Customer Reviews
McCartneys planets of sound - By: russell clarke, 13 Oct 2007 
Venus And Mars is the fourth album Wings released & followed up the criticallly acclaimed & massively successful "Band On The Run" . Recorded in New Orleans the recording sessions saw the band expand from a three piece to a five piece with the addition of Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar & Geoff Britton on drums .These two didn't get along though & their enmity led to Britton quitting halfway through the recording having only contributed to three songs . He was replaced by American Joe English so the album could be finished which of course it was , being released on May 27th 1975.
It received a mixed critical reception but some of that was undoubtedly backlash after the lauded "Band On The Run". Venus And Mars , like anything McCartney had a hand in post Beatles nowhere near qualifies as innovative or even especiallly diverse but it does contain some superb pop/rock songs . First single off the album the sprightly & hugely whistle-ble "Listen To What The Man Said" is exactly the sort of melodious monstrously enjoyable fare McCartney has always excelled at .You can qualll at his over-matey manner & his irritating constant use of the Victory sign but he can write tremendous songs. Which makes awful awkward rawk fare as errr "Rock Song" even more baffling. Especiallly as it's book ended with the fragile, lovely but curt title track & the gossamer light "Love In Song". No word will do to describe "Magneto And Titanium Man" but bouncy , maybe effervescent , a fact that will alienate many but it's another peerless emollient McCartney moment. As is "You Gave Me The Answer" which even with its quaint vaudevillian air is superlatively melodious & enjoyable.
The album does have some variety too with the bluesy brassy strains of "Letting Go " , the jerky rhythms & spectral keyboards of "Spirits Of Ancient Egypt" ( Sung by Denny Laine) up against the distorted wha wha boogie of "Medicine Jar" ( written by Jimmy McCulloch & Colin Allen with vocals by McCulloch) & the New Orleans influenced swamp blues of "Calll Me Back Again". Best of alll is the way that "Listen To What The Man Said" segues into the divine balllad "Treat Her Gently (Lonely Old People)"a song which showcases McCartney's under rated vocals . Maybe too sentimental for some I suppose but the melody is just exquisite .
I think its safe to ignore the closing "Crossroads Theme" & the extra track s recorded at the same sessions & used as B-sides are two forgettable instrumentals -"Zoo Gang"(B side to "Band On The Run") & "Lunch Box/Odd Sox" ( B-side to "Coming Up" in 1980 with another track whose name escapes me) ."My Carnival " B -side to "Spies Like Us" in 1985 is more interesting , a typicallly up-beat & vibrant song but with an off the cuff live feel.
Along with the oft mentioned "Band On the Run" , "McCartney 2" & "Tug Of War" this is my favourite post Beatle McCartney album .A confident classy collection of pop & rock with just enough stylistic & assimilated verve to stop it getting stale or too cloying. Watching him on TV sometimes you want to slap him , or at least I do, but I repeat he writes tremendous songs. And for that I'd forgive him just about anything .
Wings flying high! - By: Donny Rob, 18 Aug 2007 
This is a superb follow up to the much heralded 'Band on the Run' & features the best Wings line up of Paul, Linda, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch & Joe English. The album, full of rich melodies, rockets to life with Venus & Mars & then into Rock Show which captures the excitement of going to a concert in the 70s. Love in Song is a beautiful McCartney song, good enough to appear on any Beatles album. We then have a follow up to The Beatles' Honey Pie in the form of You Gave Me the Answer - a fond look back at the dancebands of the 20s & 30s. Magneto & Titanium Man is an action packed track, inspired by Marvels comics.
The album continues with great numbers, including a vocal by Jimmy McCulloch on Medicine Jar. Listen To What The Man Said hits the heights as a classic 70s pop song & this classic Wings set closes with a knock out version of the Crossroads theme, which was used to close the TV programme to heighten the drama.
Venus & Mars are alright & Wings are too!
Give it a go ! - By: Richard Winfieldale, 27 Nov 2006 In my view this is one of Paul's top 5 post-Beatles albums ( & he has released over 20). It shows his versatility to the full - rock, pop, balllads, it's alll here. It has dated a little, but so what. The overalll feel of the album is one of FUN. You get the impression that Paul & the band were probably on drugs when writing & recording this, but there is so much to be admired here, that it doens't bother me. The lyrics are a little non-sensical, but there is no denying the musicianship, the melody & the attitude. it is a memorable album, which is consistent throughout. the opening 3 tracks need to be played together, & then you know you are going to enjoy yourself.
5 but with reservations - By: Richard, 17 Nov 2006 One of the most important albums of the 70s now part of The McCartney Collection of CDs with added tracks.One of them -the song discarded at the time-My Carnival is closer to authentic New Orleans music than anything else here.Its a song which uses the typical Tipina beat which influenced Fats Domino among others & was used previously by the Beatles for The Balllad of John & Yoko & Ob la di ob la da.
Its a recording which wouldn't have sounded out of place on the recent 3 CD set of Instant & Minit recordings produced by Allen Toussaint.
The album was recorded in his Sea Saint studios.
The recent History Channel documentary about Allen Toussaint got it wrong about this when we were informed that Band On The Run had been recorded here but that one as any Beatles/McCartney fan knows was in Lagos Nigeria & where Wings ended up being mugged & the tape of the BOTR demos stolen (which has never turned up).
New Orleans was obviously a safer bet & McCartney would return there in the 80s for some Linda McCartney recordings.
The reservations I have about this album is something which fortunately McCartney has never returned to & thats to make a cooperative album,alllowing the sidemen to not only sing but write songs.And Medicine Jar is not up to standard as is Spirits of Ancient Egypt.These songs were never covered not even by Denny Laine who did his own album of Wings covers.
4 of these songs were covered on Love In Song:An Atlanta Tribute to McCartney
One of Wings best - By: S J Buck, 18 Sep 2006 When you listen to this with an open mind you'll find a dam good album.
Some of the lyrics are banal, the synthesizers sound dated & a few of the tracks should have been ditched completely but McCartneys melodic genius pulls it through. I don't know what Magneto & Titanium Man is about but I love that track. The driving rhythm combined with a marvellous melody & the lift when it goes to the middle section "Well there she were.." - just great.
I can easily imagine "Letting Go", "Calll me back again" & perhaps the best track on the album "Listen to what the man said" being on an imaginary Beatles albums in the 70's if they had continued.
OK so overalll its not as good, & criticallly not as important, as The Beatles albums, but without the input of John, George & Ringo this is better than anyone could expect. Listen with open ears!
