Wings - Band On The Run

Band on the Run is the third studio album by the British–American rock band Paul McCartney and Wings, released on 30 November 1973. It was McCartney’s fifth album after leaving the Beatles in April 1970 and his final album on Apple Records. Although sales were modest initially, its commercial performance was aided by two hit singles – “Jet” and “Band on the Run” – such that it became the top-selling studio album of 1974 in the United Kingdom and Australia, in addition to revitalising McCartney’s critical standing. It remains McCartney’s most successful album and the most celebrated of his post-Beatles works. The album was mostly recorded at EMI’s studio in Lagos, Nigeria, as McCartney wanted to make an album in an exotic location. Shortly before departing for Lagos, drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Henry McCullough left the group. With no time to recruit replacements, McCartney went into the studio with just his wife Linda and Denny Laine. McCartney therefore played bass, drums, percussion and most of the lead guitar parts. The studio was of poor quality and conditions in Nigeria were tense and difficult; the McCartneys were robbed at knifepoint, losing a bag of song lyrics and demo tapes. After the band’s return to England, final overdubs and further recording were carried out in London, mostly at AIR Studios. Band on the Run has been reissued numerous times with bonus tracks, including in 1993 as part of The Paul McCartney Collection, in 1999 for its 25th anniversary, in 2010 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection and in 2024 for its 50th anniversary.

Tracklisting

Band On The Run
Jet
Bluebird
Mrs. Vandebilt
Let Me Roll It
Mamunia
No Words
Picasso’s Last Words (Drink To Me)
Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five

Apple Music

Videos

Paul McCartney Wings - Band On The Run Official Music Video

Release Images

Release Information

Key	Value
Wikipedia URL	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Band_on_the_Run
Format	Vinyl LP Album Stereo (1st Press)
Label	Apple Records
Catalog Number	PAS 10007
Notes	Original UK release with: • Apple logo, ‘An Apple Record’; • ℗ 1973 EMI Records Ltd.; • McCartney Music Ltd./ATV Music Ltd. on labels. This version of the release has 3 corners cut on the inner sleeve. Looking at the lyrics side of the inner sleeve, both top corners are cut and so is the bottom right corner. This presentation differs from other releases. Includes large fold-out poster depicting many small Polaroid photographs. Inner thick paper sleeve has a photograph on one side and lyrics on the other. Also available on cassette and cartridge. ℗ 1973 EMI Records Ltd. An Apple Record Runouts are stamped. Matrix # on labels in parentheses.
Discogs URL	Wings - Band On The Run