Behind the Album: 'Red Rose Speedway,' the Wings Album Paul McCartney Wished He
Even the eternal optimist Paul McCartney expressed frustration after the fact about Red Rose Speedway, the 1973 album he made with his band Wings. In the chaos of recording and touring, Macca felt that he left behind a better album somewhere on the cutting-room floor.
Still, Red Rose Speedway solidified Wings as a commercial entity after some singles released in 1972 started them in that direction. Here’s a look back at an album that despite McCartney’s misgivings, feels now more like a near-miss than an absolute clunker.
When Paul McCartney decided to start up a band about a year after The Beatles announced their breakup, he dove in without too much forethought. Wings’ debut album (Wild Life) was hustled out in 1971. Considering Macca’s Beatles history, fans expecting something grand and ornate were surprised to find the album sounding somewhat ramshackle and tossed-off.
That was how McCartney had planned it, but critics clearly didn’t accept the album in that spirit. The good news is Wings righted the ship with a series of non-album singles that did well in 1972, at the same time as they were doing a lot of touring to gather chemistry.
While all that was happening, the band was also grabbing whatever studio time they had to make their next record. At this time, Wings consisted of McCartney, his wife Linda, guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine, guitarist Henry McCullough, and drummer Denny Seiwell.
Wings recorded so much they had enough material for a double album. But their label balked, and McCartney apparently didn’t push the matter too hard, settling instead for a single album release. Songs that were left out included ones with Linda and Laine singing lead.
Source: Jim Beviglia/americansongwriter.com
