BAND ON THE RUN, Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)

I’m not saying I’m a one album kind of a guy. I like, no love, a lot of music, but not to the extent of this one, magical album, Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings.

This must be my favourite album of all time. I’ve bought and worn out three vinyl LPs and have bought three versions of the CD.

I first bought it back in ‘73, the day it was released. It was on my old radiogram all the time. It eventually got warped because I left it on the turntable overnight. Bummer.

That morning, once I repaired my heart, I went out and got a new copy which I managed to scratch that same day. Played that copy till it was worn out. Still find it strange not to hear the jump on the “Band On The Run” title track caused by the previously mentioned scratch. Sounds plain wrong not to have that jump. Bought a new copy when the second one wore out.

I eventually got a CD version when we went digital. Then got the 1999 25th anniversary version followed in 2010 by the re-released 25th anniversary extended edition (on the 37th anniversary, of course). I gave the original CD to my nephew to get him on the Bandwagon.

Listen to the title track, Band On The Run, starts slow, builds quickly and you’re off. The ramp-up keeps going with Jet and then slows to Bluebird gently flapping its wings. Upbeat again to Mrs Vandebilt and cut to a suggestive Let Me Roll It. A melodic pair of songs follows, Mamunia and No Words then we raise to Picasso’s Last Words (Drink To Me) that takes us to a blistering finally Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five.

There are two bonus tracks on the later CDs which are fine in their own way but jar my ears because they are interlopers. I usually skip them. Habits can be bad or good. Point of view of course.

If you want facts and figures about the album go to Wikipedia. If you want passion, a great dancing album then get yourself a copy.

http://www.paulmccartney.com/bandontherun/uk.php

By William N. Dyer