Reviews (page 6 of 15)
Just proves McCartney is boring solo. Maybe it’ll require a relisten but nothing caught my attention. 2 stars? Maybe?
norm, bluebird oli väga hea laul, isiklikult see stand-out siit
A bit insipid. I just can’t get the image of Alan partridge singing jet out of my mind
good album, enjoyable listen 8/10 favourite songs: band on the run, mamunia, 1985 least favourite: bluebird
I just ... What is to be said really, This is one of music royalty owning it. So sure, I could say it isn't super my thing or that it is kind of too pop rock or ... but as far as it goes, this is actually fantastic.
Definitely the best McCartney solo album. Opening tracks are just fantastic. Love how some of the themes return at the end.
I’ve listened to a song or two off of this before and I liked it, but I haven’t heard the whole thing. I’m a huge Beatles fan, and Paul McCartney is my favorite Beatle, so I assume I’ll like it. That said, I’m gonna try to separate the two, as it feels unfair to just think of this as just “kind of a Beatles’ album.” The first song starts off with a sort of easy-listening sound, instantly bringing the listener into a sense of comfort—and then, as the lyrics start, a description of claustrophobia as the music builds. I love how, as the song transitions into Jet, it keeps the melody of Band on the Run into the instrumentals. It’s really creative and makes it feel really cohesive. Bluebird is silly. Quite whimsical. I can’t quite take it seriously. It’s still a very enjoyable listen, though, and would make a great kid’s song. Mrs. Vanderbilt is amazing. It’s the perfect blend of dramatic, somber, catchy, and drunk-feeling. The opening instrumentals are amazing and the melody and storytelling throughout are fantastic. The guitar/sax solos and little drum fills make for plenty of space for the song to both build and decompress. Mumunia, No Words, and Picasso’s Last Words slow the album down a bit, the most interesting of the three being the latter. The other two are well-done but nothing special. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five is an amazing closer and the best song on the album. It’s the one I was most familiar with as well. The opening instrumentals and vocals are particularly amazing. It’s somehow both somber and something you can dance to, and it builds on itself really well. The callback to Band on the Run ties it together incredibly well, too—it makes you want to restart the album. The blend of jazz, pop, and arena rock in this album is very well-done. It all feels very natural and cohesive. There’s never a moment where a genre shift feels sudden or forced. Even though this album wasn’t made in great circumstances, it still doesn’t take itself too seriously—it’s both dramatic and lighthearted. It’s a good mix. Recap: Favorite songs: 1985, Band on the Run, Picasso’s Last Words Least favorite songs: N/A Comparisons: N/A Rating: 4/5
Thought it was pretty bad.
It’s good, but it’s difficult to not compare it with the best of The Beatles.
Awesome
Really enjoyable! I’ve never listened to this for whatever reason! Great album full of cracking tunes, will come back to this one for sure!
I liked bluebird
Obviously big fan of Beatles, but also Wings and him solo and with Linda. The post-Beatles stuff is plentiful and pleasant and this is no exception. Jet and Band on the Run are both classic and dated in that a lot of McCartney's stuff in the early 70's is of similar quality - that is, kind of fluffy and loose, frivolous even, but also inspired at the same time. Saw one of the top reviews that addressed the critical disdain Paul's solo work had (has) over Lennon's. Lennon definitely was up his own ass most of the time, but McCartney was always more fun and accessible while also being adventurous and experimental. This record is a good example of that.
I haven't listened to Paul McCartney solo in a while! This really takes me back (even if it hasn't been that long, but I'm young), as McCartney was my first ever concert as a kid. I remember I took my binoculars to the show, as I was seated in the nosebleeds. Great show, and a few of the songs on this album were in the setlist, which were Band On The Run, Let Me Roll It, Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five. We recorded the latter and I've watched so many times over the years, which might be half the reason that it was the song I found most enjoyable while listening to the album this time. I do think it's the best song on the album regardless of the memories. The title track is not far behind. Not a perfect album, but there are some amazing songs in here.
3.5. No skips, good repeatability level. Paul certainly has a unique gift for melodies and hooks.
absolute classic and one of the best albums of his imho. my first love <3
Granny music
Thought this one was a lot fun. Nothing in it really stood out to me, but there wasn’t anything I didn’t like either. Some nice upbeat, enjoyable music. Fav song: Band On The Run Least fav: Bluebird
Starts off really strong with band on the run and jet but falls a bit in the middle before bringing it back. I respect Paul McCartney for basically carrying the whole band on his back. Working serious overtime. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song - Band on the run Least fav- Picassos last words
I'm in theory back! May end up posting more of a daily update than a proper album review tho... Band on the run had good vibes; 4.3/5
Lovely album. Quite easy listening vibes which isn't always bad but parts of the album just felt a bit too simple. Fun but not incredible. Favourite song: Mamunia Least: Bluebird
Classic
OK
Sir Paul is an absolute legend. Fantastic record.
A solid banger. Preference to the upbeat songs
Καλό album, ζωντανή μουσική, ευχάριστο. Απρόσμενα ανώδυνο.
A great album that I come back to time and time again. Macca knows how to write a good song.
Let me roll very good
Growing up is realising Paul McCartney was the ace of the Beatles. He doesn't have the raw charisma of John and he isn't as likeable as George, but he is just a powerhouse writer and performer. This is only a small notch below the best Beatles albums, but it's phenomenally written and produced.
Band on the run - soft start, changes Mrs Vanderbilt - ho hey ho Mamunia - fun No Words - beatles Nine hundred and eighty five - more funky/groovy Overall, didn't know Paul&Wings before this 7.5/10
I'd never really listened to Wings, except the single. I also didn't ever listen closely enough to "Band on the Run" single to realize it was actually like 3 separate songs that are one song, all good. There are other good tracks here as well. Mr. Vanderbilt was a stand out for me, and there were a few more. I liked Muminia as well. Picasso's Last Words is a little odd. The last track is a good closer. 3/5
Band on the Run is the album where everything finally clicks for McCartney after the Beatles, the moment he proves that Wings are not just a side project but a fully formed band. It feels adventurous, confident, and endlessly inventive, moving through styles and moods with an ease that only someone with McCartney’s melodic instincts could pull off. There is a sense of freedom running through the record, like he is shaking off expectations and just enjoying the act of making music again. The songwriting is ridiculously strong. The title track alone feels like several great songs stitched together seamlessly, while “Jet” bursts out with pure energy and “Bluebird” floats along with effortless charm. Even the quieter moments, like “Let Me Roll It” and “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five,” have a sense of purpose and personality. There is not much filler here, just song after song that sticks in your head and refuses to leave. What really makes Band on the Run special is how alive it feels. It is polished but never stiff, ambitious without being showy, and packed with melodies that feel timeless rather than nostalgic. Decades on, it still sounds fresh, playful, and confident. It is not just one of the best post-Beatles albums, it is one of McCartney’s very best full stop.
Paul McCartney is a great songwriter. Favorite track: mamunia for the round at the end
Correcto
I saw this was my album of the day and cheered. If you're reading these bottom to top you'll see this is my first Beatles or Beatles adjacent project and you will get to learn that I love the Beatles. So, Band on the Run was the third album by Wings, Paul McCartneys band following the split of the Beatles and (without checking) his 5th release since the break up, and I know that because I know this album was important. McCartney 1 was (rightly) seen as a bit rushed and under-developed and RAM was (not rightly) unappreciated at the time despite later being seen as massively influential and the first two Wings albums are not particularly incredible, even if I like Red Rose Speedway. This album was make or break for McCartney, but McCartney is a workhorse and so he released this album that, all things considered, should have failed. Just the main three members of Paul and Linda with Denny of "The Moody Blues" recorded this in the Bahamas if I remember correctly and that meant that not only did Paul suffer heat stroke but the first set of recordings were stolen right out the studio... and despite all these set backs and trials this album is fantastic. Starting with the opening track of the same name, until the middle you are presented with absolute masterstrokes that not just re-establish but reaffirm that Paul can and WILL write fantastic hits, Beatle or not. From the scraping guitar on Jet to the harmonised vocals of Blue Bird to the absolute bassline on Mrs. Vandebilt to the excellent performances on Let Me Roll It, the first half of this album is absolutely perfect. That isn't to say the second half is bad, I'm hesitant to even call it worse but it's a lot more melancholy and gentle, when I was younger I'd have been a lot more concrete on that line but no the second half is definitely still good just less intense and energetic, until it ends on Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five which falls right back in with a mix of build up and phenomenal performance and gentle harmonising over just a piano. A perfect end off to what is an album that I have no issues or drawbacks in. A pretty perfect 41 minute experience top to bottom. Best songs: Band on the Run, Let Me Roll It Worst song: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 1/22 (above Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite)
Pretty enjoyable.
- I don’t fuck with Zionists. - The vocals feel weirdly centred but back, and I don’t find Paul’s singing voice or the harmonies very interesting on this album. It all feels so “old-timey”, like the aggravating repeated Ho hey ho on Mrs. Vandebilt… - The bass was the best part, by far (they definitely felt more forward than the vocals in the mix). Also, some good guitar riffs, but I don’t love the guitar tone. - I only like the first song on the album. The rest of the album just has too much cheesy filler. Every song has something irritating about it, e.g., Mamunia oooooo. - This album just feels thin and trite, especially the vocals. There isn’t enough power to it — it’s too sweet. And I like sweet, e.g., Belle and Sebastian, but I want some spice or tongue in cheek with it. - Let me Roll it is getting on my nerves - yeah, we get that you like that guitar lick… all the tracks feel overbearingly repetitive like this (lyrics and instrumentals).
Of course, the two hits are masterpieces, and the rest of the tracks are of variable interest to me. It's a four-star album for me.
Inoffensive pop music but interesting.
This is one of my favorite albums of all time, damn near perfect
Solid album. Starts super strong then tails off a bit.
Bland on the Run...
Would buy
Hadn’t really listened to anything besides the hits before - really love the whole album - my kind of music !!!!!
The Beatles were magic together. The Beatles were mediocre separately.
Album was better than I was expecting it to be. I'm not generally big on the post-Beatles solo projects of any Beatles members, but I found swaths of this album to be fun, jazzy, and strangely catchy. The lyrics weren't always on par with the sound, but I couldn't resist the grungy production of Let Me Roll It or the energy of Jet. I do think the album drops off a bit after Mamunia though.
No private session used for Spotify. A couple of classics on this album, but a couple of stinkers that balances things out nicely...I guess.
This was a fairly good listen. Enjoyed it. Singles are all great. Liked the interpolations of Jet etc. in Picasso. Worth a listen.
I do love Sir Paul. Somehow, I've never listened to a Wings album, but I did know tons of these songs. A later, chiller banger I didn't expect was Mamunia. Sounds like Paul Simon was definitely listening to a lot of Wings pre-Graceland to me!
Sick album
Good easy listening album
Very nice
Great first effort as a band member/leader after the Beatles.
Liked way more than I thought I would. Pretty cool album with some nice lyrics - just not sure whether I would be excited to put this on again.
Not my fave, but not awful either. I kinda wanted to turn it off and listen to ELO though. I am willing to say this here, and I know someone will seethe to read it, but Jeff Lynne is greater than anything the Beatles, Paul McCartney, or Wings ever wrote. Hell, Jeff Lynne wouldn’t even agree with that statement. But listening to Wings just makes me sad that I’m not listening to ELO. But, Wings is fine. It doesn’t inspire me or make me want to hear repeat listens, but it’s non offensive and I’m glad someone out there likes it. 3/5
Pas un fan des Beatles. Bonnes compositions.
I liked it, not a big fan.
Really more of a 3.5 for me. If I never hear Jet again in my life it will be too soon. The first 2 tracks are just exhausted for me but the rest of the album is solid.
Adorbs, but not generally totally to my taste.
One word I can use to summarize Band On The Run is catchy. Comparing the Beatles solo careers is interesting because McCartney's is definitely the most pop-like. Lennon leaned more towards the experimental side of rock and roll, and Harrison was more spiritual with Eastern influences. (Mr. Starr doesn't have the same career as the others.) But McCartney just enjoys creating catchy rock/pop music. And to be fair, his music is very good! This is an extremely well-crafted, thoughtful album. The title song returns in the last few notes of "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five," and "Jet" and "Mrs. Vandebilt" are in the middle of "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)". (I suspect I missed some others, so I can't wait to discover them in re-listens.) I love when artists do this, and how Paul McCartney and Wings do it is nothing short of masterful. Only one song, "Bluebird," didn't interest me, but the other factors of this album are enough to give this a 5.
Another highly rated example of a Beatles solo album, probably trailing only "All Things Must Pass" for me personally as an example of such. While I'm here comparing the two albums, I will say that they're special for two different reasons: "All Things Must Pass" feels special because its a unique take in a unique direction for a Beatle, whereas "Band on the Run" sounds highly inspired by what The Beatles might have sounded like next, had they persisted beyond 1970's "Let It Be". Two different accomplishments for two very strong albums. Honing in on Paul McCartney specifically, this album is his finest solo Beatle work. So much of the music here has a distinct sound that, in my opinion, defies the release year of 1973; I definitely would have made a guess to put it much later in the decade, closer to 1980. That's probably due in part to the prominent, unique synthesizer use, something that was still not a common practice at this point, musically. But on the other hand, edgy gritty guitar riff moments all throughout pull it squarely back into the heart of the 1970s. Linda McCartney was no slouch either; I always find pleasure in listening for her excellent organ/keyboard work, as well as her harmonies. I've always enjoyed how the song "Band on the Run" is in and of itself a medley of three different, distinct musical ideas. Each part is independently epic and highly recognizable in its own right. I also enjoy how the album references itself in the end: "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" reaches its symphony-like conclusion, musically descends back into "Band on the Run" for a couple of seconds, and then fades out. Chef's kiss. All in all, a fantastic album. I have zero complaints.
Great album
I've already listened to his album (38). That Beatles magic is still there in spades.
This loses a lot of the charm of the beatles and i cant work out exactly why. Maybe its the move into a more 80's sound, maybe its the fairly bland pop, maybe McCartney needs others to temper his commercialism.
Da denne dukket opp på forsiden av 1001 var jeg midt i Glammorama som plutselig skrev Wings og denne skiva spesifikt inn i handlingen; Jet var til-og-med et slags plot device. Jeg hadde ikke veldig høye forventninger. Band on the Run har jeg hørt før, og det eneste som sitter igjen av låta er det idiotiske refrenget. Det er gode elementer i låta, men det er tydlig at den kreative sjelen bak dette er typen som på død og liv skulle spille inn Maxwell's Silver Hammer. A-siden var overraskende grei. Jeg var ganske sikker på at denne fortjente en solid treer, men den gikk såpass på tryne på B-siden at det føltes urettferdig mot Peter Gabriel å gi denne en bedre score enn So. Den vinner seg litt tilbake med 1985, skivas beste spor, men det er ikke nok, ass. Et par gode spor lager ikke en god skive med mindre låtene er 15-20 minutter lange.
Musikalsk er dette albumet helt prima, men McCartney klarer alltid å fjolle til tekstene litt. "Jet" er vel oppkalt bikkja hans og bonussporet "Helen Wheels" handler om bilen hans. Men "Jet" er jo en helt konge glamrocklåt likevel. Og riffet til "Let Me Roll It" er jeg overrasket over å ikke ha hørt samplet mer og generelt på barer og fjernsyn. De fem første låtene er catchy og velproduserte. Det låter altså så fett. Før pleide jeg å bli i tvil da "Mamunia" kom på, og jeg forbandt den litt med "Wild Honey Pie", men det er egentlig en fin, minimalistisk låt. "No Words" høres mer ut som en George Harrison-låt faktisk, og det er ikke meg i mot. "Drink to Me" burde spilles på alle barer idet de stenger. Det er også en perfekt avslutning på plata, bare at det ikke er det. Og det gjør ikke noe når vi får "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five" servert som dessert. Det er helt utrolig at alle fire beatles klarte å lage så gode album etter å ha levert som perler på en snor i så mange år.
Dette albumet viser at Paul Maccartney fortsatt hadde noen mesterverk i lomma etter Beatles. Låtene og alt er selvfølgelig helt prima, men for meg er det beste med dette albumet formen. Den er uforutsigbar og syklisk, og bygger på mer modulære teknikker fra Abbey Road, Brian Wilson og Van Dyke Parks. Det funker ekstremt bra, og dette er et album som SKAL høres i ett.
Beatles yesterday, Wings today?! Unfortunately listening to them side by side, Wings just doesn't rate and "Jets" is just irritating !!
Album #4: Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings Genre (according to Wikipedia): Rock, pop rock Singles?: Mrs. Vandebilt, Jet, Band on the Run Have you heard any songs from this album or group/artist before?: Not with Wings, but yes with Paul McCartney. Of course I’ve heard a lot, perhaps all, of his stuff with the Beatles, and the two collaborations he did with Michael Jackson. I have also listened to his album McCartney, his song “Coming Up”, and his duet with Stevie Wonder “Ebony and Ivory”. Thoughts?: True classic rock right here. I remember listening to music similar to this all the time with my mom. She always played a classic rock station, 98.5 KFOX, the South Bay’s classic rock. It’s how I got my music taste today. Anyways, despite the tough conditions, one of the best things about Paul McCartney is his ability to make great music within said conditions. He and his wife are great songwriters, and I can understand why this album has been a critical darling. I love the sound of this rock, it sounds authentic, true, real. Maybe it’s cliche of me, rockist even, but I love this type of music, and I wish more people listened to it instead of the manufactured stuff from the music industry today. In a way, it sounds a lot like The Beatles (especially Jet). Favorite songs: Side One, Mamunia, No Words, Helen Wheels, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five As a writer, what can you use this music for when honing your craft?: I wouldn’t use this to hone my craft, I like to use different kinds of music for this. This won’t do but I love listening! File correlations: If I had to say something, File #003: American Peas.
It’s probably the best Paul album post Beatles. It always gets reviewed as much based on who he is and what he did before, as it is about what it actually is like as an album. As a standalone review - it’s decent. But it’s no better than a lot of stuff around at the time. 3
More fluff from Sir Paul. Every now and then soft, fluffy things are good (for something.) L = (2.5*s) I always thought McCartny was a little “bubble gum” pop, but I did know all the words - So…. Side A is good, Side B is whimpy. J = (
Band on the Run the album and song are peak McCartney post-Beatles. Side A is great. Side B not as strong but still worth the flip. "Mrs. Vandebilt" may even rival the title track for top spot. Good fun record. What a wild back story for the album's recording too. Knowing that Paul provided more support than originally intended boosts the rating a bit. The Band truly went on the run, to an exotic locale and from themselves...3.75 stars.
Most of the post-Beatles individual careers have been a mixed bag. There are some nuggets of competence but the majority of the releases have been relatively pedestrian that likely would have been skipped over or lost to the void if they didn't feature the namesake of a former Beatle. Paul McCartney has certainly had the best post-career arch with his solo and work with Wings and Band On The Run is probably the best example of it. The album features a lot of the charm that Paul brought to the big band. His tunes were usually a little more positive and bubble-gummy, which holds true for Band On The Run. Paul was already legend before this but his ability to stay relevant and maintain a career over another 50 years after the split is no feat to ignore. I enjoyed the listen to Band On The Run and will continue to come back to the title track when I need to scratch that itch. 2.92 stars
Such a good songwriter but it feels like Paul needs someone with him telling him it needs to be weirder while he’s doing it. A few great songs but I can’t imagine I’ll come back to it.
The band The Beatles could have been
Good album! I remember hearing Band on the Run as a child and then being confused later in life when I couldn't find it on a Beatles album.
pretty good, nice sound
I was really flashed by the technical qualities you may find in the prodoction of this record. Didn't hear it for years. It doesn't sound as "seventiish" as you could assume ;-)
Such a great album. Has so many bops!
Some great iconic tunes here
I barely even like The Beatles
The common sentiment I heard about Wings was 'ugh'. Those people don't know what they're talking about. (Or there's some resentment about Paul leaving the Beatles when they were getting more rock-y experimental and less of a 'boy band'.... and then he does Wings, which veers back into fun territory, not hard enough for the 'serious' listeners) This album is catchy fun with fantastic melodies and journeys. I will listen to more. Made my day.
Sitting in a dark corner of the basement working at my microscope as I vigorously point in the air shouting "JET AWOOWOOWOOWOO" 4.5
I struggled to get through this album. I am not a Paul McCartney fan and hated him in The Beatles. John Lennon was always the talent in the writing aspect, George was the real musician. Anyways, I liked a couple of songs on this album. The title track and Jet. The rest are boring and annoying. Much like Paul McCartney. 2.9 / 5 stars
Strangely familiar. (I wonder why?)
It's alright but not quite my tempo.
It’sa solid Beatles-y album with a few good and crap tracks
Wow, so many good albums lately. Hadn’t heard this one before but recently watched a Todd in the Shadows video about Ringo’s band (or album?) being named Wings despite it already being the name of Paul McCartney’s band. LOL! Anyway, wow. Really good.
Great album. Was expecting a sound closer to the Beatles, but it was refreshingly different. Hadn't heard this album before, and was pleasantly surprised
I love Band on the Run. The fact that this album was released on my birthday is more than enough.
A really good album, The title track and Jet are classics, I also really enjoyed Let Me Roll It and Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five. An easy 4 Stars.
2 star lyrics over 4 star music makes a pretty clear 3. I mostly knew Paul McCartney as the poppiest Beatle so I was genuinely impressed by the variety in the music.
someone please rescue those poor synthesizers and give them to people who can treat them better there are some amazing bass lines wasted on some of the most obnoxious songs you’ll ever hear paul mccartney shouldn’t be allowed to write lyrics. morally or legally helen wheels is an atrocity, like some kind of experiment to find out what happens when you drain all the charm and talent out of a Joe Walsh song it’s annoying because I think mccartney has a wonderful voice that excels in harmonies but I also think when he does music it is a crime band on the run is an entire album of songs that should sound pretty but are instead irritating in ways they didn’t have to be
Would make for a perfect road trip album.
Decent album
I am a big Beatles guy, and I suppose enjoyment of the Wings and McCartney is legally required. This absolutely feels like bonus tracks of a Beatles album, and while being short, and not all that groundbreaking, it simply works. It feels nice, and he can craft a song like nobody's business. There is very little I disliked, may be let me roll it is a bit boring, but that is about it. Otherwise, I'll let him take me anywhere, and that dude has done everything.
5/5 coming back to this realizing how peak it actually is
fucking peak album 4.5/5
Pretty fun.
A former Beatle tries to sound like The Beatles with a different band. The results are below average. Not even the saxophone bonus points can really do much for this one.
After listening to the Kinks do their best Beatles impression yesterday (which wasn’t very enjoyable) I thought I’d be getting more of the same with this album. I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a really mature and compelling exploration of themes beyond the basic early Beatles stuff, but that has the same early rock backbone that made them great. This was fun.
What a treat. Great to listen to the whole album, particularly enjoyed Picassos last words. The clarinet was 👏🏻
I did not like Wings when I was younger. I was a Beatles purist. Then I grew up. This is a great album.
Really good
I don't if it's because I'm Jet-lagged, but it sounded pretty good. 4/5
This was the kind of mediocre album you would purchase due to one single hit. The rest of the album is nonsense hippie drivel.
Band on the run carries the album
Really good stuff. A tight concentration of some of McCartney’s best material. Must-listen #252.
Heard a lot of the songs before and love this album.
Overall solid, interesting and fun album
I love the voice so much Jet must have sounded so heavy back then Edit Apr 2 2026: 4 --> 3
Band On The Run is one of his very best tunes and Jet is pretty good but it slows down after that.
This is definitely better than what I expected, thankfully. I'm pretty sure I hadn't heard any of the other songs on this album besides the first two radio hits (the title track and "Jet"), and while I began to worry when the saccharine "Bluebird" followed, "Mrs. Vandebilt" helped right the ship and the rest of the album wasn't nearly as derivative or painful as I feared (although I'm note really sure what to make of "Picasso's last words (drink to me)". Reading about the creation of the album, I was also surprised that it ever got produced and released. Between McCartney managing to piss off and effectively jettison more than half the band just before traveling to record the album; to the absolutely baffling decision to go to Lagos, Nigeria to record the album (because it sounded "exotic" to McCartney), only to discover that the studio was basically in shambles; and then he and Linda McCartney getting robbed at knifepoint and other calamities, all makes for a bizarre story in poor judgment. (And of course then Fela Kuti barged into the studio accusing McCartney of appropriating African music; when McCartney played tracks from the album to ease Kuti's suspicions (presumably not including "Mamunia"), I wonder if Kuti was then just annoyed by McCartney's musical tourism....) But everyone survived, more or less, and the album seemed to help rehabilitate McCartney's credentials.
The first two tracks and the last track surprised me with how good they were and the rest seemed a little weak on ideas but strong on getting it together as much as possible. I liked this album a lot more than I expected to.
This album was such a treat! I had heard the title track before and loved it. It was good to hear that the rest of the album matched up to that track! Paul McCartney is perhaps the most well-known artists out there, and it's for good reason. This album is timeless. The music is great, the songwriting is great, and the vocal performance is great. It's not the absolute best of his work, but it is pretty up there!
Classic masterwork
Paul esbanjando talento. Ótimo álbum. QoA Adonis New.
Always a good time.
The Beatles were always going to be a hard act to follow. The commonly accepted wisdom is that the songwriting partnership of Lennon & McCartney was the key to the Beatles success, and out of those two Lennon was the key figure. However, it’s interesting to look at their respective post-breakup albums to see how that theory holds up. George dug deeper into mysticism, Ringo invited his celebrity chums into the studio for a jolly singalong, Lennon (who hated what he called Paul’s Granny music) released a bitter howl of betrayal aimed at his former partner, and Paul took two introspective solo albums and two more with Wings before he hit his stride with this one. The original lineup of Wings had drifted away leaving just Paul, Linda and Denny Laine to work on this, with Paul pretty much in charge of the process. For various reasons they decided to record in a ramshackle studio in Lagos, contending with numerous problems including being mugged at gunpoint, risking a cholera outbreak, Paul passing out with breathing difficulties from a bronchial spasm and facing disputes with local musicians including the legendary Fela Kuti. The end result is excellent though, and stands comparison with anything that Paul produced with the Beatles. The opening two tracks were released as singles and are genuine bangers, and the rest of the album has a good range of styles and themes from boozy drinking songs to a heartfelt message to John in a 50s style on Let Me Roll It that may have helped heal the rift between them. The album closer 1985 (which probably felt impossibly futuristic at the time) is another great track and still feels fresh with its use of synths. Dammit, this deserves 5 stars! Macca-tastic!
Band on the Run - 5/5 Jet - 5/5 Bluebird - 5/5 Mrs. Vandebilt - 5/5 Let Me Roll It - 4/5 Mamunia - 3/5 No Words - 4/5 Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me) - 4/5 Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five - 5/5 Average score: 4.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i've never really bothered to explore Paul McCartney's work outside of his Beatles days, so i was pleasantly surprised at how much i enjoyed this. i don't think i loved this quite enough to give it 5 stars, but this was definitely a solid 4 - 4.5 stars at least favs: Band on the Run, Bluebird, Mrs. Vandebilt least fav: Mamunia
Similar to beatles
Great album. 4.5 stars.
Great stuff. 4*
McCartney's penchant for catchy pop songs is in full swing here. Every song has something to love about it. Immaculate instrumentation and production. It can get a little "hippy dippy" with its emotional language though; especially so on Mamunia. Excellent record.
This is an album that I’ve grown with for many years, and over time more and more of it becomes meaningful to me. First I took to the pop pastiche of the title track, then the chugging energy of “Jet” and “Let Me Roll It.” There were weeks that I listened to the tender and affecting “Bluebird” on repeat. Most recently, it’s been the lament of “Drink to Me.” Now, that’s more than half the album, which I consider pretty much perfect. The rest of the album is strong, but it just doesn’t make me feel that certain way. So this is a 4.5 rounded down. I look forward to seeing how this grows on me more with time. Still depressing to realize that Paul and Linda were my age when they made this.
Tracks 1-5 are 5 star quality. Band On The Run is legendary. Jet is able to produce the sound of an actual jet engine. Bluebird is a whimsical McCartney folk tune. Mrs. Vanderbilt is a nice slap clap song before any slap clap artists were even born. Let Me Roll It has the organ. And then after that, the album just kind of simmers down. I do like Mamunia, it’s catchy but not everlasting. And then tracks 7-9 just kind of fade away from memory… In sum, a very nice album that I’ve listened to my whole life and will continue to listen to.
При всій своїй досить активній продуктивності після розпаду Бітлз, мені мало чого подобається із сольного Маккартні. Цей альбом - одне з небагатьох виключень. Цікавий, хітовий, є фірмова мелодійність.
Сольна класика від Маккартні, тут є прям мегахіти типу let me roll it або mrs vandeblit, а також моя, мабуть, улюблена пісня з його сольної творчості - bluebird. Сольна творчість сера Пола це цікава штука, я нещодавно ще слухав Ram, теж альбом який заслуговує уваги, як приклад.
Band on the run - come on. What a great a song. I like the other songs as well.
This is an easy 5 for me. A classic album that I have loved for a long time. I have always been a big Sir Paul fan. Ram is my favorite of his post-Beatles solo stuff but this is a close second. Very fun, some African influence. Band on the Run and Jet are stand outs to me.
3.75
As a ex-beatles fan, you won’t know how important this album was to me like, my second ever post-beatles cccartney CD is this one, ok? and the first guitar notes of the title track literally awakened some mysterious urge to sing along that i thought have died along with my interest in the beatles. also the blue canary nightlight in tmbg's "birdhouse in your soul" is the better bluebird song due to how flashy it is. many underrated song and many overrates song. in general a 4 but unlike the 14 years old me its no longer the best album of all time. 4/5
Very melodic yet still interesting sounding. Keeps up the same magic from the Beatles.
so good, let me roll it sounds like The Cars almost. Ahead of its time
As with so many Beatles songs, the title track is really a song within a song (within a song?). It's unique and when done well, as McCartney and band mates do here, it's very interesting and appealing. I'll be honest and saying that I've always considered myself a Beatles fan but not really a Wings fan. Wings to me just feels hokey and theatrical, but I was pleased that I listened to the whole album and can say well yes, while it is still those things, there's also some really quality music which was made. It's not a five for me, but it did earn a four.
At times this sounds like a collection of odds and ends pulled together, unsurprising considering the chaos that surrounded it. It still works though, with only a couple of tracks erring on the dull/twee side. He sure has an ear for a sweet melody
Paul McCartney's best-selling non-Beatles album right after my first Prince album? You're being awfully generous, Generator – where was this kind of energy when I got Mike Ladd, the The, Echo & the Bunnymen and Marianne Faithfull all in the span of a week? Band on the Run is the first Beatles-related album that I've been assigned and I'm not unhappy about it! Despite the fact that I've heard the title track on this album at least once or twice, I actually had no idea that Paul McCartney was in a band called Wings with his wife Linda. I'm no Beatles historian, but I feel like that should have come up at some point in my life! This album rules – there's really no way around it. Anyone dismissing McCartney's early "solo" material as bland or lacking depth really ought to get their ears checked. It's fun, it's clever, it's catchy, it's well-composed and it's even a little experimental at points. The title track and the closing track ("Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five") are the perfect example of this, with their various musical movements that help the songs keep evolving and stay interesting – the latter even brings it all back to the beginning with a snippet of "Band on the Run." There's not a bad track here, if I'm being honest! Not every tune completely blew my mind, but it all coalesced into a very enjoyable 41 minutes and I'd definitely listen to the full thing again. For probably the first time in my life, I'm genuinely excited to properly dive into some Beatles albums. Thanks Paul McCartney and Wings! Highlights: Band on the Run, Jet, Mrs. Vandebilt, Mamunia, Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me), Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
3.77
I like this. 5 star.
The sound of Paul McCartney growing up. Partly. A break-out album for Paul, and Jet & BOTR are both excellent tracks, but ...there's a lot of filler and "noodling".
Title track is decent. "Jet" is OK. The rest, esp. the repetition of the chorus from the title track, is fairly dull.
I have nothing to add to the Paul McCartney conversation. I always liked each Beatle as a personality but I've also been the oddball in that the Beatles music never resonated with me. Because of that I usually excuse myself from all Beatles discussions. This album seems like standard McCartney, which isn't too bad. But this is also one of those 70s albums that make me wonder what the four of them would have made if they hadn't broken up.
Day 17. Best tracks: Band on the Run, Jet I just can't get myself into almost any of the tracks here, because McCartney feels the need to change the tune every 30 seconds. 5/10. Several skips after the first two tracks. Does it belong on this list? Maybe if it is the only post-Beatles inclusion for Paul McCartney, which I'm only hopeful that it is. (EDIT: It is not.)
The debate is unavoidable, so here's my take: McCartney and Lennon produced roughly equal music post-Beatles. It was just really, really different music. McCartney was less serious and vastly more commercially successful, but Lennon produced a few true classics. Flip a coin, but my personal preference is McCartney. This is likely McCartney's best contribution post-Beatles. Two certified smash hits, but only about three or four good songs on the album. I'm also not sure how influential Sir Paul's solo(ish) work was. A perfectly fine, light pop rock album. Influence 2. Quality 4. Intangibles 3. Hits 4. Not even my favorite Wings album 2.
Álbum todo GOD
Professionally made, boring music.
Pretty darn good. A few great songs, but album is a little uneven overall. I never got into Paul’s post-Beatles stuff like I did the other dudes.
Sooo great! Easily one of the best non-Beatles records, Paul is probably my favorite Beatle post break. This one is just so good.
Not the best Beatles solo album, but great. I just saw him live and it was the best concert I’ve ever been to.
A nice album
Mes albums préférés: McCartney et Ram.
Ça manque dd sauce buffalo ces Wings là! C'était un bon remède aux âmes en peine de Beatles dans les 70s je présume, je trouve que ça a beaucoup l'allure d'un Abbey Road, sans la 'novelty'. Band on the Run et let me roll it sont bonnes. Mais ça va pas tourner en boucle chez nous.
Ça m’a laissé un peu de glace! Après la chanson titre et Jet, j’ai trouvé ça un peu quelconque. Disons que j’ai préféré McCartney qu’on a eu il y a quelques semaines, un peu plus funky. (La dernière chanson aussi était bonne!)
Excellent solo effort by a former Beatle.
A solid album with some catchy tunes that I have listened to plenty of times.
I Enjoyed parts of this album very much! It grew on me and I see why this made the list.
Its hard for me to tell if this album is good because its good or if I'm Beatles biased. I'm gonna say good. Also Let Me Roll It is a banger. 3.5 stars
I know this is a beloved album by many but other than a few songs it’s okay to me.
‘Jet’ always makes me think of Alan Partridge jumping on a bed and injuring himself. ‘Mrs. Vanderbilt’ was good.
Man, I love Paul McCartney. Really solid album, leading off with two absolutely amazing songs. JET!!!!
Absolutely beautiful. 5/5
Not for me.
Overall, very solid and classic album. you can tell that this was an album of 1000 ideas... some finished and many pieced together, which is what makes it magical. great first two tracks - then a couple smaller ones (Bluebird feels like they couldn't come up with lyrics and just had Bluebird as a placeholder that stuck).
Finally, an album I can give 5 stars. Thank you Macca.
yo how is this not 5 stars, my favorite so far
Just brilliant! Opens up with 3 dynamic and really catchy tunes and although the rest of the album isn't quite at that level, it stays pretty high up. Love the interesting production sprinkled throughout as well.
Prob my favorite McCartney album outside of the Beatles. A fun album with lots of hits but nothing truly ground-breaking. That's fine and shouldn't be compared to the solo careers of other former Beatles. Listen and enjoy a master at work without looking too much at the past.
Good album, had some takeaways to put on my Classic Rock playlist. I enjoyed this one
Paul McChicken Wings het gross überzügt. Chani fast meh ahfange wie mit de OG Beatles. spassspassspass, git 4 mal es spassspassspassspasss
Pauly du flügel Als chicken wings hesch dich selbstständig gmacht und zwar gnau das glieferet was mir erwarted hed aber es hed mi ez nöd us de marinade grüehrt. Schlecht isch nöd, verstah mi nöd falsch. Aber ich wür ez au d chicken wings im börger chöngel nöd mit 5 sternlis bezeichne. Gnau so ischs au öpe 3 fine dining chicken stars
Well, this album reminded me that, no matter how big a fan I was of the Beatles, with very rare exceptions I just could not get into their solo work. Not even George, who I thought had some of the best songs on Beatles albums. Paul was the worst offender, followed closely by John. But Paul’s solo work (some songs on his first album being some of those rare expections) just showed me how much both he and John needed the other to temper their worst indulgences. Paul was treacly, overly sentimental, just downright goofy sometimes but not ironically and he would have been right at home in some English music hall. His stuff just makes me shudder. There are a couple of okay songs on Band On the Run, Let It Roll and Bluebird (I think) but the rest makes me want to stick pencils in my ears. This is the first time I’ve listened to this album all the way through and it will be the last.
This is the peak of Paul's Wings era, perfect from start to finish
Me entretuvo, pero no me mató 6/10
De Band On The Run solamente conocía el track que da nombre al álbum y Jet, pero descubrí varias canciones más que seguro van a estar en mi playlist continuo de aquí en adelante. Qué se le va a hacer, Sir Paul es Sir Paul. El disco me sorpendió varias veces, pero esa de Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five me pareció una genialidad de lo más épica.
The back story on this album is interesting. The album itself I find uninteresting.
With the wings >>>>>> Solo work Loved the layered voices and instrumentals. They clearly had so much fun making these songs and you can feel it. Favorite Songs: Picasso's Last Words, Mrs. Vandebilt
Some good hits but there's a lot of boring stuff on the middle
Buena
8/10 Favorites: Band on the Run Jet Let Me Roll It
Band on the run is pretty great. I love the transition between the parts jet obviously is a fun rocker. It starts to lose a little steam by MAMUNIA however all in all good time.
Do I have to listen to this? Yes, I suppose I do. ... The first three songs on this album are terrible. Just terrible. Fourth song is much better. I quite like the bass and the saxophone actually works well! Five ain't bad. I like the Picasso song, too. And the bass line in 1985 slaps. So, in it's totality, I'd call this a somewhat better than mediocre album. Some very good stuff, some very bad stuff. Straight three for me.
I’ve always admired the very odd song structure of the title track. Jet is fine for me as are a few others. I liked Mamunia and it really sounds like a John Lennon song. That kind of makes me like it more, thinking Paul is channeling something he is missing. I had never listened to this album. I had owned Ram for awhile as a thrift purchase and really didn’t like that album. This one was much better to me so I’m glad it came up.
Falls off steeply after Jet.
2/5 - Band on the Run and Jet are good singles. I can barely recall anything else on this album except the last song, which was I think was 1985 spelled out the long way.
Kinda like it.
Incredible!! It was very nice to hear this one.
I think if this album wasn't made by Paul McCartney, it wouldn't be talked about much today. The best song on here by a significant distance is the breezy "Jet" with it's chugging rhythm and fuzzed-out guitars. "Band On The Run" is good if repetitive, with the title of the song being mentioned twenty times (yes, I counted). Repetitive choruses and songs wearing out their welcome are a theme here. On most of them I kept checking to see how much time was left. There is also a lot of self-indulgence. It angered me to finish "Picasso's Last Words (Drink To Me)." There's recording a fuck-around track and recording a fuck-around track that lasts almost six minutes! But it's not all bad. "Jet" is fine and I don't hate the title track. "No Words" is pretty good (but why does it fade out just as the guitar solo starts?) and "Mamunia" has grown on me, despite it's cringy world music inclinations. I like the bouncy bassline on "Mrs. Vandebelt" and the the first half of "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five," even if both songs stick around too long. There's enough worthwhile music here to earn it's third star, but quite a few tracks where I hit skip after a couple of listens. Like much of McCartney's post-Beatles career, a frustratingly mixed bag.
This was decent - Paul's not so bad.
i dont think ive ever been so all over the place with my feelings about an artist as paul mccartney. cant quite put my finger on it. i liked this one for what its worth.
Band On The Run, "Wing," every song on this album is great! What a wonderful life Paul had with Linda. Not enough is said about Linda and what a terrific songwriter she was. Rip Linda.
Sad to say I never liked any post-Beatles McCartney, probably just because it wasn't the Beatles, and I guess I'm still not over it, I still don't like this song or this album, though I admit if he'd recorded these same songs under the Beatles I'd probably think they were genius. His first solo, McCartney, is the exception for me, it's on this list, love that album.
Listening to this again reminded me of how sick the riff on Let Me Roll It is!
Baby was grooving to Jet. The first some reminded me of Bahamas. Wonder if he gets his inspiration from Paul.
Band On The Run is one of my all-time favourite songs and I think this entire album is fantastic. This is a nostalgic one for me because my parents had this CD when I was a kid so I heard it throughout my childhood and have grown to appreciate it more and more with age. I've always loved Band On The Run because it has multiple distinct sections that build nicely throughout and the story of the "band on the run" is fun too. It kinda reminds me of Bohemian Rhapsody. I honestly think this album has no bad songs. Each song has a unique musical style, which I really appreciate, and the lyrics tell interesting stories. I like that the last few songs include snippets of the earlier songs on the album. It creates a really cohesive and thoughtful feel. I love the instrumentation too, and the inclusion of organ, saxophone, clarinet, bassoon, cool percussion, etc. Paul McCartney is my favourite Beatle and I really like his work with the Wings. 9.5/10.
What a classic album
Paul showing that he was a key player to the Beatles song writing abilities. I feel like there's a metaphor hidden somewhere within the name 'Band on the Runway if Paul is on this new journey in his new band the Wings, on the run towards something. Maybe making a name for himself without the rest of his old band mates. Filled with anthems, beautiful harmonies, chord progressions, and lots of great variety while still feeling cohesive. I feel as though it just doesnt quite hit the je ne sais quois for me. 4.5/5 rounded down.
I hate to say it, but this album was pretty disappointing. :( I do like "Band On The Run" (the song), and I really did expect the rest of the album to just keep getting better and better. Instead it kind of felt like it couldn't really choose its genre. I get that some people think this album is great, but for whatever reason, it just didn't sit well with me. I didn't find the music to be that interesting or catchy; instead, some of the songs were just boring and, at times, even a little annoying. Obviously no disrespect to Paul McCartney. I just feel as if this album is not the finest representation of his work (I'm trying to sound like a connoisseur of music when I really don't know what I'm talking about...bottom line is that I didn't like this album as much as I thought I would).
3.5
Fun one. I like the refrains later in the album.
The best post Beatles album by McCartney. Still holds up as entertaining all these years later.
DEPROGRAMMER: But I did get Paul McCartney out of Wings. HOMER: You idiot! He was the most talented one!
Classic
Band on the run is fucking great. I'm pretty sure I heard that "wooohooo oooh ooo" on Jet somewhere Mrs Vanderbilt is a banger too Let me roll it omg let me roll it to yaaaa
Kinda boring 3/5
Pretty milquetoast McCartney but I do like his discovering the synth and you can see the seeds for albums later albums. Bluebird makes me want to stab my ears though. Ban the guiro in all western rock/pop.
Not my style
I honestly think that Paul McCarney was better than John Lennon, an the only reason people remember Lennon was cause he was killed.
Great album, probably Wings’ best album. Favorite tracks are Band on the Run, Jet, Bluebird, Let Me Roll It, Mamunia, Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five.
Amazing
Never a bad time.
Perfect until it’s not! Loses some steam at the end but great overall.
This album is just brilliant. Ram will always hold a special place in my heart but this one is still insanely good.
I've finally earned my Wings... Yeah, pretty good. The album version of "Don't do acid, smoke some weed" or something.
Really enjoyed probably like a 3.5 though. Not as good as some of the solo McCartney stuff
3,6/5
Not bad, much better than any Beatles record.
After listening to a few post-Beatles solo projects i feel like i can reverse engineer who wrote and arranged each Beatles song.
Great band! You can hear the Beatles' echo. In this album Paul probably played what he intimately wanted
An album with very catchy songs. Well done McCartney with wings!
McCartney didn't ever really make a bad album. This one is no Beatles album, but still pretty good!
Highly enjoyable album. It straddles the Beatle era influences with more of a rock sound being introduced and (in my opinion) more interesting instrumental elements as a result. I definitely prefer the ‘sound’ of this album to most Beatles stuff I have heard and actually quite enjoyed McCartneys verbal asides on the tracks, even if they were a bit self indulgent. Not a showstopper but enjoyed and will return.
Decent album with variety especially the first third. I did feel some weak sings that let the side down however. Mamunia is an example as not sure why it has a place amongst this and while the Beatles used obscure to their advantage it was a bit like a missfire fire on this. Hey ho being another "broken record" lyric that didn't enamour me to things either. On the whole solid album, close but no cigar.
I think I had only ever really listened to the title track before listening to this and it still stands up as an excellent bit of music. I'm not sure the rest of the album quite lives up to this very high standard, but I enjoyed the majority of it nonetheless. The production is excellent and there is a lot of detail in the mix that stands up to a critical listen, even if at times they do seem to have found the more obscure instruments at the bottom of the music classroom percussion bin (#NeedsMoreCowbell). The best feature of the album is the variation of structure, sometimes switching vibes mid track to keep the listener on their toes. Overall a very cool album with a lot to get stuck into. I realised halfway through that there is depth beyond the title track and this is definitely one I will be returning to for repeat listens.
Just the Beatles without all 4 members. 70’s rock
Good recognizable songs
Worst Beatle
Paulin soolotuotanto on jäänyt kuuntelematta. Tästä oli ainoastaan nimi biisi ennestään tuttu. Ei ollut mikään erikoinen levy. Tuskin tulee tätä kuunneltua uudestaan. Ei oikein avautunut meikämarjatalle. Liian valjuja biisejä.
Скромное обаяние поп-рока 70-х. Даже чуть-чуть африканских мотивов есть.
First couple tracks were great. The stuff in the middle wasn't immediately as engaging, but not bad. The beat switches on Picasso's Last Words are pretty interesting, but I'm not wild about that track otherwise. The closer is good though. Overall, it's an enjoyable listen Kinda struck by how influential this must've been for modern indie rock and neo psychedelia. Definitely hear it in Mac Demarco's work and others
ok, still not very exciting
Yeah this is the shit
Inoffensive. I liked the last song "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five"
Gotta say I enjoyed this as a whole more than I thought I would.
First two tracks are good, but it’s all down hill from there.
Wow, what an album! I am writing this review while listening to it for the second time. Although I had never before listened to the whole album, I was familiarvwithbsome of the songs, if not mostbof them, I am sure I had listen to them in easy listening radios before. I love Paul McCartney, it os really hard for him to write a bad song. All of these songs were so good, so many catchy melodies and great lyrics that just made me happy. I think it also reflects how much talent he borrowed to The Beatles. An easy, easy 5
Band on the Run is an all time album opener. The rest is like a jazzier, less psychedelic Beatles. Bit hit or miss. Don't really like Jet but I like the callback to it on Picasso's Last Words so it's making the playlist.
I mean, it's Sir Paul.
For one small period of time Paul was my favourite Beatle. This was a pretty brief period where I was impressed with, like, Martha My Dear and his zany pop melodies. In general though, the best Paul songs are the ones John tweaked and the best solo Beatle songs, invariably, are by John, even if there’s a whole lot of iffy material strewn throughout. Paul’s fake band answer to John’s fake band gives you pretty much what you’d expect: catchy, cloying, sometimes nonsensical, always sentimental, briefly rockin'. Sometime in the 2010s or so, I feel like elder Millennials seized on Wings and Band on the Run in particular as an under-appreciated work of genius, but, try as I might, it’s just never overcome the cloying catchiness Paul seems capable of doing anytime he hits the studio. A lot of its best moments are structural reprisals of better work he did a few years prior with Abbey Road and there simply aren’t any complete songs here that best his solo contributions to the Beatles (album and band).
DUDE
fav songs: band on the run, mrs. vandebilt, nineteen hundred and eight five i finally got around to this one and lowkey i enjoyed it quite a bit #anythingbutbritishreggae
It’s hard to pick a fave, but I think this is mine for the best post-Beatles album by any member!
Best McC and Wings album. Band on the run is probably one of the best songs he has written this side of the Beatles.
Singles are good but dog shut up
I enjoyed this one.
5/5
This is more like it. Macca's back and this time he's been able to whip his band into sounding like a sequel act to The Beatles. Lacks the introspection of John's songwriting but makes up for it because it's wall-to-wall sheer craftsmanship. Pitch perfect pop music. The build-up throughout the album has this addicting ebb and flow, each songs pours into the next. As an album, a precisely made piece of however many songs, it's lethal. Each song building into the medley on Piccaso's Last Words, it's hot hot hot. On track highlights, it's Let Me Roll It or nothing. I say this was the caveat that I love Nighteen Hundred and Eighty Five and the title track but Let Me Roll It? Low down bluesy craic. Unless I'm feeling frisky and want to go to bat for Temporary Secretary, it might be my favorite non-Beatles Paul track period. Although, maybe if Monkberry Moon Delight sidles up somewhere in this 1001, we can challenge that.
it was good fun
Great Album straight through. Crazy this came up right after seeing him and really diving into this album. Probably my favorite Wings album.
Couple of good songs, but overall just a bit over average.
It was alright
I was expecting this to be on par with Lennon's deep and profoundly stupid solo stuff but this was really nice. Nothing took itself too seriously, the lyrics were solid. It was fast in parts, kept moving, had some really nice moments. Quite liked this overall. Thank you McCartney for not being as pretentious as Lennon.
way better than Lennon's solo stuff. familiar with few of the tracks & others were ok as background tunes, but don't think I'll seek out to listen to again. 3.5 stars
Very good
wait actually liked this a lot!! i already liked a few songs and they remind me of will but really loved this sound
Very good - bummed I missed Paul at Coors field
Not fantastic, but not bad either. A few songs sound surprisingly modern (“Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” could absolutely have been made in...1985), McCartney clearly shows he can be creative when he wants. There’s some nice riffs here and there, and a few really surprising sounds (the first couple of minutes of Band on the Run sound downright funky, Zoo Gang could be krautrock, the opening of Let Me Roll It almost has a stoner rock feeling...). The best bits are actually the ones where McCartney stops trying to be an ex-Beatles and just does his own thing. Unfortunately, there are not enough of these moments – too often, it’s just the intro, or the first half of a song... then he reverts back to form, turning what could have been a great track into more conventional pop-rock. It’s a pity he didn’t go all the way, it could have been a much better album with a little more risk-taking. Nice effort, but I'm not sure I’ll listen again. 5/10
A very good piece of music ! McCartney's music sometimes can be pointless. This album proves his genius....and what a final with nineteen hundred and eighty-five
I love Paul, but that's cheesy as hell.
« No words » no comment Outdated, no influence…
I had a very negative reaction at first listen, but I changed my mind the second time. There are still some weaknesses, the songs are uneven, but I ended up enjoying a few of them. Of course, the shadow of the Beatles hangs over the album, it’s hard not to think of them, but tracks like Jet or 1985 stand out enough, and do it with real talent.
Wow... je n’avais jamais vraiment écouté ce que Paul avait fait après la fin des Beatles. Pareil pour les trois autres. C’est album est bon (pas autant que les bons albums des Beatles, mais quand même) et nous montre bien l’apport de McCartney au groupe. À réécouter, malgré que ça risque de ne pas être aussi souvent que l’album blanc ou Abbey Road.
No había apreciado la canción "band on the run" hasta hace poco. Realmente es un adelanto de los años 70 y canciones largas con partes muy diferentes en estilo. Siempre McCartney como genio compositivo.
What can I say. It's Paul McCartney
Grew up on the Beatles, but oddly haven’t ventured far into post-Beatles careers… good stuff
I enjoyed this more than I expected to! There's definitely still some elements of Beatles in there, and although Paul can sometimes be too sickly sweet and a little facile, this was nice overall.
A pretty tasty chunk of classic rock.
classic - middle is less catchy for sure but band on the run through jet goes hard
Probably about time I dug a little more into McCartney's post-Beatles work. The title track is a nice bit of proof that I don't always just go in for music in multiple movements. It's remarkable how much is crammed into five minutes but it doesn't feel like the Abbey Road medley so much as a great, classic McCartney tune with something else grafted onto the end. It's fine, I guess -- I'm not sad that radio overplay in my youth has got me a bit sick of it. 'Jet', on the other hand, is excellent. Sounds like the 70's in its free-wheeling feel, its lush backing harmonies and Sir Paul's Billy Joel-like vocal delivery. The fuzzy bass tone is very cool (I do not talk enough about McCartney's choices on bass). 'Let Me Roll It' is great. It sounds a bit like a classic Motown slow jam, though it doesn't quite get there. Still, a highlight on this album. I often hate songs in this tempo, but the verse riff is weird and cool, the chorus is eminently singable and harmonizable and it really works -- even the fade at the end doesn't feel lazy. This is a crowd song, which is a hard and valuable thing to write. 'Mamunia' is solid. Sounds a little bit inspired by what they might have heard while recording in Lagos (ed. note -- Marrakesh, actually, in 1973). It's one on this record that will work just fine with some wooden instruments and voices (try that with 'Band On The Run'). 'Picasso's Last Words' is most remarkable for having been written at a dinner with Dustin Hoffman wherein the actor challenged the great songwriter on his reputed ability to write a song about anything. The death of Picasso was the first interesting thing in the newspaper that was produced to test him. The song's fine -- sounds at first like McCartney had been listening to Music From Big Pink but, honestly, it's not his best work. This, like 'Bluebird' and 'Mrs Vandebilt' sounds a bit like one of the half-finished ideas that Lennon-McCartney could easily polish into pure gold together but Sir Paul doesn't quite get there alone. They make me wonder what even any two of the three missing Beatles could have added -- and that's unfortunately the albatross that hangs around all their post-Beatles work. Some songs overcome it (often Harrison, to contemporary surprise) and some simply don't. 'Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five' is cool. It's got that 70's rock feel that I have trouble describing. It's a little dark but it's compelling and still sounds like a rock song. Not too much guitar, a little piano, a tune that pulls you along. Again, a solid second-rate Billy Joel song (for the record, 'For The Longest Time' is Joel's best -- sounds like a cover he stole from another time period and mastered but the sappy 'Piano Man' bastard actually wrote that). This is a perfectly cromulent album. The hard thing about it is that it's got three or four genuinely good songs on it and one or two other decent ones (I'll give you 'Band On The Run', even though it's not my jam; let it be noted that I know I can't even write a third-rate McCartney tune). It's the problem of having written such brilliant and beautiful material already. McCartney isn't being compared unfairly to others, he's being compared to himself and most of this isn't up to the same standard. It's certainly better than listening to another fucking Morrissey album or some shite by Blur but by the standards of most of the other thousand albums herein, this is somewhat mediocre. It is, however, well worth listening through, at least once. I think of this as an academic project: we're learning about great music and also about well-received music or influential music that we might not think is so great. It's ironic that this record is getting unfavourably compared to stuff written by the same guy but we all have to peak somewhere. No shame in trying to keep putting out Abbey Road. I fairness to Paul McCartney, he did also write 'Maybe I'm Amazed', but again that's from four years earlier. Good work for anyone else (this whole thing ought to be read as a glowing recommendation of Linda McCartney's contributions) but when you're in a fight with people for titles like Greatest, this one's kind of a miss. 'Jet' and 'Let Me Roll It' are top-notch McCartney-McCartneys, though. 3.5/5 and I'll give you the 4 out of respect.
What is there to say?
Paul McCartney spent 2 years trying to get Len Houmous to join wings. Good job it never materialised! The whole world would have seen what a fraud Paul really was! 4.3 2/9 Jet
3.3 The starter and finisher are really good tracks. The middle though, other than let me roll it, which sounds like a Let It Be offcut, just meanders through with dotted tracks similar to Paul's worse excesses on the Beatles (sixty four, Maxwell's, she's leaving home, etc.). It's an ok album, but nothing much more than that.
fantastic album
I love this masterpiece amazing beautiful product of love
this was cool, very easy to listen to and i like how songs took different directions throughout.
Já conhecia algumas das músicas, mas foi muito bom escutá-las de novo, assim como as outras do álbum. O Paul é um artista que definitivamente mudou a minha vida
This begins with the big bombastic showman numbers "Band On the Run" and "Jet" but falls off after that. The title track is a catchy medley, but has always felt like just a stitching together of good ideas, which makes it feel rushed rather than fleshed out. A lot of Paul's songs are this way for me-- he is one of the best-ever pop and melody writers, but he's never been the greatest lyricist or one to have emotional weight (that's where he was complemented well by other Beatles). That's kind of how I felt throughout this album, that there are lots of good ideas here, but they feel hacked together or not fully realized or are more about show than content. The fragmented and stilted feel could be because he is recording so many overdubs himself, having only Linda and Denny Laine with him rather than a full band to get a live, organic sound. "Jet" feels like an Elton John song and is fun but doesn't have much substance. I also feel like it is a bit overproduced or overdubbed. Songs like "Bluebird" and "Mamunia" (and even "Band On the Run" itself which is reprised in a couple songs) fall into a repetition of singing the title over and over and become rather annoying. "Let Me Roll It" has a great guitar riff but just sounds so much like a John song, I can't believe it wasn't intentional. "Picasso's Last Words" I got into and grooved with, but it again fell into the Paul-medley problem, which is that once you start sinking into the song it changes, like we have some kind of attention-deficit disorder and can't be trusted to stick to something for longer than a minute. Overall it just falls into this problem of feeling stitched together or rushed. I can understand many liking it, but the sound is not for me.
Best Song: Band on the Run This is pretty good. It has some Beatlesesque music moments but you can hear Paul trying to separate himself from the Beatle persona he built up through the 60s. 4/5.
It's kinda silly but this album has some of my favorite cover artwork of all time. Band on the Run is catchy as all hell and the production is tight, tight, tight. What's not to love about this record?!
You telling me it’s not “Man on the Run”?!
Dope
I was late to this album, its really great. Will need to explore more Wings.
9/10 Favourite: Band on the Run Least Favourite: None
really good
I had never really listened to Wings before. According to Wikipedia, Band on the Run is regarded as the most commercially successful album Paul released after the Beatles. I can’t help but wonder what impression I would have had if I hadn’t known it was made by “Paul of the Beatles.” It certainly feels like a very well-crafted album, and I even caught a slight resemblance to the atmosphere of Japanese pop songs from the same era, which I found interesting. “Mamunia” in particular struck me as having a touch of Beatles-like sound. Even so, the album as a whole didn’t resonate with me on a very deep level.
Það bregst ekki. Ef ég fíla eitthvað Bítlalag þá er það samið af Paul, nema þau örfáu sem George samdi. Ég fíla hans tónlistartakt. Platan byrjar vel en svo hallar aðeins undan en samt gef ég henni fjórar.
Lennon and McCartney really needed each other to temper their worst instincts. Paul's sentimentality against John's cynicism. This is far from being McCartney's worst post Beatles effort, it might even be his best. I wanted to like it, expected to hate it, was pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately the cheese level is still too high for me to take it seriously. Every time he has a good idea he interrupts it with something silly ('Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five' would be a banger if it didn't frequently stop to accommodate a lot of WoooOOOooh-ing, for example). Perhaps he is just trying to be too clever? Oh well, I gave you a chance Paul.
Classic songs like band on the run are on this record, and it's easy to listen to, with a standout being Picasso's last word. A solid record but doesn't reach the heights as some of Paul's other works and at times feels like a cheap imitation
Totally thought the chorus to the title track was "Man on the Run". Anyways it's a good album
Someone has already said it, but it begs reiterating - This album is far better than anything Lennon croaked out. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a massive Beatles fan (though the White album is groundbreaking), nor am I a massive McCartney fan, but this is good music. I know a few of these tracks and I'm convinced that they had a huge influence on some indie pop/rock bands of my teen years. I also noticed someone said that they always thought the chorus was "Man on the run"... so did I. As a young kid listening to Iron Maiden I also thought the bridge to "Jet" was "Iron Maiden" lol. I'm hardly going to listen to the album frequently, but it's still great.
As the youth say, this was extremely mid AF. Starts strong with two good songs (Band on the Run, Jet), but the rest of the album is a pile of nothing. Boomers like my dad eat this slop because it’s Beatles-adjacent. Just because it’s Paul McCartney doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece. This is the plain toast with butter and a glass of milk of rock and roll. A generous 3/5.
Knew "Band on the run" but not much else from Wings and post-beatles McCartney. There's lots to love on this album, and "Band on the run" is better than I remember and chock full of hooks and tempo changes. "Jet" is a great rocker too, put possibly my favorite is "Let me roll it". Closing track "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" bops too. Great stuff.
Basic picks up—eventually
I dont have words to describe this banal piece of childish crap. I tried I really tried to listen but after three tracks my brain was dead. I rested and gave it another go later, again 3 tracks was the utter limit of the nonsense. Last three tracks I skipped. One star cos cant give none
There are some decent songs on this. I like Jet and Mrs Vandebilt. Some others had their moments. Bluebird and the Picasso one were a bit boring and dated. McCartney's voice doesn't really ever change, which might be part of what makes him him, but it's not something I can listen to for a long period. Not bad overall.
Paul McCartney... my second favourite solo Beatle after George Harrison. This is the only solo album of his I have listened to fully, but is a fairly standard early 70's offering. Perhaps it was the initial recording in an under-equipped studio in Nigeria that makes it feel slightly empty and lacking a punch. Maybe it's just me, but thinking about it now, for someone at the level of Paul McCartney, I would expect more 'bangers', and not so many of the filler tracks such as Mrs. Vandebilt. Still, I enjoyed revisiting this album, and feel it's worthy of four stars Standout tracks - Jet & Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
McCartney. It's good but not my favorite.
An excellent album from Paul. A classic!
норм. даже и добавить нечего
You know, I really appreciate how this list has gotten me to venture into the Beatles’ solo efforts. It’s interesting to see how they fared after the breakup and how there sound changed. That being said, it also reinforced my opinion: Paul McCartney has the best post-Beatle career. John’s close, but he works better with them and he got a little abstract for me (and he was a bit of an ass). George was decent and I don’t even really know Ringo’s discography at all. I always thought Paul’s was the best, though that was usually because of the few Wings hits I knew, specifically Band on the Run. But this album confirmed that for me. It’s all just what Paul is best at: beautifully crafted pop. It’s familiar to his Beatles stuff, but distinct enough to not make it feel like a copy or an imitation. There’s clearly more 70’s rock influence mixed with that 60’s pop. Some of it’s a little cheesy, as expected from Paul. But it’s does more than enough to prevent from being “We have the Beatles at home” material. Favorite track: Band on the Run Other hits: Jet, Mrs. Vanderbilt, Bluebird, Picasso’s Last Word (Drink to Me), Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Worth a listen