Paul McCartney & Wings “Band on the Run” album marks its 40th Anniversary this year, having been released in December 1973. As Wings’ third album, it quickly became their most successful album, becoming the top-selling studio album in the United Kingdom and Australia in 1974.

“Band on the Run” came on the back of Paul McCartney & Wings’ great success earlier in 1973 with the recording of the theme to the new James Bond movie “Live & Let Die”, which the Record Press author saw on his 11th birthday. The experience of recording the epic, big orchestra sound of “Live & Let Die” with Beatles producer George Martin must have inspired Paul McCartney & Wings to greater heights. The reality is that for the Record Press author “Band on the Run” is an oasis in a desert in terms of Paul McCartney’s solo career after the Beatles. Yes there have been a few desert mirages in the form of one off songs like “My Love”, “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Listen To What The Man Said”, but the only really comprehensive work in a desert of dirge is “Band on the Run”.

The fact that “Band on the Run” was made at all is a testimony to the grit and determination of Paul McCartney. A few weeks before departing for the recording studio in Lagos, Nigeria, lead guitarist Henry McCullough left Wings, quickly followed by drummer Denny Seiwell the night before the departure for Nigeria. This left just the core of the band, Paul, Linda and Denny Laine to venture out to deepest, darkest Africa as a three piece band.

What they produced in “Band on the Run”, was one of the finest albums ever and the Record Press author would urge you take a listen to the album, if you are not already familiar with it. In particular the stand out tracks on “Band on the Run” are the two singles releases “Jet” and title track “Band on the Run” plus “Bluebird”, “Mrs Vanderbilt” and “Let Me Roll It”.

A classic album always has to have an iconic album cover and “Band on the Run” is no different. The “Band on the Run” album cover depicts a band of “celebrity villains” on the run, caught in a search light. Members of Wings were joined on the “Band on the Run” album cover by actors Christopher Lee and James Coburn, along with other British TV celebrities.

Which are your favourite Paul McCartney & Wings songs and why? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

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