Band on the Run to get special re-issue

Paul McCartney preparing re-issue for November 1, 2010

Band on the Run

Paul’s McCartney and Wings epic #1 album from 1973 will be available in multiple configurations featuring remastered rare bonus audio & video content with special exclusive packaging.

It will arrive November 1 in the UK and November 2nd in the US.

When Paul McCartney wanted to record his 5th album since The Beatles broke up, he talked EMI into letting him do it in Lagos, Nigeria.

Two members or Wings quit before he left England. Off he went with Dennie Laine, Linda and Beatles’ recording engineer Geoff Emerick to Africa. 

Expecting some friendly welcome from local musicians he met the heavy-handed presence of the police. McCartney was rebuffed by local musicians who assumed he was there to “steal” their music. Notwithstanding the difficulties, the hired some local musicians and worked diligently to produce what became a # 1 album and Grammy Award winner.

Paul McCartney Band on the Run Halifax, NS 2009

With songs like Jet, Band on the Run, Let it Roll and Mrs Vanderbilt the album is a classic of 70s rock and one of  McCartney’s best.

The song Band on the Run is a mini-opera that McCartney embellishes with stories of running for the airport on leaving Lagos which are amusing but not true. A bit of myth making as they say.

The re-issue

As is the new way of doing things, the re-issue will come in several packages that give more music and memorabilia that is only limited by your credit card. Here is the listing from the press release.

Band on the Run will be available in a variety of formats originating with the single disc digitally remastered, essential 9-track standard edition.

The 3 disc (2CD, 1 DVD) special edition features nine bonus audio tracks (including the top 10 smash “Helen Wheels”), rare footage of the McCartneys in Lagos and behind-the-scenes at the famous album cover shoot, original Band on the Run promotional video clips, the One Hand Clapping television special (highlighted by studio performances filmed at Abbey Road in 1974) all with beautifully enhanced packaging.

Collectors will be especially thrilled by the 4 disc (3CD, 1 DVD) deluxe edition which adds an extraordinary 120-page hard bound book containing many unseen and unpublished photos by Linda McCartney and Clive Arrowsmith, album and single artwork, downloadable hi-res audio versions of the remastered album and bonus audio tracks, a full history of the album complete with a new interview with Paul and expanded track by track information for all four discs. The deluxe edition also includes a special Band on the Run audio documentary (originally produced for the 25th Anniversary edition.)

The original remastered album and bonus audio content will also be issued in a 2 disc 180gm audiophile vinyl edition that comes with an MP3 download of all 18 tracks.

Lastly, the standard and deluxe versions of Band on the Run will be available digitally worldwide.”