Band on the Run Tracklist
Band on the Run is the third studio album by Paul McCartney and Wings. Recorded mostly in Lagos, Nigeria, the album presents the core trio of Wings—Paul, Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine—alone for the first time, after drummer Denny Seiwell’s and Henry McCullough’s departure from the band in 1973.
Featuring three hit singles from Wings in late 1973 and early 1974, the album has been widely called the best of Paul McCartney’s entire solo career following his Beatles era.
The album has been featured on several “best of” lists, including Rolling Stone and Mojo magazine’s Greatest Albums of All Time lists, and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.
The recording process in Nigeria faced several significant setbacks: in six weeks, the McCartneys were robbed at knifepoint, losing many demo tapes (including that of the intricate title track) and lyric sheets; Paul collapsed with breathing problems; and the band drew the public condemnation of the prominent Nigerian musician and activist, Fela Kuti, who accused them of appropriating African sounds –when Paul heard this, he invited him to the studio and they became friends.
“Band on the Run” Q&A
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Are there any interesting stories involving this album?
Yes, according to the 2015 book Conversations With McCartney, Paul said that when recording this album, the band went to Africa, they were told not to walk around the country; Linda and Paul did anyway. Paul said they were robbed at knife point. The original recordings of a few of the songs on the album were stolen, but they escaped with their lives and that’s all that really matters.
