Wings
Venus and Mars (Archive Collection)

THE REVIEW

The original edition is perhaps the best-packaged product of the '70s. Beautiful cover, voted the best of 1975, created in collaboration between Linda and the Hipgnosis Studio, two enclosed posters, and three stickers. "Venus and Mars" was the first Wings album to be launched in grand style with a party aboard the Queen Mary and extensive promotion. The reason was very simple, as the Over the World Tour was being prepared, and the band had big plans in that regard. Compared to previous records, it's a bit less spontaneous, smoother and very FM despite being born from various sessions between the Southern United States, New Orleans, and England. It's a bit like the Wings' "Rumors," but not to be underestimated because it boasts a sound homogeneity that would never be heard again in a Wings or McCartney solo album. In this new edition, there's little to add, exceptional audio restored to a strong vigor that was missing even in the '75 master, which sounded strangely flat, and the '93 edition is to be completely discarded. The initial "Venus and Mars/Rockshow" immediately makes things clear with its warm and enveloping atmosphere, even the quirky closing with the soap opera theme "Crossroads" is a listening pleasure. In between are the gems "Love in Song" and "Medice Jar", recorded still with Geoff Britton on drums before Joe English took over during the work. McCulloch's composition is stunning, and I personally consider it one of the group's best tracks. Denny Laine collaborates a little, "Spirits of Ancient Egypt" remains a minor composition, although live it proved its worth like everything else on the album. But it's the bonus disc that provides interesting insights in this edition; Paul adds the 45-rpm "Junior's Farm/Sally G" from 1974 and the Country Hams piece "Walking in the Park With Eloise," a jazz composition written by his father, which cleaned up is a nice little gem. From the documentary "One Hand Clapping" a stunning and rock-solid version of "Soily" and two demos of songs intended for other artists. "Let's Love" is a piano composition for Peggy Lee, while "4th of July" is a lovely song written with Linda for John Christie and dating back to the Nashville sessions. Here it is presented in a rough version with guitar. Other treats include the single version edited by Alan Parsons of "Letting Go" which differs with organ introduction and Britton's drumming, and an early take of "Rock Show" with no frills and very raw.

Unexpectedly, McCartney gifted three other tracks from his website, two different takes of "Letting Go" and "Rock Show," the first in particular still in its raw blues form, and a previously unheard track: "Love my Baby", a blues lullaby played on the xylophone.