Al Coury, Clive Arrowsmith, James Coburn, John Conteh, Kenny Lynch, Michael Parkinson, Christopher Lee, Clement Freud, and Dustin Hoffman.
DVD
1. Band on the Run Music Video
2. Mamunia Music Video
3. Album Promo
Featuring Band on the Run, Mrs Vandebilt, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Bluebird
4. Helen Wheels Music Video
5. Wings In Lagos
6. Osterley Park
7. One Hand Clapping
Availability
“Band on the Run” will be available in a variety of formats including a standard edition (single CD), special edition (2 CD/1 DVD), deluxe edition (3 CD/1 DVD), and vinyl edition.
Paul McCartney 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.
Check out:
Paul McCartney Official Site: http://www.paulmccartney.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMcCartney
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/paulmccartney