Paul McCartney to Reissue Wings’ ‘Venus and Mars,’ ‘At the Speed of Sound’
Paul McCartney's latest reissue project will focus on a pair of mid-'70s Wings albums, 'Venus and Mars' and 'At the Speed of Sound.' Both topped the American charts, spawning a pair of No. 1 singles in 'Listen to What the Man Said' and 'Silly Love Songs' on their way to nearly 8 million in combined sales. And now they will be made available in a variety of formats on Sept. 23 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.
For both reissues, a two-CD Standard Edition includes the remastered original release and a second disc of demos and previously unreleased tracks. The three-disc Deluxe Edition also features video, with a hardback book featuring previously unpublished photographs, new interviews with McCartney, expanded track-by-track information and other archival materials. There will also be gatefold vinyl editions, with a download card. Digital versions will be mastered for iTunes and in Hi-Res.
Among the most notable items on the 'Venus and Mars' reissue is 'My Carnival,' a track from those sessions that would later surface as the b-side of McCartney's 'Spies Like Us' in 1985. There are also additional live performances from Wings' concert film 'One Hand Clapping,' and the stand-alone single 'Junior's Farm' / 'Sally G.' Bonus video on the Deluxe Edition includes Wings' 1975 stop at Elstree.
Additional audio for 'Speed of Sound' includes demos of tracks like 'Let 'Em In' and 'She's My Baby,' plus a special John Bonham version of 'Beware My Love.' (Bonham would later collaborate with McCartney and Wings on 1979's 'Back to the Egg.') The Deluxe DVD includes the original video for 'Silly Love Songs,' and material from Wings' appearances at Wembley and in Venice.
McCartney's Archive Collection has already claimed two Grammy awards, for best historical album in 2012 for a previous reissue of 'Band on the Run' and for best special edition package in 2014 for 'Wings over America.' The latter featured live performances by Wings that took place between the release of 'Venus and Mars' in 1975 and 'At the Speed of Sound' in 1976.
UPDATE: On Aug. 27, the Second Disc reported that, due to production issues, the release date for both sets has been pushed back to Nov. 4.
'Venus and Mars' Reissue Track Listing
CD 1 – Remastered Album
1. 'Venus and Mars'
2. 'Rock Show'
3. 'Love in Song'
4. 'You Gave Me the Answer'
5. 'Magneto and Titanium Man'
6. 'Letting Go'
7. 'Venus and Mars – Reprise'
8. 'Spirits of Ancient Egypt'
9. 'Medicine Jar'
10. 'Call Me Back Again'
11. 'Listen to What the Man Said'
12. 'Treat Her Gently' / 'Lonely Old People'
13. 'Crossroads'
CD 2 – Bonus Audio
1. 'Junior’s Farm'
2. 'Sally G'
3. 'Walking in the Park with Eloise'
4. 'Bridge on the River Suite'
5. 'My Carnival'
6. 'Going to New Orleans (My Carnival)'
7. 'Hey Diddle' [Ernie Winfrey Mix]
8. 'Let’s Love'
9. 'Soily' [from 'One Hand Clapping']
10. 'Baby Face' [from 'One Hand Clapping']
11. 'Lunch Box' / 'Odd Sox'
12. '4th of July'
13. 'Rock Show' [Old Version]
14. 'Letting Go' [Single Edit]
DVD – Bonus Film
1. 'Recording 'My Carnival''
2. 'Bon Voyageur'
3. 'Wings at Elstree'
4. ''Venus and Mars' TV Ad'
'At the Speed of Sound' Reissue Track Listing
CD 1 – Remastered Album
1. 'Let 'Em In'
2. 'The Note You Never Wrote'
3. 'She’s My Baby'
4. 'Beware My Love'
5. 'Wino Junko'
6. 'Silly Love Songs'
7. 'Cook of the House'
8. 'Time to Hide'
9. 'Must Do Something about It'
10. 'San Ferry Anne'
11. 'Warm and Beautiful'
CD 2 – Bonus Audio
1. 'Silly Love Songs' [Demo]
2. 'She’s My Baby' [Demo]
3. 'Message to Joe'
4. 'Beware My Love' [John Bonham Version]
5. 'Must Do Something About It' [Paul’s Version]
6. 'Let ‘Em In' [Demo]
7. 'Warm and Beautiful' [Instrumental Demo]
DVD – Bonus Film
1. ''Silly Love Songs' Music Video'
2. 'Wings over Wembley'
3. 'Wings in Venice'