Venus and Mars

by Paul McCartney

Overview

Band on the Run was a commercial success, but even if it was billed as a Wings effort, it was primarily recorded by Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine. So, it was time to once again turn Wings into a genuine band, adding Joe English and Jimmy McCulloch to the lineup and even letting the latter contribute a song. This faux-democracy isn't what signals that this is a band effort -- it's the attitude, construction, and pacing, which McCartney acknowledges as much, opening with an acoustic title track that's a salute to arena rock, leading to a genuine arena rock anthem, "Rock Show." From that, it's pretty much rocking pop tunes, paced with a couple of ballads and a little whimsy, all graced with a little of the production flair that distinguished Band on the Run. But where that record was clearly a studio creation and consciously elaborate, this is a straightforward affair where the sonic details are simply window dressing. McCartney doesn't really try anything new, but the songs are a little more varied than the uniform, glossy production would suggest; he dips into soft-shoe music hall shuffle on "You Gave Me the Answer," gets a little psychedelic with "Spirits of Ancient Egypt," kicks out a '50s rock & roll groove with "Magento and Titanium Man," and unveils a typically sweet and lovely melody on "Listen to What the Man Said." These are a slight shifts on an album that certainly feels like the overture for the arena rock tour that it was, which makes it one of McCartney's more consistent listens, even though it's possible to scan the song listing after several listens and not recognize any song outside of "Listen to What the Man Said" and the opening medley by title. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/21/2025
Label:	Capitol
UPC:	0602465920666

Tracks

1. Venus And Mars
2. Rock Show
3. Love In Song
4. You Gave Me The Answer
5. Magneto And Titanium Man
6. Letting Go
7. Venus And Mars (Reprise)
8. Spirits Of Ancient Egypt
9. Medicine Jar
10. Call Me Back Again
11. Listen To What The Man Said
12. Treat Her Gently ¿ Lonely Old People
13. Crossroads

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Wings   Primary Artist
Paul McCartney & Wings   Primary Artist
Paul McCartney   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background),Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Celeste,Clarinet,Handbells,Mellotron,Guitar (Bass),Finger Cymbals,Moog Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Electric)
Denny Seiwell   Primary Artist
Hugh McCracken   Primary Artist
Howie Casey   Primary Artist
Tony Dorsey   Primary Artist,Bass,Clarinet,Trombone
Geoff Britton   Primary Artist,Drums,Cymbals
Joe English   Primary Artist,Drums,Percussion,Backwards Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Denny Laine   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano,Sitar,Bongos,Guitar,Handbells,Moog Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Linda McCartney   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Clarinet,Handbells,String Machine,Moog Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Thaddeus Richard   Primary Artist
Steve Howard   Primary Artist,Trumpet
Jimmy McCulloch   Primary Artist,Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Electric Baritone),Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Handbells,Moog Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Dave Mason   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Carl Blouin   Sax (Baritone)
Afro   Congas
The Sid Sharp Strings   Cello,Viola,Violin
Russel Bobrowski   Violin
John Longo   Trumpet
Michael Pierce   Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Bernard S. Richterman   Cello
Carlos Klejman   Violin
Harold Joseph Ballam   Bassoon
Ken Lexton   Trumpet
Ronald B. Benko   Trumpet
Vito Platomone   Clarinet
Alvin Thomas   Sax (Tenor)
Tuxedo Brass Band   Brass
Alan O'Duffy   Vocals (Background)
Allen Toussaint   Piano
Tom Scott   Saxophone,Sax (Soprano)
Clyde Kerr   Trumpet
Gayle Levant   Harp

Technical Credits

Dave Mason   Musician
Tony Dorsey   Arranger,Musician
Simon Gibson   Remastering
James McCartney   Composer,Composer
Alan Parsons   Mixing,Overdub Engineer
Benny Spellman   Musician
Steve Howard   Musician
Biff Dawes   Mixing Assistant
Bob Wills   Musician
Steve Rooke   Remastering
Sam O'Kell   Remastering
Alex Wharton   Remastering
Thaddeus Richard   Musician
Johnny Gimble Wills   Musician
Ken Lexton   Musician,Assistant Engineer
Kenneth "Afro" Williams   Musician
Colin Allen   Composer
Benny Davis   Composer
Frank Wildhorn   Composer
Doug Crider   Composer
Geoff Emerick   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Denny Seiwell   Musician
Lloyd Green   Musician
Hugh McCracken   Musician
Matt Rollings   Composer
Tuxedo Brass Band   Musician
Harry Akst   Composer
Howie Casey   Musician
Tim Geelan   Engineer,Recording
Geoff Britton   Musician
Allen Toussaint   Musician
Tom Scott   Musician
Mark Vigars   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
George Porter, Jr.   Musician
Jimmy McCulloch   Composer
Joe English   Musician
Ernie Winfrey   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Linda McCartney   Composer
Alan O'Duffy   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Overdub Engineer
Tony Hatch   Composer
Allen   Composer
Paul McCartney   Arranger,Composer,Producer