Venus and Mars

WINGS

JOE ENGLISH -- Drums

DENNY LAINE --Guitar, Bass, vocals 

LINDA McCARTNEY -- cover photo, Keyboards, Vocals

PAUL McCARTNEY -- arrangements, Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards

JIMMY McCULLOCH -- Guitars, Vocals

Kenneth "Afro" Williams -- congas (2)

Geoff Britton -- drums

Tony Dorsey -- arrangements

Dave Mason -- guitar (11)

Tom Scott -- saxophone (11)

Allen Toussaint -- piano (2)

Alan O'Duffy -- engineer

Geoff Emerick -- engineer

Hipgnosis -- centrefold po

Sylvia de Swaan -- black and white poster

George Hardie -- graphics

Venus and Mars was released on May 27, 1975.  The album had been recorded in New Orleans and Los Angeles. Paul allowed other members of the group to be featured as lead vocalist on this record.  Denny Laine sang "Spirits of Ancient Egypt"and Jimmy McCulloch Sang "Medicine Jar". 

When recording commenced in New Orleans the tension between drummer Geoff Britton and guitarist Jimmy McCulloch flared into open hostility.  Britton recorded just three songs for the new album and then called it quits.  The band quickly hired American drummer Joe English and continued recording in L.A.

Venus and Mars was the first album by any ex-Beatle not released by Apple Records.  This was Paul's first solo album to be released by Capitol Reocrds.  The album would be used as springboard for a huge world tour Wings was about to begin.

The Tracks List is as follows:

"Venus and Mars"

"Rock Show"

"Love in Song"

"You gave me the Answer"

"Magneto and Titanium Man"

"Letting Go"

"Venus and Mars Reprise"

"Spirits of Ancient Egypt"

"Medicine Jar"

"Call Me Back Again"

"Listen to What the Man Said"

"Treat her Gently/Lonely Old People"

"Crossroads Theme"

Overall I would rate this album very high.  There is an inetresting mix of songs and the album's production is quite good.  Geoff Emerick is one of the best engineers in the business and he recorded this album very well.  The sound is really amazing.

Listen to What the Man Said

Listen to What the Man Said was recorded in 1975 during Wings' stop in New Orleans.  The song featured the newest member of Wings Joe English on drums.  Geoff Britton, who had been Wings drummer, was let go for various reasons.  He did not get along well with Jimmy McCulloch or Denny Laine, allegedly he was involved in an altercation with McCulloch that did not set well with the McCartney's.  Britton also gave an interview where he stated that he was the only health nut in the group that didn't take drugs, bad idea.  McCartney gave him the sack during the Venus and Mars sessions. 
            Listen to What the Man Said was the first single taken from the soon to be released album Venus and Mars.  Guest musicians on the song were Dave Mason on guitar and Tom Scott on saxophone. 
           The B-side of the single was Love in Song.  The single was released on May 16, 1975.  Both songs were written and produced by Paul McCartney.  The song went to number 6 on the British Charts and number 1 in America.  The song was included on the compilation albums: All the Best! and Wingspan: Hits and History.

Walking in the Park with Eloise

Walking in the Park with Eloise was written by Paul McCartney's father during the 1950's.  The song was recorded while Wings were in Nashville,Tennessee in June and July of 1974.  The new Wings line up of Paul, Linda, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch and Geoff Britton are featured on the recording, along with Nashville legends Chet Atkins and Floyd Cramer.  The song was issued as a single backed with the McCartney instrumental Bridge on the River Suite.  The song was not credited to McCartney or Wings and sales were poor.  The song was credited to The Country Hams. 

Junior's Farm

Junior's Farm is a song written by Paul McCartney and recorded by Wings.  The song was released in October of 1974.  The recording for this song was done in Nashville Tennessee.  The band was staying at the farm of Curly Putnam Jr. in Nashville when Paul wrote the song. 

The song is a strong rocker, with a great guitar solo provided by Wings new lead guitarist, young Jimmy McCulloch.  The band also had a new drummer, Geoff Britton.  Britton didn't last long, conflicts with McCulloch and founding member Denny Laine eventually drove him out, but at the time the band was flying high.  They were fresh from the success of their album Band on the Run and Junior's Farm would climb the charts all over the world making it to number 3 in the US.  Even the flipside Sally G made it to number 17 on the charts.

Sally G, was also recorded in Nashville and has a definite country feel, compete with violins and steel guitar.  The lyrics are about a love gone wrong in Nashville Tennessee.

Band on the Run (Single)

The single Band on the Run was issued in America on April 8, 1974.  It was the fourth and bestselling single from the album of the same name.  In the US the B-side was Nineteen hundred and eighty-five, but in other parts of the world the band opted to put an unreleased track called Zoo gang as the B-side.

McCartney told DJ Paul Gambaccini that the song started with the line "if we ever get out of here".  A line which Paul attributes to George Harrison.  Apparently George uttered the line while sitting through a particularly long and boring meeting at Apple.  McCartney says that George was saying something like 'we are all prisoners in some way'.  Paul thought "that would be a good way to start an album".

Mrs. Vanderbilt

This single was released in January 1974.  Both the A-side and B-side were tracks from the album Band on the Run.  The songs were only released as a single in Continental Europe. The song "Mrs. Vanderbilt" was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria with additional sound being added in London.  "Bluebird" is an acoustic number that Wings used to perform during their acoustic breaks during their Wings Over the World Tour. The musicians who played on these songs were:
                                      Paul McCartney-Drums, Guitar, Bass & Vocals
                                      Linda McCartney-keyboards and backings vocals
                                      Denny Laine-Guitar and backing vocals
                                      Howey Casey-Saxophone

Jet

Jet is a single that was released in late 1973.  The song was taken from the 1973 album, Band on the Run.  When it was first released the song Mamunia was the b-side, but on later pressings it had been changed to the song Let Me Roll It.  McCartney's dog "Jet" is said to have been the original inspiration for the song.  The song rose to the number 7 spot on the charts in both the US and the UK.  The Australian band Jet, took their name from this song.  Paul McCartney, after more than 35 years, still includes both Jet and Let me Roll it in  his live shows.