Wings' Venus and Mars Appreciation Thread

I love "Venus and Mars!" My favorite album though is "Back to the Egg." However my favorite song is on "RAM." I was five when my parents and I drove from Alaska to New York in a Chevy pickup and camper rig. I had my 5th birthday on that trip and caught my first fish and met my extended family in Monticello for the first time. Some of my fondest memories are of me and my parents singing "Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey" at the top of our lungs (along with "Black Water" by the Doobie Bros, both were in constant rotation on the radio no matter where you went.) Freakin' great times, been a Wings fan ever since!

 

Why wasn't "Medicine Jar" a bigger hit than it was? I think it's a great song.

Jimmy McCulloch: 'Medicine Jar' Single (1976) by RailfanBronyMedia on DeviantArt

 

That is a made-up/fantasy story that you linked to. "Medicine Jar" was never released as a single.

Regardless, "Medicine Jar" did get a good amount of FM radio airplay, at least in the New York City area.

 

Same in the Chicago area, Medicine Jar from V&M just like Time to Hide from WATSOS got plenty of mid 70's FM rock radio airplay!

 

Yes, Time To Hide received similar airplay here as well. Solid rockers.

 

first UK press sounds better than the archive series

 

Agreed - an incredible track, and had the same reaction. I was eleven when I first heard the album.

 

Love in Song seems out of place to me as the third song after Venus and Mars and Rockshow. Love in Song is a buzz kill after those two songs. Medicine Jar and Call Me Back Again should be on side one. Love in Song and You Gave Me The Answer should be moved to side two. I usually skip Love In Song, Treat Her Gently and Crossroads Theme. The rest of the songs are fantastic.

 

I prefer this album to Band on the Run. Great songs.

 

Always loved his scat vocals on that.

 

Any good cover versions of Paul McCartney's Love in Song?
Love in Song is one of my favorites from anyone, years ago I asked if there were any good cover versions

 

Yesterday, I happened to listen to the single version of Letting Go. Sounds much less compressed than the album version. Especially, the drums. Shame the whole album does not sound like that. I really like that album.

 

Guess I should open my archive set now.

 

This prompts me to ask whether anyone recently has been able to find and download the deluxe archive edition high-res files? The PM.com site "redeem" page doesn't work and I've been unable to get any responsemresolution - my fault for not downloading the files back when I bought the set but I didn't imagine would simply no longer be available!

I know this was an issue for a number of folks and I've searched on here but couldn't find any solution. Any info/insight is greatly appreciated and sorry to jump in with this.

P. S. - "Love In Song" is one of the best songs on the album!

 

The book for the box set is great!

The sound is a slight improvement to these ears, but still so muddy sounding in parts...……….

 

Same in the Chicago area, lots of rock radio airplay!

 

I think it is now out of print, so get it if you can in this quarantine..............

 

I know I’ve already vented earlier in this thread, but I’m listening to the latest reissue vinyl again right now, and the compression and the mixes on some tracks are just so unbelievably awful that it staggers me. It would have been a depressing nightmare to remaster, because improving the sound would’ve been utterly impossible. I love the songs, the performances and the arrangements, but this should NEVER have been re-released without a complete remix.

 

I agree a remix was needed for V&M. I am not a vinyl guy at all and still love my CD's. The CD I found a slight sonic upgrade. I could not comment on the archive edition vinyl...….

 

My favorite Wings album, hands down. And I love Magneto.

 

Great Wings album!

 

Good to see a thread for this album, as I was wanting to ask about the mix.

On the archive edition book, it is said that Linda and Paul preferred a rough mix of Listen To What The Man Said, and that's why the backing track is sucked into the void for a few seconds towards the end.

But in fact, I think the whole album mix is weird (although I like it), and I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing was a rough mix released at the expense of a more polished final mix.

Anyone can put some light on this? At least a final mix of Listen To What The Man Said does exist and the latest remaster was a lost opportunity to release it, DAMNIT PAUL!

 

Love the LP.
'Letting Go' is the last time on a studio album where Paul sounds like a Beatle to me. Fitting title, I should think.

 

I respectfully disagree. I think "Love In Song" is perfectly placed there. It nearly sends shivers up my spine having those first few notes come in as V&M/RS is fading out. This and the "Tug Of War"/"Take It Away" transition are two of my favorite in his entire catalogue.

 

All-time great album.