Editing Band on the Run

{{Short description|1973 album by Paul McCartney and Wings}}
{{For|the title song from the album|Band on the Run (song)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Band on the Run
| type         = Studio album
| artist       = [[Paul McCartney and Wings]]
| cover        = Paul McCartney & Wings-Band on the Run album cover.jpg
| alt          = 
| released     = 30 November 1973
| recorded     = August–October 1973
| venue        = 
| studio       = *EMI and ARC, [[Lagos]], Nigeria
*[[AIR Oxford Circus|AIR]] and Kingsway Recorders, London<ref name="Spizer p 172" />
| genre        = *[[Rock music|Rock]]
*[[pop rock]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/best-albums-of-1973|title=The 25 Best Albums of 1973|first=Josh|last=Jackson|date=May 8, 2023|website=[[Paste Magazine|Paste]]|access-date=December 11, 2024}}</ref>
| length       = {{plainlist|
*41:08 (UK version)
*{{Duration|44:17}} (US version)
}}
| label        = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
| producer     = [[Paul McCartney]]
| chronology   = [[Paul McCartney and Wings]]
| prev_title   = [[Red Rose Speedway]]
| prev_year    = 1973
| next_title   = [[Venus and Mars (Wings album)|Venus and Mars]]
| next_year    = 1975
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Band on the Run
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Mrs. Vandebilt]]
 | single1date = January 1974
 | single2     = [[Jet (song)|Jet]]
 | single2date = 28 January 1974
 | single3     = [[Band on the Run (song)|Band on the Run]]
 | single3date = 8 April 1974
}}
}}
'''''Band on the Run''''' is the third [[studio album]] by the British–American rock band [[Paul McCartney and Wings]], released on 30&nbsp;November 1973. It was [[Paul McCartney|McCartney]]'s fifth album after leaving [[the Beatles]] in April 1970 and his final album on [[Apple Records]]. Although sales were modest initially, its commercial performance was aided by two hit singles – "[[Jet (song)|Jet]]" and "[[Band on the Run (song)|Band on the Run]]" – such that it became the top-selling studio album of 1974 in the United Kingdom and Australia, in addition to revitalising McCartney's critical standing. It remains McCartney's most successful album and the most celebrated of his post-Beatles works.

The album was mostly recorded at [[EMI]]'s studio in [[Lagos]], Nigeria, as McCartney wanted to make an album in an exotic location. Shortly before departing for Lagos, drummer [[Denny Seiwell]] and guitarist [[Henry McCullough]] left the group. With no time to recruit replacements, McCartney went into the studio with just his wife [[Linda McCartney|Linda]] and [[Denny Laine]]. McCartney therefore played bass, drums, percussion and most of the lead guitar parts.<ref name=recording/> The studio was of poor quality and conditions in Nigeria were tense and difficult; the McCartneys were robbed at knifepoint, losing a bag of song lyrics and demo tapes. After the band's return to England, final overdubs and further recording were carried out in London, mostly at [[AIR Oxford Circus|AIR Studios]].

''Band on the Run'' has been reissued numerous times with bonus tracks, including in 1993 as part of ''[[The Paul McCartney Collection]]'', in 1999 for its 25th anniversary, in 2010 as part of the [[Paul McCartney Archive Collection]] and in 2024 for its 50th anniversary.

== Background ==

{{quote box|quote= Paul thought, 'I've got to do it, either I give up and cut my throat or [I] get my magic back.'<ref name="Schaffner p 165">Schaffner, p. 165.</ref>|source= – Linda McCartney to ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' magazine|width=25%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
By 1973, three years after the [[break-up of the Beatles]], [[Paul McCartney]] had yet to regain his artistic credibility or find favour with music critics for his post-Beatles work.<ref name=IBT/><ref>{{cite book|first=Chris |last=Ingham |chapter=Introduction: Ten Years After |page=14|editor-last=Hunt |editor-first=Chris |year=2005 |title=NME Originals: Beatles – The Solo Years 1970–1980|location=London|publisher=IPC Ignite!}}</ref> After completing a successful [[Wings 1973 UK Tour|UK tour]] with his band Wings in July 1973,<ref>Doggett, p. 208.</ref> he planned their third album as a means to re-establish himself after the mixed reception given to ''[[Wild Life (Wings album)|Wild Life]]'' and ''[[Red Rose Speedway]]''.<ref name=Allmusic/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/with-band-on-the-run-paul-mccartney-escaped-the-be-200811|title=With ''Band On The Run'', Paul McCartney escaped The Beatles' shadow|first=Noah|last=Cruickshank|date=14 January 2014|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=20 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220125100/http://www.avclub.com/article/with-band-on-the-run-paul-mccartney-escaped-the-be-200811|url-status=live}}</ref>

Keen to record outside the United Kingdom, McCartney asked [[EMI]] to send him a list of all their international recording studios. He selected Lagos in Nigeria and was attracted to the idea of recording in Africa. In August, the band – consisting of McCartney and his wife Linda, ex-Moody Blues guitarist and pianist [[Denny Laine]], [[Henry McCullough]] on lead guitar, and [[Denny Seiwell]] on drums – started rehearsals for the new album at the McCartneys' Scottish farm. During one rehearsal session, McCullough and McCartney argued, and McCullough quit.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtuGwO2sY9cC&pg=PA48|page=48|title=Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings|first= Garry|last= McGee|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|date= 1 January 2003|isbn=9780878333042}}</ref> Seiwell left a week later, the night before the band flew out to Nigeria.<ref name="perasi_2013">{{cite book|last1=Perasi|first1=Luca|title=Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013)|date=2013|publisher=L.I.L.Y. Publishing|location=Milan|isbn=978-8890912214|page=101|edition=First}}</ref> This left just McCartney, Linda and Laine to record in Lagos, assisted by former Beatles engineer [[Geoff Emerick]]. McCartney had chosen Lagos, as he felt it would be a glamorous location where he and the band could sun on the beach during the day and record at night; the reality, however, was that, after the end of a [[Nigerian Civil War|civil war]] in 1970, Nigeria was [[Nigerian military juntas of 1966–79 and 1983–98|run by a military government]], with corruption and disease commonplace.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzl1lBFXKhQC&pg=RA2-PT584|page=584|title=The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations|author=James E. Perone|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date= 17 October 2012|isbn=9780313379079}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/band-on-the-run-1213-2011.aspx|title=Band on the Run: The Harrowing Story Behind Wings' Classic Album|first=Russell|last=Hall|date=14 December 2013|publisher=gibson.com|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230061457/http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/band-on-the-run-1213-2011.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was McCartney's last album released on Apple Records. 
==Recording ==

The band and their entourage arrived in Lagos on 30 August 1973, returning to London late on 22 September.<ref name=":0" /> EMI's studio, located on Wharf Road in the suburb of [[Apapa]], was ramshackle and under-equipped. The control desk was faulty and there was only one tape machine, a [[Studer]] 8-track. The band rented houses near the airport in [[Ikeja]], an hour away from the studio. McCartney, Linda, and their three children stayed in one, while Laine, his wife JoJo, Emerick, and Wings' two roadies stayed in another.

The group established a routine of recording during the week and playing tourist on the weekends. McCartney temporarily joined a local country club, where he spent most mornings. The band was driven to the studio in the early afternoon, and recording would last into the late evening or early morning. To compensate for the departed band members, McCartney played, in addition to his contributions on bass guitar, the drum and lead guitar parts, with Laine playing rhythm guitar and Linda adding keyboards.<ref name=recording>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzl1lBFXKhQC&pg=RA2-PT585|page=585|title=The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations|author=James E. Perone|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date=17 October 2012|isbn=9780313379079|access-date=21 September 2016|archive-date=18 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918033555/https://books.google.com/books?id=gzl1lBFXKhQC&pg=RA2-PT585|url-status=live}}</ref> The first track they recorded at Apapa was "[[Mamunia]]",<ref name="Spizer p 174" /> the title for which McCartney appropriated from the name of a hotel in [[Marrakesh]] where Wings had stayed in April 1973.<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 189">Madinger and Easter, p. 189.</ref>

{{quote box|quote= It's a collection of songs and the basic idea about the band on the run is a kind of prison escape. At the beginning of the album, the guy is stuck inside four walls and breaks out. There is a thread, but not a concept.<ref name="Spizer p 174" />|source= – Paul McCartney|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
Several of the songs on ''Band on the Run'' reflect themes of escape and freedom,<ref name="Rodriguez p 158">Rodriguez, p. 158.</ref> while the structure of the album recalled the Beatles' ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' and ''[[Abbey Road]]''.<ref name="Schaffner p 166">Schaffner, p. 166.</ref> The song "[[Band on the Run (song)|Band on the Run]]" was partly inspired by a remark [[George Harrison]] had made during one of the many business meetings the Beatles attended in 1969<ref name="Spizer p 174" /> in an effort to address the problems afflicting their [[Apple Corps]] enterprise. Four years later, the album's creation coincided with what author [[Peter Doggett]] terms McCartney's "moral victory in the debate over [[Allen Klein]]", as Harrison, [[John Lennon]], and [[Ringo Starr]] now became embroiled in litigation against Klein<ref>Doggett, pp. 211–15, 216.</ref> – the business manager they had appointed to run Apple in 1969, despite strong opposition from McCartney.<ref>Sounes, pp. 251–54.</ref> Doggett writes that McCartney was perhaps liberated creatively by this recent development, resulting in ''Band on the Run'' bearing "a frothy self-confidence that was reminiscent of the Beatles at their most productive".<ref name="Doggett p 216">Doggett, p. 216.</ref>

Aside from the challenges presented by the substandard studio, various incidents plagued Wings' stay in Lagos. While out walking one night against advice, McCartney and Linda were robbed at knifepoint. The assailants made off with all of their valuables, and even stole a bag containing a notebook full of handwritten lyrics and songs, and cassettes containing demos for songs to be recorded.<ref name=IBT>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/band-run-40-years-ago-paul-mccartney-saved-his-career-album-made-under-duress-nigeria-1346223|title=Band On The Run: 40 Years Ago, Paul McCartney Saved His Career With An Album Made Under Duress In Nigeria|first=Palash|last=Ghosh|date=16 July 2013|work=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=11 January 2016|archive-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014132935/http://www.ibtimes.com/band-run-40-years-ago-paul-mccartney-saved-his-career-album-made-under-duress-nigeria-1346223|url-status=live}}</ref> On another occasion, McCartney was overdubbing a vocal track when he began gasping for air.  According to Emerick: "Within seconds, [McCartney] turned as white as a sheet, explaining to us in a croaking voice that he couldn't catch his breath. We decided to take him outside for some fresh air&nbsp;... [but] once he was exposed to the blazing heat he felt even worse and began keeling over, finally fainting dead away at our feet.  Linda began screaming hysterically; she was convinced that he was having a heart attack&nbsp;... The official diagnosis was that he had suffered a [[Bronchospasm|bronchial spasm]] brought on by too much smoking."<ref name="Emerick 2006">Emerick 2006</ref> Another incident was the confrontation with local [[Afrobeat]] pioneer and political activist [[Fela Kuti]], who publicly accused the band of being in Africa to exploit and steal African music after their visit to his club. Kuti went to the studio to confront McCartney, who played their songs for him to show that they contained no local influence. Later on, drummer and former [[Cream (band)|Cream]] member [[Ginger Baker]] invited Wings to record their entire album at his ARC Studio in [[Ikeja]]. McCartney agreed to go there for one day, and the song "[[Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)]]" was recorded at ARC, with Baker himself shaking a tin can filled with gravel on the track.

{{quote box|quote= [Paul and I] made the album as though we weren't in a band, as though we were just two producers/musicians.<ref>Sounes, p. 311.</ref>|source= – Denny Laine|width=25%|align=left|style=padding:8px;}}
Recording for the majority of the album's basic tracks, together with initial overdubbing, was completed after six weeks in Nigeria.<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 186" /> Wings hosted a beach barbecue to celebrate the end of recording,<ref name="Emerick 2006"/> and on 23 September 1973 they flew back to England,<ref>Badman, p. 108.</ref> where they were met by fans and journalists.<ref name="Spizer p 172">Spizer, p. 172.</ref> Upon returning to London, the McCartneys received a letter from EMI dated before the band had left England warning them to not go to Lagos due to an outbreak of [[cholera]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2010/11/05/paul-mccartney-i-was-robbed-at-knifepoint-571696/ |title=Paul McCartney: I was robbed at knifepoint &#124; Metro News |date=5 November 2010 |access-date=16 August 2017 |archive-date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816063132/http://metro.co.uk/2010/11/05/paul-mccartney-i-was-robbed-at-knifepoint-571696/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October, two weeks after the band's return to London, work began at [[George Martin]]'s [[AIR Oxford Circus|AIR Studios]] to transfer many of the eight-track recordings made in Nigeria to sixteen-track.<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 186" /> "[[Jet (song)|Jet]]", named after one of the McCartney children's ponies, was recorded in its entirety at AIR.<ref>Badman, p. 118.</ref><ref name="Madinger & Easter p 188">Madinger and Easter, p. 188.</ref> The McCartneys and Laine carried out further overdubs on the Lagos recordings during this period; all of the orchestral arrangements for the album were taped at AIR in a single day, conducted by [[Tony Visconti]].<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 186">Madinger and Easter, p. 186.</ref> Visconti was given three days to write the arrangements, including for the 60-piece orchestra on the title track. He said the arrangements were collaborations with McCartney, and was surprised he was not correctly credited for his work until the 25th anniversary reissue of the album.<ref>Visconti, Tony. The Autobiography. Harper Collins. 2007. pp. 204–206</ref> Another contributor was saxophonist [[Howie Casey]], who overdubbed solos on "[[Bluebird (Paul McCartney song)|Bluebird]]", "[[Mrs. Vandebilt]]",<ref name="Spizer p 174">Spizer, p. 174.</ref> and "[[Jet (song)|Jet]]", and would go on to become Wings' regular horn player.<ref>Sounes, pp. 313, 316.</ref> On 8 October, Remi Kabaka, a musician coming from Nigeria, although born in Ghana, added a set of percussion on "[[Bluebird (Paul McCartney song)|Bluebird]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perasi |first=Luca |title=Paul McCartney Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 |date=2023 |publisher=L.I.L.Y. Publishing |isbn=978-88-909-122-9-0 |edition=1st |location=Milan, Italy |page=169}}</ref> Final mixing of the album was completed over three days at London's Kingsway Studios in early November.<ref name="Spizer p 172" />

== Cover artwork==
The album cover photograph was taken in [[Osterley Park]], West London, on 28 October 1973 by photographer [[Clive Arrowsmith]]<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 186" /> from a concept by [[Hipgnosis]] and McCartney. It depicts the McCartneys, Laine, and six other well-known people dressed as convicts and posed as though caught by a prison searchlight. The six celebrities are: [[Michael Parkinson]], [[Kenny Lynch]], [[James Coburn]], [[Clement Freud]], [[Christopher Lee]], and [[John Conteh]].<ref name="Spizer p 175">Spizer, p. 175.</ref> Arrowsmith said the photo used for the cover was one of four he found acceptable out of the 24 pictures he took during the session. The spotlight's low potency meant everyone had to stand still for two seconds for proper [[Exposure (photography)|exposure]], which was made difficult by the photographer and subjects reportedly being in a "substance haze" following a party held by Paul McCartney. The golden hue of the picture comes from Arrowsmith’s use of daylight film instead of nighttime [[Tungsten film]], which would have been more typical for the setting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://clivearrowsmith.org/2014/01/13/band-on-the-run-the-great-wrong-film-debacle/|publisher=Clive Arrowsmith|date=13 January 2014|title=Band on The Run – The Great 'Wrong Film' Debacle|access-date=12 July 2016|archive-date=21 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921221416/https://clivearrowsmith.org/2014/01/13/band-on-the-run-the-great-wrong-film-debacle/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Release==
[[Apple Records]] issued ''Band on the Run'' in the UK on November 30<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Kozinn and Sinclair |first=Allan and Adrian |title=The McCartney Legacy Volume 1: 1969-73 |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2022 |isbn=978-0063000704 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=626 |language=English}}</ref> (as Apple PAS 10007),<ref>Castleman and Podrazik, p. 372.</ref> and in the U.S. on 5 December (as Apple SO 3415).<ref name="Spizer p 171">Spizer, p. 171.</ref> Rather than having the band promote the album on radio and television or with a tour, McCartney undertook a series of magazine interviews, most notably with [[Paul Gambaccini]] for ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 187" /> The conversations with Gambaccini took place at various locations from September 1973 onward,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gambaccini|first=Paul|title=The ''Rolling Stone'' Interview: Paul McCartney |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=31 January 1974|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-is-not-dead-and-neither-is-the-past-87779/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115073209/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-is-not-dead-and-neither-is-the-past-87779/ |archive-date=January 15, 2024}}</ref> and combined to form, in the words of authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter, "a remarkably forthcoming interview in comparison to the 'thumbs-aloft' profiles usually allowed by [McCartney]".<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 187">Madinger and Easter, p. 187.</ref>

"[[Helen Wheels]]" was released as a non-album single in late October 1973, and became a top 10 hit in America the following January.<ref>Spizer, p. 167.</ref> For commercial reasons, [[Capitol Records]], the US distributor for [[Apple Records]], asked to include "Helen Wheels" on the album. McCartney agreed, although it was never his intention to include the track.<ref>Rodriguez, pp. 159, 262.</ref> While "Helen Wheels" is not included on CD editions of ''Band on the Run'' in the UK (except as a bonus track on the 1993 "[[The Paul McCartney Collection]]" edition of the album), it has often appeared on CD releases of the album in the US and Canada, starting with the initial [[Columbia Records]] release in 1984. Early versions of the Capitol release fail to list "Helen Wheels" on the label or the CD insert, making the song a "[[hidden track]]".

==Commercial performance==
Initially, the album did not sell especially well, with the record-buying public wary after Wings' preceding releases.<ref name="Woffinden p 81">Woffinden, p. 81.</ref><ref>Spizer, p. 179.</ref> On the [[UK Albums Chart]], ''Band on the Run'' climbed to number 9 on 22 December,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search-results-chart/_/1973/12/22 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150103092537/http://www.officialcharts.com/search-results-chart/_/1973/12/22 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2015 |title=Your charts for 22nd December 1973" > "Albums |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=3 January 2015 }}</ref> remaining there for a second week before dropping to number 13.<ref name="UK chart action">{{cite web|url=http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_paul_albumchartaction_uk.htm|title=Paul McCartney: Chart Action (UK)|publisher=nifty.com|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045702/http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_paul_albumchartaction_uk.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> On America's [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape]] chart, it peaked at number 7 on 2 February 1974, and then spent the next six weeks in the lower reaches of the top ten.<ref name="Castleman & Podrazik p 364">Castelman and Podrazik, p. 364.</ref> The album went on to achieve considerable success, however, thanks to the popularity of the two singles culled from it: "Jet" and the title track.<ref name="Schaffner p 165" /><ref name="Madinger & Easter p 186" /> Writing in 1981, [[Bob Woffinden]] described ''Band on the Run'' as the first Beatles-related release to be "planned with a marketing strategy",<ref name="Woffinden p 81" /> as Capitol Records now assumed a fully active role in promoting the album following the removal of Klein's [[ABKCO Records|ABKCO Industries]] as managers of Apple. Although McCartney had been reluctant to issue album tracks as singles,<ref>Rodriguez, p. 262.</ref> the public's apparent lack of interest in ''Band on the Run'' led him to agree to the recommendations of Capitol's head of marketing, [[Al Coury]],<ref>Spizer, pp. 179–80.</ref> who had similarly pushed for the inclusion of "Helen Wheels" on the album's American release. McCartney therefore authorised single edits of the two A-sides taken from the album.<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 188" />

"Jet" was issued as a single in America on 28 January with "Mamunia" as the B-side, although "Let Me Roll It", which was the B-side of the UK release, replaced "Mamunia" on 15 February.<ref>Madinger and Easter, pp. 189, 590, 594.</ref> The single's success provided new impetus for the album,<ref>Rodriguez, pp. 262–63.</ref><ref>Spizer, p. 180.</ref> which hit number 2 in the UK at the end of March<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search-results-chart/_/1974/3/30|title=Your charts for 30th March 1974" > "Albums|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830024447/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/|url-status=live}}</ref> and topped ''Billboard''{{'}}s listings on 13 April.<ref name="Castleman & Podrazik p 364" /> Apple issued "Band on the Run" as a single in America on 8 April, backed by "[[Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five]]";<ref name="Badman p 123" /> the UK release followed on 28 June, with the non-album instrumental "Zoo Gang" as the B-side.<ref name="Spizer p 185">Spizer, p. 185.</ref> Due to the popularity of "Band on the Run",<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 186" /> the album returned to number 1 on the ''Billboard'' chart on 8 June, when the single simultaneously topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]].<ref>Castleman and Podrazik, pp. 354, 365.</ref> In Britain, the album finally hit number 1 on 27 July,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search-results-chart/_/1974/7/27 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150103092531/http://www.officialcharts.com/search-results-chart/_/1974/7/27 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2015 |title=Your charts for 27th July 1974" > "Albums |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=3 January 2015 }}</ref> and it stayed there for seven consecutive weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/numberalb3.html|title=Number 1 albums of the 1970s|publisher=everyHit.com|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=8 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008170549/http://everyhit.com/numberalb3.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="UKchart" /> On the alternative UK listings compiled by ''Melody Maker'', ''Band on the Run'' remained in the top ten from 26 January through 23 November 1974. During that time, its chart performance similarly reflected the popularity of the two singles, with the album spending three weeks at number 2 in April, and six weeks at number 1 throughout August and the first week of September.<ref>Castleman and Podrazik, pp. 342–43.</ref>

The album topped the ''Billboard'' chart on three separate occasions during 1974,<ref name="Castleman & Podrazik p 364" /> and was the top selling album of that year in Australia<ref name="auchart"/> and Canada.<ref name="RPMYearEnd" /> In Britain, it came second in the year-end standings, behind the compilation ''[[The Singles: 1969–1973]]'' by [[the Carpenters]].<ref name="UKYearend" /> Through this success with Wings, McCartney established himself as the most commercially successful of the four former Beatles.<ref name="Doggett p 216" /><ref name="Woffinden p 81" /> Author Robert Rodriguez views the album's arrival at number 1 in America in April 1974 as the moment when McCartney usurped George Harrison as the "ex-Beatle Most Likely to Succeed", and the beginning of a period of public acclaim that reached its zenith with the [[Wings Over America Tour]] in 1976.<ref>Rodriguez, pp. 159, 263.</ref>

''Band on the Run'' was eventually certified triple platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] and would go on to sell 9 million copies worldwide,<ref name="Badman p 123">Badman, p. 123.</ref> becoming EMI's top selling album of the 1970s in the UK.<ref name="Woffinden p 81" /> Its continued success through 1974 was also beneficial in allowing Wings to recruit a new guitarist and drummer, and to integrate them into the band before beginning new recordings.<ref>''The Beatles: Quote Unquote'' {{ISBN|978-1-858-13846-6}} p. 70</ref>

== Critical reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Al |title=''Band on the Run'' – Paul McCartney & Wings, Paul McCartney, Wings |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/band-on-the-run-mw0000190865 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507181310/https://www.allmusic.com/album/band-on-the-run-mw0000190865 |archive-date=7 May 2021}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
|rev2Score = C+<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: M|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=M&bk=70|access-date=7 March 2019|via=robertchristgau.com|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629053222/https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=M&bk=70|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Bennett/Mojo">{{cite magazine|first=Ross|last=Bennett|title=Paul McCartney & Wings ''Band On The Run''|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=December 2010|page=123}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[MusicHound|MusicHound Rock]]''
| rev4Score = 4/5<ref>Graff & Durchholz 1999, p. 730.</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|9|10}}<ref>{{cite web |first=Loar |last=Christel |title=Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run (Special Edition) |publisher=[[PopMatters]] |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/132903-paul-mccartney-wings-band-on-the-run-special-edition/ |date=4 November 2010 |access-date=15 May 2015 |archive-date=30 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430043329/http://www.popmatters.com/review/132903-paul-mccartney-wings-band-on-the-run-special-edition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Record Collector]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RecCollector">{{cite magazine|first=Terry|last=Staunton|title=Paul McCartney & Wings – Band On The Run|magazine=[[Record Collector]] (Xmas 2010/issue 383)|url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/band-on-the-run|date=December 2010|access-date=10 November 2014|page=87|archive-date=11 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111015204/http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/band-on-the-run|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=RS2010>{{cite news |newspaper=Rolling Stone |issue=1118 |date=25 November 2010 |page=80 |author=Rob Sheffield |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Paul's Hard Rocking Solo Peak}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/paul-mccartney |title=Paul McCartney: Album Guide |publisher=[[Rolling Stone|rollingstone.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704174106/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/paul-mccartney/albumguide| archive-date=4 July 2014 |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="CD Universe reviews">{{cite web |title=Paul McCartney / Wings ''Band on the Run'' CD Album |publisher=CD Universe/[[Muze]] |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1108548&style=music |access-date=2 August 2014 |archive-date=1 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501084515/http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1108548&style=music |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Wings |encyclopedia=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music |year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |editor-last=Larkin |editor-first=Colin |edition=Concise Fourth |page=1346 |isbn=1852279230}}</ref>
}}
Upon its release, ''Band on the Run'' received mostly favourable reviews. Rodriguez writes that, after the disappointment of McCartney's previous work since the Beatles, "It was exactly the record fans and critics had long hoped he would make".<ref>Rodriguez, p. 160.</ref>

In a combined review of ''Band on the Run'' and Starr's concurrently released ''[[Ringo (album)|Ringo]]'' album, [[Charles Shaar Murray]] of the ''[[NME]]'' wrote: "The ex-Beatle least likely to re-establish his credibility and lead the field has pulled it off with a positive master-stroke of an album entitled ''Band On The Run''." In addition to praising McCartney for using synthesizer "like an instrument, and not like an electric whoopee cushion", Shaar Murray concluded: "''Band On The Run'' is a great album. If anybody ever puts down McCartney in your presence, bust him in the snoot and play him this. He will thank you for it afterwards."<ref>{{cite news|author=Shaar Murray, Charles|title=Paul McCartney: ''Band On The Run''/Ringo Starr: ''Ringo'' |work=[[NME]]|date=19 January 1974|page=12}} Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/paul-mccartney-band-on-the-runringo-starr-ringo Rock's Backpages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203011531/http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/paul-mccartney-band-on-the-runringo-starr-ringo |date=3 February 2014 }} (subscription required).</ref>

Writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Loraine Alterman considered the album to be "bursting with a great deal of compelling music even if the lyrics at times make as much sense as that cover photo" and admired the "fascinating range of sounds" offered in the title track, as well as the "lovely, romantic aura" of "Bluebird". While noting the importance of studio production to the overall effect, Alterman wrote: "McCartney has managed to make the complexities of multi-track recording sound as natural and fresh as tomorrow."<ref>{{cite news|author=Alterman, Loraine|title=Wings: ''Band On The Run'' (Apple) |work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 December 1973}} Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/wings-band-on-the-run-apple Rock's Backpages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102115441/http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/wings-band-on-the-run-apple |date=2 January 2015 }} (subscription required).</ref> [[Jon Landau]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described the album as, "with the possible exception of John Lennon's ''[[John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band|Plastic Ono Band]]'', the finest record yet released by any of the four musicians who were once called the Beatles".<ref name=RS1974>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]] |issue=153 |date=31 January 1974 |author=Jon Landau |author-link=Jon Landau |title=''Band on the Run'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/band-on-the-run-19970121 |access-date=13 June 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602100327/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/wings/albums/album/112198/review/6211633/band_on_the_run |archive-date=2 June 2007 }} Posted on 21 January 1997.</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' named ''Band on the Run'' one of the Best Albums of 1973.<ref>"Rolling Stone Music Awards '73" ''Rolling Stone'' 17 January 1974: 11</ref>

''[[Village Voice]]'' critic [[Robert Christgau]] wrote in 1981: "I originally underrated what many consider McCartney's definitive post-Beatles statement, but not as much as its admirers overrate it. Pop masterpiece? This? Sure it's a relief after the vagaries of ''Wild Life'' and ''Red Rose Speedway''." He praised the title track and the "Afro-soul" introduction to "Mamunia", calling them "the ''high points''". Christgau ultimately awarded the album a C+ rating, indicating "a not disreputable performance, most likely a failed experiment or a pleasant piece of hackwork".<ref name="CG"/> In a retrospective review for [[AllMusic]], [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] wrote that, while some songs are excellent and the album overall is enjoyable, it is more about showmanship than content. A subsequent review on Allmusic by Al Campbell was more generous, considering the arrangements and melodic hooks of the songs up to the caliber of McCartney's work in the Beatles and concluding: "Though it lacks the emotional resonance of contemporaneous releases by John Lennon and George Harrison, McCartney's infallible instinct for popcraft overflows on this excellent release."<ref name=Allmusic/> The ''Rolling Stone'' review of the 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of the album said that "the real action still lies in the original LP's revved-up pleasures".<ref name=RS2010/> Writing for ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' magazine in 2011, [[John Harris (critic)|John Harris]] included ''Band on the Run'' among "the trilogy of truly essential post-Beatles solo albums", along with Harrison's ''[[All Things Must Pass]]'' and Lennon's ''Plastic Ono Band''.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Harris, John|title=Beware of Darkness|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=November 2011|page=82}}</ref>

In 2000, ''[[Q magazine|Q]]'' magazine placed ''Band on the Run'' at number 75 in its list of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". In 2012, it was voted 418th on ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s revised list of "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]".<ref name=RS500>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/paul-mccartney-and-wings-band-on-the-run-19691231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604051946/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/paul-mccartney-and-wings-band-on-the-run-19691231 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2012 |title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: Paul McCartney and Wings, 'Band On The Run' |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=10 August 2012}}</ref> In 2013, it was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/hall-of-fame#b|title=Grammy Hall of Fame Letter B|work=Grammy|access-date=17 July 2021|archive-date=22 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122042616/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#b|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Paul McCartney|Paul]] and [[Linda McCartney]], except "No Words" (written by Paul McCartney and [[Denny Laine]]).

'''Side one'''

# "[[Band on the Run (song)|Band on the Run]]" – 5:12
# "[[Jet (song)|Jet]]" – 4:09
# "[[Bluebird (Paul McCartney and Wings song)|Bluebird]]" – 3:23
# "[[Mrs. Vandebilt]]" – 4:40
# "[[Let Me Roll It]]" – 4:51

'''Side two'''

# "[[Mamunia]]" – 4:51
# "[[No Words]]" – 2:35
# "[[Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)]]" – 5:49
# "[[Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five]]" – 5:28

'''Note:''' Original North American releases also contain "[[Helen Wheels]]" (running time 3:45) as Track 8 (between "No Words" and "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)").

==Reissues==
Band on the Run was issued on CD in 1984 by both Parlophone with the original LP's track lineup and that same year by Columbia with the North American version of the track lineup including "Helen Wheels" as Track 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/6512221-Paul-McCartney-Wings-Band-On-The-Run?srsltid=AfmBOooolD3IoZAbtF6cfJ7s-9s8QIYNFLI6UwxSsjm_DLx2M7DW3BKJ|website=Discogs|title=Paul McCartney & Wings – Band On The Run}} (United States version of the album)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/2628379-Paul-McCartney-Wings-Band-On-The-Run|website=Discogs|title=Paul McCartney & Wings – Band On The Run}}</ref> In 1993, ''Band on the Run'' was remastered and reissued on CD as part of ''[[The Paul McCartney Collection]]'' series, with "Helen Wheels" and its B-side, "[[Country Dreamer]]", as bonus tracks. In 1996, it was released on [[5.1 Music Disc]]. In May 2007, the album was made available through the [[iTunes Store]].

===25th anniversary edition===
In 1999, ''Band on the Run: 25th Anniversary Edition'', a special extended edition of the album, was released to coincide with twenty-five years after when, after a slow start, sales of the album began to take off in March 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19990321/7502/ |title=''Chart Stats.com 21 Mar. - 27 Mar. 1999'' |website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] |access-date=8 April 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171638/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19990321/7502/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On this version, "Helen Wheels" appeared as track 8, between "No Words" and "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)", as it had been positioned on the original US release. The package includes liner notes written by historian [[Mark Lewisohn]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.maccazine.com/band-on-the-run/ |title=''Band On The Run - A Contextual Salute On Its Golden Anniversary'' |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |website=Maccazine |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231004710/https://www.maccazine.com/band-on-the-run/ |archive-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> and an extra disc of live renditions of songs from the album throughout the years, as well as brief new renditions by McCartney. Spoken testimonials are also included from McCartney himself, the late Linda (to whom this retrospective release is dedicated), Laine, [[Dustin Hoffman]] (the inspiration behind the writing of "Picasso's Last Words"), and the celebrity faces on the cover (including James Coburn, who was in Britain to film ''[[The Internecine Project]]'' (1974) when the picture for the album cover was taken, and Christopher Lee).

===Archive Collection===
The [[Paul McCartney Archive Collection]] series started with ''Band on the Run'', released on 2 November 2010.<ref name="gravyandbiscuits">{{cite web |url=http://gravyandbiscuits.com/music/music-news-music/paul-mccartney-wings-band-run-reissued-november-2/ |title=Paul McCartney & Wings: 'Band on the Run' to be Reissued November 2 – Indie Music Reviews – Indie Music News |publisher=Gravy and Biscuits |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=7 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123230852/http://gravyandbiscuits.com/music/music-news-music/paul-mccartney-wings-band-run-reissued-november-2/ |archive-date=23 November 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The Archive Collection was administered by [[Hear Music]] and [[Concord Music Group]] and the album was released in multiple formats:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paulmccartney.com/bandontherun/ |title=Paul McCartney and Wings – Band on the Run |publisher=Paulmccartney.com |date=5 May 2011 |access-date=17 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722053427/http://www.paulmccartney.com/bandontherun/ |archive-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> a single remastered CD version of the original UK album (excluding "Helen Wheels" from the track listing), a 2-disc vinyl LP version with the remastered album and a selection of bonus audio materials, a 2CD/DVD edition including a collection of bonus materials in addition to the original album, a 2CD/2DVD edition sold only at [[Best Buy]] with additional bonus materials on the second DVD, a 3CD/DVD Deluxe Edition with the additional bonus materials in the other versions and an audio documentary originally produced for the album's 25th anniversary release and a 120-page hardbound book containing photos by Linda McCartney and Clive Arrowsmith, a history of the album, and additional materials. Within the Deluxe Edition was additional included a High Resolution 24-bit 96 kHz (with no dynamic range compression) download of the audio content released for the Archive Collection editions.<ref name="HD tracks">{{cite web |url=https://www.HDtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD00888072326170 |title=Paul McCartney Band on the Run / Hi-Res Digital Download [Uncompressed&#93; Pop HDtracks high resolution audiophile music downloads |publisher=[[HDtracks.com]] |date=4 December 1999 |access-date=10 August 2012 |archive-date=26 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726054335/https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD00888072326170 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In promotion of the Archive Collection edition, a [[Record Store Day]] 2010-exclusive vinyl single of "Band on the Run" backed with "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" was also released.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://beatlesblogger.com/2010/10/26/band-on-the-run-limited-edition-45-single/ |title=Paul McCartney – Band On The Run (Vinyl) |publisher=BeatlesBlogger.com |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=26 October 2010 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119075250/http://beatlesblogger.com/2010/10/26/band-on-the-run-limited-edition-45-single/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline      = Disc 2: Bonus tracks (special, vinyl, and deluxe editions)
| title1        = Helen Wheels
| note1         = non-album single
| length1       = 3:46
| title2        = [[Country Dreamer]]
| note2         = B-side to "Helen Wheels"
| length2       = 3:08
| title3        = Bluebird
| note3         = from ''[[One Hand Clapping (Paul McCartney and Wings album)|One Hand Clapping]]''
| length3       = 3:27
| title4        = Jet
| note4         = from ''One Hand Clapping''
| length4       = 3:56
| title5        = Let Me Roll It
| note5         = from ''One Hand Clapping''
| length5       = 4:23
| title6        = Band on the Run
| note6         = from ''One Hand Clapping''
| length6       = 5:13
| title7        = Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
| note7         = from ''One Hand Clapping''
| length7       = 5:58
| title8        = Country Dreamer
| note8         = from ''One Hand Clapping''
| length8       = 2:18
| title9        = [[Zoo Gang (song)|Zoo Gang]]
| note9         = B-side to "Band on the Run"
| length9       = 2:01
| total_length  = 34:16
}}

'''Disc 3 (deluxe edition)'''

This disc contains an audio documentary of the album, originally released in 1999 as Disc 2 of the ''25th Anniversary Edition'' reissue.

'''DVD (special and deluxe editions)'''
# "Band on the Run" music video
# "Mamunia" music video
# Album promo
# "Helen Wheels" music video
# Wings in Lagos
# Osterley Park
# ''One Hand Clapping''
#* Track listing:
## One Hand Clapping Theme
## "[[Jet (song)|Jet]]"
## "[[Soily]]"
## "[[C Moon]]"
## "[[Little Woman Love]]"
## "[[Maybe I'm Amazed]]"
## "[[My Love (Paul McCartney & Wings song)|My Love]]"
## "[[Bluebird (Paul McCartney & Wings song)|Bluebird]]"
## "Let's Love"
## "All of You"
## "I'll Give You a Ring"
## "[[Band on the Run (song)|Band on the Run]]"
## "[[Live and Let Die (song)|Live and Let Die]]"
## "[[Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five]]"
## "[[Baby Face (song)|Baby Face]]"

{{Track listing
| headline      = Bonus DVD (Special edition sold only at Best Buy)
| title1        = ''Band on the Run'' 2010 [[EPK]]
| title2        = Jet
| note2         = from ''[[Good Evening New York City]]''
| title3        = Mrs. Vandebilt
| note3         = from ''Good Evening New York City''
| title4        = Band on the Run
| note4         = from ''Good Evening New York City''
}}

'''Download only (pre-order bonus tracks on paulmccartney.com)'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/feature/paul-mccartney-archive-collection-mid-term-report-the-story-so-far/|title=Paul McCartney Archive Collection: mid-term report, the story so far|publisher=superdeluxeedition.com|date=29 October 2014|author-first1=Paul|author-last1=Sinclair|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015231617/http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/feature/paul-mccartney-archive-collection-mid-term-report-the-story-so-far/|url-status=live}}</ref>
# "No Words" {{small|(live in Glasgow)}} - 2:56
# "Band on the Run" {{small|(live in Glasgow)}} - 6:57

===50th anniversary edition===
A 50th anniversary edition of the album was released on 2 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAUL McCARTNEY - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxnBoqCazPy2nFundwgYKTWIQpreNakq5v |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rigotti |first1=Alex |title=Paul McCartney & Wings announce 'Band On The Run' 50th anniversary reissue with "underdub" mixes |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/paul-mccartney-wings-announce-band-on-the-run-50th-anniversary-reissue-with-underdub-mixes-3553089 |website=[[NME]] |date=4 December 2023 |publisher=NME Networks Media Limited|access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref> The US version of the album, with "Helen Wheels" included, was "cut at half speed using a high-resolution transfer of the original master tapes from 1973 at Abbey Road Studios, London". Additionally, in promotion of the anniversary, "a second LP of previously unreleased "underdubbed" mixes of the songs" was released. The "underdubbed" mixes are rough mixes prepared by engineer Geoff Emerick on 14 October 1973, before the final mixes with Tony Visconti's orchestrations added to the tracks. The 50th anniversary also included streaming versions of the "Underdubbed Mixes" and a [[Dolby Atmos]] mix by [[Giles Martin]] and Steve Orchard of the full US version of the album.<ref name="PM 2023-02-03">{{Cite web |url=https://www.paulmccartney.com/news/band-on-the-run-50th-anniversary-edition-out-2-february|title='Band on the Run' 50th Anniversary Edition - Out 2 February|access-date=2 February 2024|date=3 December 2023|website=PaulMcCartney.com}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline      = Underdubbed Mixes
| title1        = Band on the Run
| length1       = 5:17
| title2        = Mamunia
| length2       = 4:57
| title3        = No Words
| length3       = 2:39
| title4        = Jet
| length4       = 4:13
| title5        = Bluebird
| length5       = 3:27
| title6        = Mrs. Vandebilt
| length6       = 4:40
| title7        = Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
| length7       = 5:18
| title8        = Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)
| length8       = 5:59
| title9        = Let Me Roll It
| length9       = 4:57
| total_length  = 41:25
}}

== Personnel ==
According to [[Bruce Spizer]]:<ref>Spizer, pp. 174–75.</ref>

'''Band members'''
*[[Paul McCartney]] – lead and backing vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, keyboards, drums, percussion
*[[Linda McCartney]] – harmony and backing vocals, organ, keyboards, percussion
* [[Denny Laine]] – harmony and backing vocals, co-lead vocals {{small|("No Words" and "Picasso's Last Words")}}, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion

'''Additional personnel'''
*[[Howie Casey]] – [[saxophone]] on "Jet",<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 188" /> "Bluebird", and "Mrs. Vandebilt"
*[[Ginger Baker]] – percussion on "Picasso's Last Words"
*[[Remi Kabaka]] – percussion on "Bluebird"
*Ian Horne & Trevor Jones (two of Wings' roadies) – backing vocals on "No Words"
*3 uncredited session musicians – saxophones on "Jet"<ref name="Madinger & Easter p 188" />
*[[Tony Visconti]] – [[orchestrations]]
*[[Geoff Emerick]] – [[sound engineer]]

==Accolades==

===Grammy Awards===
{{Awards table}}
|-
|  style="width:35px; text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|[[17th Grammy Awards|1975]] ||Paul McCartney and Wings / ''Band on the Run'' || [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year#1970s|Album of the Year]]<ref name="1970saoty">{{cite web|title=GRAMMYs' Best Albums 1970–1979 |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/grammys-best-albums-0 |work=grammy.org |access-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304111252/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/news/grammys-best-albums-0 |archive-date=4 March 2014 }}</ref> || {{nom}}
|-
| Geoff Emerick / ''Band on the Run'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical|Best Engineered Non-Classical Album]] || {{won}}
|-
| style="width:35px; text-align:center;" |[[54th Grammy Awards|2012]] ||Paul McCartney, Sam Okell, Steve Rooke  / ''Band on the Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection – Deluxe Edition)'' || [[Grammy Award for Best Historical Album|Best Historical Album]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/grammy-awards-2012-winners-whitney-houston-death-adele-289778/|title=Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=May 1, 2017|language=en}}</ref>  || {{won}}
|-
{{End}}

== Charts ==

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Original release===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (1973–1975)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Australian [[Kent Music Report]]<ref name="auchart">Kent 1993</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium Albums Chart<ref name="bb750614">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UigEAAAAMBAJ&q=band+on+the+run|title=Billboard Hits of the World|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=14 June 1975|page=48|access-date=3 January 2015}}</ref>
|4
|-
!scope="row"|[[RPM (magazine)|Canadian ''RPM'' Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5054a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 21, No. 17|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|format=PHP|date=15 June 1974|access-date=18 December 2013|archive-date=16 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116080255/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5054a&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|[[MegaCharts|Dutch Mega Albums Chart]]<ref name="nlchart">{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run|work=dutchcharts.nl|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|language=nl|format=ASP|access-date=9 May 2012|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114191929/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|5
|-
!scope="row"|[[Oricon|Japanese Oricon LPs Chart]]<ref name="Jachart">Oricon Entertainment 2006</ref>
|11
|-
!scope="row"|Norwegian [[VG-lista]] Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|title=norwegiancharts.com Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run|publisher=VG-lista|url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=5 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405010527/http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums Chart<ref name="bb740309">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vAcEAAAAMBAJ&q=band+on+the+run|title=Billboard – 9 March 1974|date=9 March 1974|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705160815/https://books.google.com/books?id=vAcEAAAAMBAJ&q=band+on+the+run|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|Swedish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitsallertijden.nl/charts/swedish%20charts/SwedishCharts%200872-0875.pdf |title=Swedish Charts 1972–1975 (in PDF-files) |publisher=Hitsallertijden |language=sv |access-date=1 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323012051/http://www.hitsallertijden.nl/charts/swedish%20charts/SwedishCharts%200872-0875.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2012  }}</ref>
|5
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="UKchart">{{cite web|title=The Official Charts Company Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on the Run|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/archive/official-albums-chart/|format=PHP|access-date=31 August 2011|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403020724/https://www.officialcharts.com/archive/official-albums-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape]]<ref name="USchart">{{cite magazine|title=Paul McCartney Chart History: ''Billboard'' 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/paul-mccartney/chart-history/tlp/|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=13 November 2024}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|[[Media Control|West German Media Control Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&title=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a&country=de| title = Album Search: Wings: Band on the Run| language = de| publisher = Media Control| access-date = 1 May 2014| archive-date = 24 July 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140724065538/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&title=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a&country=de| url-status = dead}}</ref>
|15
|}
{{col-2}}

===1999 reissue===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (1999)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/263960/1/ |title=ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック |language=ja |publisher=oricon.co.jp |work=[[Oricon|Oricon Style]] |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218201600/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/263960/1/ |archive-date=18 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|56
|-
!scope="row"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="UKchart2">{{cite web | url=http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_paul_albumchartaction_uk.htm/ | title=Paul McCartney – Chart trajectories on the UK Albums Chart | date=October 2006 | access-date=30 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209034236/http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/after_beatles_paul_albumchartaction_uk.htm/ | archive-date=9 December 2008 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
|69
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Top Pop Catalog Albums]]<ref name="Billboardnews">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/news/tlc-delivers-for-a-third-week-946610.story#/news/tlc-delivers-for-a-third-week-946610.story|title=TLC Delivers for a Third Week|magazine=Billboard|access-date=22 December 2010|archive-date=9 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109184305/http://www.billboard.com/news/tlc-delivers-for-a-third-week-946610.story#/news/tlc-delivers-for-a-third-week-946610.story|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|1
|}

===2010 reissue===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (2010)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|title=ultratop.be – Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on The Run|website=[[Ultratop]] |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/583d/Paul-McCartney-&-Wings-Band-On-The-Run|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=16 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216194756/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|89
|-
!scope="row"|[[Ultratop|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)]]<ref>{{cite web|title=ultratop.be – Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on The Run|website=[[Ultratop]] |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/583d/Paul-McCartney-&-Wings-Band-On-The-Run|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=30 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830024404/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/583d/Paul-McCartney-&-Wings-Band-On-The-Run|url-status=live}}</ref>
|96
|-
!scope="row"|[[Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref name="nlchart"/>
|34
|-
!scope="row"|[[European Top 100 Albums]]<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-albums?tag=relcharts |title=Archived copy |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=11 November 2010 |archive-date=7 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407140210/http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-albums?tag=relcharts |url-status=live }}</ref>
|46
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/889080/1/ |title=ポール・マッカートニー-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック |language=ja |publisher=oricon.co.jp |work=[[Oricon|Oricon Style]] |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219003308/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/889080/1/ |archive-date=19 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|25
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|title=spanishcharts.com – Paul McCartney & Wings – Band on The Run|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|access-date=1 May 2014|archive-date=27 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127052230/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Paul+McCartney+%26+Wings&titel=Band+On+The+Run&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|47
|-
!scope="row"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="UKchart" />
|17
|-
!scope="row"|US Top Pop Catalog Albums<ref>{{cite web|title=COUNTRY TIME ATOP CHART; MARGINS GET SMALLER|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004126566&imw=Y|work=Billboard.biz|access-date=1 December 2010|date=20 November 2010|archive-date=3 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003062808/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1004126566&imw=Y|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|3
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/news/e3i380e27368bb3e68cad291b7b403aa4f3|title= Chart Moves: Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Sugarland, Rihanna, Tim McGraw and more|editor= Keith Caulfield and Silvio Pietroluongo|work= Billboard.biz|access-date= 22 December 2010|archive-date= 16 December 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101216053352/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/news/e3i380e27368bb3e68cad291b7b403aa4f3|url-status= dead}}</ref>
|29
|}

===2024 reissue===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (2024)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Austria|29|artist=Paul McCartney & Wings|album=Band on the Run|rowheader=true|access-date=14 February 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|22|artist=Paul McCartney & Wings|album=Band on the Run|rowheader=true|access-date=11 February 2024}}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Chart (1974)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian [[Kent Music Report]]<ref name="Kent/AusChartBook">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=426}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|[[RPM Year-End|Canadian Albums Chart]]<ref name="RPMYearEnd">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3891&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=RPM Top 100 Albums of 1974|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=3 October 2011|archive-date=13 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313124932/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3891&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
! scope="row" | German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1974|title=Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts|date=1974|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment Charts]]|language=de|access-date=2 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612213157/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1974|archive-date=12 June 2018}}</ref>
| 36
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="UKYearend">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217020447/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1974.php|title=The Official UK Charts Company: ALBUM CHART HISTORY|archive-date=17 December 2007 |access-date=17 December 2007}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard Year-End|''Billboard'' Year-End]]
|3
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1975)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Kent Music Report<ref name="Kent/AusChartBook" />
| 14
|}
{{col-2}}

===Certifications ===
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1973|title=Band on the Run|artist=Paul McCartney|region=France|award=Gold|certyear=1977|source=infodisc}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1973|title=Band on the Run|artist=Wings|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|certyear=1975|id=704-1142-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2010|title=Band on the Run|artist=Paul McCartney & Wings|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|note=Remastered Edition|refname=UK2|id=704-3436-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1973|title=Band on the Run|artist=Wings|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=1991}}
{{certification Table Bottom}}
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Badman|first=Keith|title=The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001|publisher= Omnibus Press|location=London|year=2001|isbn=978-0-7119-8307-6}}
* {{cite book|last1=Castleman|first1=Harry|last2=Podrazik|first2=Walter J.|title=All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975|publisher=Ballantine Books|location=New York, NY|year=1976|isbn=0-345-25680-8|url=https://archive.org/details/alltogethernowfi0000cast}}
* {{cite book|last=Doggett|first=Peter|title=You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup|publisher=It Books|location=New York, NY|year=2011|isbn=978-0-06-177418-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Emerick |first=Geoff |author2=Massey, Howard |title=Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin Group US |isbn=978-1-101-21824-2}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Graff |editor-first=Gary |editor-last2=Durchholz |editor-first2=Daniel |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |year=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |location=Farmington Hills, MI |isbn=1-57859-061-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612 }}
* {{cite book|last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=St Ives, NSW |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}
* {{cite book|last=McGee |first=Garry |title=Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings |year=2003 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, MD |isbn=978-0-87833-304-2}}
* {{cite book|last1=Madinger|first1=Chip|last2=Easter|first2=Mark|title=Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium|publisher=44.1 Productions|location=Chesterfield, MO|year=2000|isbn=0-615-11724-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Perasi|first=Luca|title=Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969–2013)|year=2013|publisher=L.I.L.Y. Publishing|location=[S.l.]|isbn=978-88-909122-1-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Perasi|first=Luca|title=Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970–1989|year=2023|publisher=L.I.L.Y. Publishing|location=[S.l.]|isbn=978-88-909122-9-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Rodriguez|first=Robert|title=Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980|publisher=Backbeat Books|location=Milwaukee, WI|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4165-9093-4|url=https://archive.org/details/missodellmyhardd00odel}}
* {{cite book|last=Schaffner|first=Nicholas|title=The Beatles Forever|publisher=McGraw-Hill|location=New York, NY|year=1978|isbn=0-07-055087-5|url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesforever00scha}}
* {{cite book|last=Sounes|first=Howard|title=Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney|publisher=HarperCollins|location=London|year=2010|isbn=978-0-00-723705-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Spizer|first=Bruce|title=The Beatles Solo on Apple Records|publisher=498 Productions|location=Orleans, LA|year=2005|isbn=0-9662649-5-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Woffinden|first=Bob|title=The Beatles Apart|publisher=Proteus|location=London|year=1981|isbn=0-906071-89-5}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|48878|name=Band on the Run}}

{{Wings}}
{{Paul McCartney}}
{{Juno Award for International Album of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Albums produced by Paul McCartney]]
[[Category:1973 albums]]
[[Category:Paul McCartney and Wings albums]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Apple Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums with cover art by Storm Thorgerson]]
[[Category:Albums with cover art by Hipgnosis]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Trident Studios]]
[[Category:Columbia Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums conducted by Tony Visconti]]
[[Category:Juno Award for International Album of the Year albums]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at AIR Studios]]
[[Category:Pop rock albums by English artists]]