Venus And Mars [Original recording remastered]

Venus And Mars is the fourth album Wings released and followed up the critically acclaimed and massively successful "Band On The Run" . Recorded in New Orleans the recording sessions saw the band expand from a three piece to a five piece with the addition of Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar and Geoff Britton on drums .These two didn't get along though and their enmity led to Britton quitting halfway through the recording having only contributed to three songs . He was replaced by American Joe English so the album could be finished which of course it was , being released on May 27th 1975.
It received a mixed critical reception but some of that was undoubtedly backlash after the lauded "Band On The Run". Venus And Mars , like anything McCartney had a hand in post Beatles nowhere near qualifies as innovative or even especially diverse but it does contain some superb pop/rock songs . First single off the album the sprightly and hugely whistle-ble "Listen To What The Man Said" is exactly the sort of melodious monstrously enjoyable fare McCartney has always excelled at .You can quall at his over-matey manner and his irritating constant use of the Victory sign but he can write tremendous songs. Which makes awful awkward rawk fare as errr "Rock Song" even more baffling. Especially as it's book ended with the fragile, lovely but curt title track and the gossamer light "Love In Song". No word will do to describe "Magneto And Titanium Man" but bouncy , maybe effervescent , a fact that will alienate many but it's another peerless emollient McCartney moment. As is "You Gave Me The Answer" which even with its quaint vaudevillian air is superlatively melodious and enjoyable.
The album does have some variety too with the bluesy brassy strains of "Letting Go " , the jerky rhythms and spectral keyboards of "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt" ( Sung by Denny Laine) up against the distorted wha wha boogie of "Medicine Jar" ( written by Jimmy McCulloch and Colin Allen with vocals by McCulloch) and the New Orleans influenced swamp blues of "Call Me Back Again". Best of all is the way that "Listen To What The Man Said" segues into the divine ballad "Treat Her Gently (Lonely Old People)"a song which showcases McCartney's under rated vocals . Maybe too sentimental for some I suppose but the melody is just exquisite .
I think its safe to ignore the closing "Crossroads Theme" and the extra track s recorded at the same sessions and used as B-sides are two forgettable instrumentals -"Zoo Gang"(B side to "Band On The Run") and "Lunch Box/Odd Sox" ( B-side to "Coming Up" in 1980 with another track whose name escapes me) ."My Carnival " B -side to "Spies Like Us" in 1985 is more interesting , a typically up-beat and vibrant song but with an off the cuff live feel.
Along with the oft mentioned "Band On the Run" , "McCartney 2" and "Tug Of War" this is my favourite post Beatle McCartney album .A confident classy collection of pop and rock with just enough stylistic and assimilated verve to stop it getting stale or too cloying. Watching him on TV sometimes you want to slap him , or at least I do, but I repeat he writes tremendous songs. And for that I'd forgive him just about anything .

This is a superb follow up to the much heralded 'Band on the Run' and features the best Wings line up of Paul, Linda, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English. The album, full of rich melodies, rockets to life with Venus and Mars and then into Rock Show which captures the excitement of going to a concert in the 70s. Love in Song is a beautiful McCartney song, good enough to appear on any Beatles album. We then have a follow up to The Beatles' Honey Pie in the form of You Gave Me the Answer - a fond look back at the dancebands of the 20s and 30s. Magneto and Titanium Man is an action packed track, inspired by Marvels comics.

The album continues with great numbers, including a vocal by Jimmy McCulloch on Medicine Jar. Listen To What The Man Said hits the heights as a classic 70s pop song and this classic Wings set closes with a knock out version of the Crossroads theme, which was used to close the TV programme to heighten the drama.

Venus and Mars are alright and Wings are too!

What a wonderful album this is. From the twinkling, tingling opening of the title track we move into the fantastically exuberant Rock Show and any worries you might have instantly melt away.

Already you're hooked.

The thoughtful Love in Song 'My heart cries out for love and all that goes with loving' is spookily realised through synths and water-bird trumpets, slowly grinding its melody through a vast landscape of sound. It is a track that grows with further listening but that, despite its melody, points to the difference between this album and Band on the Run. The darkness and vastness, the more-mature sound and floating melodies of Venus and Mars to me equate to a dreamy star-filled night, spread outside your bedroom window. Band on the Run is beautiful, but never as defined in its motive (This is possibly why it is also the more accesible, popular album. It can be moulded better to your own imagination. Venus and Mars presents its cosmic-blend and your mind is set off into its spacey blackness. Though there is room for movement, it is movement primarily within this intergalactic world).

You Gave me the Answer is music-hall kitch, but sweetly honest too, even in its parody, and Magneto and Titanium Man is just great. Brilliant. It sounds so fresh now that I can imagine if it was re-released, with some kind of funky comic-cartoon video, it would be a great hit.

Letting go is grinding, guitar rock, and beats down your stereo with a mallet whilst Spirits of Ancient Egypt is another funky, slightly hazey track.

I love Medicine Jar too. Often dismissed because it isn't by McCartney, and because Venus and Mars is only usually bought by McCartney fans (Rather than, say, the general music fan), it is a stonker. A great stomping rhythmn and some great imagery.

Call me back again is an echoey stadium track, McCartney on great form vocally, and rises and rises into a great singalong grandness.

Listen to what the man said, everyone knows, and is the most poppy of any of the tracks here.

Treat her gently is sweet and melodic (Though maybe a little patronising for the elderly, of which Sir Paul is kind of one now though not so lonely) and Crossroads theme grinds us to a halt.

Overall a great album. I love it.