Paul McCartney And The Band On The Run 50 Years Later
The year was 1973 and Beatle’s Paul McCartney was on his 5rd solo effort after the Fab Four. Paul McCartney had a spontaneous idea to record his next effort in an exotic location. Paul picked the location and two of his band members backed out of the project.
The Band On The Run
The album was recorded in Lagos, Nigeria. McCartney with wife Linda and Denny Laine. McCartney played bass, drums, percussion, and most lead guitar parts. The studio was of poor quality and conditions in Nigeria were tense and difficult. Not a great neighborhood as they were robbed at knifepoint, losing a bag of song lyrics and demo tapes.
Record Sleeve for the Band on the Run album 1973
Disagreement With The Locals
Some political activists in Nigeria accused Paul and the band of stealing African music and beats of the land. Paul invited the activists to the studio to prove that was not the case. Well-known drummer from the band Cream Ginger Baker invited Paul and the band to record somewhere else safer. Did for one day and recorded one song on the album with Ginger Baker, not the drums for which he is famous but listed on the credits playing a tin can filled with gravel.
Recording for the majority of the album’s basic tracks, together with initial overdubbing, was completed after six weeks in Nigeria. Then off to London to finish dubs and mixing. Band on the Run was eventually certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and would go on to sell 6 million copies worldwide.
Paul was an icon in the ‘60s with the Beatles, but as a solo artist, he also fit in perfectly on radio playlists in the ‘70s. The title track to Wings’ best album
The 50th Anniversary Re Release of Band On The Run
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, a new expanded edition out now of the album that highlights McCartney’s reputation after the Beatles. The 50th anniversary edition of Band on the Run will be available in a variety of formats. Half speed master vinyl pressing. The 2LP vinyl edition features the original album, remastered at half speed, and a second LP titled “Underdubbed” Mixes Edition. Available in cd format.
The Famous Band On The Run Album Cover Photo Shoot
The album cover is the McCartneys, Laine, and six other well-known people dressed as convicts and posed as though caught by a prison searchlight. The Photo shoot was made difficult by everyone allegedly being in a “fog” following a party held by Paul McCartney.
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