Band On The Run

No where near as good as anything he made with the beatles, but still a fun change of pace

While reading the reviews here on an E.L.O. album, there were several comments saying Jeff Lynne and ELO were what Paul McCartney was trying to be, and now I can't un-hear that listening to this album. I wouldn't say that ruined this album for me, but I do think it taints the experience somewhat. The back half of the album was my favorite. ⭐⭐⭐.5

no stand outs but all very strong songs. i liked. 3.5

Неплохой альбом, хотя довольно редкий, сложно найти

Mouais c’était pas mal, assez entraînant ça s’écoute bien

3/5. Pretty good

Mixed bag. Honestly better then I remembered it being.

I may be just not understanding the Beatles hype and definitely in a minority but this was a pretty average listening experience for what I have considered to be the most successful Beatles member after the break-up due to longevity and seeing the name. There wasn't anything that really stood out in the whole album but it wasn't also offensive in any way so it will receive a 2.5/5 with a bump up to 3, just cause it doesn't deserve the lower ranking.

Obsessed over by the cool kids in my weedy early teens, I tried to love it too, some classic tracks obvs but I didn't entirely get it, and looking back now I can see how wise I was even then 🙃

Well, the Beatles it ain't.

Pretty good.

One of those albums that I don’t have too much to say It was a solid listen and while I didn’t think it was anything too special, I liked just about every song and had fun the entire time McCartney sounds as good as always Favorites: None Honorable Mentions: Jet, Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)

I've loved the Beatles for years now. But haven't checked out much solo work. It's start's very strong but the Middle is whatever then it picks back up on the closer. Overall it's a decent album. But I don't I'll come back to another besides. Band on the run. Jet. And nineteen hundred eighty five 3/5

Starts strongly but have mixed feelings on the latter half

Not for me

Det är ju inte riktigt Beatles va.

Good tunes

Objectively good, but not totally to my taste

Great song but poor recording

Enjoyed this more than I expected to but overall I'm not particularly bothered.

I'm gonna listen to this again but first listen it was a little meh.

3.5

Some fun songs but nothing that really stuck with me, I'm beginning to think I'm more of a Lenon guy than a McCartney guy

6.5/10

The first two tracks are brilliant The rest is merely good

Pretty good rock album. I’m just not crazy over it. The Beatles had good music post-Beatles, but I think their band era will always be their peak.

The standout tracks were great, and are famous for a reason. The tracks in-between left me wanting more.

Fun to listen to, but didn't feel like an album and more just a collection of singles. Still jammed out a bit

Nette Songs aber es kommt nicht annähernd an die Beatles heran.

Meh

It was okay. Not bad, but not groundbreaking or something incredibly enjoyable. Sounded like Paul McCartney.

It's weird hearing the song "Band on the Run" without a guitar controller in my hand playing Guitar Hero. This album starts off pretty good, Fades towards the end. I like it better than the Beetles though, so that's something. I'll certainly add BotR to the playlist.

Strong A side but weak B side evens it out to a 3. You would have thought after all those hits behind him he would know how to balance out an album but for me the B side was really bad fillers.

Good stuff on here - I like what I've heard from Paul's solo stuff and this one really sounds like he was (successfully) bringing his sound into the 70s.

But I did get Paul McCartney out of Wings. Homer: You idiot! He was the most talented one.

it's fine

3.2 1x

Not the same lyrical chops as the height of The Beatles, but still really fun and satisfying tunes. Well put together and an easy listen overall

It’s ok. Probably better that his solo stuff. Grew on me as it progressed. 3-4 stars.

Band on the run is a good song. After that, I'm unimpressed.

Opens strong, couple big hits, then the rest is just okay. Low to mid 3.

Couple of good songs but the rest unfortunately were average at best.

Heard of this collaboration and the title track is obvioulsly the most popular. McCartney is talented but this album was overall quite unremarkable. Maybe I missed something

Some great songs on this but a lot of unmemorable ones. Nineteen hundred and eighty five is a good song. Never heard it before. Can't give album a 4 though. Stand out songs - band on the run and let me roll it

I assume the title is an allusion to the band members who bailed right before the album was recorded? I’m not going to spend too much time debating post-Beatles McCartney vs Lennon projects. Music isn’t zero-sum and there’s room for both to be appreciated for what they are. In this case, we’re appreciating a pretty lightweight offering. This probably isn’t a record I’d seek out, but I think I’d play it occasionally if I had a copy. It’s a sunny Saturday morning kinda record… not the kind you deep clean the house to, but the kind you put on while you get ready for a day out. “Band On The Run” & “Jet” put the hits right up front so you can listen before you get too distracted. “Let Me Roll It” breaks the vibe just enough to remind you that you’re gonna have to flip the record in a minute (well played, Paul). “Mamunia” restarts the vibe sesh on side2 just long enough for you to go back to whatever you were doing. “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” is one last banger to go out on. Kinda like an ‘NPR Driveway Moment’ where you stand there and let it finish playing before you move onto your next thing. Or, just stream it on your phone and don’t worry about all that. Idk.

It's Fine(tm).

3/6

A few decent songs in "Band On The Run" and "Jet" but mostly an inoffensive forgettable experience.

Fine; not anything I would put on again, but it wasn't a problem to get through. Jet was the only song I actively enjoyed.

Band On The Run was a pretty enjoyable album. Unlike Paul McCartney's solo album which i did earlier on this project, this one definitely has more of a Beatles vibe to it when it comes to both the music and the vocal style. I did quite enjoy this one, It definitely had quite a decent amount of fun moments throughout it's runtime. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five was definitely a huge highlight for this album. I guess if i did have an issue with it, it would be that all the songs sound a bit to similar and are a little too forgettable but that could be pretty rare. I definitely had my fun with this album and it's definitely up there as one of McCartney's better works. Best Song: Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five Worst Song: Band On The Run

Probably important but not my thing.

Trying so hard to recreate Beatles magic. Fails

Enjoyable album. I liked “Mrs Vandebilt”, “Bluebird” and obviously, “Band on the Run”.

With his work in the Beatles, McCartney has long been tagged as the "melodist" and "commercial one," sometimes unfairly diminished for writing songs that are catchy or optimistic, as if those traits were somehow lesser. Band on the Run is a great counterpoint to that notion. It’s melodic, yes, but also sophisticated, adventurous, and emotionally layered. The title track alone shifts through multiple musical sections like a mini rock opera, yet it never loses its coherence or drive. That kind of structural boldness is classic McCartney. Commercialism does not mean artistic weakness. McCartney understood how to craft music that reached people without dumbing it down. That’s a skill, not a flaw — and Band on the Run walks that line beautifully. Band on the Run proves he didn’t need Lennon to make something brilliant — though, of course, what they did together was simply magic.

Songs: Band on the Run

Will this album always be doomed to comparison due to the Beatles association? Regardless, I just didn't enjoy it much.

Pretty solid. Second favorite solo Beatles album

Fun, inoffensive, a little weird at times. Honestly I was hoping for better.

Paul - John = <3

It’s ok. Not as interesting and dynamic as a Beatles album and it’s impossible not to compare this side project with his original band

Some ups and downs on here .. lots of musical nice bits and some dated crap.

3.3

I can dig this. On some level it's the standard fare of any post Beatles vanity project. But then there are glimpses of something deeper and troubling just out of view that I find oddly engrossing here. You can see it in the urgent sax on Mrs Vanderbilt and the not-very-assuring twist it puts on the 'Whats the use of worrying?' chorus, or the generally concerning Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five (this plays a darkly amusing role in the novel Glamorama by Brett Easton Ellis). It's the sound of a screwball stoner comedy set in Liverpool but directed by David Lynch - like at any moment McCartney could stop dead in the middle of a song and start addressing the listener personally. Just when I start to think I'm imagining it, another musical flourish comes along to convince me that this is all meant to be a little bit weird. Just me?

There are moments of real joy on this album, but they are sparse. The title track is creative and fun, and the radio ready Jet is catchy. But the album as a whole amounts to less than the sum of its parts. Tracks like Mrs Vandebilt and Mamunia kept my interest, but songs like Bluebird felt a bit uninspired and didn’t appear to have a lot to say. By the time the plodding Picaso’s Last Words hit I was ready to check out. However, the closer, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, tipped the scale back to posit for me. I’m fond of Phil Spectoresque grand finales in my music, and that track is almost worth the price of admission in its grandeur and drama. I’ll spare any overlong ruminations on Sir Paul as a solo artist post-Beatles. Is he overrated? Duh. Does an album like this belong on this list? On its own merits - probably not, but as a peek into how those Beatle boys fared after being heralded as the best thing since sliced bread, this is an important record, with some genuinely listen worthy moments. ✨

Misschien eerder 3,5. Love Paul, en dit album is echt goed! "Mamunia" kende ik nog niet en die vond ik erg mooi.

Pretty good.

I have never really enjoyed this album, have always found it a bit uninspired. Whilst there’s a few catchy songs, I’ve never gotten the hype. 3/5

I find the singles that kick off the album to be the least interesting ones. Once I got past "Bluebird" I found a handful of songs I genuinely enjoyed, which was a nice surprise. I guess I can understand including this from a historical perspective, but even though I liked some of it I don't think it's a great, essential album experience overall.

McCartney writing hits. Some fun songs but a lot of granny music

McCartney is a hitmaker. A pop icon if you will. Not a dud on the album. Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it the Beatles? Of course not. It's still a great listen.

It was okay, but I won't want to listen again.

Good album. Reminded me of Queen at times. Solid overall

Couple of hits but overall doesn't stand out. Little slow, mundane, boring. Good post-beatles album for McCartney.

Album starts off strong but by the end of it, I found myself not very interested. Its a decent album, but not by favorite by Wings.

Not for me.

3,5

Fínasta plata, Paul er auðvitað snillingur. Smá uppfylling í lokin. 3,5.

This album is certainly a vibe, and I like lots of parts about it. At the same time, it's overall just a little too goofy for me, and loses some steam on Side B. It's about a 3.5, but earns a 3 here.

Couple of solid songs to start, then just rambles for the rest of the album.

The album has its highs and lows, but Paul McCartney always sounds great. It’s definitely not the Beatles, but still has its moments.

It's ok. It's pop, and a member of the Beatles. Not that I have any love for the Beatles. I'm not impressed. I've heard Band on the Run and Jet before, and I think maybe I listened to this whole album before, which tells you how much it stuck with me. I think the version on Spotify is about six songs longer than it needs to be. My rating: 3/5

First two songs are amazing. The rest are ok. Wings is one of those bands that had a good single or two per album and the rest was ok. Of course, ok for Paul McCartney is still good.

Good music, just not my type of sound or preferred lyrical style

Turns out i prefer Paul McCartney to the Beatles. This is ok, but he still throws in novelty songs.

post beatle pauls magnum opus. so det er et milestone i hans solokarriere. Godt eksempel på early 70 rock-pop done right. blev produceret og indspillet under svære forhold hvor der var 2 band medlemmer som kvittede tidligt

Parit passelit kappaleet, loppupuolisko ei enää saanut yhtä paljon innostumaan.

There's a few places where the arrangements are interesting enough to warrant 3 stars, and the first two tracks are great. But there's a huge chasm in the middle where it's just twaddle.

It's fine, quite annoying in places. Let me Roll It is good. Jet is better done by Alan Partridge. Always found it odd how the title track is different ideas just grafted together.

As if it wasn't enough for Paul to have a monopoly on songs about Blackbirds... turns out he went in for Bluebirds too?!?

***An ok album

You can tell that pretty much the whole album has a Beatles vibe, I don't know if it's on purpose or just because Paul brings that vibe, but he was surely trying to feed off of the already existing success. Overall, not too bad, it was nice having it in the background. I actually enjoyed the last song - Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.

Paul McCartney is someone I didn't think I'd end up listening to in 2025, which is to say that this album sounds a little outdated. But it does still hold up and offers a look into pop music in the 1970s. Not my favorite personally but objectively good.

Solid album overall- Band on the Run and Jet are both big hits. I liked the repeated themes throughout the album. Some of the B sides are a little silly. Overall- good album. 3.5/5

I enjoyed it. It was a bit like hearing a lost Beatles album, except the ending, which seemed to call upon other songs from the album, I thought was basically filler. Still, overall songs wee good and the album was generally pretty well laid out.

A pleasant, but ultimately boring extension of The Beatles. No one can deny Paul McCartney's talent and ability to compose great songs, but it doesn't appeal to me. Rather average album, all things considered.

I was a bit underwhelmed by this album. It was alright, but outside of the title song there weren't any songs that really grabbed me. 3*

Expected more out of Paul, Band of the Run is a great song but otherwise underwhelming

Queen Elizabeth really knighted this guy?

Ok

the more I try to like beatles and beatles adjacent music the more unbearable it gets for me I guess.

It's not that Paul McCartney couldn't write a good tune - he proved that he was one of the best songwrigthers of all time during his Beatles years. It's just that in the years afterwards, he adopted what I tend to call That 70s Sound - pleasant enough, easy-listening tunes with rather intricate harmonies and instrumentation, a sound that is completely different from anything that he did before. Listening to Band on the Run, I'm starting to wonder if he really adopted the style, or if he rather was influential for the development of that sound to begin with. Anyhow, it's a sound you have to like, and I only can bear it in small doses. None of the songs are bad per se, but the album doesn't fully catch my interest either. 3/5

3.5/5

it doesn't ring

much better than the bugs

A prime example of why Paul wasn’t the same without John. Wildly catchy and well-crafted songs share space with utter piddle.

Alright rock. Easy listening? Variety of instruments used. Didn't move me to love or hate it

A nice spring day album.

While all of the former Beatles have strong solo albums in their solo catalog, I don't believe Band On The Run is one of them. The title track is one of my favorite song that Paul McCartney ever cut, but nothing else here rises to that level, in my opinion. Overall this album is fine, but it doesn't compare to the classic Beatles albums, or even an album like Ram

Kind of weird and hard to place. Not even "Beatles Light", but I am not sure if that is good or bad.

Starts off very strong

5.5/10

Wings! I hated this band for so long without even knowing anything by them except the title track off this album. When we were about to see McCartney live a couple of years ago and I looked to see what setlists he was playing, I finally decided to listen to some Wings and was kind of amazed at how good they were. Which is of course ridiculous, but I was young and dumb and too under the "John was better than Paul" spell. This album is a classic and has some amazing songs on it. "Let Me Roll It" was one of the highlights of the show for me. Glad I finally grew up a little bit. P.S. - This album also has a really interesting backstory if you haven't read about it.

Staple diet in the 70s. Aged a bit but still good

Band on the Run is like three songs rolled into one. It's too bad the "If I Ever Get Out of Here" part wasn't more developed because I always loved that part of the song. British people love ska music, you can hear it's influence everywhere. Band on the Run is much better than the other "hit", Jet. I do like Paul McCartney's voice, that still sounds good. Mrs. Vanderbilt is the best song so far. Paul's right, what's the use of worrying. Let Me Roll It is good too. The title track is overrated and everything else is better than I anticipated based on only knowing that song from this album. Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me), and the reprice of Jet buried in it, is another song with two really disparate parts, the difference is I like both of these parts better. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five is a good song to end the album on.

第一次认真听Bowie的专，还不错，和之前熟悉的Starman之类的区别比较明显。其中有几首不错，不过可能更喜欢Prog一点的。

I saw Wings live once in Sydney, not sure why. I was never a Beatles fan though obviously I recognise their influence. But Paul always seemed the most lightweight of the Fab Four, the most ‘pop’. This album bears that out: catchy tunes, Paul’s signature voice, cute lyrics. Curious that the previous album i rated from this list was a Stones’ one. They couldn’t be more different. But would Wings have made it without having a Beatle at the helm? Probably not. The album isnt show-stopping, just solid middle-of-the-road pop with some extra zing.

Kinda just sounds like more average Beatles

first half is good second half kinda boring and suonds like beatles but worst

It was alright

Bit formulaic when it comes to chorus, pre-chorus, bridge. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five was my favorite track, awesome ending...until they took it back to the opening track. I always thought the lyric was Man on the Run, need to sit down a bit after realizing that I've been wrong all this time.

Not something I'd check out in my own time, though definitely not something I'm suprised to find on here. I've never really sat down and listened to any post Beatles Paul McCartney project so this is at least something new. Was interesting to read about the recording process of this album, seems like the remaining three band members were left with a lot to do. Band On The Run Interesting structure. Classic keyboard line. Love how much the song evolves and changes throughout. The chorus will definitely be stuck in my head tomorrow. Solid track, liked it more this time around than previous times hearing it. Good. 4/5 Jet Nice density, the saxophone at the start adds some texture to the sound. Sounds a bit compressed, doesn't have the best audio quality either. I think the song is pretty well structured around the chorus. The guitar work is pretty great at times. I feel the backing vocals are a bit much at times. Decent high energy track. Has a bit of spectacle to it. 3.5/5 Bluebird Not crazy about the backing instrumental. It's a pleasant enough song with an interesting composition. Has a really cheesy sax solo. Fine. 3/5 Mrs. Vandebilt Fairly annoying first verse. Really don't like how the sax is used. The "ho hey ho"s get stale, same with the chorus in general. Has a few parts that I like, but honestly felt pretty obnoxious and hard to get through. Did not like. 2/5 Let Me Roll It A competent blues track with some decent progression. The echo effect isn't too great. Heartfelt lyrics, though the wheel comparisson is kinda cheesy. Really slow and repetitive. Sluggish to get through. Average. 2.5/5 Mamunia Some pretty guitar playing, and a decent bassline. Preachy lyrics. Edgeless and lame. Band teacher music. The chorus has a nice vibe with the percussion and the overlaying guitars. Sounds great when the electric guitar comes in. Could do without the verses, still fine. 3/5 No Words Has some nice harmonies and a fairly dense and powerful instrumental. Honestly quite impressive. Good. 4/5 Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me) I think the story of how he wrote this track is really funny and adds another element to the track. Really like the evolution the song goes through and the interpolations of the other songs on the album. Instrumentally the track has a lot going for it, especially the bass and strings. Also think the sample is pretty interesting. The song's strange structure makes it a challenging listen and while it walks a thin line I do think it succeeds at being interesting structurally without sounding messy. Good. 4/5 Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five I like the atmosphere set by the instrumental. Has a great groove, and the vocal performance feels loose which adds a lot of character to the track. The quiet sections are really nice additions as well. The track has some grit to it which really helps set it apart from some of the others on here. Fantastic ending, feels really large, caps off the album well. Great. 4.5/5. Honestly feared this would be boring, but can't really say it was. Has a decent amount of depth and the songs feel distinct. Some song have some really distinct composition which I feel helps add a lot of variety. The tracklist is fairly solid with no real inculsions I thought could've been cut, though I definitely felt the second half was stronger than the first. Wasn't expecting it to be so instrumentally varied either. Lyrically I didn't find anything that stuck out to me personally, rather some I felt were a bit cheesy and some that felt very of the time. Would also like to point out that the audio quality isn't always the best. Not wowed by this by any means, but was definitely a good listen and a worthy inclusion. Will probably return to it at some point. 3.5/5 leaning towards a 3/5 Fave track. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five Least fave track. Mrs. Vandebilt

This was pretty good, I liked the small reprise of jet at the end

It's alright Standouts Mrs Vanderbilt Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five 3/5

It was more enjoyable than I anticipated.

An enjoyable album with a few good tracks, nothing to rave about but again, not much to complain about either. Down the middle 5/10.

I didn't hate this album, but I guess I expected more. McCartney doesn't soar to the same heights as the Beatles here, but a couple songs are good. This album is structured like a sandwich with some really tasty bread on the top and bottom, but bland and unspiced fillings- not bad, satisfying, but it doesn't attract me back to the restaurant. Favorite songs: the title track and "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five"

Very good but I like him more on the Beatles

Not too bad, Paul’s name does a lot of heavy lifting imo but band on the run is a pretty good tune to get stuck in your head, test of the album was okay

I don't understand sings that change into completely different songs partway through.

Enjoyed a lot of this but I also wouldn't play it again myself?

A good pop rock album with four really really great songs. 3.5

He's a great pop songwriter but this didn't do a ton for me. Easy listen!

A great solo record, you can hear The Beatles still linger a bit

Couple good hits but clearly not even close to the beatles

I had so many interesting thoughts while listening to this record, but they were all about the Beatles and it seems unfair to consider the album in that light. I'm not sure how I could consider it ahistorically - the production is completely of its time, even if the artist had no past or present. Without that history, would I focus on the corny choices - lyrically, in production, in sequencing? The melodicism? The bricolage structure of the title track? The tasty, rather than tasteful bass tone? The incredible singing voice, especially in Nineteen Hundred and Eight-Five? But can one enjoy this nice guy character taking the lead across a whole album? For all his faults and strengths, no McCartney album can escape Beatle thoughts. However, with Band on the Run, it isn't so much "But this guy was in the Beatles" as "Well, this guy was in the Beatles." 3.5 Well I like this music but only because it sounds good. It achieves catchiness without merciless repetition. The songs are structurally imaginative without losing their identity as pop music. The arrangements are neat and the singing is good. Still there is an emptiness at the heart of Band on the Run. Could be the lyrics that aren’t about much in particular or the (polite) diversity of style and arrangement, but something leaves me wondering what holds the album together. Paul McCartney was obviously looking for some guiding principle but in the end the album had nothing to do with the cover/title song or with travelling all the way to Nigeria (to record ‘Let Me Roll It’?! Why?) - it was just time to make another album. John Lennon wants to tell his listeners what keeps him up at night. George Harrison wants to tell you the Good News. Paul McCartney wants you to like him and buy his record. And I do and I did, so I’m not really complaining. 3/5

youve charmed me, mcCartney

6/10

Not my favorite. Even being a Beatle

Very quirky McCartney. Its okay but not memorable

Not bad

Single are solid. Rest is fine.

kjut

A solid but unremarkable album. I'm curious how I would have felt about this album if I had been alive for Beatlemania and had real opinions about McCartney and his solo career, but I wasn't and I don't. The opener (title track) and closer ("Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five") are the standouts and I've already forgotten the rest of the album.

need to relisten

This was ok. There were some interesting arrangements and some good moments. 1985 is a great song.

Surprisingly good listen. Not really the biggest Beatles fan so I didn't think I'd like this. But it was nice.

Obviously heard the hits from this album a million times, never listened to the full album though. Band on the Run is such a great song man, this guy can sure write a song. Some of these deeper cuts are pretty hokey and not nearly as good as the bangers, but what can ya do.

3 Stars (8/15)

Like Mrs Vanderbilt.

No. 307/1001 Band on the Run 3/5 Jet 3/5 Bluebird 3/5 Mrs. Vandebilt 3/5 Let Me Roll It 4/5 Mamunia 3/5 No Words 3/5 Picasso's Last Words 3/5 1985 3/5 Average: 3,11 Average rock album. Not really any highpoints, but also no lowpoints.

Jet- very rock. Droning heavy bass lines. Almost reminds me of a 70s “Jump-van happen” Bluebird - now a switch to a jazzy, tropical vibe Mamunia - harmonies, acoustic guitar, sounds like an African choir singing along with a guitar man, but then with some electric sounds coming in. Not sure I’m a fan of those Picassos last words - a calm, smooth, drinking song sounding (obviously) ballad. Calls back to jet, which I like. Sounds like something you’d hear at a cozy bar after the liveliness died down and people are starting to get tired and just sit and talk and sing, which is often the best time! 1985 - urgency, somethings on the line, save the day from the bomb that’s about to go off! Climax of a movie - words and vibes that come into my mind when listening to this

enjoyable album, but nothing that particularly stuck with me. Again, good music for when you’re doing something- for me anyway

There is such a thing as being too tuneful. What with Laine and McCartney, it seems they couldn't settle on one tune per song, each one seems to be about four fighting for space in the track. Mostly a good listen though.

Such a refreshing change from the rubbish that was his post-Beatles debut effort. Some fine tunage going on, you'll sing along to Jet's chorus or your money back.

It is sometimes an odd experience listening to albums for the first time when they have such well known songs on them. It can be hard to judge the unknown songs. That is the case with this album. The first two songs are classics - great songs. The rest, in comparison, are meh. Picasso last words doesn’t seem to end…..which is not a great thing. Bluebird and Mrs. V I found to be annoying. And what happened to his voice on Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five? The tune was nice, but the vocals were odd. It was also the second song that was multiple songs in one. The two big hits give this album 3 stars, otherwise it would be fewer.

All the Beatles sunk into their own identities after the breakup. For better or worse, the nexus had broken and they careened deeper into their personal selves. For Paul, that was the quirky pop sensibilities. He was always a saccharine writer and this album is full of those songs backed by a synthesizer band at his command. There are some great hits, but a lot of filler. This one might have put him back on the map, but it ain’t perfect. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five was probably my favorite.

Didn't know they were saying "Jet!" 3 stars.

Prima album. Beste plaat let me roll 3.2

Det är en riktigt stabil skiva, bra jäkla band. Vissa låtar är lite svagare men Jet och Mrs. Vandebilt är bangers. För mig hamnar den nog någonstans mellan en 3a och en 4a men känns kanske inte tillräckligt historisk för att få en 4a.

Bättre än förväntat faktiskt. Hade uppfattningen att Wings var tråkiga, men skivan var underhållande. Låten Jet är en bop!!

Ок

Bit boring at times. First and last song were strong though

Better than expected. But I expected absolutely nothing

Probably the best album ever made to feature on the cover Michael Parkinson, Christopher Lee, James Coburn, boxer John Conteh and Just a Minute panelist, chef, MP and noted kiddy fiddler Sir Clement Freud. Yes he was, he was his grandson. Anyway some of this is great. But I prefer Ram.

I liked it. Nineteen Hundred and eighty five was cool on the first listen

As Wings is the pinnacle of, as John would put it, Paul’s granny music, I must truly be getting old if I’m finding this tolerable. And it’s more than tolerable — it’s downright listenable! Good? No, I’m not going that far. I’m gonna need several more joints rolled on an album cover while seeds get spilled into the basement shag carpeting to come to that conclusion.

First time I’ve heard any of these songs except Band on the Run. That song is ok. Nothing else really stuck out to me but it was hard to give it my all today. 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up for Beatles.

First time listening to this full album. McCartney's voice will always be so recognizable. After JUST finishing the album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" I can't help but hear a Simon & Garfunkel influence (very specifically in "Mamunia") - but maybe that's just the sound of the early 70s. Solid listen, McCartney proving he's going to make catchy sing-a-long rock'n'roll with or without The Beatles.

downloaded band on the run and tapped out by bluebird

Kinda cheesy

1963-1969. The Beatles led the way, defined a decade, innovated, perfected, and left music that still amazes to this day. Paul McCartney, at the end of the Beatles’ career, was at his height and everything he touched was gold. He was in his strength. Which is what makes his solo career, including Band on the Run, so tragic. (Let me get this out of the way: first two tracks are listenable, then I can’t anymore, but it does close with an energetic “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” - why couldn’t he have done more of THIS at least?) Paul was at his best in tandem and friendly competition with his friend John, with the guidance of George Martin, and with George and Ringo. Paul was an amazing talent, but others helped channel that to perfection. He was never the same afterward, so even his best work sounds like it needed John or one of the Georges to come in and lift it to the next level. Or any level really. There is still some strength coming through on “Ram.” That would be the best I’ve heard from Paul post-Beatles. Is this a 2 or 3? Some of y’all will enjoy this much more than I am able to. I will be kind and go with 3 but I’m just so distraught over the whole sordid affair.

Went in with very low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. Some good songs on there, some of Paul McCartney's best imo

Pleasantly surprised by the first two tracks, about what I expected for the rest of the album.

Band on the Run is a great song. I haven't gotten too much into Wings and enjoyed it. I would listen again and give it more time to sink in.

This album was way cooler than I ever thought it would be. I'm actually pretty amazed at how much enjoyment I got from some of these songs. I'm a sucker for non-repetitive songs that bring a lot of variety, and a lot of these songs did exactly that. I can totally understand that it can sound messy, but I eat that stuff up. There are, however, some filler songs that I'm just not a fan of. i.e. Mrs Vandebilt, Mamunia

According to the internet Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings.

It was fine for me. Not something I'll come back to again. All due respect to Sir McCartney and company but Wings was never my style.

Great stuff - but not The Beatles.

The Beatles > McCartney

Very easy to listen to. Not something I'll probably go back to but enjoyed it. Jet was my favourite track by far. Much better than yesterday and actually enjoyed getting through this one!

Eh. Like it's alright, but there's better

Mmm... I have never worshipped at the shrine of "The Beatles". Some great songs, true. Some awful claptrap as well; a band thinking they were cleverer than they actually were. McCartney's solo work didn't impress me in period. He did himself absolutely no favours with nonsense like "Mull of Kintyre" and "We All Stand Together". Not at all "cool". I approached this with some trepidation. McCartney's vocals are a bit nasal on couple of tracks ("Band On the Run" and "Bluebird") did he have a cold? The lyrics to "Jet" are a bit awkward. A songwriter desperately searching for a rhyme at times. "Let Me Roll It" is a great track. Those minor quibbles, all was going well. It went horribly wrong with "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)" where they descended into some pretentious Beatle-esque drivel. That track commits every "sin", strings, odd bits of talking, changes of rhythm for no good reason. That nonsense cost it a star. The rot continued with "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" which could have been an ELO track. Ultimately, a disappointing 3/5.

Solid pop music.

han kan sgu godt noget ham der Paul

Not my favorite, but trippy and fun.

Ummmm, this was not terrible! Or at least I enjoyed the first and last songs. I was definitely surprised and might even listen again. Might, I said.

A decent outing by Mr McCartney

One of his best but typical Macca does get a bit gloomy at times

Pieces better than the sum

Finaly, this project brought me closer to the Beatles. In this context, I also learned to appreciate goerge Harrison's music. At some point in the late 70s, Mull of Kentyre also spilled over the canal into my channel. I liked the song back then. And so I was curious about this album, which I hadn't heard before. It didn't excite me, rather bored me. Even for the sake of completeness, I wouldn't have listened to it. 3/5

Enjoyable 3/5

Decent - Band on the Run, Jet, Let Me Roll It, Mamunia, 1985 best songs

I'm ready for it to be over but I'll give it a 3.

a few misses but when it's good it's really enjoyable

good stuff

A little loose at times, with two solid songs.

Good album but not stellar, think Paul McCartney did better with a lot of the Beatles stuff

4/9 45/100

Solid

If I ever had the opportunity to jam with Sir Paul, and he said, “Let’s do. jet,” I’d most likely say, “You know what, never mind, I’m good.” That’s about how I feel about this whole album. An SAT style analogy might be Wings :: The Beatles as Jefferson Starship :: Jefferson Airplane. That’s not a good thing. I don’t know if I like Wings less because I expect more from McCartney or if I like them as much as I do only because of who he is. I guess 3/5 because I can’t give 2.5 and go down the middle.

#75 Upbeat, good vibes.

The first two tracks "Band on the Run" and "Jet" were huge hits and rightly so, but the rest of the album is meh!

after my Beatles run this is kinda delightfully unambitious 6/10

There are some good songs on here but it's a bit inconsistent. Very relaxed and easy to listen to for the most part

Opening en closing track zijn goede nummers, de rest zwemt een beetje in middelmatigheid

aardig albumpje, paar lekkere nummers erop, favo was Mrs Vanderbilt

this is great! had heard way more of these songs than i thought.

Classic McCartney.

This album is good—of course it is. It’s Paul McCartney in his prime, so there’s a level of quality that you expect and that he delivers here. McCartney’s knack for melody and songcraft shines through, particularly in tracks like Jet and Mrs. Vanderbilt, which bring an effortless charm to the album. However, I can’t help but feel Band on the Run is on the list as much for the McCartney name as for its actual content. While it’s enjoyable and undoubtedly polished, it doesn’t strike me as a “must hear” album. It’s one I’d happily revisit, but more for the ease of McCartney’s style than any profound impact. Standout Track: Mrs. Vanderbilt Score: 3/5

Ben door de jaren heen echt fan geworden van ''Ram'', het studio-album van Paul & Linda dat ruim een jaar eerder uitkwam dan deze. De folksy, psychedelische sound is echt waanzinnig op die plaat, en staat wat dat betreft haaks op de grootsere, pop/stadium rock van ''Band on the Run''. Maar ondanks dat ik in principe meer aangetrokken wordt door de rootsier, folk sound van de 60s, dan de meerlaagse, symfonische sound van de 70s, moet ik toegeven dat dit album wel echt een plezier was om naar te luisteren. De titelsong, 'Jet', 'Let Me Roll It' en 'Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five' zijn echt wat van de betere nummers uit de 'solo' carrière van Paul. Vooral die laatste twee staan heel hoog op m'n lijstje favoriete post-Beatles songs. Toch voelt het als album best een beetje rommelig aan, en heb ik moeite om echt een overkoepelend thema/stijl te vinden zoals dat op ''Ram'' wel echt sterk is. Maar die krachtige individuele momenten die ik net opnoem zorgen er voor dat ik wel content ben met de luisterbeurt. 7/10 Highlights: Band On The Run Let Me Roll It Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five

Meh

Catchy

There's some fun tracks here. I like the first half of this record a lot. The second half feels like filler bullshit that was scrapped from a Beatles record. But it's a fun and easygoing pop record and I do think it does that well.

Ok album

Might as well be Beatles outtakes

I didn't dislike it, parts were really good but overall I feel like he was saying, "I'm smart, I'm pretentious oh and I was the best member of the Beatles, but I'm amazing without them." I don't see as much growth from him, just trying to make money doing a water downed Beatle album

A bit meh, not as good as the Beatles stuff obviously.

It’s alright but not often in the mood for this kind of music

This was an album of music. Some of the songs were better than others. 2.8

Ok, so it's good to hear the two hits, and perhaps one other song, but I found this full album to be flat. Not pop trash, just too thin to be a great album.

It's a very nice album. It's impossible not to compare it with anything from the Beatles, but they highlight the differences well.

41 mins of paul granny music, it should've been him not john

It was refreshing to hear McCartney not as a Beatle.

Great first song, but the album faded pretty quickly for me after that. Not bad, but nothing amazing.

I barely remember listening to this

oh god. oh god oh god oh god. i've always known this day was coming, and now, suddenly - unexpectedly, even - it's here. the day a wings album showed up on my list. christ. so, here's the thing: i've loved the beatles since i was a little kid, way back before they broke up, because i am old and you can get off my lawn. john's solo stuff was fine - good, even. ringo's was light-hearted and fun, at least for the most part. george's was simply amazing, even if i didn't love every moment of it. but paul...and wings..oh dear. know what i mean? it's just...oh dear. but fine, let's give this album what it deserves: track 1 - heard this a zillion times. it's fine. catchy enough. the giant crash cymbal has always been a favorite, but that's where it ends. plus, by the time this one's over, you're just glad to be done with it. and there are 8 tracks left after! track 2 - huh. ok, fine - heard this maybe .75 zillion times. it's actually better than the title track, if you ask me, but i still don't love it track 3 - 24 seconds in and oh god. track 4 - please....just...please stop. although i did like the cackling at the end. nice callout to get back. track 5 - ok, it's in 6/8...i like that, at least. and...that was kinda all i liked about it. track 6 - ugh. ok, fine, this album was from 1973, gotta make allowances, etc. still. track 7 - am i still here? track 8 - ok, picasso is cool. plus, they worked in both a clarinet AND a bassoon? that's kinda neat. ah - but here we are at 2:30 or so and we've hauled jet back onto the stage. 4:40 - ah, i see. it's a medley, not a mashup. fine, whatever. at least it's almost over track 9 - ok, that's interesting - hearing paul sound kinda like david gray there. yeah, ok - i liked this one. doesn't *exactly* redeem the entire album, but draws it back a bit from the abyss.

This is a diminished version of the Beatles, a band I'm already lukewarm on. All my fav Beatles stuff is Harrison and Lennon, so this was always on to be a loser. Not bad but also not my cup of tea.

Why do people need to carp on about which Beatle is better than the other like they require placing like four teams in a World Cup group stage? This is OK. First two songs are really good.

Lots of people like this album a lot. I think it's OK. I worry that I don't judge it on its own merits, that I'm always thinking it's too insubstantial for the man who wrote She's Leaving Home, Penny Lane and Let It Be. There we are.

Was going to give it 4/5 but the songs felt like they were getting progressively longer and longer and were 5 songs cut into 1. Liked the general vibe though

I grew up with this album as it was on constant repeat in our car on family trips in the 70s. I don’t think that I have listened to it in over 40 years and I think the 70s is where it belongs! It feels and sounds dated and it’s hard to reconcile this to most Beatles albums. Bonus points for the title track and the fact that it is Macca.

It’s ridiculous how prolific Paul McCartney has been in his career. Five full albums in three years, after The fucking Beatles, is insane. More impressive that he played most of the instruments here, too. It’s pretty good. Nice and sweet, with a few surprises. Not all bangers, but decent pop. 3/5

Very good. Not super consistent, but lots of really great songs

Having not been there, this album feels a lot like I how imagine the 70s were: overindulgent, sprawling in new and exciting ways that may not exactly be good, but still pretty fun. Some of these songs I can imagine putting on the 8 track in the AMC Pacer and thinking you're the coolest guy in the world, some of them I hear in a wood paneled basement with shag carpeting. A lot of the sounds I love from much later music show up here, as do a lot of sounds I don't care for. Some of the songs bang (the fuzz in Jet is wild) but then Bluebird is a real stinker. Picasso's Last Words is very clever, but also, c'mon Paul, some of this shit is just elevator music. A lot of good stuff, Paul's Beatles influence is still pretty obvious (good thing) and he's undeniably got a knack for a tune but for my taste overstays its welcome. Starts and finishes with something like a bang, so I guess that's where the head's at.

Not really my taste

Not a massive fan but did enjoy this

Blue bird, band on the run, jet, album sounded.. and it is, old.

Better than I remember

Bien

Mixed of both good and average sounding songs.

Paul McCartney é sempre sinônimo de boa música.

Bit of a front loaded album. The first few tracks are fantastic. Band on the run is obviously the stand out and they bring it back in different from throughout the rest of the album. The slower songs were a bit of a miss and I found myself wishing they kept the upbeat tempo from the beginning of the album. Overall still a solid album just could have been even better. 6/10

This was fun Pop Rock. The title track was the only one I was familiar with going in, but there weren't any songs on it that were bad.

It's alright.

It's ok. Not that special

It has some great parts, but over-all it sounds outdated and almost corny at times. Favorite song: Jet

I liked this better than the Beatles. Top tracks were Drink To Me and Mrs. Vanderbilt

It was decent. Probably 3-3.5

some nice songs but shy of being truly remembered

Let Me Roll It is a great tune.

Decent listen, a little flat to be honest.

Easy to listen to but nothing special

MEGET bedre end den anden McCartney plade. Stor 3er, mange bangers her på

Some good songs on there

self titled track is a masterpiece and the rest of the album is a slow decrease in quality. McCartney is no doubt one of the most brilliant musicians of all time, but his best work is also representative alongside is compatriot Mr. Lennon.

Starts off tremendous but slows down as it progresses

- Habe noch nie etwas von dieser Kollaboration mitbekommen. - Ich habe den Titel-Track glaube ich irgendwann mal gehört, kann ich mir aber auch einbilden. - Da sind einige coole Songs auf der Platte, die vor allem durch ihre Abwechslung und Originalität bestechen. - Auf der anderen Seite ist das jetzt auch keine Offenbarung. Schöner, solider, unterhaltsamer Rock 3/5

3/5

Probably the only post-Beatles album, by an ex member, that I've liked so far.

Yeh it was alr

Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.

It was OK, neither great nor bad

ok, but not that fussed

Best thing The Beatles did for their legacy was to split up.

Lots of quite different sounding tracks, good instrumentals and writing. Quite funky at times. Nothing stood out as being outstanding though. Highlights: Bluebird Mrs. Vandebilt

Band On The Run

Good. Prefer John's work after the Beatles.

It just sounds like mediocre mid-career Beatles stuff.

It’s good at first, but the song writing keeps getting worse. Still a ok album and a pleasant listen. Not comparable to Abbey Road though.

I mean, it’s not bad. Probably pretty good, even. This kind of music just doesn’t do much for me.

Kinda interesting to see Paul's musical force at full energy here.

Mildly interesting pop.

This just leaves me cold. I just don't like it. - Nineteen hundred and eighty five - is tolerable. Nice guitar solo.

Good title song; the last song was excellent as well. But the in between bits were kinda blah.

I liked the album, but no song is as good as Band on The Run.

Didnt love it. Was surprised by that

Great

I like McCartney, but this is not something I'd go back to a lot. The two big hits are great, as is Let Me Roll It, but nothing appealed to me enough to add to my Liked Songs.

It was all fine and there were some cool moments in songs like Band on the Run, Let, and Let Me Roll It. But then they seemed to drag a little.

Huh ok wow I liked this. The last song 1985 gets a solid 4 and I will be revisiting it, a true little gem. But the rest was cool and band on the run was a little heap bop too

It's an okay record. Definitely over hyped. It's something your aunt says she loves and you can't find it in you to criticize so you let it play out because really it's not that bad and not worth bringing down someone's joy of it.

I think it was fine?

Fun! Started today grumpy and expected to be made more grumpy by this but was instead made less grumpy! I’m not a cynic after all!

Great and eclectic

This was a very pretty album. Unique instrumental choices have always been a strength of Beatles and adjacent projects, and this was no different. Not the most striking album, but sweet and not too long.

++: Let Me Roll It, Ninety Hundred and Eighty-Five +: Band on the Run, Jet, Bluebird, Mrs. Vandebilt, Mamunia, No Words +-: Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me) 7,7/10

Pretty good, kinda self-indulgent.

Surprisingly I like this album a lot more than any of the 20 The Beatles albums on this list. That doesn’t say much, but it’s a solid 3. The first tracks are much better than the 2nd half of the album.

The extra tracks at the end really make the album drag. Otherwise the album felt very full. Band on the Run, the single, is very memorable.

Bought this album but went off it

good album, not sure how much ill be going back to it.

Great start and finish and a bit middling in the middle. Still, enjoyable enough. 3.5 stars.

As awful as the Beatles were, Paul continues to be a proven song writer and musician and there's no exception with this album. Some of the songs are a bit cheesy but there's some absolute classics and some hidden gems on here.

Meh. Don’t think I like britrock.

Not the finest album featuring McCartney, but a decent enough listen.

I enjoyed a handful of tracks and it was a great solo album for McCartney

a fine album. didn't love it, didn't hate it. it was a fine experience.

Eh. Didn’t make me want to kill myself

shou mayyitttttt ya dillehhhhh shi ma byinta2

I’ve always had trouble with the sound on this album which is so flat and reminds me of an AM radio. Perhaps the band on the run can only send us a compressed message from the desert. Of course the recording co Dutton’s in Lagos didn’t help. But things like the out of tune clams on Bluebird do t do much to recommend and album that was written with a whole band in mind and recorded with only those who were left after the bickering subsided. It’s…not great?