Paul McCartney & Wings: Wings Over America (Mini LP CD Packaging) - Disc \n1 of 3 CD Track Listing

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Paul McCartney & Wings Wings Over America (Mini LP CD Packaging) - Disc \n1 of 3
Originally Released December 11, 1976\nRemastered Edition Released October 27, 1999\nJapanese Mini LP Version Released October 27, 1999\nJapanese Version featuring a Limited Edition LP Style Slipcase for Initial \nPressing Only. \n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Basically, there are two things that rock bands do: \nthey make an album and they go on tour. Since Paul McCartney fervently \nwanted to believe Wings were a real rock band, he had them record an album \nor two and then took the group on the road. In March of 1976 he released \nWings at the Speed of Sound and launched a tour of America, following \nwhich he released Wings Over America, a triple-album set that re-created \nan entire concert from various venues. It was a massive set list, running \nover two hours and featuring 30 songs, and it was well received at the \ntime, partially because he revived some Beatles tunes, partially because \nit wasn't the disaster some naysayers expected, and mostly because -- \nlike the tour itself -- it was the first chance that millions of Beatles \nfans had to hear McCartney in concert properly (the Beatles had toured, \nto be sure, and had played before millions of people between 1963 and \n1966, but as a result of the relatively primitive equipment they used \nand the frenzied, omnipresent screaming of the mid-'60s teen audiences \nat their shows, few of those present had actually "heard" the group). \nWings were never a particularly gifted band, and nowhere is that more \nevident than on Wings Over America. Matters aren't really helped by the \nfact that the large set list gives McCartney full opportunity to show \noff his vast array of affected voices, from crooner to rocker to bluesman. \nAlso, the repertory, in retrospect, is weighted too heavily toward the \nrecent Wings albums Wings at the Speed of Sound and Band on the Run, which \nweren't really loaded with great tunes. (It's also hard to believe that \nthere were two Denny Laine vocals so early in the program, or that the \nconcert ended with the plodding rocker "Soily," which was never released \non any other McCartney album.) In its defense, the album offers bracing \nrenditions of "Maybe I'm Amazed" -- arguably the best of McCartney's post-Beatles \nsongs and possibly his single greatest composition -- and "Band on the \nRun," as well as nicely distilling down the harder side of his repertory, \nwith a few breaks for softer songs such as "My Love" and "Silly Love Songs"; \nanother highlight is the rippling bass sound, showing off that instrument \nin a manner closer in spirit to, say, a John Entwistle solo LP than to \nMcCartney's more pop-focused studio work. The triple LP, issued two weeks \nbefore Christmas of 1976, was priced so low that it was offered by most \nstores as a "loss leader" to pull customers in; what's more, the Beatles \nmystique was still very much attached to record and artist alike -- at \nthe time, John Lennon had seemingly burnt out a major chunk of his talent, \nGeorge Harrison was losing his popular edge and had done a disastrous \n1974 American tour, and no one was expecting great things from Ringo Starr, \nand it seemed like McCartney represented the part of the group's legacy \nthat came closest to living up to fans' expectations; thus, it ended up \nselling in numbers, rivaling the likes of Frampton Comes Alive and other \nmega-hits of the period, and rode the charts for months. The double-CD \nreissue offers considerably improved sound, though the combination of \nworkmanlike performances and relatively pedestrian songs diminishes the \nappeal of such small pleasures as the acoustic Beatles set or the storming \n"Hi Hi Hi." Wings Over America is most valuable as a souvenir for hardcore \nfans and also as a reminder of the excitement -- beyond the actual merits \nof the group's work -- that attended McCartney and Wings' work in the \nlingering afterglow of the Beatles. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Bruce \nEder\n\nAmazon.com Album Description\nDigitally remastered Japanese reissue of their hit 1976 live album in \na miniaturized gatefold LP sleeve with the original cover art intact & \nlimited to the initial pressing only. The platinum triple record topped \nthe charts at the time & contains 28 tracks recorded in concert during \nthe band's 1976 U.S. tour, including the top 10 version of 'Maybe I'm \nAmazed'. Also contains a two-sided, full color 9 inch x 14 inch foldout \nposter that fully replicates the one included with the original vinyl \nLP release. 1999 release. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nWings Over America - Remastered At Last, June 12, 2000 \nReviewer: tjsbeatles from Chicago, IL \nThe mid 1980's were not a particularly good time for CD hungry Beatlefans. \nThe actual Beatle recordings would not appear on CD until 1987, and the \nsolo Beatle product avaivalbe was limited, at best. Paul McCartney, who \nwas under contract with Columbia Records at the time, was fortunate enough \nto see much of his solo catalog released on CD before most Lennon, Harrison, \n& Starr material was remastered for the "new" digital medium. One of the \nfirst Macca CD's Columbia released was a 2 disc version of "Wings Over \nAmerica." Beatlefans were initially overjoyed to have 2 CD's of McCartney's \nbest "live" solo and Beatles material. Many, however, were disappointed \nto find that the sound quality left something to be desired. \n\nWhen Paul took his catalog back to Capitol several years later, the hope \nwas that new remastering would improve the muddy, hissy sound quality \nof Columbia's releases. Unfortunately, on Capitol's new "Wings Over America," \nthere was little to no improvement. By the early 1990's, Parlophone/EMI \nin Europe again remastered Paul's solo catalog, and for the first time, \nthere was finally dramatic improvement over the earlier 2 sets of reissues. \nHowever, a new "Wings Over America" was inexplicably left out of the "Paul \nMcCartney Collection" catalog. \n\nThat's all been remedied by the title's entry into EMI Japan's recent \n"deluxe" McCartney remasters, which present his catalog in replica LP \nsleeves and remarkable sound. "Wings Over America" has returned to its' \nalbum format, and is now spread out over 3 CD's. The sound is clear, bright, \nand a major improvement over the earlier CD incarnations. The original \nalbum graphics (including a great mini-poster) are included, making this \nthe definitive CD edition of his greatest "officially released" live work. \nIf only Capitol would catch on here in the states and give Paul McCartney's \nunderrated solo catalog the respect it deserves, perhaps one wouldn't \nhave to spend nearly $80 on the third pressing of this title. Since it \nlooks like that may never happen, this Japanese import is more than worth \nthe investment. All of the new Japanese remasters are worth checking out, \nbut this one is essential for McCartney and Beatles fans. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nSterilized Rock!!!, October 16, 2002 \nReviewer: A music fan from Rich-- Phx, AZ \nI saw Paul (Wings) 3 times during the 1976 tour. He was/is an amazing \nperformer. The performance on this tour was top notch. However, although \nthe sound on this album/CD is great, it is too "studio-ized." You do not \nfeel (or hear) the excitement of the audience. You hear the song and instruments \nas if the microphones fed them into a basement, and that's how the mix \nsounds to me. As I stated, I was at 3 shows, and although the music sounds \nlike it did live, the sound doesn't. It doesn't even come close. I have \na 3 album set bootleg (Los angeles, June 1976; red, white, blue vinyl) \nthat kicks this CD's butt as far as reproducing what the concerts were \nlike. If you are interested in "experiencing" the concert, buy the bootleg, \nskip this one. I'm not knocking Paul or the performance. In fact, if you \nweren't at any of these shows, you may prefer this type of mix. However, \nif you were..........You may be (like I was) major disappointed. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nRarely listened to live McCartney at his best., October 22, 1998 \nReviewer: A music fan from New York City \nI know what your all thinking. Paul McCartney went into a steep decline \nafter the break up with his trusted foil, John Lennon, writing music with \nthe progressively mind numbing impact of Monday morning television advertising \njingles; and that nothing better illustrates this fact than his painfully \nshallow and badly produced chain of studio albums under his band Wings. \nYou think to yourself, what happened to the guy who wrote and then summarily \nbelted out "I Saw Her Standing There", "I'm Looking Through You", and \n"Helter Skelter"? To be fair, you gave him a chance and listened to...say \n"Temporary Secretary" ("McCartney 2") only to be struck with convulsive \nhorror at the total dispossesion of talent. What happened?!!! Has the \nman has lost his #@*#! mind?!!! Is the real Paul McCartney in the possesion \nof aliens?!!\n\nWell, I can sympathize with some of these thoughts. But if you think the \nflying saucer picked him up in 1970 when The Beatles broke up your dead \nwrong. He must have been abducted around 1976, a year or so AFTER the \nrecording and release of the incredible "Wings Over America". \n\nMcCartney is a great song writer, arranger, etc., yes. But his greatest \nasset which is so often overlooked, and where he possesses untouchable \ntalent, is his natural genious for live performance. Put a guitar in his \nhand and ask him to stand in front of a microphone and he will blow your \nmind right to your face (remember live Beatles?).\n\n"Wings Over America" is Paul McCartney on stage with a tight straight \nband spinning out an incredible variety of music with the force of a man \npossesed by the need to prove his talents again. Sure, there are a few \nBeatles songs in there for all you die-hards, but what really suprises \non this album are the post-Beatle/Wings songs. Stripped of the suffocating \n"tracked" sound of the studio recordings and allowed to boom and resonate \non stage, songs like "Rock Show/Jet", "Call Me Back Again", "Blue Bird", \n"Let 'Em In", "Listen to What The Man Said", and "Band on the Run", their \npurity as great rock and roll uncovered, will simply amaze. You will find \nyourself more than getting lost in the waves of sound, picking out the \nbass lines and/or following the curves and cracks of McCartney's remarkably \ndisciplined voice. When the song ends you will play it again in disbelief. \nThe man has talent to burn and you can hear his enjoyment in doing so. \n\n\nThese songs are great, indeed. But there is music within "Wings Over America" \nthat is some of the finest ever recorded. Listen to "Maybe I'm Amazed". \nFar better than the version on "McCartney" (which, no doubt, I love) this \nlive version of an already incredible song will simply stun you. Sung \nwith spine tingling heart, McCartney sends the words of love booming out \ninto the gigantic theater with the confessional force of a man before \nthe gates of heaven. \n\n"Maybe I'm amazed at the way your the only woman who could ever help me!", \nhe wails. "Can't you just really understand?", his voice then arching \nin falsetto descent into the ocean of acceptance. The performance is simply \nawesome and is further heightened by the perceived scale of the smoke \nfilled space around him with the thousands of mesmerized faces floating \nin the shadows.\n\nThrow in fantastic performances of "My Love", "Lady Madonna", "Blackbird", \n"The Long and Winding Road", and "Live and Let Die" and you have a record \nof depth and power that is well worth its triple album cost. Even Denny \nLaine tops himself, belting out a performance of "Go Now" that is unforgettable.\n\nOf course, some of you will never be able to get over your prejudice against \nanything Paul, John, George, or Ringo did after they separated. Their \nsolo music will always sound "different" and un-Beatle-like, Paul's especially. \nBut isn't this kind of unfair to people who have been providing us fine \nmusic for over thirty years now? Isn't it time we gave them a break and \nopened our ears to just hear the rock and roll? One of the best ways to \ndo this is to listen to it live because when that guy with the guitar \nand microphone gets on stage, its just him, same as always.\n\nThe other day I got out my "Antholgy I" and cued up the live recorded \nversion of "Yesterday" The Beatles did at Blackpool in 1965, one of the \nfirst times they ever tried the song live. Just for kicks I pulled out \n"Wings Over America" and played McCartney doing it again ten years later \nand without, of course, his three other famous band mates hanging back-stage \ntuning their guitars for the next song. You know what?....., the one on \n"Wings Over America" might be better.\n\n
This rock cd contains 9 tracks and runs 43min 35sec.
Freedb: 750a3509
Buy: from Amazon.com

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