Venus and Mars | ||||
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Studio album by Wings | ||||
Released | 27 May 1975 | |||
Recorded | 5–13 November 1974; 20 January–20 February 1975 | |||
Studio |
Abbey Road Studios, London Sea Saint, New Orleans Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles |
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Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 43:11 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Paul McCartney | |||
Wings chronology | ||||
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Singles from Venus and Mars | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Robert Christgau | B+ |
Classic Rock | 8/10 |
The Essential Rock Discography | 6/10 |
Mojo | |
MusicHound | 2/5 |
Q | |
Record Collector | |
Rolling Stone | (unfavourable) |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide |
Venus and Mars is the fourth studio album by Wings. Released in 1975 as the follow-up to the successful Band on the Run, Venus and Mars continued Wings' string of success and would prove a springboard for a year-long worldwide tour. It was Paul McCartney's first post-Beatles album to be released worldwide on the Capitol Records label.
After recording Band on the Run (1973) as a three-piece with wife Linda and guitarist Denny Laine, McCartney added Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar and Geoff Britton on drums to the Wings line-up in 1974. Having written several new songs for the next album, McCartney decided on New Orleans, Louisiana as the recording venue, and Wings headed there in January 1975. Before the departure to New Orleans, Wings had recorded three songs at Abbey Road Studios in London in November 1974: "Letting Go", "Love In Song" and "Medicine Jar", all overdubbed later at Sea Saint Studios between January and February.
As soon as the sessions began, the personality clash that had been evident between McCulloch and Britton during Wings' 1974 sessions in Nashville became more pronounced, and Britton – after a six-month tenure – quit Wings, having only played on three of the new songs. A replacement, American Joe English, was quickly auditioned and hired to finish the album.
The sessions proved to be productive, not only finishing the entire album, but also several additional songs, including two future McCartney B-sides, "Lunch Box/Odd Sox" and "My Carnival". McCartney also decided to link the songs together much like the Beatles had on Abbey Road to give the album a more continuous feel.