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''Red Rose Speedway'' is the second studio album by the British–American
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expresse ...
, although credited to "
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
and Wings". The album was released by Beatles-owned label
Apple Records Apple Records is a record label founded by the Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mar ...
in April 1973, preceded by its lead single, the
ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
" My Love". By including McCartney's name in the artist credit, the single and album broke with the tradition of Wings' previous records. The change was made in the belief that the public's unfamiliarity with the band had been responsible for the weak commercial performance of the group's 1971 debut album '' Wild Life''. Before recording the album, Wings recruited lead guitarist
Henry McCullough Henry Campbell Liken McCullough (21 July 1943 – 14 June 2016) was a Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, The Grease Band and Paul McCartney and Wings. He also perf ...
and released their debut single, "
Give Ireland Back to the Irish "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" is the debut single by the British–American rock band Wings that was released in February 1972. It was written by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda in response to the events of Bloody Sunday, on 30 January that ...
", which was banned by the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
for its political message. Recording sessions for the album took place throughout 1972 at five recording studios in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. The group also recorded the non-album singles "
Mary Had a Little Lamb "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is an English language nursery rhyme of nineteenth-century American origin, first published by American writer Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 7622. Background The nursery rhyme was ...
", "
Hi, Hi, Hi "Hi, Hi, Hi" is a song written by Paul McCartney, Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Paul McCartney and Wings, Wings. It was released as a double A-side single with "C Moon" in 1972. The song was recorded around the same time as "C Moon", i ...
" and " Live and Let Die", the last of which was issued in June 1973. Originally planned as a
double album A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...
, it was condensed into a single LP at the request of
EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British Transnational corporation, transnational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in March 1 ...
. The company believed that the material was not of a sufficiently high standard and were mindful of the modest sales of ''Wild Life'' and Wings' first two singles. Members McCullough and
Denny Laine Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1 ...
later expressed disappointment in the choice of songs on the single album. ''Red Rose Speedway'' peaked at number 5 on the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...
and number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape chart in the US, while "My Love" topped the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Although a commercial success, the album was given a mixed response by music critics, with several reviewers considering the songs to be inconsequential and mediocre. Decades later, it continues to receive mixed reviews. The album was reissued in 1987 and 1993 with bonus tracks and remastered in 2018 as part of the ''
Paul McCartney Archive Collection The Paul McCartney Archive Collection is an ongoing project to remaster and reissue Paul McCartney's solo catalogue, including various albums released with Wings. These editions feature deluxe packaging and bonus rare tracks. Thus far, there have ...
''. The 2018 remaster includes the reconstructed double LP version of the album.


Background

In early 1972, McCartney decided to expand Wings to a five-piece band by adding another guitarist,
Henry McCullough Henry Campbell Liken McCullough (21 July 1943 – 14 June 2016) was a Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, The Grease Band and Paul McCartney and Wings. He also perf ...
, and to begin touring with the group.Miles; Badman 2001 The band briefly toured British universities in February. They played in small halls, often unannounced, to avoid the media scrutiny that came with performing at more established venues. Despite not releasing an album in 1972, Wings issued three singles while preparing their follow-up to ''Wild Life'': "
Give Ireland Back to the Irish "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" is the debut single by the British–American rock band Wings that was released in February 1972. It was written by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda in response to the events of Bloody Sunday, on 30 January that ...
", which was banned by the BBC for its political sentiments; "
Mary Had a Little Lamb "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is an English language nursery rhyme of nineteenth-century American origin, first published by American writer Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 7622. Background The nursery rhyme was ...
", based on the nursery rhyme; and "
Hi, Hi, Hi "Hi, Hi, Hi" is a song written by Paul McCartney, Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Paul McCartney and Wings, Wings. It was released as a double A-side single with "C Moon" in 1972. The song was recorded around the same time as "C Moon", i ...
", which was banned by the BBC for drug references and sexually suggestive lyrics.


Recording

Recording for ''Red Rose Speedway'' began in March 1972.Benitez 2010, p. 43 It was initially planned as a double album, and McCartney decided to include some unreleased songs that had originally been recorded during the ''
Ram Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to: Animals * A male sheep * Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish People * Ram (given name) * Ram (surname) * Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director * RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch * ...
'' sessions in 1971, before the formation of Wings. Two of those songs, "Get on the Right Thing" and "Little Lamb Dragonfly", appeared on the final album.Benitez 2010, p. 45 Sessions were held at
Olympic Sound Studios Olympic Studios was a renowned British independent commercial recording studio based in Barnes, London. It is best known for its recordings of many artists throughout the late 1960s to the first decade of the 21st century, including Jimi Hendr ...
in London, with
Glyn Johns Glyn Thomas Johns (born 15 February 1942) is an English musician, recording engineer and record producer. Biography Early history Johns was born in Epsom, Surrey, England. He had three siblings, two older sisters and a younger brother, Andy ...
as producer. At the first session, McCartney asked Johns to think of him as "the bass player in the band" rather than as Paul McCartney, but then took offence when Johns duly treated him as an ordinary musician.Sounes, p. 302. Johns thought Wings were not a genuine band and not of the calibre of artist he usually worked with. Before long, according to author
Howard Sounes Howard Sounes (born 1965) is a British author, journalist and biographer. Biography Born in Welling, South East London, Sounes began his journalistic career as a staff reporter for the ''Sunday Mirror''. He broke major stories, including one ...
, citing the producer's recollection, Johns was reading a newspaper in the
control room A control room or operations room is a central space where a large physical facility or physically dispersed service can be monitored and controlled. It is often part of a larger command center. Overview A control room's purpose is produc ...
at Olympic as the group smoked marijuana and jammed aimlessly in the studio. On 17 April, Johns told the press that he had quit working on the album due to a "disagreement" with McCartney and that "Now we have respect for each other." Wings continued to record sporadically in between promoting their May 1972 single, "Mary Had a Little Lamb". After the band toured Europe in July and August, further recording sessions took place over October and November 1972 at
Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music c ...
and Olympic. Morgan,
Trident A trident is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. The trident is the weapon of Poseidon, or Neptune, the God of the Sea in classical mythology. The trident may occasionally be held by other marine ...
and
Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
were the other London studios where the band recorded that year. The album was cut down to a single disc by McCartney – according to
Henry McCullough Henry Campbell Liken McCullough (21 July 1943 – 14 June 2016) was a Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, The Grease Band and Paul McCartney and Wings. He also perf ...
, in an attempt to release a more commercial and less expensive record. The decision came about through
EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British Transnational corporation, transnational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in March 1 ...
, however;McGee, p 39. in addition to believing that the material was not of a sufficiently high standard,Madinger & Easter, p. 175. the record company were mindful of the modest commercial performance of ''Wild Life'' and Wings' first two singles.Spizer, p. 156. The album ends with an 11-minute medley of the songs "Hold Me Tight", "Lazy Dynamite", "Hands of Love" and "Power Cut", which was made in a similar style to the Beatles' ''
Abbey Road ''Abbey Road'' is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. It is the last album the group started recording, although ''Let It Be'' was the last album completed before the band's break-up in April 1970. It was mostly re ...
'' medley.Benitez 2010, p. 47 "Power Cut" was written during the 1972
miners' strike Miners' strikes are when miners conduct strike actions. See also * List of strikes References {{Reflist Miners A miner is a person who extracts ore, coal, chalk, clay, or other minerals from the earth through mining. There are tw ...
.Benitez 2010, p. 48 Laine later expressed his disappointment that only a single album was issued, saying that in its original form, ''Red Rose Speedway'' was "more of a showcase for the band". Among the omissions were his composition "I Would Only Smile", and "
I Lie Around "I Lie Around" is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings that was released as the B-side to the " Live and Let Die" single in 1973. The first two verses are sung by Wings guitarist Denny Laine, Paul McCartney sings the third verse. Recording The son ...
", on which Laine also sang the lead vocal. McCullough was similarly disappointed that several of McCartney's rock-oriented tracks were cut from the running order, which favoured the more lightweight material from the sessions. " Live and Let Die", the title song to the James Bond film of the same name, was recorded during the sessions for ''Red Rose Speedway'', but was initially released on the '' Live and Let Die'' soundtrack album.Benitez 2010, p. 50 Laine included "I Would Only Smile" on his 1980 solo album '' Japanese Tears''. "Mama's Little Girl" was recorded during the sessions and later turned up as the B-side of McCartney's "
Put It There "Put It There" is a 1990 single from Paul McCartney's 1989 album, ''Flowers in the Dirt''. The song reached number 32 on the UK singles chart. The lyrics were inspired by an expression of friendship and solace that McCartney learned from his father ...
" single in 1990. Among the other discarded tracks were "Night Out", "Jazz Street", "Best Friend", "Thank You Darling", "The Mess" (which McCartney introduced on stage as "The Mess (I'm In)" during Wings' live shows) and a cover version of
Thomas Wayne Thomas Alan Wayne, M.D. is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is the father of Bruce Wayne (Batman), and husband of Martha Wayne as well as the paternal grandfather of Damian Wayne. Wayne was introd ...
's song "
Tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...
".


Artwork and packaging

The packaging for ''Red Rose Speedway'' included a 12-page LP-size booklet inside a gatefold sleeve. The booklet featured photos from Wings' live shows taken by Joe Stevens (credited as Captain Snap) and others by Linda. The artwork for the inside gatefold and part of the booklet was designed by
Eduardo Paolozzi Sir Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi (, ; 7 March 1924 – 22 April 2005) was a Scottish artist, known for his sculpture and graphic works. He is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of pop art. Early years Eduardo Paolozzi was born on 7 March 1 ...
, while pop artist
Allen Jones Allen Jones may refer to: *Allen Jones (Continental Congress) (1739–1798), Continental Congress delegate *Allen Jones (artist) (born 1937), British pop artist *Allen Jones (record producer) (1940–1987), American record producer * A.J. Styles (A ...
contributed drawings, a painting and a photo collage, all variously depicting women, throughout the booklet. The graphics were designed by Gordon House. EMI agreed to pay for the lavish packaging, which was originally intended for the planned double album. Breaking with the approach taken on the band's previous releases, the artist credit included McCartney's name rather than Wings alone, and instead of a group picture, only his face appears on the front cover. The image shows McCartney in front of a motorbike engine, with a red rose in his mouth, and was taken by Linda. The motorbike was transported from the United States especially for the shoot, which took place at the photographic studio of the ''
Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
'' building in central London. The back cover featured the foot of a microphone stand and a bouquet of roses, with the image set inside a black background as if spotlit. In the space below this image was a
Braille Braille (Pronounced: ) is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired, including people who are Blindness, blind, Deafblindness, deafblind or who have low vision. It can be read either on Paper embossing, embossed paper ...
message to
Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
, reading "We love ya baby". The name change to "Paul McCartney and Wings" was made in the belief that the public's unfamiliarity with the band had been responsible for the disappointing sales of ''Wild Life''. In the US,
Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...
were concerned that the positioning of the red rose on the front cover might make McCartney's face unrecognisable to record buyers. Since no artist credit was included with this image, the company issued the album with a blue sticker in the top right-hand corner, identifying the band and listing the songs.


Release

The album was preceded by the March 1973 release of its
lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...
, " My Love" backed with "The Mess". The latter song was recorded live during the band's summer 1972 European tour. With
Apple Records Apple Records is a record label founded by the Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mar ...
giving precedence to two Beatles compilation albums – '' 1962–1966'' and '' 1967–1970'' – ''Red Rose Speedway'' was not issued until 30 April 1973, in the United States, with the UK release following on 4 May. "My Love" peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart, and topped the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and ''Billboard''
Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...
charts. It raised expectations for the album, which peaked at number 5 in the UK and went to number 1 in the US. The original
compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a Digital media, digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then rele ...
version, released by EMI's Fame label on 5 October 1987, contained three bonus tracks: "
I Lie Around "I Lie Around" is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings that was released as the B-side to the " Live and Let Die" single in 1973. The first two verses are sung by Wings guitarist Denny Laine, Paul McCartney sings the third verse. Recording The son ...
", " Country Dreamer" and "The Mess (Live at The Hague)". An LP version of this CD edition was also released on the same day, omitting the bonus tracks. In 1993, ''Red Rose Speedway'' was remastered and reissued on CD as part of '
The Paul McCartney Collection ''The Paul McCartney Collection'' is a series of 16 remastered CDs by Paul McCartney of his solo and Wings albums, with most adding bonus tracks. The albums in the collection were released separately, with the first eight released on 7 June 1993 ...
' series, with "
C Moon "C Moon" is a song with a reggae beat, written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. It was released as a double A-side with " Hi, Hi, Hi" in 1972. The single reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and since "Hi Hi Hi" was banned by ...
", "
Hi, Hi, Hi "Hi, Hi, Hi" is a song written by Paul McCartney, Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Paul McCartney and Wings, Wings. It was released as a double A-side single with "C Moon" in 1972. The song was recorded around the same time as "C Moon", i ...
", "The Mess (Live at The Hague)" (the B-side to "My Love") and "I Lie Around" (the B-side to "Live and Let Die") as bonus tracks. " Country Dreamer" was later added to the reissue '' Band on the Run'' from the same series. In 2018, ''Red Rose Speedway'' was reissued as part of ''
Paul McCartney Archive Collection The Paul McCartney Archive Collection is an ongoing project to remaster and reissue Paul McCartney's solo catalogue, including various albums released with Wings. These editions feature deluxe packaging and bonus rare tracks. Thus far, there have ...
''. The bonus content included the reconstructed original double LP version of the album featuring different mixes of "
Seaside Woman "Seaside Woman" is a 1977 single by Wings released under the pseudonym Suzy and the Red Stripes. It charted at #59 in the US and in the UK at #90 in 1986. History "Seaside Woman" was the first song Linda McCartney wrote by herself, in response to ...
" and "I Would Only Smile" as to those released on Linda McCartney's ''
Wide Prairie ''Wide Prairie'' is a posthumous compilation album by Linda McCartney, compiled by her husband Paul McCartney and released in October 1998, roughly six months after her death due to breast cancer. The idea for the album was inspired by a fan wh ...
'' and Denny Laine's '' Japanese Tears'' respectively, the singles "
Mary Had a Little Lamb "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is an English language nursery rhyme of nineteenth-century American origin, first published by American writer Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 7622. Background The nursery rhyme was ...
", "Hi, Hi, Hi" and "Live and Let Die" with their respective b-sides, early and rough mixes of several songs as well as previously unreleased studio and live recordings, with the latter taken from the
Wings Over Europe Tour In the summer of 1972, Paul McCartney's newly formed band, Wings, set out on a concert tour of Europe, in a double decker bus, WNO 481. Promotion Coming on the heels of a tour of English universities, the Wings Over Europe Tour was intended to ...
. The songs "Country Dreamer" and "
Little Woman Love "Little Woman Love" is a Wings song released as the B-side of the non album single "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on 12 May 1972 by Apple Reords. History It was composed by Paul McCartney in 1970 and recorded during the ''Ram'' sessions but left off t ...
" included on the reissue are the same versions that were previously released on the '' Band on the Run'' and ''
Ram Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to: Animals * A male sheep * Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish People * Ram (given name) * Ram (surname) * Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director * RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch * ...
'' editions of the ''Paul McCartney Archive Collection''.


Critical reception

''Red Rose Speedway'' received a mixed response from contemporary music critics, many of whom dismissed its songs as mediocre. According to author and critic
Bob Woffinden Robert Woffinden (31 January 1948 – 1 May 2018) was a British investigative journalist. Formerly a reporter with the ''New Musical Express'', he later specialised in investigating miscarriages of justice. He wrote about a number of high-profi ...
, writing in 1981, the album was an example of McCartney "continu ngto exasperate his audience" before he and Wings finally won respect with the late 1973 release of '' Band on the Run''. John Pidgeon of '' Let It Rock'' found the side-two medley typical of McCartney's "lazy" attitude to songwriting and said: "''Red Rose Speedway'' sounds as if it was written after a big tea in front of the fire with carpet-slippered feet up; listening to it takes about as much as going ten rounds with a marshmallow fairy." Pidgeon concluded by likening the album to ''
The Emperor's New Clothes "The Emperor's New Clothes" ( da, Kejserens nye klæder ) is a literary folktale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, about a vain emperor who gets exposed before his subjects. The tale has been translated into over 100 languages.A ...
'', ruing that McCartney appeared to have no one to challenge his judgment or "kick his arse". ''
Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the creat ...
'' critic
Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
derided McCartney's reliance on "aimless whimsy" and described the work as "Quite possibly the worst album ever made by a rock and roller of the first rank". In a 1977 interview, McCartney said that it typically took him a few months to listen to an album as a whole after its release; in the case of ''Red Rose Speedway'', he said he "couldn't stand" it. Joe Stevens, Wings' tour photographer in the early 1970s, recalled: "I thought ''Red Rose'' was a disaster and so did everyone connected with it. Except Paul." According to author Michael Frontani, a generally favourable review in ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'', written by musician Lenny Kaye, signified a turnaround from a publication that had been openly hostile towards McCartney since 1970. Frontani adds: "While McCartney's music would continue to be criticized by some commentators as vacuous and facile, Kaye's review appears to mark the point where art of consequence was no longer required of McCartney by rock critics ..." Ian Dove of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' noted that McCartney's work continued to pale beside that of his former bandmates
John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
and
George Harrison George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian c ...
but deemed ''Red Rose Speedway'' his best album yet. Writing in the ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'',
Tony Tyler James Edward Anthony Tyler (31 October 1943 in Bristol – 28 October 2006 in Hastings, East Sussex) was a British writer who authored several books and wrote for the ''NME'','' Macworld'', '' MacUser'', '' PC Pro'' and '' Computer Shopper''. ...
acknowledged that the album was "lightweight" and lacking in "intellectual posture" but added: "with all the current heaviness and after-me-the-apocalypse brainstuds around, I for one am bloody pleased to discover a lightweight record that not only fails to alienate, but actually succeeds in impressing via good melodic structure, excellent playing and fine production." Like the ''NME'', ''Rolling Stone'' soon changed its opinion of ''Red Rose Speedway''. Writing in ''
The Rolling Stone Record Guide ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...
'' (1979), John Swenson said that the album displayed "the worst aspects of McCartney as solo artist and band-leader" and was "rife with weak and sentimental drivel". In his 1977 book ''The Beatles Forever'',
Nicholas Schaffner Nicholas Schaffner (January 28, 1953 – August 28, 1991) was an American non-fiction author, journalist, and singer-songwriter. Biography Schaffner was born in Manhattan to John V. Schaffner (1913–1983), a literary agent whose clients includ ...
described it as "pleasingly plump music – charming, harmless, entertaining fluff ... a perfect background to lazy afternoons in the sun".
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
editor
Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
considers ''Red Rose Speedway'' to be McCartney's "most disjointed album" and "deliberately slight ... in the way a snapshot album is important to a family yet glazes the eyes of any outside observer", but he adds: "Work your way into the inner circle, and McCartney's little flourishes are intoxicating – not just the melodies, but the facile production and offhand invention." Beatles biographer Robert Rodriguez views it as "a wildly uneven assortment of songs", of which the selections comprising the ''Abbey Road''-style medley "aren't merely half-finished – they're half-assed". While describing Glyn Johns' disparaging comments about the finished album as "harsh", Howard Sounes writes: "but in a record review one couldn't award it more than three out of five stars."Sounes, p. 303.


Track listing

All songs written by
Paul Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chris ...
and
Linda McCartney Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney ( Eastman; September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, animal rights activist, vegetarian cookbook author and advocate, and entrepreneur. She was the keyboardist in th ...
. Side one # " Big Barn Bed" – 3:48 # " My Love" – 4:07 # "Get on the Right Thing" – 4:17 # "One More Kiss" – 2:28 # " Little Lamb Dragonfly" – 6:20 Side two # "Single Pigeon" – 1:52 # "When the Night" – 3:38 # "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" – 4:23 # "Medley" – 11:14 #*"Hold Me Tight" #*"Lazy Dynamite" #*"Hands of Love" #*"Power Cut"


Archive Collection Reissue

On 18 October 2018, it was officially announced that the album reissues of '' Wild Life'' and ''Red Rose Speedway'' would be released on 7 December 2018, as part of the ''Paul McCartney Archive Collection'' series. The ''Red Rose Speedway'' reissues were published in several editions: *Special Edition 2-CD; the original 9-track album on the first disc, including previously unreleased recordings and non-album singles on a second disc. *Deluxe Edition 3-CD/2-DVD/1-Blu-Ray; the original 9-track album on the first disc; originally proposed double album version on a second disc; previously unreleased recordings and non-album singles on a third disc; DVD including music videos, the "James Paul McCartney" TV show, "Live and Let Die" in Liverpool; DVD and blu-ray including "The Bruce McMouse Show," with 5.1 audio. *Remastered vinyl 2-LP; includes special edition tracks as well as a link to download materials. *Double album 2-LP; originally proposed version of the album, reconstructed from original acetates and master tapes, as well as a link to download materials.


Track listing

All songs written by Paul and Linda McCartney except "
Seaside Woman "Seaside Woman" is a 1977 single by Wings released under the pseudonym Suzy and the Red Stripes. It charted at #59 in the US and in the UK at #90 in 1986. History "Seaside Woman" was the first song Linda McCartney wrote by herself, in response to ...
" written by
Linda McCartney Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney ( Eastman; September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, animal rights activist, vegetarian cookbook author and advocate, and entrepreneur. She was the keyboardist in th ...
, "I Would Only Smile" written by
Denny Laine Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1 ...
, and "Tragedy" written by Gerald H. Nelson and Fred B. Burch. Disc 1 – The original 9-track album. Disc 2 – Original double album version #"Night Out" – 2:16 #"Get on the Right Thing" – 4:17 #"Country Dreamer" – 3:10 #"Big Barn Bed" – 3:50 #"My Love" – 4:08 #"Single Pigeon" – 1:53 #"When the Night" – 3:38 #"
Seaside Woman "Seaside Woman" is a 1977 single by Wings released under the pseudonym Suzy and the Red Stripes. It charted at #59 in the US and in the UK at #90 in 1986. History "Seaside Woman" was the first song Linda McCartney wrote by herself, in response to ...
" – 3:57 #"I Lie Around" – 5:01 #"The Mess" – 4:34 #"Best Friend" – 3:59 #"Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" – 4:23 #"Medley" – 11:19 #* "Hold Me Tight" #* "Lazy Dynamite" #* "Hands of Love" #* "Power Cut" #"Mama's Little Girl" – 3:45 #"I Would Only Smile" – 3:23 #"One More Kiss" – 2:29 #"
Tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...
" – 3:21 #"Little Lamb Dragonfly" – 6:23 Disc 3 – Bonus tracks #"
Mary Had a Little Lamb "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is an English language nursery rhyme of nineteenth-century American origin, first published by American writer Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 7622. Background The nursery rhyme was ...
" – 3:32 #"
Little Woman Love "Little Woman Love" is a Wings song released as the B-side of the non album single "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on 12 May 1972 by Apple Reords. History It was composed by Paul McCartney in 1970 and recorded during the ''Ram'' sessions but left off t ...
" – 2:07 #"
Hi, Hi, Hi "Hi, Hi, Hi" is a song written by Paul McCartney, Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Paul McCartney and Wings, Wings. It was released as a double A-side single with "C Moon" in 1972. The song was recorded around the same time as "C Moon", i ...
" – 3:08 #"
C Moon "C Moon" is a song with a reggae beat, written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. It was released as a double A-side with " Hi, Hi, Hi" in 1972. The single reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and since "Hi Hi Hi" was banned by ...
" – 4:34 #" Live and Let Die" – 3:12 #"Get on the Right Thing" – 4:41 #"Little Lamb Dragonfly" – 6:08 #"Little Woman Love" – 2:08 #"1882" – 3:26 #"Big Barn Bed" – 3:48 #"The Mess" – 4:53 #"Thank You Darling" – 3:18 #"Mary Had a Little Lamb" – 5:22 #"1882" – 6:31 #"1882" – 6:51 #"Jazz Street" – 5:08 #"Live and Let Die" – 3:33 Disc 4 – DVD #"Music Videos" #"James Paul McCartney TV Special" #"Live and Let Die" #"Newcastle Interview" Disc 5 – DVD #"The Bruce McMouse Show" Disc 6 – Blu-Ray #"The Bruce McMouse Show" Special Edition CD and LP bonus tracks #"Mary Had a Little Lamb" – 3:32 #"Little Woman Love" – 2:07 #"Hi, Hi, Hi" – 3:08 #"C Moon" – 4:34 #"The Mess" – 4:34 #"Live and Let Die" – 3:12 #"I Lie Around" – 5:01 #"Night Out" – 2:16 #"Country Dreamer" – 3:10 #"Seaside Woman" – 3:57 #"Best Friend" – 3:59 #"Mama's Little Girl" – 3:45 #"I Would Only Smile" – 3:23 #"Tragedy" – 3:21 #"Thank You Darling" – 3:18 #"1882" – 6:31 #"Jazz Street" – 5:08 #"Live and Let Die" – 3:33 *Tracks 8–14 are on the CD edition only. Additional download track via paulmccartney.com #"Hands of Love" – 2:22


Original double album track listing


Early acetate track listing

Originally planned as a
double album A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...
,Badman 2002 this is the track listing from drummer Denny Seiwell's acetates of the early incarnation of ''Red Rose Speedway'' dated 13 December 1972. Most tracks left off the released version ended up on B-sides, while others remained officially unreleased (such as "Tragedy", "Night Out", "Jazz Street", "1882") until the release of the 2018 ''Red Rose Speedway'' Deluxe remaster reissue. Side one # "Big Barn Bed" # "My Love" # "When the Night" # "Single Pigeon" Side two # "
Tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...
" (Gerald H. Nelson, Fred B. Burch) # " Mama's Little Girl" # "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" # "I Would Only Smile" (Denny Laine) Side three # " Country Dreamer" # "Night Out" # "One More Kiss" # "Jazz Street" Side four # "
I Lie Around "I Lie Around" is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings that was released as the B-side to the " Live and Let Die" single in 1973. The first two verses are sung by Wings guitarist Denny Laine, Paul McCartney sings the third verse. Recording The son ...
" # "Little Lamb Dragonfly" # "Get on the Right Thing" # "1882" (live) # "The Mess" (live) * "I Would Only Smile" is a song featuring lead vocals from
Denny Laine Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1 ...
. It was eventually released on Laine's solo album '' Japanese Tears''. * "1882" is a song which dates back to 1970 when it was first recorded as a demo around the time of the ''
McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
'' album. A home studio version was recorded in January 1972. A live recording from the same concert as "The Mess" (at
The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
on 21 August 1972) had studio overdubs added but was not released until 2018.


Final double album track listing

According to McCartney's official website, his archive team found an updated double album track listing from 30 January 1973 that differed from Seiwell's 1972 acetates. McCartney confirmed the updated track list as the one originally intended for release, saying, "You know, this is actually how I recollect that double album." In December 2018, McCartney officially released ''Red Rose Speedway: Reconstructed'', a reconstructed version of its originally conceived "double album", as a bonus CD in the Deluxe configuration of ''Red Rose Speedway'', and separately as 2 LP vinyl. Side A # "Night Out" # "Get on the Right Thing" # "Country Dreamer" # "Big Barn Bed" # "My Love" Side B # "Single Pigeon" # "When the Night" # "Seaside Woman" (Linda McCartney) # "I Lie Around" # "The Mess (Live at The Hague)" Side C # "Best Friend (Live in Antwerp)" # "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" # Medley: "Hold Me Tight" / "Lazy Dynamite" / "Hands of Love" / "Power Cut" Side D # "Mama's Little Girl" # "I Would Only Smile" (Denny Laine) # "One More Kiss" # "Tragedy" (Gerald H. Nelson, Fred B. Burch) # "Little Lamb Dragonfly" Total length: 77:12 * "Seaside Woman" features Linda McCartney on lead vocals. This was later released as a single under the pseudonym Suzy and the Red Stripes in 1977, as well as on Linda's posthumous compilation ''
Wide Prairie ''Wide Prairie'' is a posthumous compilation album by Linda McCartney, compiled by her husband Paul McCartney and released in October 1998, roughly six months after her death due to breast cancer. The idea for the album was inspired by a fan wh ...
''. The title of this song is featured in the inner sleeve artwork of the LP release of ''Red Rose Speedway''.


Other outtakes

Other songs recorded during this period that did not make the original single-disc release include: * "Thank You Darling" – A duet featuring Paul and Linda McCartney. Released as a bonus track on the ''Red Rose Speedway'' 2018 Deluxe remaster reissue. * "
Soily "Soily" is a song written by Paul McCartney in 1971. It was included in the setlist of his band Wings during their 1972 tour of Europe and their 1973 tour of Britain. In 1973 it was the first song of the set. It was then reworked and a faster, ...
" – A live recording was mixed down but did not make the short list of the album. McCartney made other attempts at recording this song in studio including a version recording in his home studio in January 1972, and in McCartney's "studio performance" film '' One Hand Clapping'', which was eventually released as bonus track on the expanded remastered edition of
Venus and Mars
'. This song was finally granted an official release when a version from
McNichols Sports Arena McNichols Sports Arena was an indoor arena located in Denver, Colorado. Located adjacent to Mile High Stadium and completed in 1975, at a cost of $16 million, it seated 16,061 for hockey games and 17,171 for basketball games. Sports use It was ...
in Denver appeared as a live recording on Wings' 1976 live album ''
Wings over America ''Wings over America'' is a triple live album by the British–American rock band Wings, released in December 1976. The album was recorded during the American leg of the band's 1975–76 Wings Over the World tour. It peaked at number 8 on the ...
''.Madinger & Easter, p. 222. * "Henry's Blues" – A song featuring lead vocals and slide guitar from Wings guitarist Henry McCullough. A live recording was made during Wings' European tour of mid-1972, although this has never officially been released. * "Best Friend" – A live recording was mixed as well as a studio version. The studio version has not had an official release to date while a live recording in Antwerp was released on the reconstructed ''Red Rose Speedway'' 2018 double album.


Personnel


Wings

*
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
– vocals, bass, piano, guitars,
electric piano An electric piano is a musical instrument which produces sounds when a performer presses the keys of a piano-style musical keyboard. Pressing keys causes mechanical hammers to strike metal strings, metal reeds or wire tines, leading to vibrations ...
,
Mellotron The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
, celeste,
Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer is a modular synthesizer developed by the American engineer Robert Moog. Moog debuted it in 1964, and Moog's company R. A. Moog Co. (later known as Moog Music) produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 20 ...
*
Linda McCartney Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney ( Eastman; September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, animal rights activist, vegetarian cookbook author and advocate, and entrepreneur. She was the keyboardist in th ...
– vocals, piano, organ, electric piano,
electric harpsichord An electric piano is a musical instrument which produces sounds when a performer presses the keys of a piano-style musical keyboard. Pressing keys causes mechanical hammers to strike metal strings, metal reeds or wire tines, leading to vibrations ...
, percussion *
Denny Laine Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1 ...
– vocals, guitars, bass,
harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica inclu ...
*
Henry McCullough Henry Campbell Liken McCullough (21 July 1943 – 14 June 2016) was a Northern Irish guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was best known for his work as a member of Spooky Tooth, The Grease Band and Paul McCartney and Wings. He also perf ...
– lead guitars, backing vocals, percussion *
Denny Seiwell Denny Seiwell (born July 10, 1943) is an American drummer and a founding member of Wings. He also drummed for Billy Joel and Liza Minnelli and played in the scores for the films ''Waterworld'', '' Grease II'', and ''Vertical Limit''. His d ...
– drums, percussion


Additional personnel

*
Hugh McCracken Hugh Carmine McCracken (March 31, 1942 – March 28, 2013) was an American rock guitarist and session musician based in New York City, primarily known for his performance on guitar and also as a harmonica player. McCracken was additionally ...
– guitar on "Little Lamb Dragonfly" *
David Spinozza David Spinozza is an American guitarist and producer. He worked with former Beatles Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon during the 1970s, and had a long collaboration with singer-songwriter James Taylor, producing Taylor's album '' Walkin ...
– guitar on "Get on the Right Thing" *
Alan Parsons Alan Parsons (born 20 December 1948) is an English audio engineer, songwriter, musician and record producer. Parsons was involved with the production of several notable albums, including the Beatles' ''Abbey Road'' (1969) and ''Let It Be'' ( ...
– engineer * Dixon Van Winkle – engineer on "Get on the Right Thing", "Little Lamb Dragonfly"


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Notes


References

Sources * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


External links

* {{Authority control 1973 albums Apple Records albums Paul McCartney and Wings albums Albums produced by Paul McCartney Albums recorded at Olympic Sound Studios Albums recorded at Morgan Sound Studios Albums recorded at Trident Studios