Venus and Mars (album)

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UK release date:: May 27, 1975

US release date:: May 27, 1975

Timeline

Previous album Oct 04, 1974 • "Smiler" by Rod Stewart released in the UK

Article May 24, 1975 • Wings win a Disc 1975 poll award

Article May 26, 1975 • Paul and Linda McCartney at the premiere of "Tommy"

Album May 27, 1975 • "Venus and Mars" by Wings released in the UK

Album May 27, 1975 • "Venus and Mars" by Wings released in the US

Article May 31, 1975 • Linda McCartney is ordered to have therapy following drug possession

Master release

Venus and Mars

By Wings

Related sessions

This album has been recorded during the following studio sessions

Recording "Letting Go"

Nov 05, 1974

Recording "Love In Song"

Nov 07, 1974

Recording "Medicine Jar"

Nov 13, 1974

Venus And Mars sessions at Sea-Saint Studios

January 16th - February 24th, 1975

Recording "Venus And Mars - Reprise"

Jan 22, 1975

Recording "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt"

Jan 23, 1975

Recording "You Gave Me The Answer"

Jan 24, 1975

Recording "Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People"

Jan 25, 1975

Recording "Rock show", "Magneto And Titanium Man"

Jan 27, 1975

Recording "Venus And Mars"

Jan 29, 1975

Recording "Listen To What The Man Said", "Crossroads"

Jan 31, 1975

Venus And Mars sessions at Wally Heider Studios

February - March 24th, 1975

Recording "Medicine Jar", "Call Me Back Again"

Feb 03, 1975

Recording "You Gave Me The Answer"

Feb 04, 1975

Recording "Rock Show"

Feb 05, 1975

Recording "Letting Go", "Venus And Mars (Reprise)", "Medicine Jar"

Feb 06, 1975

Recording "Magneto And Titanium Man"

Feb 14, 1975

Recording "Magneto And Titanium Man"

Feb 17, 1975

Recording "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt"

Feb 18, 1975

Overdubs for "Venus And Mars", "Rock Show"

Feb 26, 1975

Overdubs for "Love In Song"

Feb 27, 1975

Overdubs for "Medicine Jar"

Mar 02, 1975

Overdubs for "Listen To What The Man Said"

Mar 03 to Mar 06, 1975

Overdubs for "Rock Show", "You Gave Me The Answer"

Mar 06, 1975

String overdubs for Venus And Mars album

Mar 10, 1975

Overdubs for "Call Me Back Again"

Mar 10, 1975

Overdubs for "Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People"

Mar 12, 1975

Overdubs for "Venus And Mars (Reprise)", "Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People"

Mar 14, 1975

Mixing "Magneto And Titanium Man", "Letting Go"

Mar 15, 1975 ?

Overdubs for "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt", mixing "Lunch Box / Odd Sox"

Mar 17, 1975

Mixing "Love In Song"

Mar 19, 1975

Mixing "Rock Show"

Mar 20, 1975

Mixing "You Gave Me The Answer"

Mar 21, 1975

Mixing "Medicine Jar"

Mar 22, 1975

Mixing "Venus And Mars (Reprise)"

Mar 24, 1975

Mixing "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt"

Mar 25, 1975

Mixing "Call Me Back Again", "Listen To What The Man Said"

Mar 26, 1975

Mixing "Treat Her Gently - Lonely People", "Crossroads"

Mar 27, 1975

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Track list

Disc 1

Venus And Mars

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

1:19 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Electric guitar, Finger cymbals, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Piano

Denny Laine :: Moog, Sitar

Jimmy McCulloch :: 12-string guitar, Electric guitar

Joe English :: Drums

Tony Dorsey :: Clarinet

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 29, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Feb 26, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: February 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Rock Show

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

5:33 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Hand bells, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Hand bells, Moog, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Hand bells

Jimmy McCulloch :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Drums, Electric guitar, Hand bells, Moog

Joe English :: Backing vocals, Drums, Hand bells, Percussion

Allen Toussaint :: Electric guitar, Piano

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Kenneth Williams :: Congas

Ken Lexton :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 27, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Recording:: Feb 05, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Feb 26 and Mar 06 and Mar 07, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 20, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Love In Song

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

3:07 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Hand bells, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Hand bells, Moog

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Piano

Jimmy McCulloch :: 12-string guitar

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums, Milk bottles

Sid Sharp Strings :: Bass, Celli, Viola, Violins

Gayle Levant :: Harp

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs & strings)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Nov 07, 1974

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: January - February 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Feb 27 and Mar 10, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios & Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 19, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

You Gave Me The Answer

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

2:19 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar

Joe English :: Backing vocals, Drums

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Michael J Pierce :: Clarinet

Vito Platomone :: Clarinet

Carlos Klejman :: Violin

Russell Joseph Bobrowski :: Violin

Ronald B. Benko :: Trumpet

John K. Branch :: Viola

Harold Joseph Ballam :: Bassoon

Bernard S. Richterman :: Cello

Session Recording:: Jan 24, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Recording:: Feb 04, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 06, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 21, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Magneto And Titanium Man

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

3:21 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Electric guitar, Moog, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Clarinet

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Electric guitar

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar

Joe English :: Drums

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 27, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Recording:: Feb 14, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Recording:: Feb 17, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 15, 1975 ?

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Letting Go

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

4:35 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Clyde Kerr :: Trumpet

John Longo :: Trumpet

Michael Pierce :: Alto sax

Alvin Thomas :: Alto sax

Carl Blouin :: Baritone sax

Session Recording:: Nov 05, 1974

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 15, 1975 ?

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Venus And Mars (reprise)

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

2:07 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Piano

Jimmy McCulloch :: 12-string guitar

Geoff Britton :: Cymbals

Gayle Levant :: Harp

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Ken Lexton :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 22, 1975 and Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 10, 1975

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 14, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 24, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Spirits Of Ancient Egypt

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

3:01 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Backing vocals, Bass, Gismo, Moog, Producer

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ, String machine

Denny Laine :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Backing vocals

Joe English :: Backing vocals, Drums, Gong

Alan O'Duffy :: Backing vocals, Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Ken Lexton :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 23, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Jan 18, 1975 and Jan 20, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 17, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 25, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Medicine Jar

Written by Jimmy McCulloch, Colin Allen

3:38 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Organ

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Congas

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar, Vocals

Geoff Emerick :: Recording engineer

Geoff Britton :: Drums

Joe English :: Backing vocals

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer (overdubs)

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Nov 13, 1974

Studio :: EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:: Feb 03, 1975 and Feb 06, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 02, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 22, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

10.

Call Me Back Again

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

5:01 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Clarinet, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Mellotron flutes

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Electric guitar

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar

Joe English :: Drums

Steve Howard :: Trumpet

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Clyde Kerr :: Trumpet

John Longo :: Trumpet

Michael Pierce :: Alto sax

Alvin Thomas :: Alto sax

Carl Blouin :: Baritone sax

Session Recording:: Feb 03, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 10, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 26, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

11.

Listen To What The Man Said

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

3:55 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Acoustic guitar, Bass, Clarinet, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Moog, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals, Bongos, Electric guitar

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar

Joe English :: Drums, Percussion

Sid Sharp Strings :: Cello, Violas, Violins

Gayle Levant :: Harp

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Dave Mason :: Electric guitar

Tom Scott :: Saxophone

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 31, 1975 and Feb 20, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 03 to Mar 06, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 10, 1975

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 26, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

12.

Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People

Written by Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney

4:24 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Celeste, Piano, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals

Denny Laine :: Backing vocals

Jimmy McCulloch :: Electric guitar

Joe English :: Drums

Sid Sharp Strings :: Bass, Cello, Violas, Violins

Gayle Levant :: Harp

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 25, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 10, 1975

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 12 and Mar 14 and Mar 18, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 27, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

13.

Crossroads

Written by Tony Hatch

1:16 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Producer, Strings arrangement

Linda McCartney :: Organ

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar

Jimmy McCulloch :: Lead guitar

Joe English :: Drums

Sid Sharp Strings :: Bass, Celli, Violas, Violins

Gayle Levant :: Harp

Tony Dorsey :: Strings arrangement

Alan O'Duffy :: Mixing engineer, Recording engineer

Biff Dawes :: Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:: Jan 31, 1975

Studio :: Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA

Session Overdubs:: Mar 10, 1975

Studio :: Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA

Session Overdubs:: February 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Session Mixing:: Mar 27, 1975

Studio :: Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA

About

From Wikipedia:

Venus and Mars is the fourth album by Wings. Released as the follow-up to the enormously 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 release on the Capitol Records label.

Background and recording

After recording Band on the Run 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 lineup in 1974. Having written several new songs for the next album, McCartney decided upon 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.

John Lennon, often in a nostalgic mood during his Lost Weekend period, had told May Pang (his then girlfriend) that they would visit the McCartneys during the recording sessions for Venus and Mars, and considered writing with him again. Lennon’s planned visit never happened due to his reunion with Yoko Ono.

Wings’ interpretation of the theme to Crossroads, a British soap opera, was sometimes used to end the show in place of the regular theme tune, usually when there was a cliffhanger ending with a hint of sadness involved.

Releases

Preceded by the single “Listen to What the Man Said” in May 1975, Venus and Mars appeared two weeks later to decent reviews and brisk sales. The album reached number 1 in the United States, the United Kingdom and worldwide (as did “Listen to What the Man Said” in the US) and sold several million copies during the 1970s, with sales now estimated at over 10 million, even if the reaction was less than what had greeted Band on the Run a year earlier.

Two additional singles, “Letting Go” and “Venus and Mars/Rock Show” were released. Although the latter almost reached the US Top 10, it didn’t chart at all in the UK.

In September, Wings began what would be their year-long Wings Over the World tour in the UK, with concerts in Australia, Europe, the US and Canada to follow. Songs from Venus and Mars featured heavily in the concert setlist.

In 1993, Venus and Mars was remastered and reissued on CD as part of “The Paul McCartney Collection” series with “Zoo Gang” (a UK television theme that was the UK B-side of “Band on the Run” in 1974), “Lunch Box/Odd Sox” (B-side of “Coming Up” in 1980), and “My Carnival” (“Spies Like Us“‘ B-side in 1985) as bonus tracks. In 2007, Venus and Mars was reissued in digital form on iTunes with these bonus tracks plus the 6-minute-plus “party mix” of “My Carnival“.

The album was first issued on compact disc by Columbia Records in 1983, although early pressings were pressed in Japan by CSR Compact Disc, which was etched in the inner ring. This CD was one of the first pressed at CBS/Sony’s Digital Audio Disc Plant in Terre Haute, Indiana CD pressing plant. The Columbia McCartney Discs are prized by audiophiles for their mastering. In 1993, Venus and Mars was remastered and reissued on CD as part of “The Paul McCartney Collection” series with “Zoo Gang” (a UK television theme that was the UK B-side of “Band on the Run” in 1974), “Lunch Box/Odd Sox” (B-side of “Coming Up” in 1980) and “My Carnival” (“Spies Like Us”‘ B-side in 1985) as bonus tracks. In 2007, the album was reissued in digital form on iTunes with the same bonus tracks, plus the extended “party mix” of “My Carnival”.

The album was also originally released in 4-channel quadraphonic. In 1996 the quadraphonic version of the album was issued on compact disc in the DTS 5.1 Music Disc format.