Dec 14

Wings

Greatly Appreciated

WINGS (PAUL McCARTNEY AND WINGS)

 
Wings, also known as Paul McCartney and Wings, were a rock band formed in 1971 by former Beatle Paul McCartney with his wife Linda McCartney, session drummer Denny Seiwell, and former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine.  Despite frequent personnel changes, the core trio of the McCartneys and Laine remained intact throughout the group's existence.  After the release of the title track of the James Bond movie Live and Let Die, the band released 1973's Band on the Run, a commercial and critical success that spawned two top ten singles in "Jet" and the title track.  In 1977, the band earned a UK number one single in "Mull of Kintyre," becoming the then-best selling UK single in history.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
That's what it says:  The Magnificent Moodies.  This record was released in 1965 and was the first album by the Moody Blues.  Like many of the British Invasion bands, they started out as a crackerjack rhythm and blues band, and the U. S. release of the album has a different cover and some variation in the songs.   
 
For some reason, almost from the beginning the Moody Blues completely turned their back on the music from their first album.  For instance, their album Seventh Sojourn is actually their eighth album.  This is even more surprising considering that the Moody Blues had a worldwide hit song from that album called "Go Now".  I used to hear that song on the radio from time to time, and the first time, I was amazed to hear the name of the artist.  The lead singer on that track is Denny Laine, while the distinctive piano is performed by Mike Pinder.  Laine would later become a key member of Paul McCartney's band Wings. 
  
(September 2012)
 
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Meanwhile, Ginger Baker was putting together a supergroup and a double album of his own.  Ginger Baker's Air Force – described in Wikipedia as a rock-jazz fusion band – was organized from the ashes of Blind Faith and featured the other three musicians in the band besides Eric Clapton:  Ginger Baker (drums, percussion and vocals), Stevie Winwood (organ and vocals), and Rick Grech (violin and bass guitar).  Others on hand in the 10-piece band include Baker's former bandmate Graham Bond, Denny Laine (one of the original members of the Moody Blues – he sang lead on their early hit "Go Now" – and later a key member of Paul McCartney and Wings), Chris Wood (another founding member of Traffic), and Wood's wife Jeanette Jacobs (previously in the New York band the Cake). 

 

(May 2014)

  
Last edited: March 22, 2021