Biography
Wings, also known as Paul McCartney and Wings, were an Anglo-American rock band formed in 1971 by former Beatle Paul McCartney with his wife Linda on keyboards, session drummer Denny Seiwell, and former Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. Wings were noted for frequent personnel changes as well as commercial success, going through three lead guitarists and four drummers. However, the core trio of the McCartneys and Laine remained intact throughout the group’s existence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_(band)
Album & Cover
Wings over America is a triple live album by Wings, released in December 1976. The album was recorded during American leg of the band’s acclaimed 1975–76 Wings Over the World tour. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and reached number 1 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. In addition to including several of McCartney’s hits with Wings, the album features performances of five Beatles songs: “Yesterday”, “Lady Madonna”, “I’ve Just Seen a Face”, “Blackbird” and “The Long and Winding Road”. The album cover depicts an airliner about to open its cabin door.
Originally, Wings over America was to be a two-record set of highlight performances but this was rethought due to the success of a bootleg called Wings from the Wings, which was released as a triple record set on red, white, and blue vinyl, and contained the entire 23 June 1976 concert recorded at The Forum in Los Angeles. This caused McCartney to release the album as a three-record set, compiled from various shows from the band’s North American tour during May–June 1976. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wings_over_America
Richard Manning explains the process: This was a black and white airbrush illustration, a copy photo print made and airbrushed in colour. Double weight, glossy unglazed photographic paper mounted onto double weight mount board was used for the illustration. Photographic paper is used for photo realistic illustrations. An accurate tracing was drawn and approved and laid in position on the photo paper. I laid Transpaseal over the total image and masked the different segments. The Transpaseal was removed from whichever part I was to work on, and carefully replaced and the next piece removed until all the white photo paper was covered. A Sable brush was used with a mixture of Photo dye and watercolour paint to put in detail and reflections. Just over two thousand rivets were drawn in perspective (Storm paid for me to have acupuncture to alleviate an aching neck and shoulder after all that). Once finished a copy Photographic print was made and again mounted onto double weight board. I bleached the door opening to make it feel as though bright light was shining through, and then masked off the areas to spray in the colour with Photo dye. Paul expressed a wish for it not to be signed. I ignored that wish and signed it. http://www.richardmanning.co.uk/hipgnosis-album-cover-art/wings-wings-over-america—1976-/15
The idea behind this cover was Paul McCartney arriving in America after a ten year absence. The symbolism of opening an aeroplane door to the opening of a curtain at a gig. The work on these photographs were influenced by photorealism painters such as Chuck Close
Cover Location: On location during the American Tour.
Who Did What: Graphics – Richard Evans. Graphics [Lettering] – Geoff Halpin. Painting [Inner Cover] – Jeff Cummins. Painting [Outer Cover] – Richard Manning.Photography By [Poster] – Bob Ellis. Cover Design – Hipgnosis with P.&L. McCartney
Label: Capitol SWCO11593(US), MPL/Parlophone PCSP720(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell
Tracklist
| Side One Venus And Mars / Rock Show / Jet Let Me Roll It Spirits Of Ancient Egypt Medicine Jar |
Side Two Maybe I’m Amazed Call Me Back Again Lady Madonna The Long And Winding Road Live And Let Die |
Side Three Picasso’s Last Words Richard Cory Bluebird I’ve Just Seen A Face Blackbird Yesterday |
Side Four You Gave Me The Answer Magneto And Titanium Man Go Now My Love Listen To What The Man Said |
Side Five Let ‘Em In Time To Hide Silly Love Songs Beware My Love |
Side Six Letting Go Band On The Run Hi, Hi, Hi Soily |
Credits
Drums, Vocals – Joe English
Engineer [Recording] – Jack Maxson, Mark Vigars, Phil McDonald, Tom Walsh
Producer – Paul McCartney
Saxophone – Howie Casey
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Thadeus Richard
Trombone – Tony Dorsey
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Steve Howard
Vocals, Bass, Piano, Acoustic Guitar – Paul McCartney
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass – Jimmy McCulloch
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Bass, Harmonica [Gob Iron] – Denny Laine
Vocals, Keyboards – Linda McCartney
