Wings over America

Wings over America
Live album by Wings
Released	10 December 1976
Recorded	May–June 1976
Genre	Rock
Length	115:33
Label	Capitol
Producer	Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney chronology
Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976) Wings over America (1976) Thrillington (1977)
Singles from Wings over America
"Maybe I'm Amazed" Released: 4 February 1977

Wings over America is a triple live album by Paul McCartney and Wings, released in December 1976. The album was recorded during American leg of the band's acclaimed 1975–76 Wings Over the World tour. It peaked at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.

In addition to including several of McCartney's hits with Wings, the album features performances five Beatles songs including "Yesterday", "Lady Madonna", and "The Long and Winding Road". The album cover was designed by Hipgnosis and depicts an airliner about to open its cabin door.^[1] Wings over America was remastered and re-issued in May 2013.

Recording

Originally, Wings over America was to be a two-record set of highlight performances but this was rethought due to the success of a bootleg called Wings from the Wings, which was released as a triple record set on red, white, and blue vinyl, and contained the entire 23 June 1976 concert recorded at The Forum in Los Angeles.^[2] This caused McCartney to release the album as a three-record set, compiled from various shows from the band's North American tour during May–June 1976. McCartney's sound engineer listened to 800 hours of tape and selected the five best performances of each song from the 30-song set list.^[3] McCartney chose and mixed the final set of recordings, mostly taken from the 23 June show.^[1] "Soily" was recorded on 7 June 1976 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.^[4] The live recordings then received studio overdubs during October–November 1976.^[5] According to Wings' drummer Joe English, "it took forever to get those 'Wings over America' tapes ready for the live album. We had to go into the studio and overdub most of the backing vocals."^[6]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
American Songwriter	[8]
Consequence of Sound	[9]
The Essential Rock Discography	6/10[10]
MusicHound	2/5[11]
PopMatters	6/10[12]
Rolling Stone	(favourable)[13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[14]
Ultimate Classic Rock	7/10[15]
Uncut	7/10[16]

Wings over America was issued six months after the end of the band's US tour. It was another commercial success for Wings, reaching number 1 in the US in early 1977 (the last in a five-album stretch of consecutive number 1 albums for the band)^[17] and number 8 in the UK.^[18] For the five Beatles songs included, McCartney elected to reverse the songwriting credit to McCartney–Lennon.^[19] Years later Lennon's widow Yoko Ono complained about the same songwriting credit on McCartney's Back in the U.S. album but neither Lennon or Ono publicly voiced any disapproval about the change made in 1976.^[20]

Wings over America went on to sell 4 million copies in the US alone, according to Wings biographer Garry McGee.^[21] The album was the first triple set by a group to reach number 1, and was a critical success.^[21] "Maybe I'm Amazed" was released as a single on 4 February 1977,^[21] peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, and at number 28 on the UK chart.^[22]

Two related releases followed the album: the TV documentary Wings Over the World and a film titled Rockshow, purporting to contain a complete show from Seattle.^[19] Although publicity material presented Rockshow as a document of this Seattle concert, it contains only five songs that were filmed at Seattle's Kingdome; the remainder of the film's 30 songs come from the band's New York and Los Angeles shows.^[23] Limiting their relevance, however, these additional releases appeared three and four years, respectively, after the 1976 live album.^[19]

Wings Over America was issued as a double-compact disc in 1984 on Columbia.^{[nb 1]} The album was first released in the UK on compact disc on 26 May 1987 by Parlophone.^{[nb 2][1]} Along with McCartney's Ram and Tug of War albums, Wings over America was reissued in the US on compact disc on 18 January 1988.^{[nb 3][26]} The album was issued by EMI two more times on CD, in 1989^{[nb 4]} and on 19 February 1990.^{[nb 5][1]} A 1999 reissue of the album by Toshiba-EMI in Japan reinstated the three-disc format from the original LP issue, and is the only edition of the album to do this.^{[nb 6][27]} Up to this point, the Japanese CD edition was the only one that was remastered.^[28] On 14 April 2008, the album was released as a digital download on both iTunes and Amazon. It was removed for some time off of digital music sites in 2010 and 2011, but as of August 2011 it is available for sale on iTunes.^[29] The album was reissued on 27 May 2013 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.^[30] Rockshow was also reissued, this time on DVD and Blu-ray, with its audio remixed into 5.1, on 10 June 2013.^[30]

Track listing

All songs by Paul and Linda McCartney except where noted.

Side one "Venus and Mars/Rock Show/Jet" – 9:56 "Let Me Roll It" – 3:51 "Spirits of Ancient Egypt" – 4:04 "Medicine Jar" (Jimmy McCulloch/Colin Allen) – 4:02 Side two "Maybe I'm Amazed" (Paul McCartney) – 5:10 "Call Me Back Again" – 5:04 "Lady Madonna" (McCartney–Lennon) – 2:19 "The Long and Winding Road" (McCartney–Lennon) – 4:13 "Live and Let Die" – 3:07 Side three "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)" – 1:55 "Richard Cory" (Paul Simon) – 2:50 "Bluebird" – 3:37 "I've Just Seen a Face" (McCartney–Lennon) – 1:49 "Blackbird" (McCartney–Lennon) – 2:23 "Yesterday" (McCartney–Lennon) – 1:43

Side four "You Gave Me the Answer" – 1:47 "Magneto and Titanium Man" – 3:11 "Go Now" (Larry Banks/Milton Bennett) – 3:27 "My Love" – 4:07 "Listen to What the Man Said" – 3:18 Side five "Let 'Em In" – 4:02 "Time to Hide" (Denny Laine) – 4:46 "Silly Love Songs" – 5:46 "Beware My Love" – 4:49 Side six "Letting Go" – 4:25 "Band on the Run" – 5:03 "Hi, Hi, Hi" – 2:57 "Soily" – 5:10

2013 remaster

Wings over America was reissued in several packages:^[27]

• Standard Edition 2-CD; the original 28-track album
• Remastered vinyl 3-LP version of the Standard Edition
• Deluxe Edition Box Set 3-CD/1-DVD; the original 28-track album, a bonus tracks disc, DVD of the TV documentary Wings Over the World, 112-page book, assorted memorabilia, 60-page photograph book, 80-page sketch book and download link to all of the material
• Remastered (Record Store Day 2013 exclusive) vinyl 12" single of "Maybe I'm Amazed"^[31]
• Rockshow on DVD and Blu-ray digitally restored from the 35mm negative with remixed 5.1 surround sound^[32]

Discs 1 & 2 (Standard Edition)

Sides one to three are on disc one, while sides four to six are on disc two.

Disc 3 – Wings Over San Francisco (Live at The Cow Palace) (Deluxe Edition Box Set and Best Buy Special Edition)

1. "Let Me Roll It" – 4:19
2. "Maybe I'm Amazed" (P. McCartney) – 5:27
3. "Lady Madonna" (McCartney–Lennon) – 3:22
4. "Live and Let Die" – 3:38
5. "Picasso's Last Words" – 2:14
6. "Bluebird" – 4:28
7. "Blackbird" (McCartney–Lennon) – 2:38
8. "Yesterday" (McCartney–Lennon) – 1:57
   • All tracks previously unreleased, recorded live at Cow Palace, San Francisco

Disc 4 – DVD (Deluxe Edition Box Set)

1. Wings Over the World – 1:15:46
2. Photographer's Pass – 7:45

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and bass guitars, piano, keyboards
• Linda McCartney – backing vocals, piano, keyboards, percussion
• Denny Laine – lead vocals on "Spirits of Ancient Egypt", "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)," "Richard Cory," "Time to Hide", and "Go Now" and backing vocals, acoustic, electric and bass guitars, piano, keyboards, percussion, harmonica
• Jimmy McCulloch – lead vocals on "Medicine Jar" and backing vocals; acoustic, electric and bass guitars
• Joe English – backing vocals, drums, percussion
• Tony Dorsey – trombone, percussion
• Howie Casey – saxophone, percussion
• Steve Howard – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion
• Thaddeus Richard – saxophone, clarinet, Western concert flute, percussion

Charts

Peak positions Chart (1977) Position Australian Kent Music Report Chart[33] 2 Austrian Albums Chart[34] 12 Canadian RPM Albums Chart[35] 1 Dutch Mega Albums Chart[36] 10 Italian Albums Chart[37] 18 Japanese Oricon LP Chart[38] 4 New Zealand Albums Chart[39] 3 Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[40] 7 Swedish Albums Chart[41] 33 UK Albums Chart[18] 8 US Billboard 200[42] 1 West German Media Control Albums Chart[43] 9

Peak positions (reissue) Chart (2013) Position Austrian Albums Chart[34] 54 Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[44] 68 Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[45] 70 Dutch Mega Albums Chart[36] 67 French SNEP Albums Chart[46] 78 Japanese Oricon Weekly Chart[47] 14 Swedish Albums Chart[41] 34 UK Albums Chart[48] 36 US Billboard 200[49] 22 US Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums[50] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1977) Position Australian Albums Chart[33] 15 Canadian Albums Chart[51] 16 Italian Albums Chart[37] 73 Japanese Albums Chart[52] 51 US Billboard 200[53] 35

Certifications Region Certification Canada (Music Canada)[54] Platinum United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Gold United States (RIAA)[56] Platinum

References

Footnotes

1. US Columbia C2K 37990^[24]
2. UK Parlophone CDPCSP 720^[1]
3. US Capitol CDP 7 46715 2/CDP 7 46716 2^[25]
4. UK Parlophone CZD 292^[1]
5. Europe Parlophone CDS 7 46715 8^[1]
6. Japan Toshiba-EMI TOCP-65507^[27]

Citations

1. Calkin, Graham. "Wings Over America". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
2. Heylin, Clinton (2010). Bootleg! The Rise And Fall Of The Secret Recording Industry. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-217-9.
3. Gambaccini, Paul (December 16, 1976). "Paul Won't Rest His Wings". Rolling Stone (San Francisco).
4. Madinger, Chip; Mark Easter (2000). Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. p. 222. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
5. Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980 (illustrated ed.). New York: Backbeat Books. p. 171. ISBN 9780879309688.
6. King, Bill (December 1978). "Inside Wings: An Interview With Ex-Drummer Joe English". Beatlefan (Decatur, Georgia).
7. Wings over America at AllMusic
8. Horowitz, Hal (5 June 2013). "Paul McCartney and Wings Wings over America – Deluxe Edition". American Songwriter. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
9. Eisinger, Dale (28 May 2013). "Album Review: Paul McCartney and Wings – Wings over America [Reissue]". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
10. Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 696. ISBN 978-184195-827-9.
11. Gary Graff & Daniel Durchholz (eds), MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, Visible Ink Press (Farmington Hills, MI, 1999; ISBN 1-57859-061-2), p. 731.
12. Bergstrom, John (30 May 2013). "Paul McCartney & Wings: Wings Over America". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
13. Ken Tucker (10 February 1977). "Wings Over America [Bonus Tracks] | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone.
14. "Paul McCartney: Album Guide". rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
15. Gallucci, Michael (16 May 2013). "Paul McCartney & Wings, 'Wings Over America' – Album Review". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
16. Mulholland, Garry (June 2013). "Paul McCartney and Wings – Wings Over America". Uncut. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
17. "Wings Over America". paulmccartney.com. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
18. "PAUL McCARTNEY | Artist". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
19. McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 107. ISBN 9780878333042.
20. Garcia, Gilbert (27 January 2003). "The ballad of Paul and Yoko". salon.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
21. McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 106. ISBN 9780878333042.
22. Calkin, Graham. "Paul McCartney – Maybe I'm Amazed". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
23. Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. pp. 220, 221, 228. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
24. "Wings Over America by Wings : Reviews and Ratings". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
25. "Wings (2) – Wings Over America (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
26. Miles, Barry; Badman, Keith, ed. (2001). The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 (reprint ed.). London: Music Sales Group. ISBN 9780711983076.
27. "Paul McCartney / "Wings Over America" deluxe edition track listing". superdeluxeedition. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
28. Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980 (illustrated ed.). New York: Backbeat Books. p. 174. ISBN 9780879309688.
29. Live Buzz website Archived 2 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
30. "'Wings over America' To Be Reissued in May". paulmccartney.com. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
31. "Paul McCartney – Maybe I'm Amazed (Vinyl)". PaulMcCartney.com. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
32. "Rockshow DVD and Blu-Ray". PaulMcCartney.com. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
33. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
34. "austriancharts.at Wings – Wings Over America" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 10 June 2013.
35. "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 26, No. 22, February 26, 1977". RPM. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
36. "dutchcharts.nl Wings – Wings Over America". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
37. "Hit Parade Italia – Gli album più venduti del 1977" (in Italian). hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
38. a-ビートルズ "– Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) – Albums Chart Daijiten – The Beatles" Check |url= value (help) (in Japanese). 2 April 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
39. "charts.org.nz – Wings – Wings Over America". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
40. "norwegiancharts.com Wings – Wings Over America". Retrieved 10 June 2013.
41. "swedishcharts.com Wings – Wings Over America" (ASP). Retrieved 10 June 2013.
42. "Wings over America > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
43. "Album Search: Wings Wings over America" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
44. "ultratop.be Wings – Wings Over America" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
45. "ultratop.be Wings – Wings Over America" (ASP). Hung Medien (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
46. "lescharts.com Wings – Wings Over America" (ASP). Hung Medien (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
47. ポール・マッカートニー&ウイングス-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック "Highest position and charting weeks of Wings over America by Paul McCartney and Wings" Check |url= value (help). oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
48. "2013 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 08/06/2013". officialcharts.com. UK Albums Chart. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
49. "Chart Moves: Paul McCartney & Wings Return, British Band Bastille Makes Chart Debut". billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
50. Grein, Paul (2 June 2013). "Week Ending June 2, 2013. Albums: The Return Of John Fogerty". Retrieved 10 June 2013.
51. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1977". RPM. 31 December 1977. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
52. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
53. "Top Pop Albums of 1977". billboard.biz. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
54. "Canadian album certifications – Wings – Wings over America". Music Canada.
55. "British album certifications – Wings – Wings over America". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Wings over America in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
56. "American album certifications – Wings – Wings over America". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH