Latest news with #VenusandMars
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Paul McCartney's Wings Album Soars More Than 5,000% In Sales
Paul McCartney's Venus and Mars charts again in the U.S. after a massive 5,435% sales spike, which ... More comes via a remastered vinyl edition. LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Sir Paul McCartney performs at The O2 Arena during his 'Got Back' world tour on December 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by) Paul McCartney doesn't need to release anything new to bring himself back on the Billboard charts, though, of course, he's not yet done creating. The legendary musician appears on a pair of rankings this week — not under his own name, but rather with the moniker he used during one of the most successful periods of his post-Beatles career. As fans raced to get their hands on a reissued version of a decades-old title, the beloved project experiences a surge in sales. Wings's Venus and Mars is back on two Billboard charts. The full-length reappears on the Vinyl Albums tally at No. 23 and also lands on the Top Album Sales ranking, where it settles at No. 45. The set isn't brand new, but now it's back in the conversation in the music industry, if only for a short time, as interest in the collection grew exponentially. Venus and Mars is now back among the bestselling vinyl titles in the U.S. for just the second time ever. It once climbed as high as No. 11 on that ranking, nearly giving Wings a top 10 on a list that didn't even exist when the album first arrived.. Over on the Top Album Sales tally, the collection has only spent a total of three frames as one of the top-selling releases in the country. The highest it's ever climbed on that chart is No. 31, so while this latest return at No. 45 doesn't mark a new peak, it's also not too far from it's best showing. According to Luminate, Venus and Mars sold 2,500 copies in the U.S. in the most recent tracking week. That's a strong number for a reissue of an album that's been around for decades — and especially notable given how little it moved just a week prior. In the previous frame, the set couldn't even manage 100 copies. That means that from one span to the next, the Wings title enjoyed a sales spike of 5,435%. The Venus and Mars surge can be attributed to a recent reissue that targets McCartney's most devoted supporters. The full-length was re-released on vinyl in a half-speed remastered form, which may not sound like a major change, but it was enough to grab the attention of collectors and audiophiles alike. While the music remains largely the same, the format offers improved sound quality and a what must be a unique listening experience. Venus and Mars originally arrived in 1975, following Wings's breakout success with Band on the Run. The set includes the beloved singles 'Listen to What the Man Said' and 'Letting Go,' and it showed that post-Beatles, McCartney was still able to craft big wins and critical favorites – ones that have clearly stood the test of time.
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Paul McCartney's Band Debuts Its Half-Century-Old Album On The Charts
Over the past several years, Paul McCartney has been reintroducing music lovers to his former group, Wings. While the band may not be as iconic as The Beatles, or even quite as talked about as McCartney's solo efforts, its discography is full of gems that fans have loved since they were new, decades ago. Wings has been celebrated throughout the past several years with multiple re-releases, deluxe editions, and other special projects that highlight the great material it recorded. The band's Venus and Mars is enjoying a brand new life across the pond as it returns to the charts, and even manages to debut on several tallies. Venus and Mars shows up on three charts in the U.K. The album debuts on two of those rankings, marking a real comeback for a title that first dropped almost exactly 50 years ago. The release opens at No. 6 on the Official Vinyl Albums chart, which ranks the bestselling vinyl releases in the country. The same collection also lands at No. 18 on the Official Albums Sales ranking. That tally measures the top-selling full-lengths across all formats, not just vinyl. While Wings has appeared on the Official Vinyl Albums chart before, top 10 success is still somewhat new for the band. Venus and Mars gives the group just its second-ever top 10 on that tally. The first came last year when Band on the Run, credited to Paul McCartney and Wings, hit No. 3 and managed two weeks somewhere on the list. So far, Wings has now placed five titles on both the Official Albums Sales and Official Vinyl Albums charts. That roundup includes Greatest, the aptly-titled compilation, as well as Red Rose Speedway, Wild Life, Band on the Run, and now Venus and Mars. Venus and Mars also returns to one additional ranking in the U.K. this week, and this time around, it performs better than ever before. The set reappears on the Official Physical Albums chart, which only tracks titles sold on physical formats like CDs and vinyl. The project reenters at No. 16—an all-time high. That reappearance is just the second for Venus and Mars on this specific list. It debuted on the tally back in November 2014 at No. 37 and then disappeared immediately. Now, a decade later, it's back and stronger than when it first arrived. McCartney recently reissued Venus and Mars, which has spurred a sales spike – and that's why it's back on the charts in the United Kingdom this week. The new edition may be somewhat disappointing to casual fans, as the vinyl offering only comes at a half-speed remastered version. There are no new tracks or special goodies, but apparently Wings – and especially McCartney – claim enough followers to make even this simple repressing a hit. Venus and Mars is the fourth full-length from Wings, which was formed by McCartney after The Beatles split. It followed Band on the Run, which is widely considered a classic and one of the most successful post-Beatles albums from any member of the band. With Venus and Mars, McCartney once again showed that he could craft smashes and bestselling projects under any name, with any group, and at any time in his storied career.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Venus and Mars" revisited: Wings' 1975 classic gets the ultimate upgrade
Lovers of the 1970s-era music of Paul McCartney and Wings are living the dream. When it comes to new content, we've been treated to one revelation after another in recent years. Hot on the heels of last year's "One Hand Clapping" is a newly minted half-speed vinyl edition of "Venus and Mars," Wings' exquisite follow-up release to the chart-busting "Band on the Run" album. And it doesn't disappoint. Originally released in May 1975, "Venus and Mars" proved that "Band on the Run" hadn't been a fluke. When it came to the "One Hand Clapping" sessions, McCartney wanted to test Wings' roadworthiness, an exam that the post-Beatles outfit passed with flying colors. "Venus and Mars" acted as the blueprint, then, for the blockbuster "Wings Over the World" tour. Indeed, the epic 'Rock Show' prefigured McCartney's plans for conquering the rock 'n' roll box office. With unchecked bravado, he promises to stage Wings blowout events at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and fabled North American venues like Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl. 'We'll be there!' he sings. Propelled by the chart-topping single 'Listen to What the Man Said,' "Venus and Mars" typified Wings' warm, cozy and colorful 1970s vibe. Recorded in large part during the band's sojourn to New Orleans, the record positively brims with energy and musical timbre. 'Call Me Back Again' and 'You Gave Me the Answer,' for instance, find McCartney mining the city's jazz tradition for a pair of throwback songs that would earn their places on the "Wings Over the World" setlist. But for many fans, the real star of the re-release will be the Dolby Atmos version of the album. Supervised by Giles Martin and Steve Orchard, the "Venus and Mars" Atmos experience absolutely soars. Songs like 'Love in Song,' 'Letting Go' and 'Spirits of Ancient Egypt' thrive in that immersive environment. With the addition of so much sound and space, listeners will feel like they're hearing these mid-1970s McCartney gems for the very first its heyday, "Venus and Mars" proved to be a harbinger of things to come, eventually selling more than four million copies. But Wings was only just getting started. Released in 1976, chart-topping follow-ups in "Wings at the Speed of Sound" and "Wings Over America" underscored the band's status as an honest-to-goodness juggernaut. And the group's sales record speaks for itself. During the band's nine-year run from 1971 through 1980, the group charted 14 Top 10 US singles, culminating in the number-one hit 'Coming Up (Live at Glasgow).'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul McCartney Announces New Book Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run
The post Paul McCartney Announces New Book Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run appeared first on Consequence. Paul McCartney has announced a new book, though it's not about The Beatles. Rather, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run tells the story of — you guessed it — Macca's post-Beatles band Wings. Set for release on November 4th, the book was authored by McCartney himself and edited by Ted Widmer, an award-winning historian. The first-hand account is organized around nine Wings albums, chronicling the band's history from the break up of The Beatles to Wings' own dissolution in 1981. Pre-orders are ongoing. 'I'm so very happy to be transported back to the time that was Wings and relive some of our madcap adventures through this book,' McCartney said in a statement. 'Starting from scratch after The Beatles felt crazy at times. There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision. But as we got better I thought, 'OK this is really good.' We proved Wings could be a really good band. To play to huge audiences in the same way The Beatles had and have an impact in a different way. It was a huge buzz.' Supplementing the words of Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run will be a host of archival photographs of the legendary band, including previously unreleased images. According to the press release, it is also part of a wider reexamination of the era of Wings that includes a theatrical release of the rare live-in-studio performance film One Hand Clapping (as well as the accompanying album), 50th anniversary editions of Band on the Run and Venus and Mars, and a new documentary from Morgan Neville about Wings and McCartney's solo work. 'Wings was about love, family, friendship, and artistic growth, often in the face of tremendous adversity,' Widmer said. 'It was a joy to relive the madcap adventures of a special band, by listening to their stories, and compiling this oral history.' In other McCartney news, the iconic artist recently closed out SNL50, performed a pair of crazy underplays at New York's Bowery Ballroom, and expressed interest in recording a new album. Paul McCartney Announces New Book Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run Jonah Krueger Popular Posts Tony Hawk Wishes Kurt Cobain Could Meet Their Shared Grandson J6 Prison Choir to Perform at Kennedy Center Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at 39 The 69 Sexiest Film Scenes of All Time Wu-Tang Clan Announce Final Tour with Run the Jewels as Special Guest Classic MTV Unplugged Episodes Now Streaming on Paramount+ Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
The Guardian
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Madcap adventures': Paul McCartney co-authors book about his time in Wings
An account of Paul McCartney's post-Beatles career at the helm of Wings is to be published later this year. Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, by McCartney and historian Ted Widmer, will hit UK and US bookshops on 4 November. 'I'm so very happy to be transported back to the time that was Wings and relive some of our madcap adventures through this book,' said McCartney. 'Starting from scratch after the Beatles felt crazy at times. There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision. But as we got better I thought, 'OK, this is really good.' We proved Wings could be a really good band. To play to huge audiences in the same way the Beatles had and have an impact in a different way. It was a huge buzz.' Formed in 1971, Wings released seven studio albums, a live album and a compilation album over the ensuing decade, including Band on the Run, Venus and Mars, and At the Speed of Sound. Alongside McCartney, the band's core members were his wife, Linda, and Denny Laine. 'Wings was about love, family, friendship and artistic growth, often in the face of tremendous adversity', said Widmer, who was a speechwriter in the Clinton White House. Described as an 'oral history', the book will remember Wings' songs, collaborations and performances, drawing on interviews with McCartney and others in the band's orbit. Organised around nine Wings albums, the book 'sheds new light on the immediate aftermath and seismic global impact of the Beatles' break-up', according to its publisher, Penguin imprint Allen Lane. 'The narrative follows the various incarnations of the band as they survive a mugging in Nigeria, appear unannounced at UK university halls, tour in a sheared-off school bus with their children, while producing some of the most indelible and acclaimed music of the decade,' Allen Lane added. The volume will also feature more than 100 photographs, many of which have never been seen before. The book is part of a wider re-examination of the band's catalogue, which has included the theatrical release last year of performance film One Hand Clapping and its accompanying album, 50th anniversary editions of Band on the Run (released last year) and Venus and Mars (released next month), and a forthcoming documentary about McCartney's solo and Wings-related work of the 70s by film-maker Morgan Neville.
