Wings Over America

THIS IS THE BEST LIVE LP OR CD OUT THERE. IT IS A REAL ROCKER.

Given the critical drubbings Paul McCartney often endured as a solo artist, his Wings Over America tour in 1976 was just as much a commercial enterprise as it was something to prove. Leaning heavily on material from Band on the Run and At The Speed Of Sound, it also provided Beatles fans with something most of them had never witnessed: Paul performing Beatles songs live. As a result, the spectacular reception given to the three LP "Wings Over America" and the tour it came from both repudiated McCartney's reputation as a live artist, gave many longstanding fans a ten year old dream come true, and proved that McCartney was in a band again. <br /> <br />That band happened to be Wings. Not only did McCartney want to prove he could swing it away from his old mates, but that his new mates were creative in their own light. Hence, Denny Laine sings lead not just on his Moody Blues oldie, but on two Wings songs as well. McCartney also dropped another outside song into the setlist, the Simon & Garfunkel obscurity "Richard Corey." Indeed, the only thing pruned from this two-hour extravaganza was the stage patter, the entire setlist from the tour is represented here. Even lesser numbers ("Picasso's Last Words," "Beware My Love") were left on the LPs. <br /> <br />It's everything that was glorious about the glut of 70's live albums. Excess, exuberance and an artist at the top of his game. McCartney sings like he's unleashed from a dormancy, mixing his styles from silly love songs to ballroom ("You Gave Me The Answer") to a surprising - and welcome - dose of heavy rocking. Some of the biggest cheers erupt when "Live and Let Die" commences, same with the Madison Square Garden crowd that welcomes the opening "Venus and Mars/Rockshow/Jet" triple knockout. <br /> <br />But the crowd saves the biggest welcome for that smattering of Beatles songs. When "Yesterday" comes in, you can hear the crowd cheer not in raucous stadium rock roar, but almost in emotional reverence. McCartney may have wanted "Wings Over America" to prove Wings was a band, but for all his considerable skills and charm, The Beatles are still the touchstone for all he has done in these 4 decades. As such, the joy spread throughout this - his first and the best of his many live albums - has its roots in that rich firmament. <br /> <br />Of course the question then must be begged; Why is this out of print in the USA? I found mine used a few years ago, but isn't this (and the rest of McCartney's solo work) about due for an upgrade?

This is a top notch cd for Sir Paul. he is in his prime here and with his wife it makes it even better. He should have quit here.