Red Rose Speedway

Paul McCartney and Wings
 
Red Rose Speedway - Front cover Red Rose Speedway - Rear Cover
Red Rose Speedway - Front Cover Red Rose Speedway - Rear Cover
Red Rose Speedway - Inside Gatefold
Red Rose Speedway - Inside Gatefold
Red Rose Speedway - Page 1 of Booklet Red Rose Speedway - Page 3 of Booklet
Red Rose Speedway - Page 1 of Booklet Red Rose Speedway - Page 3 of Booklet

Label Apple
Catalogue No. PCTC 251
Release date 4th May 1973
Total time 42:09
U.K. Album Chart Detail :
Entry Date :19th May 1973
Highest Position :5
Weeks in Chart :16
Detail :

 

 

 

 

 

Red Rose Speedway - Page 2 of Booklet

Paul's fourth "solo" album, credited to "Paul McCartney and Wings"
Wings II - Paul, Linda, Denny Seiwell, Denny Laine and new boy Henry McCullough.
Paul plays bass, piano, moog, mellotron, celeste and guitars.
Linda plays keyboards, harpsichord and dingers.
Denny S. plays drums and bass.
Denny L. plays guitars, harmonica and drums.
Henry plays guitars and some percussion.

The album was produced by Paul.
Engineers were : Alan Parsons, Richard Lush, Dixon Van Winkle, Tim Geeland, Glyn Johns and David Hentschel.

The album title was inspired by Paul's housekeeper, Rose, and this time was credited to "Paul & Wings".
This was done because "Wild Life" had sold so badly, and it was felt that that was partly due to some people not being aware that it was a McCartney album.

Most of the tracks for this release were recorded from March 1972 through to October the same year, with a European tour
separating the recording sessions. This "Wings Over Europe" tour ran from July 9th to August 24th.
But two tracks had been started on during the "Ram" sessions as can be identified from the playing personnel.
"Get On The Right Thing" was a "Ram" outtake, and "Little Lamb Dragonfly" was also started in early 1971.

In March 1972 the "Red Rose Speedway" sessions started in Los Angeles where Wings recorded,
"Big Barn Bed", "My Love", "One More Kiss", "Single Pigeon", "When The Night", "Loup" and the closing medley.
At this time, "Little Lamb Dragonfly" was also completed.
"Mama's Little Girl" is recorded but is unreleased at this time, with other unreleased takes being :
"The Mess" (a live recording made in Holland on 21st August is used later instead),
"Tragedy",
"Night Out",
"Jazz Street" and
"Best Friend".

When returning to England, Paul continues these sessions at the Olympic Studios in Barnes, where he adds Glyn Johns to his
list of producers ... but by April Glyn walks out of the sessions after recording disagreements.
The final mixing and overdubs take place in October at Abbey Road.

"Red Rose Speedway" is originally planned to be a double album, and during the rest of 1972 and even into 1973, other
recordings are made which either end up as singles, or remain unreleased.
Another outtake at this time is a live radio performance in Holland of "Complain To The Queen" on 20th August.

The album comes in a gatefold sleeve with a 12 page booklet.
The cover photograph and much of the booklet are taken by Linda, with a mention too for "Captain Snap" (?)
On rear album cover there is a braille message which was dedicated to Stevie Wonder, it reads, "We Love You".
The booklet also contains artwork by Alan Jones and Eduardo Paolozzi who taught Stuart Sutcliffe in Hamburg. Interestingly,
amongst the song titles listed in the booklet, "Seaside Woman" can be spotted, which was first recorded 14th July 1972 ...
and meant to be on the album ?


Side 1

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Big Barn Bed McCartney The first two lines of this track (and the album !) were first used on the "Ram" album
at the end of the reprise of "Ram On". Although this is a new recording.
Paul : Bass, piano and vocal
Linda : Backing vocal
Denny L. : Acoustic guitar, backing vocal
Henry : Electric guitar, backing vocal
Denny S. : Drums
3:49
My Love McCartney
Paul : Electric piano and vocal
Linda : Backing vocal
Denny L. : Bass, backing vocal
Henry : Electric guitar
Denny S. : Drums
4:07
Get On The Right Thing McCartney
Paul : Bass, piano, electric guitar and vocal
Linda : Backing vocal
Denny S. : Drums
Dave Spinozza : Electric guitar
4:16
One More Kiss McCartney
Paul : Acoustic guitar and vocal
Linda : Electric harpsichord
Denny L. : Bass
Henry : Electric guitar
Denny S. : Drums
2:28
Little Lamb Dragonfly McCartney Inspired by the death of one of Paul's sheep on the Scottish farm.
Paul : Bass and vocal
Linda : Dingers, backing vocal
Denny L. : Backing vocal
Denny S. : Drums, percussion, vocal
Hugh McCracken : Electric guitar
6:19

Side 2

Track Composer Recording Information Time
Single Pigeon McCartney
Paul : Piano and vocal
Linda : Vocal
Denny L. : Drums
Henry : Acoustic guitar
Denny S. : Bass
1:52
When The Night McCartney
Paul : Piano and vocal
Linda : Electric bass piano, harmonies
Denny L. : Acoustic guitar, harmonies
Henry : Acoustic guitar, harmonies
Denny S. : Drums, harmonies
3:36
Loup (1st Indian On The Moon) McCartney
Paul : Bass, guitar, moog, chant
Linda : Organ, chant
Denny L. : Electric guitar, chant
Henry : Electric guitar, chant
Denny S. : Drums, chant
4:22
Medley : 11:16
     Hold Me Tight McCartney
Paul : Bass, piano and vocal
Linda : Backing vocal
Denny L. : Electric guitar, backing vocal
Henry : Electric guitar, backing vocal
Denny S. : Drums, backing vocal
2:23
     Lazy Dynamite McCartney
Paul : Bass, piano, mellotron and vocal
Denny L. : Harmonica
Henry : Electric guitar
2:49
     Hands Of Love McCartney
Paul : Acoustic guitar and vocal
Linda : Vocal
Denny L. : Electric guitar
Henry : Percussion
Denny S. : Drums, percussion
2:13
     Power Cut McCartney
Paul : Piano, celeste, mellotron and vocal
Linda : Electric piano
Denny L. : Electric guitar, vocal
Henry : Electric guitar, vocal
Denny S. : Drums
3:51


Further Issues of "Red Rose Speedway"

There is also a cassette version released on the initial release date, TC-PCTC 251.

May 1978, "Red Rose Speedway" is deleted after just three years.

January 1985, the next listing is on the Parlophone label, ATAK 16 (+ TCTAK 16) ... deleted 1988.

5th October 1987 - Fame re-issues, L.P. FA 3193, Cassette TCFA 3193 ... and ...
5th October 1987, the first C.D. release on the Fame label, catalogue number CDFA 3193
(International number is CDM 7 52026 2),
this has a running time of 55:25 as it adds the bonus tracks of :
Track Composer Time
I Lie Around McCartney 5:01
Country Dreamer McCartney 3:09
The Mess McCartney 4:56
The bonus tracks are familiar as 3 hit single B-sides.
("The Mess" is the live recording made at The Hague on 21st August)

31st January 1988, "Red Rose Speedway" is deleted from the E.M.I. catalogue.

April 1993, a "Re-master" re-issue C.D. has catalogue number CDPMCOL 4 (+ TCPMCOL 4),
(international number CDP 7 89238 2),
This has a running time of 59:56 as it adds tracks :
Track Composer Time
I Lie Around McCartney 5:01
The Mess McCartney 4:56
Hi Hi Hi P.McCartney and L.McCartney 3:07
C Moon P.McCartney and L.McCartney 4:33
The bonus tracks are familiar as two hit single B-sides, and a double A-side.
("The Mess" is the live recording made at The Hague on 21st August)
This "Re-master" issue is also available on cassette, TCPMCOL 4.

7th December 2018 - Red Rose Speedway - The Paul McCartney Archive Collection is released (Six discs - 3 CD/2 DVD/1 Blu-Ray + extras)

22nd April 2023 ("Record Store Day") - a Limited Edition half-speed master vinyl was issued.

Red Rose Speedway - Half-speed Master Vinyl



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