Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Have it! Love this album and the song from the album title. Not my favorite Wings album but definitiley a good one.
Big Paul doesn't really miss, does he?
Among other superlatives - more important ones, like Greatest Living Songwriter by resume - McCartney seemingly has suffered the greatest amount of critical disdain for the crime of Not Being His Former Bandmate (in this case, John Lennon). Thing is, I never got the feeling Lennon liked being Lennon all that much, and anyway we ought to be hearing McCartney for who he is and not who he's not. On this album McCartney is his usual excellent self - a rock hit here ("Jet," "Helen Wheels," and the title track), some mellow folky stuff there ("Bluebird" and "Let Me Roll It" - he always was the Beatles' biggest stoner), some Abbey Road-y combo of both, well, everywhere (but especially on "No Words" and the mini-suite "Picasso's Last Words"). And most poignantly, on "Mamunia," a sweet, hopeful rejoinder to his erstwhile friend Lennon, then attempting to drink and drug himself to death under dark clouds in L.A.
I love the Beatles, but I’ve got to admit that I’ve never listened to this one all the way through before. Great album! Will definitely revisit again.
There are timeless albums and they there are albums that are of their time. This album falls into the second category. It's a bit goofy and over-produced, too many twangy interludes. The songs have a great base appeal though that you could only get from a master of the art, but it ultimately fails to transcend its moment. A fun album, but not a great one.
s album gfallt mer sehr guet! vor allem bluebird: d mehrstimmigkeit und de vorhalt vom akkord im refrain, und denn d cowbell dezue isch sehr schön. s album findi abwechsligsriich und interessant z lose. in band on the run wechslets recht unerwartet vomne ruhige teil in en rhythmischere mit ruuchere stimme und denn gahts über en orchestrale teil inen catchy country-artige teil. Jet isch mir persönlich biz z lärmig, aber defür immerno einigermasse abwechsligsriich und catchy. De Wechsel vo moll uf dur in mamunia isch mega schön. no words und picassos last words säged mir weniger zue.. drum vier sterne, für foif hets mer denn doch chli zvill lieder wo a mir verbiigange sind.
This album is so fun and familiar. I recognized almost every song, but didn’t realize they were songs from this album. I also thought it was ‘man on the run’. Would listen to again, lots of pop variety.
I enjoyed this! I recognized a lot of the hits and realized I’ve also heard so many covers before. Fun album.
As good as I recall it from the lastime I listened which wasn't long ago
Good album with some standout songs, but not necessarily one I’d listen to over and over. Had “Jet” stuck in my head most of the day. Was also a fan of Picasso’s last words as it was basically 4 versions of the same song in different styles on 1 track.
this one is pretty gud, I liked the closing track Will I listen to again: 82%
Only the band the Beatles could have been.
I forgot how good this one was. You can really see McCartney‘s love of production in this one. Tempo and mood shifts in the tone, the harmonies are very prevalent. And let’s not forget some very memorable tunes like band on the run jet and 1985.
Perfect for the moment
Boomer hippy nonsense. Great album! Loved the last song especially
Fabulous. "Drink to me, drink to my health. You know I can't drink anymore". 4/5
*1973. *This was great - catchy, melodic, upbeat. *All the best things about the Beatles. RATING - 7.5/10
Saw this album pop up and smiles. Never actually listened to the entire thing though. Excited to listen. the start of the song Band on the Run is great, and to start an album like that is even better. Wow, album kinda falls off ngl. I liked Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five Going in for second listen through. Only songs that even stood out to me were Bluebird, Mamunia, Picasso's Last Words and 1985. Starting album again. OFC band on the run and Jet are great. Instruments on bluebird are good, lyrics are eh
Un claro ejemplo del peso de McCartney en los Beatles. Puro rock n roll fiel a su estilo. 8/10
Paul McCartney is one of the greatest composers of all time and one of my favourite people that ever graced our planet with their existence. But sorry, I'm biased on this one... When I was a kid I really wanted it to be as good as Beatles, but it's not. It's still not as good as Beatles. S/T, Jet and couple more songs are as good, but not the rest. So only 4. Sorry, Paul....
3.7
Much better than my last solo McCartney
Shocked at the amount of 5's being handed out for this album. Had the same issue with George Harrisons solo release. People have a strange Beatles bias. Its a solid album, it's not perfect and it's not groundbreaking. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.
4/5
I grew up with two parents who loved the Beatles' early work, but while they wouldn't turn off a solo Beatle song on the radio, they didn't have any of their records, either. I have to say: I'm really enjoying these. More important than The Beatles' albums? No. Better? You know, maybe.
Highlight Song/s: Band On The Run, Mrs. Vandebilt, Let Me Roll It and No Words 3/4 solo Beatles listened and 4/11 total Beatles album (band and solo stuff) listened (I have listened to Revolver.) I wish the generator gods would bless me with another Beatles album. I'd do anything, literally anything. I wish "Band On The Run" (the song) kept that riff ("am I ever gonna get out of here") around for the other parts of the song, they wasted it. It's insanely good and they just practically THROW it away. The song is still S-Tier, no doubt about that, but it could've been just a bit better had they used that riff just in another part of the song. I like how eclectic this album is, some examples are: The multi-part song of "Band On The Run"; "Bluebird" sounded a fair bit jazzy; The percussion sounds quite tribal in "Mamunia"; "Let Me Roll It"; which has the most powerful chorus ever; nice power ballad that song is. And the beatles-esque song of "No Words." Most of the tracks were pretty solid, the only song I didn't end up liking was the final track. Pretty solid album when all put together.
paul the pig
Very fun!
Has the McCartney sound all over it. You can tell it’s him. A fun record with a lot of stuff on it that you can’t find other places. Very well produced and performed. I do wonder if it would as well thought of if he wasn’t a former Beatle.
Not perfect, but oh so very good. Sounds enough like the Beatles, but yet not the Beatles at the same time. Very enjoyable, no real need for skips
4.5
What a songwriter.
Really likes the last track "1984" and had not listened to any McCartney post-Beatles.
Fun album with a nice change of pace for Paul McCartney.
Haven't listened to the full record before, all songs sound great, I mean, it's McCartney, lyrics and musicality are off the charts. Super enjoyable and easy to listen to.
Incredibly strong start and then it kind of fell off for me in the last half (probably because the start was SO strong). I'd give it a 3.5 if I could, so I'll be nice. Highlights: Band On The Run, Jet
Good album! Fav songs: Band on the Run, Jet
Off the cuff remark: is it me or are Wings & Macca often sneered at? Well, regardless I think this is a fine pop album. Standout track: suppose it has to be Band On The Run ? Revisit?: I do, infrequently and will again at some point
love it
Knew how to write a song
Do I like it cuz it’s good or do I just like it cuz it’s Paul McCartney
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five is an absolutely fantastic song. Jet and Band On The Run are great too. Rest of the album is good 4/5
One legendary song and a ton of quality deep tracks
Yep that’s Paul. This is ok. Jet gets stuck in your head.
Favorite Track: Let Me Roll It
I've been curious about this album for years now, so finally listening to it was quite an experience! I'm glad I wasn't disappointed at all, though something's clearly missing here - maybe three other dudes from Liverpool. The sound is pretty consistent and interesting - and a decent amount of creativity is present here, but none of these elements are really abundant. All this makes it a good album, but not a masterpiece. I'm glad it exists, but I wouldn't really mind if it didn't, you know?
I generally find very little to love in the post-Beatles solo efforts, but this album is one of the very few exceptions. While it doesn't live up to anything he did with the Beatles, it's a great showcase for Paul's knack for making catchy pop hits.
Great! Upbeat songs with good vocals and average music. Each song is its own unique. Interesting piece. I like bluebird enough to save it.
Not bad. This album gives me a quiet-house-with-windows-open-on-a-warm-summer-evening-while-a-storm-rolls-in vibe and I can't explain why.
paul was clearly the pop songwriter in the beatles 4*
Band on the run Jet
I'm renowned for believing the Beatles are a really good band. That, of course, is not good enough. They must be worshipped and nothing less than accepting everything they did was genius. I do not worship them. I also don't enjoy a lot of the solo music members of the band put out, as I think there are great individual songs but not too many albums where the individual artist's brilliance is on display. Band on the Run is a really good album, even if I do not necessarily love the two biggest hits on the album. There are various other great songs on here outside of Jet and Band on the Run. A lot of this music sounds like it could have come from a Beatles album and that's actually not a bad thing. Not to be worshipped but also not bad. My favorite songs: Band on the Run Jet Bluebird Let Me Roll It Mamunia Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five I will say that the random reprises of "Jet" on the back half of the album were a bit odd to me. They just came out of nowhere.
Nice riffs and lyrics, good musical composition. Laid back
Solid, as one would expect from a master song writer
This album rules.
3.5 but I’ll round up. Hokey at times which takes me out of it. “Let me roll it” weighted the score higher, far and away the best song on the album.
Sir Paul rarely disappoints. I’ve had Band on the Run in my vinyl collection for years, but listening now, I realize I’m very unfamiliar with the album after the first two tracks wrap. ‘Let Me Roll It’ is a stand-out to me, as are ‘Picasso’s Last Words.’ Overall, these songs feel good to be in. It’s interesting to me, because I have extreme familiarity with the Beatles and the member’s solo albums. So, coming to Band on the Run without much context is like a free extra solo album to get to know!
Much better than I thought it would be. Defs worth a relisten
There's some boring whimsy in here but overall it's fine and more accessible than the two Lennon solo albums I've gotten so far.
Fantastic, Paul McCartney the goat
I've never dived in to any post-Beatles albums but this is a good start
fantastic, classic
4 stars Paul’s best solo record, coming out after a few stumbles (although I’m a fan of Ram). This was the first solo Paul album I listened to and always really enjoyed it. I hadn’t realized how much of this album Paul had done on his own, playing drums, bass, and lead guitar. It definitely does not impact the tightness of the album. Great songs, although it sort of peters out in the end. Side 1 is pretty flawless, Side 2 is less consistent.
band on the run is crazy surprising. the other songs are sometimes too but a bit mediocre
Never listened to this album in it's entirity. Did know the well known tracks (title track, Jet, Mrs Vandebilt) clearly my loss. The whole album is pretty good, not 5 star good but close.
Decent album
I’m a sucker for a lot of Paul McCartney’s stuff and this one is probably peak among his non-Beatles output.
4 stars for the title track alone! The rest of the album isn’t bad but that opening track is a whopper!
I've never really been super into the Beatles, but I do think Paul McCartney is adorkable and Wonderful Christmastime is one of my very favorite Christmas songs, so I am hopeful that this will be good (or at least tolerable). Band on the Run: Very nice! I like the little ... laser sound? Damn I really have to learn what instruments sound like because I suck oh wow is that flute?? ooh it's cool rock!!! This is a really nice rock song although the sound confused me at first. Love it! Jet: Feels very greasers-kinda cool and i especially enjoy the vocals here Bluebird: Different than Blackbird! Appropriately, it is happier and nicer. I like the little... rattle or whatever its called like the background instruments love it very islandy Mrs. Vanderbilt: This is really interesting. Is this Paul singing? He sounds very American. This song sounds A LOT like some other song but I can't remember which one. Maybe A chinese one? Let Me Roll It: Really really cool guitar at the beginning. Nice and crunchy! I obviously thought this song was about weed but apparently not. I like the vocals on this a lot, too, and it's much more western/american than I thought it'd be. Mamunia: Sort of a turn from the last track, but I like it enough. It's sort of like ABBA or something where it's nice but not something I'd listen to. Like the little talking bit. Sweet. But too long. No Words: Just fine. Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me): I'm confused by this song and I'm even more confused that it was made/sang by a brit. I like the ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh part but I think it's a little long. Good though! Kinda funny. Campfire love Nineteen Hundred and Eighty FIve: The start bit sounds a little like Money, Money, Money by ABBA. This vocalist certainly is not McCartney because that's a very American twang. Super duper groovy I love the fitful screaming LOVE it really good Okay I don't need all the deluxe stuff but that was such a great album maybe a 4.52. Super good and better than most of the stuff I've heard from the Beatles, if that's not heathenous to say!
Oh no please don't make me like Wings.
• sonically appealing and soothing to my brain • i would listen to it while studying or chilling • it's a nice album all in all + I like the album cover
Wings are the band The Beatles could have been.
This is a fun and simply Paul letting loose with the band. Great listen!
Paul McCartney has a unique style that is evident from Beatles to Wings
Solid Paul McCartney, but the best songs I heard a thousand times on 70s radio. The changes between melodies aren't as interesting anymore. Still I get fuzzy feelings listening to it. 4/5
The title track has been a favourite for most of my life and I played the Wings greatest hits cassette to death.
Nunca había escuchado a Paul McCartney fuera de Beatles y me he llevado una sorpresa. Un muy buen disco plagado de temas pop rock con toques más artísticos. Las dos primeras canciones del álbum y la que cierra son increíbles. He disfrutado especialmente los temas más orquestales.4/5
Probably my favourite post-Beatles McCartney studio album (I do have a lot of time for Wings Over America…). Band on the Run is a very good album, made with half a band, but it’s Paul McCartney, and he is an incredible musician. The songs are, almost, all excellent - the title track, “Jet”, “Let Me Roll It”, “Picasso’s Last Words”, “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” - but it loses a star because I just don’t like “Mamunia”.
Another reason why Paul is really the best Beatle, and always has been. 8/10
Mycket behagligt.
Solid album. Love the first 2 songs and Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Yeah not bad.
Good solid album, nice to pull out every so often to listen to.
Really good album although it kinda stumbles at the end. First half is 10/10 though. Overall: 8.5/10
Paul McCartney is one of the easiest musicians to goof on, the dude is a clown. 70s era music from musicians who started in the 60s aren't really the best, and Wings is no different. This album is a bit uneven, it's obviously no Beatles, it's got some really corny songs on it and it's got some incredible songs on it. "Let Me Roll It" may be one of his best he's ever written. A lot of nostalgia for this for sure. Really enjoyed spinning it today.
Very surprised by this album. Given that solo Beatles material historically hasn't had the same staying power of the band's legendary output (John Lennon notwithstanding), I wasn't exepcting to enjoy this McCartney release so much. There are so many great and timeless songs here, with both catchy hooks (most of them) and even some with progressive song structures (the title track). Key tracks: Band on the Run Jet Bluebird Mrs. Vandebilt
I've only ever heard Band on the Run prior to this listen through. I found the entire album enjoyable and catchy. I would listen to this again.
The first few songs are the best but its a solid project throughout. Paul is the most fun Beatle and it comes through on this proj.
This is a good to decent pop rock album and an easy listen. None of this is particularly innovative except the multi part title track, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s well written, orchestrated, and performed. There are some Beatles-isms in here like the title track being a mix of different themes, “Picasso’s last words” having the organ and French samples, and all the nonsensical lyrics throughout. It’s very much McCartney’s work though because it never goes too far up its own ass like Lennon’s does. I didn’t love this or anything but it’s pretty good and a good example of how having just enough songwriting and scoring skills can make an otherwise boring idea into something fun.
Catchy and poppy.
Came out the month I was born, which means yet another addition to the increasingly long list of things that have aged better then I have.
It’s Paul McCartney, I mean cmon what else do you need to know?
A classic
Having only heard Band on a Run before, I didn’t even realize that was Wings. This album reminds of a cd my mom got me when I was a kid called “70’s Comes Alive Again” which didn’t feature any Wings songs.
84% Best: Band On The Run; Jet; Bluebird; Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five Must-Hear? Sure
I'd heard bits of this before and I'm sure it's been on in the background of my life. Classic McCartney melodies thrown into a solidly proggy affair. What it might lack in emotional punch at times, it makes up for with some stellar songwriting and plenty of variety, dipping into everything from Fripp-esque riffs to world music. The title track, 'Jet', 'Let Me Roll It', Mamunia' and '1985' were the big standouts to me, though there's no real sore thumb on there.
I really enjoyed this. Catchy all the way through.
Good songwriting and catchy. Always enjoyed the wings, but the writing was not the Beatles - musically or lyrically.
B+ Band on the Run 5 Jet 4 Bluebird 4 Mrs. Vanderbilt 5 Let Me Roll It 3 Mamunia 3 No Words 3 Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me) 3 Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five 5 Probably the best non Beatles album by a member of the group. Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five is just … so perfect.
An excellent collection of songs by Paul here. One of the best post-Beatles albums.
One of my favourite album covers: Michael Parkinson, Kenny Lynch, James Coburn, Clement Freud, Christopher Lee, and John Conteh. Celebs that were ever present when I was growing up.
3.5/5
great album!
Really enjoyed the album - always thought Paul’s solo projects were slightly better than the other ex-Beatles solo projects.
4/5 10 years on from Please Please me and just 3 years after the Beatles split, Paul McCartney has already put out 2 classic records. Ram is my favourite of the two I’m talking about but this record is truly special also. Such great songwriting and musicianship across this album but did anyone at the time really expect anything different from him? Top 3 Songs: Band on the run Let me roll it Nineteen Hundred and Eighth Five
Out of all the post-Beatles solo albums, this is the best one I’ve heard so far. It varies in styles but remains very melodic with plenty of catchy hooks. The album is also energetic and uplifting. I ended up playing it a second time right after finishing it the first time.
4.3
Enjoyed this more than I thought it would. Some good tracks, and not as twee as The Beatles (for the most part). A solid 4 and something I’d likely return to.
I'd agree with Jon Landau, it's probably the best solo output from any Beatle. It's not quite perfect, though.
First time listening to this album. I was familiar with a few of the songs already. Pretty solid album
I wish the whole thing was just the bubbling frenetic rush of the tile track. The rest of the songs are good, but that first song is fantastic. The rest of the album should be condensed into like, two or three songs. That would be fun! McCartney is at his best when he is pushing the pop envelope, and at his worst when gives too much time to his weird Charlie Chester or Anthony Newley character studies.
I own this album on vinyl, and have listened to it many times, as I bought it when it first came out in 1973. For the most part, I really like it, and think it is by far McCartney’s best post-Beatles album. I think a couple of the songs are too long and meander a bit too much (e.g., Picasso’s Last words). But overall, I think this is a four star album.
great
i really liked it! vocals + harmonies were great and instrumental was also v intentional
Narrative ark is good.
Unexpectedly good album.
Ik heb misschien wel 5 keer gedacht "Oh misschien ken ik dit nummer? " Voordat het uiteindelijk bij het refrein aankwam. En dat is alleen het eerste nummer! Knaller als opener is dit zeg, meerdere verschillende stijlen in 1 nummer proppen, ik vind dat altijd echt iets vets hebben. Jammer dat het daarna eigenlijk vrij standaard psychrock is. TOT Mrs vandebilt er opeens een random saxofoon doorheen gooit! Hallo Paul, je weet dat je dan mijn aandacht hebt he?? Ook mooi dat het maar 1 seconde is, daarna word ie meteen weggehaald, alsof de band er zelf ook een beetje van schrok ofzo. Verder is dit een beetje een gek album? Het is iets meer funky en jazzy soms zelfs dan bijvoorbeeld de albums van The Beatles die ik tot nu toe heb gehoord. Experimenteler ook? Ik trek het in elk geval best wel goed, vond het echt wel een lekker album. Ook duurde het niet zo lang, in tegenstelling tot deze review! Mand. 4 sterren. FAVO: Band on the run, Mrs vandebilt, Nineteen Hunderd eighty five
Great
Listened to this while playing Through Ice and Snow. I lost. Ok...so don't judge...but i had no idea Wings was Paul McCartney. I didn't grow up listening to music like this. I enjoyed this soooo much more than I was expecting. I have always enjoyed the songwriting of the Beatles, but it was interesting to hear exactly what McCartney's influence was to the sound. I was familiar with the opening song, but the rest was all new to me. Would absolutely revisit this in the future!
It’s Paul McCartney, feels familiar, love wings. What’s not to love
I've always been pretty lukewarm on Paul's solo stuff. I think the title track and "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" are great, but the rest is kind of just okay. 4 stars.
4.5
A bit like Red Bull, Paul McCartney gives you wings… for the first few songs at least. Title track and Jet are some serious peak poppy anthemage but the tunes do get a bit softer and floppier as the album goes on. Second side is quite underpowered comparatively and Paul knows it because he brings back the two main good songs Band On The Run and Jet in reprisey medley form to fill up the back half. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five a strong butchy Hey Bulldoggy closer to bring the album back up to 4.
Classic!
Great album! You can easily notice how McCartney is at a different level of musicianship then everyone else.
Goood
Paul
Its well put together and I enjoyed it although not sure it left a huge impression well not as much as I would have liked being McCartney. Having said that the band tight and his voice is good got lots of hooks, thrills and spills its no Beatles obviously but its solid enough
Band On The Run was by no means a completely foreign project for me to listen to. Car rides to and from anywhere as a child would so very often be greeted with the soothing sounds of WSFM, a radio station specialising in music from the 60s to the 90s, and Band On The Run was there. It’s always been there. In saying that, despite the title track being a key part of my ventures as a child, the rest of the album remained a mystery to me, which was quite the shock considering how big of a Paul McCartney fan my parents have turned out to be. The album was fantastic, and knowing about life post-Beatles for McCartney, the way it all came together was exactly what the doctor ordered. Band On The Run, Jet and Picasso’s Last Words all a standout. Drink to me! Four stars.
Good musicianship here. I imagine this was huge for Beatles fans at the time.
I like Ram better, but only by a hair.
Best wel nice
The only good solo album from Paul McCartney. It’s got some great tunes for sure.
Phenomenal first half. Comes and goes in the second.
There are some gtreat songs here. But the lYrr tracks are just filler and seem to be played that way
Ja hoor! Luistert lekker weg, classic 'oooehwaa ooh' -tjes, would listen again!
It feels like an alternate Beatles album, captures that creative energy with different choruses and switchups within song. It has hits and then the non-hits are just as fun. Between a 4 & 5 here, I am going with 4 now but could change on a revisit
Definitely my favourite so far. Similarly to the previous album (REM) I listened to it while studying so I didn’t pay as much attention as I would normally, therefore my first listening opinions probably aren’t fully accurate. I really like the vibe of the whole album and although my score might not seem to reflect it, I think that again, over time my score will increase. Definitely something I see myself revisiting. So for now, 74/100
Fantastic dad rock
Paul McCartney carries the Beatles. Band on the run and Jet are two of the best Beatles songs. The albums starts crazy strong with these two. The rest of the songs are good but don’t keep up with the first two songs (1900 85 was a great end though) .Overall great album 8/10
This album proves I haven’t given Paul’s “solo” career enough credit. Admittedly Im partial to George and John’s post-Beatles music but I thoroughly enjoyed Band on the Run. Sometimes the songwriting can be silly but other than that no complaints really
Really great album. Embarrassingly, before this album came up, I have to admit that I thought some of these were Beatles songs.
This is just good clean fun. Calm vibes, a good album to walk, bike, or just sit in a park too. Paul McCartney solo album slaps. Also, pretty cool this was recorded in Nigeria.
At its best catchy, at its worst repetitive
It feels like McCartney and Wings have to be graded on a curve because as immaculate as his melodies are, Paul writes the goofiest lyrics on planet earth. He’s a total doofus, and yet his work is immaculate. Band on the Run suffers from a lackadaisical middle third for sure, but between the title track, Jet, Helen Wheels, and the unbeatable stank of Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, the record is undeniable. It’s just real hard to take this dude seriously at all.
pretty unfair tracklist. first two songs back to back & you forget let me roll it is even there by the time it comes on. paul was just doing whatever but doing it really well
This is a great album, but I can't give it a five. I've always had trouble with Sir Paul's cheesy side, and Bluebird just totally kills the potential for perfection here. Probably a couple of other tracks too, if I'm being honest. But as I said, a great album full of unique hits and the title track is one of the best examples of Macca's true genius as a songwriter. 4.8
Mostly bops that are hard to turn off when started.
There are some absolute belters on this album, the title track, Jet and Let me Roll It. All classics! The songs that form the later half of the album don’t do it for me as much as the first half but don’t get me wrong this is a very good post Beatles record. Highly recommended!
3 or 4
Who is Paul McCartney? He stretches across so many genres without ever straying away from feeling accessible. At points it risks being corny, but sometimes the combinations hit just right
pretty good thanks mccartney
Phenomenal clinic in songwriting. Pleantiful melodies and musical interpretation. Lush with complicated instrumentation and a lot to love. Wings is seriously good music and in no way shape or form a direct competitor to The Beatles discography. Study of both in independent disciplines are neccessary.
Fun! I liked the later stuff a lot, but the earlier stuff felt old.
Listened before?: Yes! Wings is great! A milquetoast masterpiece of an album.
3.5
I quite liked this album. If I could give 3.5/5 I would. First few songs were good, lackluster middle songs, and decent closing of the album made it a solid listen to. Probably Will give it 4/5
Low 4 stars, Good songs, but not great
pretty hype.
Not quite 5/5. Not every song is a classic. But still great.
Mrs. Vandebilt was a nice surprise. Love the vibe
George Harrison wrote my favorite Beatles songs, but Sir Paul is my favorite Beatle because after the band broke up, he just kept carrying on.
Enjoyable! I liked this better than McCartney’s stuff with his previous band. Highlights are “Let Me Roll With It”, “Bluebird”, the saxophone on “Mrs. Vanderbilt”, and “1985” has a great groove and I think is the best song on this record. Strong four star record.
Wow. What a great album. I’m typically turned off of Beatles and adjacent music. But this was probably one of the best things I have heard in awhile.
When you compare John Lennon and Paul McCartneys post Beatles works, I think it’s pretty safe to say you know exactly who was the superior songwriter of the two of them. Not just songwriting, but vocally Paul McCartney is really a step above his former bandmate. I had so much fun listening to this record, it’s the closest thing we’ll ever get to another Beatles record, but in some ways it feels more than that. Not to say that it approaches the sheer magic of albums like Rubber Soul, but this truly is a great album. 4*
What do you do after you leave the most successful band the world has ever seen? In Paul McCartney’s case, you go to Nigeria and keep making banger after banger. This album is full of songs that are poppy and fun to listen to, yet each containing a little something unexpected to keep it interesting. And it is a very interesting and thoroughly enjoyable album. Better on the whole than probably all but maybe one or two Beatles albums in my opinion. Who needs those schmucks! Highlights for me are the title track, “Jet”, “Mamunia”, and “1985” (not spelling it out sorry).
Good
I really enjoyed this album. I think it’s becoming more and more clear to me that McCartney might be my personal favorite Beatle cause he has the most variety in his career. He’s got great solo albums AND he has other projects like this one that’s genuinely an all time rockband even if The Beatles didn’t exist. But that being said this album is like a rollercoaster of opinions to me. For example I think album starts off REALLY strong. The first 5 songs were all really great until the 6th song “mamunia”. I HATED this song, and the other songs felt lost in the shadow of that monstrosity. But I can say the album had one more bright spot before it ended, “Helen Wheels” is a great song and probably should’ve been the last song of the album cause I don’t care for “Country Dreamer” either. Honestly the stuff on this album that doesn’t work ends up being nearly horrible, while the stuff that does work could easily be in a “best of classic rock” playlist without controversy. Definitely worth your time.
some bangers, some didn't vibe with as much. mostly great tho. mamunia probably weakest.
Je comprends pourquoi Jean ne parle que des beatles
Fantastic!
I enjoyed every song on this album. Jet might be my favorite Paul McCartney song. I would definitely listen to this again.
Listened riding to peter's and back, really fun varied tunes.
This is a great post-Beatles album. I was hoping to be able to criticise this album, because I'm not a fan of Paul McCartney. I find his personality grating and his false sincerity nauseating. I also observed a control freak and a bully in the Peter Jackson documentary The Beatles - Get Back. Unfortunately, it's an awesome album!
I enjoyed this one. Most of these stars are for Band on the run - such a great track, the rest wasn't quite as good but that's because comparatively the track Band on the run has high nostalgia vibes! If I was ever going to listen to a post Beatles solo album this would be it.
I didnt know he played all instruments. To be honest, I didnt know this album existed at all.
First great album after Beatles!
A classic.
I think this Paul McCartney fellow has a real future in music.
The best Wings album at least in terms of studio albums.
Paul is the one that really flourished after the band split. His albums seemed the most cohesive.
4.5 stars. Nothing crazy, just easy listening soft rock. Eagles-esque. Hits are great (title track, “Jet”) but so is “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”.
Love
SOLID
Good but not my favorite classic rock.
Kinda unfortch that the biggest hits are all uptop, liked the poppy sounding tracks like Jet, fun little blends at the end, overall pretty good but it’s not gonna like a staple of mine or anything
Few of the songs are five star. Whole album gets four
4.5/5
bit long maybe, but great
the Grooviest
dude 1st naruto opening has the same WhoooOOOOoooOOoooOOOoo as 'Jet', i love catching these things lol great album!
What a great album. Band on the Run and Jet are great songs. I'm a sucker for songs changing into other songs. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five is also a great way to end an album. Would be a 5 if the rest of the album was as good as those songs. I got this sucker on vinyl! (24 known/45 new)
Very nice. Starts out great and slows down though. A lot of harmonies. An extra star because its not 80s new wave goth.
Paul coming for his own nachos all over this album. Certainly the superior Beatle solo work, though.
4/5
Yes I like, it starts off pretty hard
Classic Paul. Not his best but contains classics
This is a great album.
It's so interesting how each of the individual Beatles have such a distinct sound that come together (haha) and mesh with each other to make something truly mind-blowing. This album, sounds so specifically Paul. It's a little poppy and straight-laced, but it does completely showcase his undeniable talent as a songwriter. Even though this album lacks the magic that the Beatles have together, that is no reason not to recognize Band On The Run's merit. Stop being a hater and sing along to Jet in your kitchen.
As a song writer, McCartney is probably my favorite of the Beatles. I like a good bit of his solo work, but if you’re remotely familiar with the roles each member played in the Beatles, listening to McCartneys work post-Beatles can sometimes feel like something’s missing. That said this album isn’t without its moments and well worth a listen. It sits somewhere between full pop McCartney and his more out there work, a good happy medium.
really nice, always trust paul mccartney with cool melodies
If you're going to be a former Beatle trying to make it in a post-Beatle world, it's a hell of an effort. Really great album.
Excellent. A couple of meh moments but overall very good.
nice happy listening
Not as great as the Beatles but still a good, fun, talented band.
8/10. Classic album.
This guy knows how to write some catchy music.
It was good. I’d heard it before.
Wings is the best thing the Beatles ever did
Commandeering this review to ask how is Ram not on this list? In my opinion his best solo work, and even if you don't agree at least his most influential.
I can't believe that I didn't know this album. Very pleasant. My highlights are 'Mrs. Vandebilt' and 'Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five".
Really liked this one. Great tracks, all of which felt very cohesive sonically and sometimes lyrically. Overall a pretty fun gentle rock album that feels like a Beatles record.
Post-Beatles albums by the members of The Beatles are so interesting. Paul McCartney always reminded me a bit of Paul Simon in how his solo work showcased that he was probably the member who had the best chance at commercial success and understood making creative music that was accessible more than their counterparts. Band On the Run is a great song and the cover for the album is weirdly solid. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five has a weirdly captivating sound.
I don't think Paul is the best lyricist, but like a high jumper that just makes it over the bar every time. Sometimes that's kind of satisfying. He can craft a pop song. Band on the run has a fun bounce to it. Jet has that cool bass drone, that makes me want a heavier song. Something about Bluebird sounds ahead of it's time, but a little too busy. Mrs.Vandebilt, tho a fun rhythm, it is lacking, could have been chopped. Let Me Roll It, again I dig it musically, but I find it lyrically un interesting. Mamunia has a Paul Simon Vibe. No Words is a bit of a mess. Beach Boys meet Bee Gees. Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me), I like the lyrics on this one, I'm confused by the instrumentation. I'm going to assume they were going for an abstract sculpture of audio. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five has a little more of a driving energy and caught my attention. There is some good stuff across the board, I enjoyed it, but it all stops a little short from sounding fully fleshed out.
Is it a hot take to think the Beatles broke up at exactly the right time? Listening to Paul and John’s post Beatles work again makes it pretty clear that they wanted to make pretty different music from one another and both feel like extensions of their respective songs in Abbey Road and the White Album. There’s nothing particularly novel about this album but it’s a very enjoyable listen, I love a McCartney medley.
4.2 Very very solid. I never listened to the the whole album before. I have to give PM and Wings more credit,
One of the best post-Beatles albums
I’m genuinely shocked it took me this long to get to one of the most popular projects by a Beatles member Post-Beatles. Nonetheless, this album is great. Tracks like Band on The Run are absolute classics, and some of the other tracks like “Jet” and “No Words” were genuinely amazing. There are some moments where it doesn’t really know what it wants to be stylistically, but other than that, this is a very air tight classic, that definitely stands as one of the best Beatles Solo Member projects. Strong 8.
My older brother had this album so my 4 is very influenced by the fact that I have such great memories of listening to it as an 8 year old. Nostalgic
Nice rock vibes, 8.5/10
i do have a pavlovian response to the sound of paul mccartney's voice that makes it hard to respond in any way other than adoration to this album. some songs are better than others tho even i can tell that
As the years have gone on I've enjoyed Wings more and more.
First two songs were in my opinion the best two on the album Band on the run & Jet…love to jam to those when I hear them
Wonderful album, 3 certified hits (first 3) and pleasantly listenable songs. Creative genius at work. 4/5
good
06/02/25 Obviously some of the big hits on this album that I recognise, don't know any of the rest. Don't know if I'd listen to the album again though.
a serious classic, although some of the later songs are less memorable
I really liked it, but I wish there was a 3.5 stars option. Feels like the music that McCartney always wanted to make.
I liked some of the songs but overall it lacked something for me
OVERALL: I think I understand why people went insane for the Beatles. Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five is probably one of the best songs ever made, and Paul knows exactly how to make catchy songs. The only real problem I might have is that there are not much lyrics, and some of the lyrics aren't anything notable. Despite that, Jet, Bluebird, Picasso's Last Words, and Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five are incredible and are pretty high moments for me. Even some of the "weak" songs on here aren't bad at all, just aren't anything special. Pretty nice after a week break from albums. SONG AVG: 8.25 PERSONAL RATING: 8/10 Band On The Run: I think this is really good? I had to relisten to this because I could not remember any of it. Pretty solid instruments, and it's overall very theatrical. The vocals and lyrics are above average. This is separated into three sections, and they fit together pretty well. Very catchy. 7.75/10 Jet: I love the intro, and the instrumental is fantastic. Lyrically, basically nothing is happening. There are like 2 verses that are each 10ish seconds long. It still sounds good, and the vocals are great and compliment the instrumental very well. 9/10 Bluebird: Just a nice, catchy tune with a fantastic saxophone solo. Nice instrumental, I like the percussion and the laid-back feel of it. Awesome saxophone. Very good vocals, and the lyrics are catchy but very average. 9/10 Mrs. Vandebilt: Misspelled lmao. Great use of sax, and the instrumental is really good. The chorus is (obviously) lyrically dogshit, but it's very catchy and kinda fun. The vocals are above average, except for the goofy ass laughing at the end, which takes away a few points. Very catchy. 7.5/10 Let Me Roll It: The start reminds me of a Plastic Beach song but I forgot which one. Pretty slow, and the guitar sounds a bit awkward. Outside of the guitar and the drums, pretty much nothing is happening in the instrumental. The vocals are pretty good I guess. 6/10 Mamunia: What is does mamunia even mean. Very peaceful, and the vocals are very good. The ending is easily the best part, but outside of that it's pretty good. Nice lyrics, and the singing is very good. The instrumental is average I guess. 7.75/10 No Words: Incredible instrumental, but it's way too short. The vocals are pretty similar to the rest of this album, and the lyrics aren't anything special. The instrumental is just great overall, and my only complaint is the fade out outro. 8/10 Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me): I think this is just Band On The Run but better. The instrumental is maybe perfect, and the Jet callback is pretty good. The Mrs. Vandebilt chorus at the end sucks though, and definitely brings it down. Very good vocals, and the lyrics are above average. 8.25/10 Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five: Amazing. I love it when pianos are used well, and it is used greatly here. Everything is is also great, and the guitar is absolutely perfect. Perfect outro, and the synths at the end make it feel very futuristic despite being about 1985. The Band On The Run at the end works really well here, and ties up the album perfectly (it's still a fade out outro). I think the only thing that might be bad is the fact that there aren't many lyrics, but it just makes the instrumental stand out more and sound better. Paul's voice is also a little weird, but it works well. 11/10
Banger
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Hooks on hooks on hooks! It's on the shortlist of "great post-Beatles solo albums."
Classic
Good album that suffered from vast overplay when I was growing up.
I bought this album when it first came out but I don't think I've listened to it straight through for 50 years. Its not bad. Pretty heavy on the McCartney pop, but not bad.
A fun listen.
I like but don't love this album. The title track, Jet and Let Me Roll It are all great. The rest ranges from good to very good. I think Wings Over America, the live album, is the one that belongs on this list. Would give it 3.5, but since it’s Paul I’ll round up.
The best Beatles songwriter proves he can stand on his own.
Innegable su calidad
No standouts for me personally on first listen but I enjoyed this front to back. Was only vaguely familiar with "band on the run" going into the album. Will revisit for sure.
Beatles-esque and McCartney sounds pretty gooooood
A very competent album filled to the brim with all your favorite karaoke hits!
Essential Wings album. Haven't listened to too much of them, so I enjoyed hearing this album in its entirety. Noticed a line that Dave Matthews must have lifted for "Dancing Nancies" in the song "Mrs. Vandebilt": 'what's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying." Highlights: Band on the Run Jet Bluebird Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five 4.5⭐️
Some iconic songs on this album!
My first album. It was an album that held all the emotions, and I was happy to listen to it.
surprisingly enjoyed this all the way thru! mrs vandebilt hit. mamunia hit too close to home, too timely. between band on the run and nineteen hundred and eighty five - does anyone know how to make a larger than life song anymore.. ???
Good album, I enjoyed it all (apart from Mamunia which got a bit repetitive). I particularly liked the callbacks to earlier songs in later ones (Jet & Mrs Vandebilt in Picasso's Last Words, Band on the Run in Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five). Favourite tracks: Band on the Run, Mrs Vandebilt, Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me) & Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.
Day374 - what a career paul mccartney has had,these songs still get played and still resonate with younger generations
This is a really good album. There are several really strong tracks, like the title song, Jet, and Let Me Roll It. The album is also cohesive as well and I like how the final track reprises some of the earlier songs. I enjoyed this and would definitely listen again.
What a fun band!!! I love Wings, clever Paul with such fun and interesting lyrics, fantastic music. Absolutely love Band on the Run and Jet so much that I don't care if there are a couple of mediocre tracks on here I'm throwing this one a 4
I enjoyed this one much more than I expected. The arrangement on Band On The Run is ridiculously well done. But I was seduced mostly by Mrs. Vandebilt. It's a fun album with a lot of curvy twists and turns. It works.
The title track is in the running for best song of all time. The rest of the album has quite a few hidden gems. I’m not sure I’ll revisit this, but I hope I do.
McCartney is without a doubt the most influential songwriter of the past 100 years. Short of Brian Wilson, no one could craft a melody as emotionally evoking as Paul. Does Band on the Run measure up to any of his later Beatles work? No, but it’s still damn good. 4/5
Macca has always been my least favourite Beatle and I have always found his lyrics borderline twee and naff (and do have a similar view on his personality). So I approached this with a fairly negative mindset - so was genuinely surprised to discover that I rather enjoyed it - very catchy tunes - esp Mrs Vandebilt. Still a bit on the light and fluffy side with no moments that truly moved me - but very listenable and enjoyable.
Great album
Band On The Run // Jet // Mrs Vandebilt // Let Me Roll It // Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five // 4.5/5
I might give this 5 stars if it just went a bit farther and stuck with me more. Of course, the title track is a famous single, and I can sing that easily. However, while I do like the rest of the album, and it goes to weirder (in a good way) places than I would initially imagine, it still doesn't hit a significant enough level for me to be completely wow'ed or want to put this in my regular rotation. That being said, I do want to listen to all of McCartney's solo work, at some point, because I have listened to a few of his solo albums, and I was very surprised at how experimental he got and how much he pushed things in a similar way to someone like David Bowie (though Bowie is still my strong preference).
It's like the Beatles wrote a novelty yacht rock album.
I loved it. Maybe it’s because right now Paul is my favorite Beatle (which doesn’t mean too much since that title tends to change between all four members, depending on when you talk to me), but this was a fun listen. It’s a weird thing with a lot of fans: somehow certain artists’ most commercial release is viewed by them as “lesser than” just because it’s popular. Sure, it can be mind-numbing to hear the same two or three songs from an album… but that’s just a reason to move beyond listening to singles; put the whole album on! You’re rewarded here if you put in the effort. Anyway, this is a great album, despite being Paul’s most commercial one as a solo artist. I liked all the songs except for two: “No Words” and “Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)”. Because I like so much of the album I was debating giving it 5 stars…but I think it’s more of a 4-star album to me. Maybe it’s because Paul through all of his work has set the bar so high, I’m grading on a bell curve.
8.36
Classic, well worth the listen
McCartney always has been able to write good and catchy melodies. So the title-track plus "Mrs. Vandebilt", "Let Me Roll It" and "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five" do their job in this case. But the rest of the album doesn´t convince me completely. Weak four stars for this. 3,5
3.5
I had a boyfriend who worshiped the cute one (I'm sure he still does). Me, I liked the bad boy; and just like the band, we didn't last either. This is a Paul McCartney and Wings album. Of course it's going to be good. There are a couple of meh songs, but most are solid and I forgot how much I liked Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.
Don't tell my mom
Even though many songs on this album are classics I don’t think I had ever listened to the album front to back! The last track was a surprise banger
I never really connected with a full McCartney album post Beatles. Always a few tracks here, a few tracks there. However, the tight tracklist of Band On The Run certainly gives it the best chance of being a standout in a post-Beatles catalog. From start to finish, Band On The Run is nothing if not great. Every track is a well written piece of pop rock from one of the greatest songwriters to ever do it. This record is 10 years older than I am and I still remember hearing the big singles on the radio when I was a kid (this is before there were dedicated stations to "classic rock"). While the production doesn't quite stand up to modern standards, the songs certainly do!
Strong start then tailed off for me. Maybe need more listens
Good
Paul McCartney is a legend
On comprend pourquoi c'est l'album de Paul qui est le plus célébré. Beaucoup de gros classiques, très belle production et instrumentation. Quelques moments un peu moins intéressant mais globalement clairement le meilleur album d'un membre des Beatles (ou même du band même) après le George Harrison. 8/10
Oh Wings. Not quite as good as the Beatles, but you have your bright spots.
This surprised me. Starts off strong off the first track. Every time I thought the album was losing steam, the next track brought me back.
Nice and easy listening. There is a certain sound to it that one can recognize as Paul and the Wings. There is no miss on this one. Very decent album.
Not as good as Black Sabbath, but still good.
Don't think I'd ever listened to the whole album from start to finish. Good stuff.
Heard the album many times. A lot of great songs with a wide variety of styles. In addition to Jet and the title track, I think Nineteen Hundred Eighty-Five deserves to be considered one of the great post-Beatles McCartney songs. Let Me Roll It and Picasso's Last Words are also solid.
I’ve listened to the album several times today and enjoyed it immensely. A well crafted pop record containing some superb songs.
Will definitely listen to again.
Band on the Run/Jet is such an outstanding start.....the rest was above average.
How can I listen to this, there's no Yoko Ono
4-
This is just a nice album. It was fun to listen to, but not a masterpiece, so it’s a 4.
Goed album tbh. Kende vooral de title track en een paar andere nummers, maar het meeste nog niet. Bluebird en Mamunia vond ik niet boeiend, beetje zoals die luchtige Beatles nummers die gewoon aan je voorbij gaan ofzo lol. Mrs Vandebilt vind ik chill, de baslijnen zijn leuk, catchy ritme en refrein, ook de halftime groove tijdens de gitaarsolo is 🔥 Let Me Roll It is ook nice, wel ietsje repetitive, vooral met dezelfde gitaarlick 50 keer helaas, maar de echo/delay vocals en harmonie geven het een goeie vibe. Title track is heel ambitieus met 3 pretty much losse secties in slechts 5 min, maar zit best goed in elkaar vind ik. De synths tussendoor zijn ook een nice touch. Overall vond ik ondanks een paar stinkers de rest prima tot gewoon goed, dus ja 4 sterren
4 - I'd say the b-side isn't very strong besides the closer, but a lot of the songs on here are pretty good. It's not the strongest 4 in the world, but the songs that I did end up liking help carry that score.
paul 4 lyf
Let me roll it
Me ha encantado oírlo. Con la primera canción pensaba que iba a ser el rollo de canciones fragmentadas en partes cambiantes pero me ha alegrado saber que no era el caso. Me parecen canciones a las que no les ha pasado el tiempo por encima y que suenan igual de frescas que hace años. Me hubiera encantado vivir la época en donde entrar a un bar y que sonase Let Me Roll It por los altavoces fuese lo habitual.
Band on the run is one of the greatest songs oat
Liked it
Eerlijk gezegd zat ik al een tijdje te wachten op een soloplaat van McCartney. De laatste tijd weet ik dat solowerk namelijk steeds meer te vinden en kan het me ook steeds meer bekoren. Tuurlijk, het is een soort Beatles-light. Zonder de rauwheid van Lennon zijn veel McCartney-liedjes geen echte Beatles-nummers. Maar godsamme wat komt er toch een muzikaliteit uit Paul McCartney en zijn Wings. Band in the Run heeft hij zowat helemaal zelf ingespeeld en gezongen. Er is zoveel uit dat brein ontsprongen. Band on the Run was niet het eerste solowerk na the Beatles maar vind ik bij vlagen wel van een vergelijkbare kwaliteit. Het is de muzikaliteit en de geniale simpelheid die het vaak zo sterk maken. Het middenstuk van de plaat laat hier en daar wat steekjes vallen. Nummertjes als Bluebird en Mamunia zijn net iets te weinig. Maar start en finish vind ik echt ijzersterk. Het nummer Band on the Run zit de komende twee dagen nog wel in mn hoofd waarschijnlijk (zoals heel vaak overigens), afsluiter 1985 is geen Beatlesque nummer en de vervreemding van zijn stem is tergend en tof tegelijkertijd. Het nummer, en daarmee de plaat, eindigen groots en meeslepend. Zo, einde van een stukje loftrompet over PM en zijn solocarrière. Ik word steeds meer fan. 8,5/10 Highlights Band on the Run Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Band On The Run and Let Me Roll It are fantastic songs. The other songs are ok
Never interested in Wings before but this album was great. Love the clarinet. Love how the songs change mid song. Drags a little in the middle of the album but bookended by some really great songs. Not a five because not really any famous stand out songs
Ganska bra. Många bra låtar. Psykadeliskt bitvis. Kan tänka mig att lyssna en gång till.
I love the Beatles, but never really spent a lot of time in the members’ solo projects. There are clear extensions from one to another here. Enjoyed hearing beyond some of the only Wings songs I know.
Great but not the beatles
Paul bringing his A-game along with the rest of the group. Lots of inventive ideas flowing here. Solid listen.
classic
The Good: McCartney was drinking Red Bull before it even existed, and that is how he got his wings… The Bad: Too much Red Bull is not good for you… The Ugly: I don’t see the band running in the picture, which means we’ve been lied to!!! You’ve got to hand it to Sir Paul, he sure knew how to write catchy tunes, ensuring more attention, adoration, or hatred, for his music. Me, listening to this album, I was brought back to a part of my childhood, where things were all simple and wonderful, as the world was starting to present itself to me, via adventures, bumps and scraps, and glasses of lemonade. Though for my taste the record only deserves 3*, I’ve got to add the additional one to show respect to the genius that Sir Paul is… that, and I’ve had to listen to 5 crap records in a row, so that might have clouded my judgement….