Paul McCartney And Wings Band On The Run 50th Anniversary Edition Reviewed

Paul McCartney & Wings

Band On The Run 50th Anniversary Edition

★★★★★

CAPITOL

Call it The Paradox Of Paul. Often thought of as the ‘slick one’ in The Beatles, closer inspection of his best work often reveals what’s charmingly impromptu, even lo-fi. McCartney Iand II are the paradigms, but even on Band On The Run – superficially among his most ‘crafted’ records – there’s evidence of a musical mind moving too fast to bother with spit and polish.

Read: Paul McCartney And Wings Greatest Albums Ranked

The works-in-progress disc of this handsome reissue package gives an even starker impression of a man rummaging joyfully through the studio toy box, now slapping down an instinctively lively drum beat, now jumping on a synth he’s only just plugged in, and rolling with it. As in the case of Revolver’s Got To Get You Into My Life, an early Jet’s fuzz guitar is a place-holder for the brass that would be added to the final version. Minus Tony Visconti’s epic orchestration on the title track, there’s more emphasis on oddities like the Stylophone-esque melody line around 1:30. The early Picasso’s Last Words (Drink To Me) is more than ever a worksheet for multiple songs and directions, complete with that snatch of Jet, and the incomprehensible drum fill a minute in. Chaos and creation, hand in hand.

“Can you imagine trying to start another band after The Beatles?” Paul McCartney on the messy dissolution of The Beatles, the impossible act of following them and remembers his fallen Wings bandmate Denny Laine.

What cannot be revealed, however, is what’s always been obvious – namely, McCartney’s sturdiest collection of vocal melodies since The Beatles. Charming, wistful (Mamunia) and nostalgic (on No Words, someone – maybe Denny Laine –sounds half-John, half-George), they slide and soar, leaping into genius key changes on Jet, boogie-ing down on Helen Wheels (included, as it was originally on the US release), tied to an idea, on Let Me Roll It, that seems ultimate McCartney. Rolling your heart to a loved one? How does that work? Instinctively again, it just does.

Band On The Run 50th Anniversary Edition is out now on Capitol. Order a copy: Amazon/Rough Trade

“Linda thought I’d died…” Read the full extraordinary story of the making of Paul McCartney and Wings’ future-facing magnum opus Band On The Run only in the latest issue of MOJO. More info and to order a copy HERE!

Photo: Clive Arrowsmith MPL Communications Ltd.