Wings Greatest Hits

[Glynis Waughtal]

Thealbum was compiled after McCartney's decision to leave EMI's American label, Capitol, for a six-year stay with Columbia (United States and Canada only), though he remained with EMI worldwide during his US sabbatical from Capitol. Four of the twelve tracks make their album debut with this compilation: "Another Day", "Junior's Farm", "Hi, Hi, Hi" and "Mull of Kintyre". "Live and Let Die" had previously appeared on the soundtrack album of the same name but did not appear on any previous McCartney albums.

All but two tracks were credited as "Wings" or "Paul McCartney & Wings"; the exceptions being "Another Day" - a non-album single credited to just "Paul McCartney" - and "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" - credited to "Paul & Linda McCartney" from their 1971 album Ram.

Despite the fact that McCartney had amassed enough successful singles by late 1978 to potentially fill a double album, he opted to release Wings Greatest as a single disc for commercial reasons.[citation needed] Thus, several songs would be overlooked for Wings Greatest. Indeed, not one song was excerpted from 1975's Venus and Mars, despite "Listen to What the Man Said" being a number 1 US hit. The album was promoted by a TV commercial in the UK, which featured several members of the public (played by actors) singing Wings tunes in public places. At the end a dustman, waiting in his lorry at a set of traffic lights (in Abbey Road), sings to himself an out of tune rendition of "Band on the Run", at which point Paul, Linda and Denny pull up alongside and Paul shouts out "You're a bit flat mate!". The driver leans out his window and says "Funny, I only checked them this morning!"[8]

The front cover of Wings Greatest depicts a chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statuette created by famed Art Deco sculptor Demtre Chiparus.[11] This antique statuette was purchased by Linda McCartney at a 1978 auction[12] and Paul McCartney decided this statuette would be ideal as the cover for the band's forthcoming greatest hits album.[12]

On 14 October 1978, the McCartney family flew to Switzerland, accompanied by a photographer named Angus Forbes, to arrange a photography session depicting the statuette in genuine snow. The snowdrift backdrop within the image was created with the assistance of a hired snow-plough, and the actual image upon the cover was an aerial photograph taken by helicopter.[10][12]

The rear cover depicts the record covers of the twelve releases, mostly singles, from which each of the Greatest's songs were taken, in columns on either side of the album. In the middle is a photograph of Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine. The original photograph also had Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English, but both members had left the band by the time this greatest hits album was issued and, as a result, were airbrushed out.[citation needed] The background is another scene of the Alps.

The statuette also appears on the inner sleeves of the original vinyl, as well as on the record's labels.[10] It can also be seen on the album cover of Wings' next (and last) studio album, Back to the Egg, in the background, on the mantlepiece.

Oddly, the ex-Beatle with the most hits was the last one to release a greatest hits album. Just in time for Christmas, Wings Greatest marked the end of Pauls relationship with EMI/Capitol (he later reconciled with Capitol in 1986) and, in a larger sense, the end of an era. Here youll find the chart-topping singles that cemented Pauls stardom: My Love, Silly Love Songs, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. Also included are hard-to-find singles that tie up some loose ends. The addition of Juniors Farm, Live And Let Die, Another Day, Hi, Hi, Hi and Mull of Kintyre should drive collectors to make this purchase a priority. True, John Lennons Shaved Fish provided a similar service for collectors, but somehow I found it easier to live without owning Cold Turkey or Power to the People. The songs here are thrown out of chronological order, which isnt the problem you might think (its not like Wings evolved considerably over the years). The selection is nearly unimpeachable; Listen To What The Man Said and the live version of Maybe Im Amazed should have made the final cut, though any dozen tracks from Pauls career to date would have slighted some small masterwork. Among the greatest hits albums I own, Wings Greatest rests near the top alongside such conscientious citizens as Tulls M.U., Classic Yes, Joan Armatradings Track Record and The Whos Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy. If you dont own any of Pauls solo material, this is definitely the stream to sift through for gold. And even if you own most of Pauls records (as I do), Wings Greatest is a terrific supplement.

International remastered edition of the first Wings hits collection was originally released in 1978 (the U.S. edition is long out-of-print) following the success of the album London Town. Wings Greatest rounds up McCartney and band's greatest hits from 1971 to 1978 which means it skips 'Maybe I'm Amazed' but touches on Ram. The main strength of this collection is that it includes hits that never appeared on any album and these are among McCartney's very best solo singles: the eccentric domesticity of 'Another Day', 'Junior's Farm', the Bond theme for 'Live and Let Die', the pile driving 'Hi Hi Hi' and the controversial b-side 'Mull of Kintyre', a Scottish-styled folk ballad that was McCartney's biggest hit in England. EMI. 1993.

Paul McCartney might not have been the coolest or most cosmic ex-Beatle, but none of his former bandmates could touch his knack for creating perfect pop singles. Say what you will about their "lack of depth," but the 12 songs on Wings Greatest considerably brightened AM radio playlists during the 1970s, and most of them have actually improved with age. Wings' pure rock power is ably represented by "Band On the Run," "Hi Hi Hi," "Jet," "Live and Let Die" and the underrated non-LP single "Junior's Farm," all of which positively explode from the speakers. Paul's gooey streak shows up on "My Love," "Silly Love Songs," and the bagpipe-infused "Mull of Kintyre," but only "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" still contains a high cringe quotient. Some key tracks are missing--most notably "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Venus and Mars/Rock Show"--but Wings Greatest is still a thrilling document of Macca at the peak of his pop abilities. (Dan Epstein)

"Released in 1978 after London Town gave McCartney another huge hit, Wings Greatest rounds up McCartney's greatest hits from 1971 to 1978 -- which means it skips "Maybe I'm Amazed" but touches on Ram. The main strength of this collection is that it contains many hits that never appeared on any album, and these are among McCartney's very best non-Beatle singles: the eccentric domesticity of "Another Day," the choogling rocker "Junior's Farm," the Bond anthem "Live and Let Die," the piledriving "Hi Hi Hi," and "Mull of Kintyre," a Scottish-styled folk ballad that was his biggest hit in England. And yes, it's fair to peg these as McCartney successes, since some of them were billed as McCartney, not Wings, and as such, this record is a great overview of McCartney's first decade of solo recording, containing many of his very best solo tunes. One consumer warning: Much of this overlaps with 1988's All the Best (both the U.S. and U.K. editions), which is more comprehensive for the listener looking for a more complete retrospective." (Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG)

Paul McCartney & Wings

Digitally remastered

Established in 1989, the Red Wings Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who made unique contributions to the history of professional baseball in Rochester - both on the field, and off. The inaugural Hall of Fame class on July 26, 1989 included Joe Altobelli, Rip Collins, Estel Crabtree, Russ Derry, Luke Easter, Bobby Grich, Morrie Silver, Billy Southworth, and Specs Toporcer.

Joe Altobelli's name is synonymous with baseball in Rochester. "Alto" spent 10 seasons as a Red Wings player and manager, and in 1996, retired after five years in the club's front office (three as G.M. and two as assistant to the president). He provided color commentary on Wings radio broadcasts from 1998 through 2008.

From 1963-66, Altobelli played first base and the outfield, slamming 47 home runs and knocking in 160 runs. He returned to manage the club in 1971, and in six seasons won 502 games, two Governors' Cups and the 1971 Junior World Series. Altobelli went on to become a two-time Manager of the Year in the Major Leagues with the Giants and Orioles, guiding the 1983 O's to the World Championship.

In 1930, Collins enjoyed arguably the greatest season in Red Wings history, batting .376 with a club-record 234 hits, 40 home runs and an International League-record 180 RBI. In his two seasons in Rochester, first baseman Collins hit a total of 78 round trippers and drove in 314 runs. He compiled a franchise-record .348 average as a Red Wing, and, on May 4, 1929, became the first player to hit a home run at the new Red Wing Stadium.

In an eight-year career, Crabtree emerged as the all-time Red Wings leader in hits (1,041), RBI (542) and games played (934). Between 1933 and 1940, he topped the .300 mark five times on his way to a .308 lifetime average. He clubbed 91 career home runs, none more famous than a ninth-inning three-run shot to propel the Wings past Newark in the 1939 Governors' Cup Finals. Crabtree was also widely acknowledged for his defensive work in the outfield.

One of the most popular and colorful performers in Rochester history, Luke Easter played or coached for six seasons with the Red Wings, after starring in the Negro Leagues, in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, and the Buffalo Bisons.

In only 193 games, Grich emerged as one of the all-time legends ever to don a Red Wings uniform. In 1970, he batted .383 with nine home runs and 42 RBI. In 1971, he led the Red Wings to the Governors' Cup and the Junior World Series championship by batting .336 with 32 homers and 83 RBI. He was recognized as the 1971 Minor League Player of the Year. A shortstop in his Rochester days, Grich went on to a stellar career at second base for the Orioles and Angels. Career Stats is a Red Wing: 193 games, .352 average, 37 doubles, 12 triples, 41 home runs, 126 RBI and 16 stolen bases

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