| Paul McCartney & Wings — Wings at the Speed of Sound |
Paul McCartney & Wings — Wings at the Speed of Sound
≡•≡ Paul McCartney's successful and popular post-Beatles band featuring his wife Linda and ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine.
Formed: 1971 in London, England
Location: London, England, UK
Album release: March 25, 1976
Recording date: July 9, 1975 — 1976
Record Label: Capitol Records
Duration: 46:32
Tracks:
≡•≡ All songs written by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.
Side one:
01. "Let 'Em In" 5:10
02. "The Note You Never Wrote" (lead vocal by Denny Laine) 4:19
03. "She's My Baby" 3:06
04. "Beware My Love" 6:27
05. "Wino Junko" (Jimmy McCulloch/Colin Allen; lead vocal by Jimmy McCulloch) 5:19
Side two:
06. "Silly Love Songs" 5:53
07. "Cook of the House" (lead vocal by Linda McCartney) 2:37
08. "Time to Hide" (Denny Laine; lead vocal by Laine) 4:32
09. "Must Do Something About It" (lead vocal by Joe English) 3:42
10. "San Ferry Anne" 2:06
11. "Warm and Beautiful" 3:12
Bonus tracks:
Bonus tracks on 1993 re-issue:
12. "Walking in the Park with Eloise" (written by James McCartney, recorded at Nashville as "The Country Hams") 3:07
13. "Bridge on the River Suite" (recorded at Nashville as "The Country Hams") 3:12
14. "Sally G" (B-Side of a single "Junior's Farm") 3:37
Personnel:
≡•≡ Paul McCartney — vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars; keyboards; double bass
≡•≡ Linda McCartney — vocals; keyboards
≡•≡ Denny Laine — vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars; piano
≡•≡ Jimmy McCulloch — vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars
≡•≡ Joe English — vocals; drums
Additional musicians:
≡•≡ Tony Dorsey — trombone
≡•≡ Thaddeus Richard — saxophone, clarinet, flute
≡•≡ Steve Howerd — trumpet, flugelhorn
≡•≡ Howie Casey — saxophone
CREDITS:
≡•≡ Clive Arrowsmith Photography
≡•≡ Chet Atkins Guest Artist, Guitar (Electric)
≡•≡ Roberta Ballard Production Coordination
≡•≡ Geoff Britton Drums
≡•≡ Howie Casey Horn
≡•≡ Floyd Cramer Guest Artist, Piano
≡•≡ Tony Dorsey Horn, Horn Arrangements, Trombone
≡•≡ Bob Ellis Photography
≡•≡ Geoff Emerick Mixing
≡•≡ Joe English Drums, Unknown Contributor Role
≡•≡ Johnny Gimble Fiddle, Guest Artist
≡•≡ Dennis Good Trombone
≡•≡ Lloyd Green Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar
≡•≡ Peter Henderson Engineer
≡•≡ Steve Hoffman Remastering
≡•≡ Steve Howard Horn
≡•≡ Denny Laine Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
≡•≡ Linda McCartney Composer, Keyboards, Photography, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
≡•≡ Paul McCartney Bass, Composer, Drums, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Washboard
≡•≡ Jimmy McCulloch Composer, Guitar, Unknown Contributor Role
≡•≡ Barry McDonald Trumpet
≡•≡ Marcia McGovern Reproduction, Unknown Contributor Role
≡•≡ Billy Puitt Clarinet, Saxophone
≡•≡ Dale Quillen Trombone
≡•≡ Norman Ray Sax (Baritone)
≡•≡ Thadeus Richard Horn, Saxophone, Wind
≡•≡ Don Sheffield Trumpet
≡•≡ George Tidwell Trumpet
≡•≡ Ernie Winfrey Engineer
Certifications and sales:
Region: Certification: Sales/shipments:
≡•≡ France (SNEP) Gold 343,900
≡•≡ Japan (Oricon Charts) 79,000
≡•≡ United Kingdom (BPI) Gold 100,000^
≡•≡ United States (RIAA) Platinum 1,000,000^
Chart positions:
Chart (1976/77): Position:
≡•≡ Australian Kent Music Report Chart #2
≡•≡ Canadian RPM 100 Top Albums Chart #1
≡•≡ Dutch Mega Albums Chart #3
≡•≡ French SNEP Albums Chart #1
≡•≡ Italian Albums Chart #8
≡•≡ Japanese Oricon LP Chart #4
≡•≡ New Zealand Albums Chart #2
≡•≡ Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart #2
≡•≡ Swedish Albums Chart #7
≡•≡ UK Albums Chart #2
≡•≡ US Billboard 200 #1
≡•≡ US Cashbox albums chart #1
≡•≡ US Record World albums chart #1
≡•≡ West German Media Control Albums Chart #32
Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ξ Following his second solo album, Ram, in 1971, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, formed Wings, which was intended to be a full-fledged recording and touring band. Denny Laine, a former guitarist for the Moody Blues, and drummer Denny Seiwell filled out the lineup and Wings released their first album, Wild Life, in December 1971. Wild Life was greeted with poor reviews and was a relative flop. McCartney and Wings, which now featured former Grease Band guitarist Henry McCullough, spent 1972 as a working band, releasing three singles — the protest tune "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," the reggae-fied "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and the hard-rocking "Hi Hi Hi" — in England. Red Rose Speedway followed in the spring of 1973, and while it received weak reviews, it became his second American number one album. Later in 1973, Wings embarked on their first British tour, at the conclusion of which McCullough and Seiwell left the band. Prior to their departure, McCartney's theme to the James Bond movie Live and Let Die became a Top Ten hit in the U.S. and U.K. Ξ That summer, the remaining Wings proceeded to record a new album in Nigeria. Released late in 1973, Band on the Run was McCartney's best-reviewed album to date and his most successful, spending four weeks at the top of the U.S. charts and eventually going triple platinum.
Ξ Following the success of Band on the Run, McCartney formed a new version of Wings with guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton. The new lineup was showcased on the 1974 British single "Junior's Farm" and the 1975 hit album Venus and Mars. Wings at the Speed of Sound followed in 1976, and it was the first Wings record to feature songwriting contributions by the other bandmembers. The album became a monster success on the basis of two McCartney songs, "Silly Love Songs" and "Let 'Em In." Wings supported the album with their first international tour, which broke many attendance records and was captured on the live triple album Wings Over America (1976). After the tour was completed, Wings rested a bit during 1977, as McCartney released an instrumental version of Ram under the name Thrillington and produced Laine's solo album, Holly Days. Later that year, Wings released "Mull of Kintyre," which became the biggest-selling British single of all time (at the time of its release), selling over two million copies. In 1978 Wings followed "Mull of Kintyre" with London Town, which became another platinum record. After its release, McCulloch left the band to join the re-formed Small Faces, and Wings released Back to the Egg in 1979. Though the record went platinum, it failed to produce any big hits. Early in 1980, McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession at the beginning of a Japanese tour; he was imprisoned for ten days and then released, without any charges being pressed. Ξ Wings embarked on a British tour in the spring of 1980 before McCartney recorded McCartney II, which was a one-man-band effort like his solo debut. The following year, Laine left Wings because McCartney didn't want to tour in the wake of John Lennon's assassination; in doing so, he effectively broke up Wings, which quietly disbanded as McCartney entered the studio later that year with Beatles producer George Martin to make his 1982 album Tug of War.
Studio albums:
≡•≡ Wild Life (1971)
≡•≡ Red Rose Speedway (1973)
≡•≡ Band on the Run (1973)
≡•≡ Venus and Mars (1975)
≡•≡ Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
≡•≡ London Town (1978)
≡•≡ Back to the Egg (1979)
_______________________________________________________________
| Paul McCartney & Wings — Wings at the Speed of Sound |
Paul McCartney & Wings — Wings at the Speed of Sound
≡•≡ Paul McCartney's successful and popular post-Beatles band featuring his wife Linda and ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine.
Formed: 1971 in London, England
Location: London, England, UK
Album release: March 25, 1976
Recording date: July 9, 1975 — 1976
Record Label: Capitol Records
Duration: 46:32
Tracks:
≡•≡ All songs written by Paul and Linda McCartney, except where noted.
Side one:
01. "Let 'Em In" 5:10
02. "The Note You Never Wrote" (lead vocal by Denny Laine) 4:19
03. "She's My Baby" 3:06
04. "Beware My Love" 6:27
05. "Wino Junko" (Jimmy McCulloch/Colin Allen; lead vocal by Jimmy McCulloch) 5:19
Side two:
06. "Silly Love Songs" 5:53
07. "Cook of the House" (lead vocal by Linda McCartney) 2:37
08. "Time to Hide" (Denny Laine; lead vocal by Laine) 4:32
09. "Must Do Something About It" (lead vocal by Joe English) 3:42
10. "San Ferry Anne" 2:06
11. "Warm and Beautiful" 3:12
Bonus tracks:
Bonus tracks on 1993 re-issue:
12. "Walking in the Park with Eloise" (written by James McCartney, recorded at Nashville as "The Country Hams") 3:07
13. "Bridge on the River Suite" (recorded at Nashville as "The Country Hams") 3:12
14. "Sally G" (B-Side of a single "Junior's Farm") 3:37
Personnel:
≡•≡ Paul McCartney — vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars; keyboards; double bass
≡•≡ Linda McCartney — vocals; keyboards
≡•≡ Denny Laine — vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars; piano
≡•≡ Jimmy McCulloch — vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars
≡•≡ Joe English — vocals; drums
Additional musicians:
≡•≡ Tony Dorsey — trombone
≡•≡ Thaddeus Richard — saxophone, clarinet, flute
≡•≡ Steve Howerd — trumpet, flugelhorn
≡•≡ Howie Casey — saxophone
CREDITS:
≡•≡ Clive Arrowsmith Photography
≡•≡ Chet Atkins Guest Artist, Guitar (Electric)
≡•≡ Roberta Ballard Production Coordination
≡•≡ Geoff Britton Drums
≡•≡ Howie Casey Horn
≡•≡ Floyd Cramer Guest Artist, Piano
≡•≡ Tony Dorsey Horn, Horn Arrangements, Trombone
≡•≡ Bob Ellis Photography
≡•≡ Geoff Emerick Mixing
≡•≡ Joe English Drums, Unknown Contributor Role
≡•≡ Johnny Gimble Fiddle, Guest Artist
≡•≡ Dennis Good Trombone
≡•≡ Lloyd Green Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar
≡•≡ Peter Henderson Engineer
≡•≡ Steve Hoffman Remastering
≡•≡ Steve Howard Horn
≡•≡ Denny Laine Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
≡•≡ Linda McCartney Composer, Keyboards, Photography, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
≡•≡ Paul McCartney Bass, Composer, Drums, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboards, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Washboard
≡•≡ Jimmy McCulloch Composer, Guitar, Unknown Contributor Role
≡•≡ Barry McDonald Trumpet
≡•≡ Marcia McGovern Reproduction, Unknown Contributor Role
≡•≡ Billy Puitt Clarinet, Saxophone
≡•≡ Dale Quillen Trombone
≡•≡ Norman Ray Sax (Baritone)
≡•≡ Thadeus Richard Horn, Saxophone, Wind
≡•≡ Don Sheffield Trumpet
≡•≡ George Tidwell Trumpet
≡•≡ Ernie Winfrey Engineer
Certifications and sales:
Region: Certification: Sales/shipments:
≡•≡ France (SNEP) Gold 343,900
≡•≡ Japan (Oricon Charts) 79,000
≡•≡ United Kingdom (BPI) Gold 100,000^
≡•≡ United States (RIAA) Platinum 1,000,000^
Chart positions:
Chart (1976/77): Position:
≡•≡ Australian Kent Music Report Chart #2
≡•≡ Canadian RPM 100 Top Albums Chart #1
≡•≡ Dutch Mega Albums Chart #3
≡•≡ French SNEP Albums Chart #1
≡•≡ Italian Albums Chart #8
≡•≡ Japanese Oricon LP Chart #4
≡•≡ New Zealand Albums Chart #2
≡•≡ Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart #2
≡•≡ Swedish Albums Chart #7
≡•≡ UK Albums Chart #2
≡•≡ US Billboard 200 #1
≡•≡ US Cashbox albums chart #1
≡•≡ US Record World albums chart #1
≡•≡ West German Media Control Albums Chart #32
Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ξ Following his second solo album, Ram, in 1971, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, formed Wings, which was intended to be a full-fledged recording and touring band. Denny Laine, a former guitarist for the Moody Blues, and drummer Denny Seiwell filled out the lineup and Wings released their first album, Wild Life, in December 1971. Wild Life was greeted with poor reviews and was a relative flop. McCartney and Wings, which now featured former Grease Band guitarist Henry McCullough, spent 1972 as a working band, releasing three singles — the protest tune "Give Ireland Back to the Irish," the reggae-fied "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and the hard-rocking "Hi Hi Hi" — in England. Red Rose Speedway followed in the spring of 1973, and while it received weak reviews, it became his second American number one album. Later in 1973, Wings embarked on their first British tour, at the conclusion of which McCullough and Seiwell left the band. Prior to their departure, McCartney's theme to the James Bond movie Live and Let Die became a Top Ten hit in the U.S. and U.K. Ξ That summer, the remaining Wings proceeded to record a new album in Nigeria. Released late in 1973, Band on the Run was McCartney's best-reviewed album to date and his most successful, spending four weeks at the top of the U.S. charts and eventually going triple platinum.
Ξ Following the success of Band on the Run, McCartney formed a new version of Wings with guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton. The new lineup was showcased on the 1974 British single "Junior's Farm" and the 1975 hit album Venus and Mars. Wings at the Speed of Sound followed in 1976, and it was the first Wings record to feature songwriting contributions by the other bandmembers. The album became a monster success on the basis of two McCartney songs, "Silly Love Songs" and "Let 'Em In." Wings supported the album with their first international tour, which broke many attendance records and was captured on the live triple album Wings Over America (1976). After the tour was completed, Wings rested a bit during 1977, as McCartney released an instrumental version of Ram under the name Thrillington and produced Laine's solo album, Holly Days. Later that year, Wings released "Mull of Kintyre," which became the biggest-selling British single of all time (at the time of its release), selling over two million copies. In 1978 Wings followed "Mull of Kintyre" with London Town, which became another platinum record. After its release, McCulloch left the band to join the re-formed Small Faces, and Wings released Back to the Egg in 1979. Though the record went platinum, it failed to produce any big hits. Early in 1980, McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession at the beginning of a Japanese tour; he was imprisoned for ten days and then released, without any charges being pressed. Ξ Wings embarked on a British tour in the spring of 1980 before McCartney recorded McCartney II, which was a one-man-band effort like his solo debut. The following year, Laine left Wings because McCartney didn't want to tour in the wake of John Lennon's assassination; in doing so, he effectively broke up Wings, which quietly disbanded as McCartney entered the studio later that year with Beatles producer George Martin to make his 1982 album Tug of War.
Studio albums:
≡•≡ Wild Life (1971)
≡•≡ Red Rose Speedway (1973)
≡•≡ Band on the Run (1973)
≡•≡ Venus and Mars (1975)
≡•≡ Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
≡•≡ London Town (1978)
≡•≡ Back to the Egg (1979)
_______________________________________________________________