Song of the Week #111 – “Band on the Run”
Written by admin on June 18, 2012 – 12:15 pm -| In celebration of Paul McCartney’s 70th Birthday today, “Band on the Run” has been selected as Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.
“Band on the Run” was the title track of Wings’ third album, released in December 1973. The song was also released on single the following spring, backed with “Zoo Gang” in the UK and “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” in the US. |
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“Band on the Run” was the most successful album recorded by Wings and the title track remains one of the band’s most popular songs. Things didn’t get off to a good start with the project though. McCartney’s decision to record the album in Nigeria was not a popular choice for bandmates Henry McCullough (lead guitar) and Denny Seiwell (drums), and both decided not to go. Losing half the band might have prompted some artists to reschedule the sessions or at least find replacements, but McCartney was undeterred and continued as planned, ultimately playing the drum and guitar parts himself.
The Lagos trip turned out to be eventful and not just from a musical point of view. The band arrived to find a country in the grip of a corrupt military government, and an unfinished, poorly equipped recording studio. There were also mixed reactions from locals, with the rather misguided political activist Fela Ransome-Kuti accusing McCartney of going to Lagos to steal African music. If that wasn’t enough, Paul and Linda were robbed at knifepoint one evening. The band must have begun to think that McCullough and Seiwell were right to opt-out of the trip.
Paul McCartney in the Lagos studio
“Band on the Run” has an unusual three-part structure, recalling similar experiments with the Beatles, including the Abbey Road medley. Each section of “Band on the Run” has a distinct musical style, without an obvious progression to the next part. The song begins in subdued fashion, telling of the band’s imprisonment (“Stuck inside these four walls/Sent inside forever”), and this theme continues with the more lively second part in which thoughts of escape are communicated (“If I ever get out of here/Thought of giving it all away”), before the band breaks free in the final part and the whole thing turns into a great hook-laden rock song.
In an interview with Paul McCartney conducted by Timothy White for a 1990 radio show titled “McCartney: The First 20 Years,” McCartney explained his inspiration for the song “Band on the Run”:
| “Well, at the time, bands like us and the Eagles were feeling like and being treated like, outlaws and desperadoes. I mean, people were getting busted—for pot, that is. And that’s about all they were getting popped for. Never anything serious. And our argument was that we didn’t want to be outlaws. We just wanted to be part of the regular scene, you know, and make our music and live in peace. We didn’t see why we should be treated like criminals when all we wanted to do was smoke pot instead of hitting the booze. And that’s what the song was about; it was my reaction to that whole scene.” |
The prison escape theme was carried through to the front cover of the album, with Paul, Linda and Denny Laine caught in a prison spotlight with high-profile people of the day, including Christopher Lee and James Coburn.
The “Band on the Run” album won a Grammy award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
“Band on the Run” – Paul McCartney & Wings
Authorship
“Band on the Run” was written by Paul and Linda McCartney. Linda is credited on all songs on the “Band on the Run” album, apart from “Let Me Roll It” which was a solo effort by Paul and “No Words” which was written by Paul and Denny Laine.
Recording date/location
“Band on the Run” was recorded at the EMI studio in Lagos, Nigeria in August/ September 1973. Overdubs and orchestral tracks were added in October at George Martin’s AIR Studios in London.
Musicians
The following played on “Band on the Run”:
- Paul McCartney – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, drums
- Linda McCartney – keyboards, backing vocals
- Denny Laine – guitar, backing vocals.
The orchestral overdubs were arranged by Tony Visconti.
Chart performance
The single “Band on the Run” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and sold one million copies.
The single peaked at number three in the UK.
The “Band on the Run” album reached number one on the US and UK album charts.
Notable covers
“Band on the Run” – Richie Havens
Richie Havens was quick off the mark with his cover of “Band on the Run,” including it on his 1974 album “Mixed Bag II.” It’s an interesting take on the song, which incorporates the “band on the run” hook from the third part with the “if I ever get out of here…” lyrics of the second part, which are repeated. There is nothing from the first part of the song at all. It was a worthwhile experiment that made for a solid album track.
“Mixed Bag II” is available for purchase on Richie Havens’ website
“Band on the Run” – Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters cover of “Band on the Run” was recorded for the album “Radio 1 Established 1967,” which celebrated 40 years of the radio station with modern covers of one song from each of those 40 years. The band recorded the song at Abbey Road Studios, winning approval from Paul McCartney who was in attendance.
The band not surprisingly rocks a little harder than Wings, with a stronger drum part and heavier guitar sound, but overall it’s a pretty straight cover, incorporating all three parts of the song.
There will be a new Song of the Week on June 25.
“Band on the Run” was remastered and reissued in four editions in 2010. You can choose from the standard single CD, 2CD+1DVD special edition, 3CD+1DVD deluxe edition, or 2LP vinyl edition.
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Band on the Run – standard edition (CD) |
Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
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Band on the Run – special edition |
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Band on the Run – deluxe edition |
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Band on the Run – vinyl edition |
Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
Tags: Band on the Run, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, Paul McCartney and Wings, Richie Havens, Wings
Posted in Song of the Week |
