Red Rose Speedway

Red Rose Speedway is the second studio album by the British–American rock band Wings, although credited to "Paul McCartney and Wings". It was released through Apple Records on 30 April 1973, preceded by its lead single, the ballad "My Love". By including McCartney's name in the artist credit, the single and album broke with the tradition of Wings' previous records. The change was made in the belief that the public's unfamiliarity with the band had been responsible for the weak commercial performance of the group's 1971 debut album Wild Life.

Red Rose Speedway
Studio album by Paul McCartney and Wings
Released	30 April 1973 (1973-04-30)
Recorded	March–June and September–December 1972
Studio	EMI, Olympic Sound, Morgan, Trident and Island, London
Genre	Soft rock^[1]
Length	42:13
Label	Apple
Producer	Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney and Wings chronology
Wild Life (1971) Red Rose Speedway (1973) Band on the Run (1973)
Singles from Red Rose Speedway
"My Love" Released: 23 March 1973

Before recording the album, Wings recruited lead guitarist Henry McCullough and released their debut single, "Give Ireland Back to the Irish", which was banned by the BBC for its political message. Recording sessions for the album took place throughout 1972 at five recording studios in London. The group also recorded the non-album singles "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Hi, Hi, Hi" and "Live and Let Die", the last of which was issued in June 1973. Originally planned as a double album, it was condensed into a single LP at the request of EMI. The company believed that the material was not of a sufficiently high standard and were mindful of the modest sales of Wild Life and Wings' first two singles. Members McCullough and Denny Laine later expressed disappointment in the choice of songs on the single album.

Red Rose Speedway peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart and number 1 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart in the US, while "My Love" topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Although a commercial success, the album was given a mixed response by music critics, with several reviewers considering the songs to be inconsequential and mediocre. Decades later, it continues to receive mixed reviews. The album was reissued in 1987 and 1993 with bonus tracks and remastered in 2018 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. The 2018 remaster includes the reconstructed double LP version of the album.

Background

In early 1972, McCartney decided to expand Wings to a five-piece band by adding another guitarist, Henry McCullough, and to begin touring with the group.^[2] The band briefly toured British universities in February. They played in small halls, often unannounced, to avoid the media scrutiny that came with performing at more established venues.^[2]

Despite not releasing an album in 1972, Wings issued three singles while preparing their follow-up to Wild Life: "Give Ireland Back to the Irish", which was banned by the BBC for its political sentiments;^[3] "Mary Had a Little Lamb", based on the nursery rhyme; and "Hi, Hi, Hi", which was banned by the BBC for drug references and sexually suggestive lyrics.^{[2][nb 1]}

Recording

Recording for Red Rose Speedway began in March 1972.^[5] It was initially planned as a double album,^[6] and McCartney decided to include some unreleased songs that had originally been recorded during the Ram sessions in 1971, before the formation of Wings.^[5] Two of those songs, "Get on the Right Thing" and "Little Lamb Dragonfly", appeared on the final album.^[7] Sessions were held at Olympic Sound Studios in London, with Glyn Johns as producer.^[8] At the first session, McCartney asked Johns to think of him as "the bass player in the band" rather than as Paul McCartney, but then took offence when Johns duly treated him as an ordinary musician.^[9] Johns thought Wings were not a genuine band and not of the calibre of artist he usually worked with.^[10] Before long, according to author Howard Sounes, citing the producer's recollection, Johns was reading a newspaper in the control room at Olympic as the group smoked marijuana and jammed aimlessly in the studio.^{[11][nb 2]} On 17 April, Johns told the press that he had quit working on the album due to a "disagreement" with McCartney and that "Now we have respect for each other."^[12]

Wings continued to record sporadically in between promoting their May 1972 single, "Mary Had a Little Lamb".^[13] After the band toured Europe in July and August, further recording sessions took place over October and November 1972 at Abbey Road Studios and Olympic.^[14] Morgan, Trident and Island were the other London studios where the band recorded that year.^[15]

Red Rose Speedway was such a non-confident record. There were some beautiful songs ... there was "My Love" but something was missing. We needed a heavier sound. It was a terribly unsure period.^[16]

– Linda McCartney to Sounds magazine, 1976

The album was cut down to a single disc by McCartney – according to Henry McCullough, in an attempt to release a more commercial and less expensive record.^[5] The decision came about through EMI, however;^[17][18] in addition to believing that the material was not of a sufficiently high standard,^[19][20] the record company were mindful of the modest commercial performance of Wild Life and Wings' first two singles.^[15] The album ends with an 11-minute medley of the songs "Hold Me Tight", "Lazy Dynamite", "Hands of Love" and "Power Cut", which was made in a similar style to the Beatles' Abbey Road medley.^[21] "Power Cut" was written during the 1972 miners' strike.^[22] Laine later expressed his disappointment that only a single album was issued, saying that in its original form, Red Rose Speedway was "more of a showcase for the band".^[15] Among the omissions were his composition "I Would Only Smile", and "I Lie Around", on which Laine also sang the lead vocal.^[23] McCullough was similarly disappointed that several of McCartney's rock-oriented tracks were cut from the running order, which favoured the more lightweight material from the sessions.^[15]

"Live and Let Die", the title song to the James Bond film of the same name, was recorded during the sessions for Red Rose Speedway, but was initially released on the Live and Let Die soundtrack album.^[24] Laine included "I Would Only Smile" on his 1980 solo album Japanese Tears.^[25] "Mama's Little Girl" was recorded during the sessions and later turned up as the B-side of McCartney's "Put It There" single in 1990.^[2] Among the other discarded tracks were "Night Out", "Jazz Street", "Best Friend", "Thank You Darling", "The Mess" (which McCartney introduced on stage as "The Mess (I'm In)" during Wings' live shows) and a cover version of Thomas Wayne's song "Tragedy".

Artwork and packaging

The packaging for Red Rose Speedway included a 12-page LP-size booklet inside a gatefold sleeve.^[26][27] The booklet featured photos from Wings' live shows taken by Joe Stevens (credited as Captain Snap) and others by Linda. The artwork for the inside gatefold and part of the booklet was designed by Eduardo Paolozzi, while pop artist Allen Jones contributed drawings, a painting and a photo collage, all variously depicting women, throughout the booklet. The graphics were designed by Gordon House.^[26] EMI agreed to pay for the lavish packaging,^[28] which was originally intended for the planned double album.^[26]

Breaking with the approach taken on the band's previous releases, the artist credit included McCartney's name rather than Wings alone, and instead of a group picture, only his face appears on the front cover.^[29] The image shows McCartney in front of a motorbike engine, with a red rose in his mouth, and was taken by Linda.^[26] The motorbike was transported from the United States especially for the shoot, which took place at the photographic studio of the Sunday Times building in central London.^[30] The back cover featured the foot of a microphone stand and a bouquet of roses, with the image set inside a black background as if spotlit.^[26] In the space below this image was a Braille message to Stevie Wonder,^[27] reading "We love ya baby".^[26]

The name change to "Paul McCartney and Wings" was made in the belief that the public's unfamiliarity with the band had been responsible for the disappointing sales of Wild Life.^[31][32] In the US, Capitol Records were concerned that the positioning of the red rose on the front cover might make McCartney's face unrecognisable to record buyers. Since no artist credit was included with this image, the company issued the album with a blue sticker in the top right-hand corner, identifying the band and listing the songs.^[26]

Release

The album was preceded by the March 1973 release of its lead single, "My Love" backed with "The Mess".^[33] The latter song was recorded live during the band's summer 1972 European tour.^[34] With Apple Records giving precedence to two Beatles compilation albums – 1962–1966 and 1967–1970^[35][36] – Red Rose Speedway was not issued until 30 April 1973, in the United States, with the UK release following on 4 May.^[37][38] "My Love" peaked at number 9 on the UK Singles Chart,^[39] and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.^[40] It raised expectations for the album, which peaked at number 5 in the UK and went to number 1 in the US.^[40]

The original compact disc version, released by EMI's Fame label on 5 October 1987,^{[nb 3]} contained three bonus tracks: "I Lie Around", "Country Dreamer" and "The Mess (Live at The Hague)". An LP version of this CD edition was also released on the same day, omitting the bonus tracks.^{[nb 4]} In 1993, Red Rose Speedway was remastered and reissued on CD as part of 'The Paul McCartney Collection' series, with "C Moon", "Hi, Hi, Hi", "The Mess (Live at The Hague)" (the B-side to "My Love") and "I Lie Around" (the B-side to "Live and Let Die") as bonus tracks.^[22] "Country Dreamer" was later added to the reissue Band on the Run from the same series.

In 2018, Red Rose Speedway was reissued as part of Paul McCartney Archive Collection.^[41] The bonus content included the reconstructed original double LP version of the album featuring different mixes of "Seaside Woman" and "I Would Only Smile" as to those released on Linda McCartney's Wide Prairie and Denny Laine's Japanese Tears respectively, the singles "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Hi, Hi, Hi" and "Live and Let Die" with their respective b-sides, early and rough mixes of several songs as well as previously unreleased studio and live recordings, with the latter taken from the Wings Over Europe Tour. The songs "Country Dreamer" and "Little Woman Love" included on the reissue are the same versions that were previously released on the Band on the Run and Ram editions of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection.

There was a limited-edition half-speed mastered vinyl re-issue in the UK to mark the album’s 50th anniversary. This was released as part of Record Store Day on 22 April 2023.^[42]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[43]
Christgau's Record Guide	D+^[44]
The Essential Rock Discography	5/10^[45]
MusicHound	2/5^[46]
Q	^[47]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[48]

Red Rose Speedway received a mixed response from contemporary music critics,^[49][50] many of whom dismissed its songs as mediocre.^[15] According to author and critic Bob Woffinden, writing in 1981, the album was an example of McCartney "continu[ing] to exasperate his audience" before he and Wings finally won respect with the late 1973 release of Band on the Run.^[51] John Pidgeon of Let It Rock found the side-two medley typical of McCartney's "lazy" attitude to songwriting and said: "Red Rose Speedway sounds as if it was written after a big tea in front of the fire with carpet-slippered feet up; listening to it takes about as much as going ten rounds with a marshmallow fairy." Pidgeon concluded by likening the album to The Emperor's New Clothes, ruing that McCartney appeared to have no one to challenge his judgment or "kick his arse".^[52] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau derided McCartney's reliance on "aimless whimsy" and described the work as "Quite possibly the worst album ever made by a rock and roller of the first rank".^[44] In a 1977 interview, McCartney said that it typically took him a few months to listen to an album as a whole after its release; in the case of Red Rose Speedway, he said he "couldn't stand" it.^[18][53] Joe Stevens, Wings' tour photographer in the early 1970s, recalled: "I thought Red Rose was a disaster and so did everyone connected with it. Except Paul."^[54] On the other hand, Record World called it "the best effort yet from Paul since he left the Beatles" and said that "Paul creates the kind of melodic and lilting music that stays with the listener, and the lyrics reflect empathetic innocence."^[55]

According to author Michael Frontani, a generally favourable review in Rolling Stone, written by musician Lenny Kaye, signified a turnaround from a publication that had been openly hostile towards McCartney since 1970.^[56] Frontani adds: "While McCartney's music would continue to be criticized by some commentators as vacuous and facile, Kaye's review appears to mark the point where art of consequence was no longer required of McCartney by rock critics ..."^[57] Ian Dove of The New York Times noted that McCartney's work continued to pale beside that of his former bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison but deemed Red Rose Speedway his best album yet.^[58] Writing in the NME, Tony Tyler acknowledged that the album was "lightweight" and lacking in "intellectual posture" but added: "with all the current heaviness and after-me-the-apocalypse brainstuds around, I for one am bloody pleased to discover a lightweight record that not only fails to alienate, but actually succeeds in impressing via good melodic structure, excellent playing and fine production."^[59]

Like the NME, Rolling Stone soon changed its opinion of Red Rose Speedway.^[60] Writing in The Rolling Stone Record Guide (1979), John Swenson said that the album displayed "the worst aspects of McCartney as solo artist and band-leader" and was "rife with weak and sentimental drivel".^[61] In his 1977 book The Beatles Forever, Nicholas Schaffner described it as "pleasingly plump music – charming, harmless, entertaining fluff ... a perfect background to lazy afternoons in the sun".^[62]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine considers Red Rose Speedway to be McCartney's "most disjointed album" and "deliberately slight ... in the way a snapshot album is important to a family yet glazes the eyes of any outside observer", but he adds: "Work your way into the inner circle, and McCartney's little flourishes are intoxicating – not just the melodies, but the facile production and offhand invention."^[43] Beatles biographer Robert Rodriguez views it as "a wildly uneven assortment of songs", of which the selections comprising the Abbey Road-style medley "aren't merely half-finished – they're half-assed".^[63] While describing Glyn Johns' disparaging comments about the finished album as "harsh", Howard Sounes writes: "but in a record review one couldn't award it more than three out of five stars."^[11]

Track listing

All songs written by Paul and Linda McCartney.^[64]

Side one

1. "Big Barn Bed" – 3:48
2. "My Love" – 4:07
3. "Get on the Right Thing" – 4:17
4. "One More Kiss" – 2:28
5. "Little Lamb Dragonfly" – 6:20

Side two

1. "Single Pigeon" – 1:52
2. "When the Night" – 3:38
3. "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" – 4:23
4. "Medley" – 11:14
   • "Hold Me Tight" – 2:22
   • "Lazy Dynamite" – 2:50
   • "Hands of Love" – 2:14
   • "Power Cut" – 3:46

Archive Collection reissue

On 18 October 2018, it was officially announced that the album reissues of Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway would be released on 7 December 2018, as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection series. The Red Rose Speedway reissues were published in several editions:

• Special Edition 2-CD; the original 9-track album on the first disc, including previously unreleased recordings and non-album singles on a second disc.
• Deluxe Edition 3-CD/2-DVD/1-Blu-Ray; the original 9-track album on the first disc; originally proposed double album version on a second disc; previously unreleased recordings and non-album singles on a third disc; DVD including music videos, the "James Paul McCartney" TV show, "Live and Let Die" in Liverpool; DVD and blu-ray including "The Bruce McMouse Show," with 5.1 audio.
• Remastered vinyl 2-LP; includes special edition tracks as well as a link to download materials.
• Double album 2-LP; originally proposed version of the album, reconstructed from original acetates and master tapes, as well as a link to download materials.

Track listing

All songs written by Paul and Linda McCartney except "Seaside Woman" written by Linda McCartney, "I Would Only Smile" written by Denny Laine, and "Tragedy" written by Gerald H. Nelson and Fred B. Burch.

Disc 1 – The original 9-track album. Disc 2 – Original double album version "Night Out" – 2:16 "Get on the Right Thing" – 4:17 "Country Dreamer" (b-side to "Helen Wheels") – 3:10 "Big Barn Bed" – 3:50 "My Love" – 4:08 "Single Pigeon" – 1:53 "When the Night" – 3:38 "Seaside Woman" (non-album single) – 3:57 "I Lie Around" (b-side to "Live and Let Die") – 5:01 "The Mess" (Live at the Hague) – 4:34 "Best Friend" (Live in Antwerp) – 3:59 "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" – 4:23 "Medley" – 11:19 "Hold Me Tight" – 2:22 "Lazy Dynamite" – 2:50 "Hands of Love" – 2:14 "Power Cut" – 3:46 "Mama's Little Girl" (b-side to "Put It There") – 3:45 "I Would Only Smile" – 3:23 "One More Kiss" – 2:29 "Tragedy" – 3:21 "Little Lamb Dragonfly" – 6:23 Disc 3 – bonus tracks "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (non-album single) – 3:32 "Little Woman Love" (b-side to "Mary Had a Little Lamb") – 2:07 "Hi, Hi, Hi" (non-album single) – 3:08 "C Moon" (non-album single) – 4:34 "Live and Let Die" – 3:12 "Get on the Right Thing" (Early mix) – 4:41 "Little Lamb Dragonfly" (Early mix) – 6:08 "Little Woman Love" (Early mix) – 2:08 "1882" (Home recording) – 3:26 "Big Barn Bed" (Rough mix) – 3:48 "The Mess" – 4:53 "Thank You Darling" – 3:18 "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (Rough mix) – 5:22 "1882" (Live in Berlin) – 6:31 "1882" – 6:51 "Jazz Street" – 5:08 "Live and Let Die" (Group only, take 10) – 3:33

Disc 4 – DVD "Music Videos" "James Paul McCartney TV Special" "Live and Let Die" (Live in Liverpool) "Newcastle Interview" Disc 5 – DVD "The Bruce McMouse Show" Disc 6 – Blu-Ray "The Bruce McMouse Show" Special edition CD and LP bonus tracks "Mary Had a Little Lamb" – 3:32 "Little Woman Love" – 2:07 "Hi, Hi, Hi" – 3:08 "C Moon" – 4:34 "The Mess" (Live at the Hague) – 4:34 "Live and Let Die" – 3:12 "I Lie Around" – 5:01 "Night Out" – 2:16 "Country Dreamer" – 3:10 "Seaside Woman" – 3:57 "Best Friend" (Live in Antwerp) – 3:59 "Mama's Little Girl" – 3:45 "I Would Only Smile" – 3:23 "Tragedy" – 3:21 "Thank You Darling" – 3:18 "1882" (Live in Berlin) – 6:31 "Jazz Street" – 5:08 "Live and Let Die" (Group only, take 10) – 3:33 Tracks 8–14 are on the CD edition only. Additional download track via paulmccartney.com^[65] "Hands of Love" (Take 2) – 2:22

Original double album track listing

Early acetate track listing

Originally planned as a double album,^[66] this is the track listing from drummer Denny Seiwell's acetates of the early incarnation of Red Rose Speedway dated 13 December 1972.^[20][67] Most tracks left off the released version ended up on B-sides, while others remained officially unreleased (such as "Tragedy", "Night Out", "Jazz Street", "1882") until the release of the 2018 Red Rose Speedway Deluxe remaster reissue.

Side one "Big Barn Bed" "My Love" "When the Night" "Single Pigeon" Side two "Tragedy" (Gerald H. Nelson, Fred B. Burch) "Mama's Little Girl" "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" "I Would Only Smile" (Denny Laine)

Side three "Country Dreamer" "Night Out" "One More Kiss" "Jazz Street" Side four "I Lie Around" "Little Lamb Dragonfly" "Get on the Right Thing" "1882" (live) "The Mess" (live)

• "I Would Only Smile" is a song featuring lead vocals from Denny Laine. It was eventually released on Laine's solo album Japanese Tears.^[68]
• "1882" is a song which dates back to 1970 when it was first recorded as a demo around the time of the McCartney album. A home studio version was recorded in January 1972.^[2] A live recording from the same concert as "The Mess" (at The Hague on 21 August 1972) had studio overdubs added but was not released until 2018.

Final double album track listing

According to McCartney's official website, his archive team found an updated double album track listing from 30 January 1973 that differed from Seiwell's 1972 acetates. McCartney confirmed the updated track list as the one originally intended for release, saying, "You know, this is actually how I recollect that double album."^[67]

In December 2018, McCartney officially released Red Rose Speedway: Reconstructed, a reconstructed version of its originally conceived "double album", as a bonus CD in the Deluxe configuration of Red Rose Speedway, and separately as 2 LP vinyl.^[69][70]

Side A "Night Out" – 2:16 "Get on the Right Thing" – 4:17 "Country Dreamer" – 3:10 "Big Barn Bed" – 3:49 "My Love" – 4:08 Side B "Single Pigeon" – 1:53 "When the Night" – 3:38 "Seaside Woman" (Linda McCartney) – 3:56 "I Lie Around" – 5:01 "The Mess (Live at The Hague)" – 4:40

Side C "Best Friend (Live in Antwerp)" – 4:05 "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" – 4:24 "Medley" – 11:19 "Hold Me Tight" – 2:22 "Lazy Dynamite" – 2:50 "Hands of Love" – 2:14 "Power Cut" – 3:46 Side D "Mama's Little Girl" – 3:46 "I Would Only Smile" (Denny Laine) – 3:46 "One More Kiss" – 2:30 "Tragedy" (Gerald H. Nelson, Fred B. Burch) – 3:22 "Little Lamb Dragonfly" – 6:24 Total length: 77:12

• "Seaside Woman" features Linda McCartney on lead vocals. This was later released as a single under the pseudonym Suzy and the Red Stripes in 1977, as well as on Linda's posthumous compilation Wide Prairie. The title of this song is featured in the inner sleeve artwork of the LP release of Red Rose Speedway.

Other outtakes

Other songs recorded during this period that did not make the original single-disc release include:

• "Thank You Darling" – A duet featuring Paul and Linda McCartney. Released as a bonus track on the Red Rose Speedway 2018 Deluxe remaster reissue.
• "Soily" – A live recording was mixed down but did not make the short list of the album. McCartney made other attempts at recording this song in studio including a version recording in his home studio in January 1972,^[2] and in McCartney's "studio performance" film One Hand Clapping, which was eventually released as bonus track on the expanded remastered edition of Venus and Mars. This song was finally granted an official release when a version from McNichols Sports Arena in Denver appeared as a live recording on Wings' 1976 live album Wings over America.^[71][72]
• "Henry's Blues" – A song featuring lead vocals and slide guitar from Wings guitarist Henry McCullough. A live recording was made during Wings' European tour of mid-1972, although this has never officially been released.
• "Best Friend" – A live recording was mixed as well as a studio version. The studio version has not had an official release to date while a live recording in Antwerp was released on the reconstructed Red Rose Speedway 2018 double album.

Personnel

Wings

• Paul McCartney – vocals, bass, piano, guitars, electric piano, Mellotron, celeste, Moog synthesizer, ocarina
• Linda McCartney – vocals, piano, organ, electric piano, electric harpsichord, percussion
• Denny Laine – vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica
• Henry McCullough – lead guitars, backing vocals, percussion
• Denny Seiwell – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Hugh McCracken – guitar on "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
• David Spinozza – guitar on "Get on the Right Thing"
• Alan Parsons – engineer
• Dixon Van Winkle – engineer on "Get on the Right Thing", "Little Lamb Dragonfly"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1973) Peak position Australian Kent Music Report^[73] 1 Belgium Wallonia Albums Chart^[74] 3 Canadian RPM 100 Albums^[75] 2 Danish Albums Chart^[76] 2 Dutch MegaCharts Albums^[77] 6 French SNICOP Albums Chart^[78] 9 Japanese Oricon Weekly LP Chart^[79] 13 Norwegian VG-lista Albums^[80] 4 Spanish Albums Chart^[81] 1 Swedish Albums Chart^[76] 2 UK Albums Chart^[82] 5 US Billboard Top LPs & Tape^[40] 1 Chart (2018) Peak position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[83] 56 Scottish Albums (OCC)^[84] 60 UK Albums Chart^[85] 82 US Billboard 200^[86] 149 US Top Rock Albums^[87] 25

Year-end charts Chart (1973) Position Australian Albums Chart^[73] 2 Dutch Albums Chart^[88] 42 French Albums Chart^[89] 44 US Billboard Pop Albums^[90] 33

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[91]	Gold	35,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)^[92]	Platinum	100,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[93]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)^[94]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

1. The BBC banned the song due to the lyrics "I want to lie you on the bed, get you ready for my body gun". However, the actual lyric of the last words is "polygon". The BBC thought of the former due to incorrect lyric sheets sent by the song's publisher, Northern Songs.^[4]
2. One evening, according to Johns, Linda McCartney and Denny Laine berated him for his lack of interest, to which Johns responded that they were deceiving themselves if they thought that by simply being in a band with McCartney meant the music they made was worth recording. He told them it was "shite".^[11]
3. UK Fame CD-FA 3193/CDM 7 52026 2
4. UK Fame FA 3193

References

1. "Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: Paul McCartney/Wings".
2. Miles; Badman 2001
3. "Entertainment | The seven ages of Paul McCartney". BBC News. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
4. Benitez 2010, p. 49
5. Benitez 2010, p. 43
6. "Paul McCartney Announces Massive Reissues for Wings' 'Wild Life,' 'Red Rose Speedway'". Rolling Stone. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
7. Benitez 2010, p. 45
8. Badman, p. 69.
9. Sounes, p. 302.
10. Sounes, pp. 302–03.
11. Sounes, p. 303.
12. Badman, p. 71.
13. Badman, pp. 72–74.
14. Perasi 2013, pp. 86–97.
15. Spizer, p. 156.
16. Charone, Barbara (3 April 1976). "Linda McCartney: Silly Love Songs". Sounds. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
17. Rodriguez, p. 182.
18. McGee, p 39.
19. Doggett, p. 208.
20. Madinger & Easter, p. 175.
21. Benitez 2010, p. 47
22. Benitez 2010, p. 48
23. Rodriguez, pp. 222–23.
24. Benitez 2010, p. 50
25. Rodriguez, p. 223.
26. Spizer 2005, p. 158.
27. McGee 2003, p. 40.
28. Rodriguez 2010, p. 182.
29. Woffinden 1981, pp. 66–67.
30. Madinger & Easter 2000, p. 175.
31. Rodriguez 2010, p. 258.
32. Schaffner 1978, p. 157.
33. Spizer, p. 153.
34. Castleman & Podrazik, p. 122.
35. Badman, pp. 90–91, 94.
36. Rodriguez, p. 139.
37. Castleman & Podrazik, p. 124.
38. Madinger & Easter, p. 597.
39. Rice; Gambaccini; Rice 1995
40. "Red Rose Speedway – Paul McCartney, Wings: Awards". allmusic.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
41. "'Wild Life' and 'Red Rose Speedway' + 'Wings 1971-73' - Out Now!". paulmccartney.com. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
42. "Red Rose Speedway". Record Store Day. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
43. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Paul McCartney/Wings Red Rose Speedway". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
44. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 7 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
45. Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 696. ISBN 978-184195-827-9.
46. Graff & Durchholz 1999, p. 730
47. Nicol, Jimmy (October 1993). "Re-releases: Paul McCartney The Paul McCartney Collection". Q. p. 119.
48. . rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
49. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Paul McCartney & Wings". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
50. Rodriguez, p. 137.
51. Woffinden, pp. 66–67, 81.
52. Pidgeon, John (July 1973). "Wings: Red Rose Speedway". Let It Rock. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
53. McCartney, Paul; Pearce, Garth (27 March 1977). "After being a Beatle, success is a struggle". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio.
54. McGee, pp. 29, 39.
55. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 5 May 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
56. Frontani, pp. 164–65, 166.
57. Frontani, p. 166.
58. Frontani, p. 269.
59. Hunt, Chris (ed.) (2005). NME Originals: Beatles – The Solo Years 1970–1980. London: IPC Ignite!. p. 70.
60. Clayson, p. 162.
61. Clayson, pp. 162, 289.
62. Schaffner, p. 157.
63. Rodriguez, p. 183.
64. . mplsommunications.com. MPL Communications. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
65. "Free Downloads: 'Dear Friend (Orchestra Up)' and 'Hands Of Love'". paulmccartney.com. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
66. Badman 2002
67. "Red Rose Speedway "The Double Album"". PaulMcCartney.com. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
68. Terol, Miguel (16 June 1998). . Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
69. "Red Rose Speedway (2018 Remaster)". PaulMcCartney.com. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
70. "Red Rose Speedway (Original Double Album)". Abbey Road. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
71. Madinger & Easter, p. 222.
72. . Webpages.charter.net. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
73. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
74. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. 30 June 1973. p. 57. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
75. . Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original (PHP) on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
76. "Billboard Hits of the World". Billboard. 23 June 1973. p. 75. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
77. "Paul McCartney & Wings – Red Rose Speedway" (ASP) (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
78. (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
79. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
80. "Paul McCartney & Wings – Red Rose Speedway" (ASP). norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
81. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
82. "Artist: Paul McCartney". Official Chart Company. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
83. "Offiziellecharts.de – Paul McCartney – Red Rose Speedway" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
84. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
85. "PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
86. "Billboard 200 Week of December 22, 2018". billboard.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
87. "Top Rock Albums Week of December 22, 2018". billboard.com. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
88. "Dutch charts jaaroverzichten 1973" (ASP) (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
89. (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
90. "Top Pop Albums of 1973". billboard.biz. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
91. "From the Music Capitals of the World - Melbourne". Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 46. 17 November 1973. p. 56. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
92. "Canadian album certifications – Paul McCartney – Red Rose Speedway". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
93. "British album certifications – Wings – Red Rose Speedway". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
94. "American album certifications – Wings – Red Rose Speedway". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

Sources

• Badman, Keith (2001). The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
• Badman, Keith (2002). The Beatles – The Dream Is Over – Off the Record 2. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9199-5.
• Benitez, Vincent P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
• Castleman, Harry; Podrazik, Walter J. (1976). All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961–1975. New York, NY: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-25680-8.
• Clayson, Alan (2003). Paul McCartney. London: Sanctuary. ISBN 1-86074-486-9.
• Doggett, Peter (2011). You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup. New York, NY: It Books. ISBN 978-0-06-177418-8.
• Frontani, Michael (2009). "The Solo Years". In Womack, Kenneth (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-68976-2.
• Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
• Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions, LP. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
• McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-87833-304-2.
• Miles, Barry; Badman, Keith, eds. (2001). The Beatles Diary After the Break-Up: 1970–2001 (reprint ed.). London: Music Sales Group. ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
• Mulligan, Kate Siobhan (2010). The Beatles: A Musical Biography. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood. ISBN 9780313376863.
• Perasi, Luca (2013). Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969–2013). [S.l.]: L.I.L.Y. Publishing. ISBN 978-88-909122-1-4.
• Rice, Tim; Gambaccini, Paul; Rice, Jo (1995). British Hit Singles. London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-633-2.
• Rodriguez, Robert (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980. Milwaukee, WI: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-9093-4.
• Schaffner, Nicholas (1978). The Beatles Forever. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-055087-5.
• Sounes, Howard (2010). Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-723705-0.
• Spizer, Bruce (2005). The Beatles Solo on Apple Records. New Orleans, LA: 498 Productions. ISBN 0-9662649-5-9.
• Woffinden, Bob (1981). The Beatles Apart. London: Proteus. ISBN 0-906071-89-5.

External links

• Red Rose Speedway at Discogs (list of releases)