In celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wings’ fourth studio album, ’Venus And Mars’ is being re-issued on 21st March 2025 with a half-speed master edition.

A follow-up to former Beatles Paul McCartney’s 1973 masterpiece Band On The Run,1975’s ‘Venus And Mars’, also credited to Wings,was supported by the trio and mainstay of the band consisting of McCartney, wife Linda, and former Moody Blues vocalist Denny Laine, accompanied this time around with guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Joe English (who replaced Geoff Britton after three songs for the album were recorded).

Opening with the acoustic title track that is an obvious salute to arena rock, it segues into the anthemic Rock Show on which McCartney pays tribute to a rock icon’s guitar by writing lyrics that read: “What’s that man movin’ ‘cross the stage?/It looks a lot like the one used by Jimmy Page”. From then on, the tracks range from pop tunes that rock, interspersed with ballads, supported by McCartney’s obvious and distracting whimsy sandwiched selections inbetween, and buoyed by varied instrumentation and effective production.

As McCartney dips into music hall shuffle on You Gave Me The Answer goes psychedelic with Spirits Of Ancient Egypt , indulges in dual super-hero fantasy with the uptempo Magento And Titanium Man, an old-folk soap opera-themed coupling of Treat Her Gently”/”Lonely Old People, the sitar-sounding, melancholic Love In Song, exploring a relationship on the mid-tempo Letting Go, providing a New Orleans-style soul ballad Call Me Back Again, and featuring guitarist McCulloch’s screaming anti-drug track Medicine Jar. Nevertheless, the pick of the lot isthe sleeknessbehind the U.S. no.1 single, Listen To What The Man Said that showcases a horn signature (courtesy soprano saxophone by Tom Scott), funky bass, and distinctive work from former Traffic guitarist Dave Mason, who eventually became a member of Fleetwood Mac during 1994–95.  For the trivia-minded, the latter song title also inspired a letters column in Wings Fan magazine Club Sandwich, “Listen To What The Fans Said”, which this writer subscribed to during school days.

McCartney finally appeared to be freed of the weight of his Beatles fame on ‘Venus And Mars’, as the legendary composer, arranger, and producer saw the album becoming the first post-Beatles album to be released worldwide by Capitol Records (rather than on Apple), achieving #1 on the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic, and going on to sell over four million units worldwide.

The “original” album still provides nostalgia on listening as The Gramophone Company Of India’s vinyl pressing of ‘Venus And Mars’ remains a prized possession for this writer that features the iconic album artwork designed by Hipgnosis, the same team that had  designed, two years earlier, Pink Floyd's ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’.

‘Venus And Mars’ is an album that began a period in which McCartney displayed a rather improbable and unexpected insistence on sharing the spotlight by allowing other members of Wings an opportunity of singing lead vocals and/or contributing songs, with an obvious eye towards illustrating that Wings was a band;  it was, indeed, and it worked…

Released on: May 1975

Recorded: November 1974-February 1975

Duration: 43:10 minutes

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Parag Kamani

Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.