Just in time for Sir Paul McCartney’s tour of the US, the first three albums of Wings have been reissued in a myriad of formats. This, combined with the 50th anniversary reissue of The Beatles’ “White” album, makes for a wonderful dose of Beatlemania.
The original albums have all been remastered, all with previously unreleased demos, extra tracks, interview with McCartney and hip compact books that include some vintage photos as well as dvd video material. Dig in!
The Wild Life album was McCartney’s attempt to create as casual an atmosphere as possible. Some people loved the relaxed atmosphere while others (such as John Lennon) panned it. It’s charm has actually grown in recent years, as Paul’s answer to his Beatlemate on “Dear Friend” is quite touching, “ Bip Bop” and has a nice swing to it as Denny Seiwell’s jazz pulse keeps the mood optimistic. The bonus material includes some cozy home recordings of things like “Good Rockin’ Tonight” and “Hey Diddle” as well as some intriguing stuff like “African Yeah Yeah” and “Give Ireland Back to the Irish.”
The followup Red Rose Speedway includes the mega hit “My Love” and a cooking medly including “Hold Me Tight.” The extra disc includes , mixes of “Mary Had A Little Lamb” and “Little Woman Love” while the two dvds feature TV shows such as “James Paul McCartney” and “The Bruce McMouse Show.” Both these extras are a fascinating glimpse into this period of McCartney’s career.
The most intriguing set is the Paul McCartney and Wings: Wings 1971-73. It features concert material of the band in Europe and show a growing work in progress, eventually climaxing with the Band on the Run. Here they give it a go with impressive takes of “Big Barn Bed,” a cute “Eat At Home,” a rocking “Smile Away” and even a fun take of “Blue Moon Over Kentucky.” A must for Beatlemaniacs.