Band on the Run should have been a disaster. Two of Wings' original members quit in a huff just before its production. The whimsical decision to record in Lagos, Nigeria, became a nightmare when McCartney and company found themselves in a decaying studio, then had many of the project's demos stolen by armed bandits. Despite these hardships--perhaps because of them--Band on the Run remains the most focused and consistently satisfying record of McCartney's wildly uneven post-Beatles career. This mini box set contains the original album, a well-written booklet by Mark Lewisohn, and a bonus disc featuring outtake snippets and interviews with all the album's participants (including its cover crew, which includes actors James Coburn and Christopher Lee) and Dustin Hoffman, who recounts how he spurred McCartney to spontaneously write "Picasso's Last Words" on a dare. This second disc would make a fine radio show; it comes up short where it matters most--in music. Time spent detailing the album-cover photo session could have been more gratifyingly devoted to more contemporary outtakes (much of the bonus Band material is culled from live performances from as recently as the mid '90s; perhaps McCartney wants us to know how important the record has been to him over the years) or to a pair of single B-sides, which are curiously absent here. --Jerry McCulley
Publisher: Capitol
Customer Reviews
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WINGS FLYING HIGH
Band On The Run,McCartney's best solo album,along with Ram,McCartney carried on the idea of Sgt. Pepper having celebrities in the background of this conspicuous cover,with Linda,James Coburn,Christopher Lee and other known actors,making this the second best cover in rock-n-roll,Band On The Run recorded in Lagos,Africa with x-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine,a great masterpiece was created with catchy tunes,consisting of McCartney originals,Band On The Run,Jet,Drink To Me(Picasso's Last Words),Mrs. Vanderbilt,Bluebird,Let Me Roll It,and others,every song a winner,this mini box set contains two disc,the original album and disc two features interviews with the musicians and celebrities,a McCartney masterpiece.
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Second-best Beatles solo effort
This is Paul McCartney's best ever solo album, and for Beatles fans, the second-best solo album of the four, George Harrison's epic "All Things Must Past" is, in my opinion, the best fab four solo album.
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<br />"Band on the Run" isn't that far back. Paul shows why he's simply the best popular music writer who ever lived. These songs flow right along from the great hits to the excellent album tracks, really not a bad tune in the bunch.
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<br />The title track is epic Paul at his storytelling best. Much like "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey," the title track tells a story and has an intro, bridges, and a great finale. Yes, it was greatly overplayed in the 70's and even today, but it really holds up. Today's songwriters should take note: This song is an example of how you tell a story, instead of just those songs pining for lost love. Paul tells an interesting tale of a band.
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<br />Moving right into "Jet" -- Paul's favorite concert tune, he plays it at all of his shows, a real hard rocker and a lot of fun. Yep, I don't know what the lyrics mean either, so be it.
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<br />"Bluebird" is a wonderful, beautiful ballad ... Paul can write those, too, of course. "Mrs. Vanderbilt" is a bit whimisical, like the later tunes on this CD, but it sounds nice.
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<br />"Let Me Roll It" is one of the best album tracks in the history of Rock N'Roll. I haven't checked the liner notes on whether it's Paul or Denny Lane playing that unreal, catchy guitar hook, but it's an all-timer. Another great one played in concert.
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<br />"Maumunia" is a pleasant, soft song, and "No Words" is a short, fine piece ended at the right time. "Helen Wheels" is back to straight forward rock n'roll and was a nice hit for Paul and Co. "Picasso's Last Words" is just a drinking tune, nothing special, but kind of funny. Nineteen hundred and eighty-five is another whimisical song, probably could've ended with something better.
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<br />Nevertheless, a great album, a true treasure lost in the annals of time and should get more recognition as a masterpiece.
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Best Wings Record
Every track on this album is good if not great. If you are an ultimate fan of Paul McCartney, get the 25th anniversary issue for the interviews. If you don't care for the extras, get this. The songs "Band On The Run" and "Jet" are worth the price of the CD alone. If you are only to get one Paul McCartney album, get this one.
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