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Defining Paul McCartney is like trying to pick up mercury. In 1970 he delivered a crushing blow with the dissolution of The Beatles and the release of a very, very, "raw" home-made album which many either outright hate or love (I fall into the latter camp but admit it is a "you have to be in the mood" album). Paul then released RAM in 1971 under the duo heading of Paul & Linda McCartney. This album won the hearts of many Beatles fans and despite heavy-handedness from the critics, both sold well and received much acclaim from the public. (This one falls into my absolute favorite position). Then a few months later in '71 he released an album called WINGS WILDLIFE, or at least that is the way we, the general public who didn't know any better, the way we understood the title, not Wildlife by Wings. Well, once you read the liner notes you kinda got the feeling something was happening where Paul and Linda were putting a "group" together with their drummer and a new recruit from the "old" Moody Blues, Denny Laine. The album got hammered, and even some fans didn't like it, but given enough time, and enough fan adoration, the album still carries a good listen or ownership and deserves much more credit that it initially got. Then Paul and Linda and Denny decided to dub themselves "Paul McCartney & Wings" (RED ROSE SPEEDWAY and the immortal BAND ON THE RUN). Macca has spent some considerable time and effort in remastering a few of these over the last few years, releasing them on Starbuck's Hear Label as The McCartney Archives Collection, and the resulting sonic wave is indeed beautiful and worth every consumer penny. I've been waiting for these two VENUS & MARS, and WINGS AT THE SPEED OF SOUND for years, literally years, as I never purchased them on CD, my vinyl wore out completely, and by the time I wanted them on CD, they were "collectibles" demanding a daunting price. So here they are, finally, on my player, with the same high definition sound waves that carried NEW, MEMORY ALMOST FULL, and all of the thus far released Archives Collection, to new heights of ear candy glory.
Sound? Immaculate, Pristine, Gorgeous, Amazing, Spectacular (that enough for you?), how does one describe it best... If you have previous Archives releases like RAM, or own the latest (NEW) solo releases, surely you must know that MPL and Hear Music have used the greatest available technology in rendering these old gems into digital form without compromising sound and by actually making that brand new vinyl LP you brought home decades ago sound even better! No Kidding! I always thought that CD's would never surpass the warmth and comfort of our vinyl albums, and though I sorely miss the big gatefold covers and posters and art for art's sake packaging and goodies, I have to admit that some CD releases have been nothing short of miraculous and the Archives Collection have all been supreme. Both V&M and SofS are magnificent!!!
For the newbies or the ones who wish to reminisce:
VENUS & MARS was tasked with following on the heels of one of the greatest selling post-Beatles Beatle-solo releases ever, Band On The Run. How do you follow an act like that?
After the dissolution of The Beatles, and up through BAND ON THE RUN, Paul McCartney had experimented and refined his "sound" down a middle path between rock and what was becoming Progressive Rock. Many of his singles and album songs were identified by critics as "silly love songs" and Paul would have an answer to that veiled insult soon. However, as a Beatle, with the continued adventuring in music, Paul's middle road could effectively be called Progressive Pop, as it meanders around from hard rock, to blues based rock, to somewhat jazz and classical influences, and yet manages to never stray too far into radical experimentation. For VENUS & MARS, the McCartneys and Denny Laine recruited another guitarist and drummer (originally Geoff Britton who was replaced by Joe English due to personality conflicts with 2nd guitarist Jimmy McCulloch). Now Wings had evolved into a semblance of a permanent band and the "McCartney" name was dropped from the band title.
VENUS & MARS uses a favorite musical method which is often loved by Paul, the continuous segues of tracks into each other a la ABBEY ROAD side two (or SGT PEPPER). The title track kicks off both side of the album (on record) and as a whole piece, V&M is a pastiche of classic-progressive-rock full of fun and adventure. You will rock out as Venus & Mars transitions into an arena rock anthem (Rock Show), sway to a pretty standard Macca love song (Love In Song), get retro American with Rudy Valle megaphone singing (a classic Beatle effect) on You Gave Me The Answer (a song Macca liked to dedicate to Fred Astaire in concert), rock out to a couple Marvel comics characters, then delve into a classic rock blue piece (Letting Go) which is one of the highlights of the album. This was the fitting end to side one on vinyl. Part two kicks off again with a Venus and Mars reprise, and then Denny Laine leads us through a psychedelic prog number (Spirits Of Ancient Egypt) and Jimmy M really rocks with lead vocals on Medicine Jar (another hot number and high point on the album). Call Me Back Again is a New Orleans styled blues track (the album for the most part was recorded there), raw and fun, and then the lead single from the album, Listen To What The Man Said features Dave Mason and Tom Scott in a swinging pop confection. That there would be enough to end the original album but Paul tacked on a double bill Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People classic not so silly love song, and then closed the album by playing the theme song from a British soap opera program, Crossroads, as a one minute coda.
The result was another chart topper for McCartney, a well-engineered and produced album which sold like hot cakes and everyone and their dog were playing everywhere. If you want classic Paul McCartney that is not AM radio oriented, that treats the listener like an adult with taste, this is one to get! Long out of print, way longer than it ever deserved, VENUS & MARS was one of Macca's most precious gems, fully deserving as a solid follow-up to BAND ON THE RUN. Have fun with it and enjoy it for years to come. This one and its follow-on WINGS AT THE SPEED OF SOUND were the perfect children to BOTR, forming a trilogy of the best post-Beatles pop ever available.
Archives collection releases come with a bonus disc (and in ultra deluxe editions with DVD and assorted other goodies). The bonus discs have all so far included non-album singles and many alternate versions of songs from the famous One Hand Clapping performances, as well as tracks which did not make Wings Over America or were high quality concert performances from places like Glasgow.
VENUS & MARS contains some of the best of these offerings as well as a few "lost" alternate versions of tracks as works in progress, previous incarnations, etc. The One Hand Clapping tracks have consistently been the surprising best and often most interesting; Soily and Baby Face will be a big hit with Macca fans. The work in progress ("old version") of Rock Show is also highly welcome, as well as the non-album singles which could only, thus far, be found on hits/best of compilations. Juniors Farm was a song which stylistically belonged on BAND ON THE RUN and Sally G was always a concert favorite. If you are a devout McCartney Fan, then V&M Archives release is a must. If you are novice fan, and you loved BAND ON THE RUN, continue your journey here and by all means, pick up WINGS AT THE SPEED OF SOUND. These three albums were the pinnacle of 70's polished classic rock. Only one other, RAM is a must have in this run of the collection, unless you are a devotee, like myself, who latches on to everything.
MPL and Hear Music get my most huge endorsement possible!
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- Gee BeeReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2025
Venus & Mars SHM-CD
It is an exact replica of of the original album. Haven’t played it yet. SHM-CD.Gee BeeVenus & Mars SHM-CD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2025
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