Wings VENUS AND MARS (LP)

Wings: Paul McCartney (vocals, guitar, bass); Denny Laine (guitar, background vocals); Jimmy McCulloch (guitar); Linda McCartney (keyboards, background vocals); Joe English (drums).
Additional personnel: Dave Mason (guitar); Tom Scott (saxophone); Allen Toussaint (piano); Geoff Britton (drums); Afro (congas).
Recorded at Sea Saint, New Orleans, Louisiana & Wally Heider, Los Angeles, California.
Wings: Paul McCartney (bass, guitar, vocals); Denny Laine (guitar, background vocals); Jimmy McCulloch (guitar); Linda McCartney (keyboards, background vocals); Joe English (drums).
Additional personnel: Dave Mason (guitar); Tom Scott (saxophone); Allen Toussaint (piano); Geoff Britton (drums); Afro (congas).
Originally released on Capitol (11419).
All songs written by Paul McCartney except "Medicine Jar" (Jimmy McCulloch/Colin Allen) and "Crossroads Theme" (Tony Hatch).
Includes 3 tracks that were not on the original release of VENUS & MARS.
VENUS & MARS is an interesting mix of musical styles, punctuated by Paul McCartney's unerring sense of melody and hooky songs. Along with founding members Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney & Denny Laine, recent additions Jimmy McCulloch (ex-Thunderclap Newman) Joe English rounded out the band on guitar and drums respectively. Guests for these sessions (partially recorded at New Orleans' famed Sea Saint Studios) included N'awlins pianist Allen Toussaint, saxophonist Tom Scott and guitarist Dave Mason.
The highlights include the hard-rocking anthem "Rock Show" (later used to great effect in the Rock For Kampuchea benefit concert five years later) and the gently nostalgic "You Gave Me The Answer," Macca's tribute to the sounds of vaudeville introduced to him by his late father. Elsewhere, the mysticism of the French Quarter is embedded within "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt" while New Orleans' rich R&B tradition is all over the horn-laden "Call Me Back Again." The bouncy number one single "Listen To What The Man Said" also contrasts nicely with the melancholic title track.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop