Post by Beatle Bob on Dec 25, 2009 14:17:53 GMT -5
REVIEW: WINGS FIRST FLIGHT 1972 – (mccd-101/102)
By Beatle Bob
www.giginjapan.com/scan188/wings-first.htm
A while back I purchased Wings First Flight 1972 2 CD set release by Misterclaudel . I put it on the back burner for a while, as there were so many Beatles releases to tackle first. The reason I purchased this disc is it contains and compiles the earliest rehearsals and live performances (University tour)by the first incarnation of Paul’s new band Wings onto 2 handy discs. There is nothing new here, but being I’m not completest for the Beatles solo careers (I have centered more on McCartney for the varied material and availability of unreleased items) this 2 CD set makes some of it new for me. It’s something I’ve wanted to add to my collection and found this release warranted acquiring for its convenience and the historical nature of the material enclosed.
Disc #1 starts out with the first Wings rehearsals at the ICA Theater on 2/1/72 containing “Lucille”, “Wild Life” and “The Mess”. The audio has never been pristine, but it’s very, very good. It’s nice to be a fly-on-the wall at these tentative first try-outs of material. “The Mess” is only 33 seconds long. We’re also offered a rehearsal at Paul’s house on 3/7/72 for “Give Ireland Back To The Irish”. Audio here is a few generations back from the 2/1/72 rehearsals but I can’t complain. It’s good enough to enjoy.
The first Wings concert offered here from Nottingham University on 2/9/72 is a rough, but listenable audience recording that’s not only important historically, but for the inclusion of rarities attempted here such as “You’ve Got To Help Me Darling’, “Thank You Darling” (studio outtake available to collectors) “Shuffle Blues” and an early version of “My Love” that I like a lot. Of course Paul nails the Beatles’ staple cover, “Long Tall Sally”. The band is rough, but their hearts are in the right place.
Disc #2 offers University of Hull 2/11/72 audience tape and it’s worse than the Nottingham tape. Audio is more distant, but once again, it’s only the 2nd Wings live concert to appear to date and we’re treated to a few oldies, material from Ram (“Smile Away”), Linda’s “Seaside Woman” (is that really a treat?) and a song called “Help Me” which I’ve never been familiar with. It’s a nice blues song complete with rarely heard harmonica solo. Chicago Blues, Wings style. The band repeats a few numbers. Paul states they don’t have many numbers! A University tour was smart. Work out the kinks, find out what works and what doesn’t. He certainly didn’t intend these to be heard by anyone other than the students at the Universities and you can see why when you hear these live tapes. Jump ahead to Newcastle in ’73 and hear a band that’s now at the top of its game and would continue to be so throughout the decade.
This 2 disc set comes in a 2 CD slimline jewel case, insert with tiny reproductions of newspaper articles and a slipcase, making this one of the nicer Misterclaudel packages to come along since their John Lennon: The Lost Home Tapes 1965 – 1969 2 CD set.
A worthy acquisition to anyone’s Paul McCartney and Wings collection.
Regards,
Beatle Bob
By Beatle Bob
www.giginjapan.com/scan188/wings-first.htm
A while back I purchased Wings First Flight 1972 2 CD set release by Misterclaudel . I put it on the back burner for a while, as there were so many Beatles releases to tackle first. The reason I purchased this disc is it contains and compiles the earliest rehearsals and live performances (University tour)by the first incarnation of Paul’s new band Wings onto 2 handy discs. There is nothing new here, but being I’m not completest for the Beatles solo careers (I have centered more on McCartney for the varied material and availability of unreleased items) this 2 CD set makes some of it new for me. It’s something I’ve wanted to add to my collection and found this release warranted acquiring for its convenience and the historical nature of the material enclosed.
Disc #1 starts out with the first Wings rehearsals at the ICA Theater on 2/1/72 containing “Lucille”, “Wild Life” and “The Mess”. The audio has never been pristine, but it’s very, very good. It’s nice to be a fly-on-the wall at these tentative first try-outs of material. “The Mess” is only 33 seconds long. We’re also offered a rehearsal at Paul’s house on 3/7/72 for “Give Ireland Back To The Irish”. Audio here is a few generations back from the 2/1/72 rehearsals but I can’t complain. It’s good enough to enjoy.
The first Wings concert offered here from Nottingham University on 2/9/72 is a rough, but listenable audience recording that’s not only important historically, but for the inclusion of rarities attempted here such as “You’ve Got To Help Me Darling’, “Thank You Darling” (studio outtake available to collectors) “Shuffle Blues” and an early version of “My Love” that I like a lot. Of course Paul nails the Beatles’ staple cover, “Long Tall Sally”. The band is rough, but their hearts are in the right place.
Disc #2 offers University of Hull 2/11/72 audience tape and it’s worse than the Nottingham tape. Audio is more distant, but once again, it’s only the 2nd Wings live concert to appear to date and we’re treated to a few oldies, material from Ram (“Smile Away”), Linda’s “Seaside Woman” (is that really a treat?) and a song called “Help Me” which I’ve never been familiar with. It’s a nice blues song complete with rarely heard harmonica solo. Chicago Blues, Wings style. The band repeats a few numbers. Paul states they don’t have many numbers! A University tour was smart. Work out the kinks, find out what works and what doesn’t. He certainly didn’t intend these to be heard by anyone other than the students at the Universities and you can see why when you hear these live tapes. Jump ahead to Newcastle in ’73 and hear a band that’s now at the top of its game and would continue to be so throughout the decade.
This 2 disc set comes in a 2 CD slimline jewel case, insert with tiny reproductions of newspaper articles and a slipcase, making this one of the nicer Misterclaudel packages to come along since their John Lennon: The Lost Home Tapes 1965 – 1969 2 CD set.
A worthy acquisition to anyone’s Paul McCartney and Wings collection.
Regards,
Beatle Bob
