Wings Greatest

1978 compilation album by Wings

Wings Greatest

Compilation album by

Wings

Released| 1 December 1978 (1978-12-01)
Recorded| 1970 – 1977
Genre| Rock
Length| 54:28
Label| Parlophone (UK)
Capitol (US & Aus)
Producer| Paul McCartney
Wings chronology
| London Town
(1978)  | Wings Greatest
(1978)  | Back to the Egg
(1979)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]
Christgau's Record Guide| B+[2]
The Essential Rock Discography| 7/10[3]
MusicHound| 3/5[4]
Q| [5]

Wings Greatest is a compilation album by the British–American rock band Wings, released in the U.K. December 1, 1978.[6] It was the band's last release through Capitol in the US. The album is notable as being the first official retrospective release from Paul McCartney's post-Beatles career.

Wings Greatest was remastered and reissued in 1993, as part of The Paul McCartney Collection, and again in 2018.[7]

## History[edit]

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

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

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

The Bulgarian pressings of the album did not include the song "Live and Let Die".[9]

## Artwork[edit]

Aubrey Powell and George Hardie of Hipgnosis are credited with the design, as well as Paul and Linda McCartney.[10]

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

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

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

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

## Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Paul and Linda McCartney except where noted

Side oneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Performer| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Another Day"|  | Paul McCartney| 3:42
2.| "Silly Love Songs"|  | Wings| 5:52
3.| "Live and Let Die"|  | Paul McCartney and Wings| 3:11
4.| "Junior's Farm"|  | Paul McCartney and Wings| 4:21
5.| "With a Little Luck"| P. McCartney| Wings| 5:45
6.| "Band on the Run"|  | Paul McCartney and Wings| 5:10

Side twoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Performer| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"|  | Paul and Linda McCartney| 4:48
2.| "Hi, Hi, Hi"|  | Wings| 3:07
3.| "Let 'Em In"|  | Wings| 5:09
4.| "My Love"|  | Paul McCartney and Wings| 4:08
5.| "Jet"|  | Paul McCartney and Wings| 4:06
6.| "Mull of Kintyre"| P. McCartney, Denny Laine| Wings| 4:43

## Charts[edit]

### Weekly charts[edit]

| Chart (1978–79)  | Position

|

Australian Kent Music Report Chart[13] | 8
Canadian RPM Albums Chart[14] | 25
Dutch Mega Albums Chart[15] | 18
Japanese Oricon LP Chart[16] | 24
New Zealand Albums Chart[17] | 16
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[18] | 20
Swedish Albums Chart[19] | 32
UK Albums Chart[20] | 5
US Billboard 200[21] | 29
US Cashbox albums chart[22] | 21
US Record World albums chart[22] | 23
West German Media Control Albums Chart[23] | 18

### Year-end charts[edit]

| Chart (1979)  | Position

|

Australian Albums Chart[13] | 53
UK Albums Chart[24] | 43

### Certifications[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[25] | Platinum  | 100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[26] | Gold  | 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Platinum  | 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[28] | Platinum  | 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Wings Greatest at AllMusic
2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 9 March 2019 - via robertchristgau.com.
3. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography. Edinburgh, UK: Canongate. p. 696\. ISBN 978-1-84195-827-9.
4. ^ Gary Graff & Daniel Durchholz (eds), MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, Visible Ink Press (Farmington Hills, MI, 1999; ISBN 1-57859-061-2), p. 731.
5. ^ Nicol, Jimmy (October 1993). "Re-releases: Paul McCartney The Paul McCartney Collection". Q. p. 119.
6. ^ Shearlaw, John (25 November 1978). Martin, Alf (ed.). "And Wings Greatest" (PDF). Record Mirror. London, England, U.K.: Spotlight Publications: 4. ISSN 0144-5804. "'Wings Greatest' released on December 1 covers their history from 1971 to 1978."
7. ^ "Paul to Reissue Four Catalogue Titles". www.paulmccartney.com. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
8. ^ "Wings Greatest". Jpgr.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
9. ^ "Wings (2) - Greatest (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1983. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
10. ^ a b c Wings Greatest visited 2013-08-20
11. ^ Art Deco Semiramis Figurine Chiparus Statue Sculpture visited 2013-08-20
12. ^ a b c McCartney: Songwriter ISBN 0-491-03325-7 p. 142
13. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
14. ^ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 30, No. 19, February 03 1979". RPM. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
15. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Wings - Greatest Hits" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl, Hung Medien (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
16. ^ "- Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) - Albums Chart Daijiten - The Beatles" (in Japanese). 30 December 2007. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
17. ^ "charts.nz - Wings - Greatest Hits" (ASP). charts.nz. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
18. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Wings - Greatest Hits" (ASP). norwegiancharts.com, Hung Medien. VG-lista. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
19. ^ "swedishcharts.com Wings - Greatest Hits" (ASP). swedishcharts.com, Hung Medien (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
20. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Wings - Greatest Hits". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
21. ^ "allmusic ((( Wings at the Speed of Sound > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
22. ^ a b McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 233\. ISBN 978-0-87833-304-2.
23. ^ "offiziellecharts.de - Wings Greatest Hits" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
24. ^ "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
25. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Wings – Greatest Hits". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
26. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1979". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
27. ^ "British album certifications – Wings – Wings Greatest". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
28. ^ "American album certifications – Wings – Wings Greatest". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 19 July 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Wings

* Paul McCartney
* Linda McCartney
* Denny Laine
* Denny Seiwell
* Henry McCullough
* Jimmy McCulloch
* Geoff Britton
* Joe English
* Laurence Juber
* Steve Holley

Studio albums|

* Wild Life (1971)
* Red Rose Speedway (1973)
* Band on the Run (1973)
* Venus and Mars (1975)
* Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
* London Town (1978)
* Back to the Egg (1979)

Live albums|

* Wings over America (1976)
* Wings over Europe (2018)
* One Hand Clapping (2024)

Compilations|

* Wings Greatest (1978)
* Cold Cuts (unreleased)
* Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)

Singles|

* "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
* "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
* "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon"
* "My Love"
* "Live and Let Die" / "I Lie Around"
* "Helen Wheels" / "Country Dreamer"
* "Mrs. Vandebilt" / "Bluebird"
* "Jet" / "Mamunia"
* "Let Me Roll It"
* "Band on the Run" / "Zoo Gang"
* "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"
* "Junior's Farm" / "Sally G"
* "Listen to What the Man Said" / "Love in Song"
* "Letting Go" / "You Gave Me the Answer"
* "Venus and Mars"/"Rock Show" / "Magneto and Titanium Man"
* "Silly Love Songs" / "Cook of the House"
* "Let 'Em In" / "Beware My Love"
* "Maybe I'm Amazed" / "Soily"
* "Seaside Woman"
* "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
* "With a Little Luck" / "Backwards Traveller"/"Cuff Link"
* "I've Had Enough" / "Deliver Your Children"
* "London Town" / "I'm Carrying"
* "Goodnight Tonight" / "Daytime Nighttime Suffering"
* "Old Siam, Sir"
* "Getting Closer"
* "Arrow Through Me" / "Old Siam, Sir"
* "Rockestra Theme"
* "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)"
* "Mama's Little Girl"

Other songs|

* "Big Barn Bed"
* "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
* "No Words"
* "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"
* "Call Me Back Again"
* "She's My Baby"
* "Must Do Something About It"
* "Warm and Beautiful"
* "Girlfriend"

Tours|

* Wings University Tour (1972)
* Wings Over Europe Tour (1972)
* Wings 1973 UK Tour (May 1973)
* Wings Over the World tour (1975-1976)
* Wings UK Tour 1979 (1979)

Filmography|

* Wings Over the World (1979)
* Concert for Kampuchea (1980)
* Rockshow (1980)
* Back to the Egg (1981)
* Wingspan – An Intimate Portrait (2001)

Related articles|

* 1972 Wings Tour Bus
* Discography
* Songs
* McGear
* Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (album)
* Japanese Tears
* Standard Time
* Suzy and the Red Stripes
* The Oriental Nightfish
* Wide Prairie

* v
* t
* e

Paul McCartney

* Paul "Wix" Wickens
* Rusty Anderson
* Brian Ray
* Abe Laboriel Jr.

* Linda McCartney
* Hamish Stuart
* Robbie McIntosh
* Chris Whitten
* Blair Cunningham

Studio albums|

* McCartney
* Ram
* Thrillington
* McCartney II
* Tug of War
* Pipes of Peace
* Give My Regards to Broad Street
* Press to Play
* Снова в СССР
* Flowers in the Dirt
* Off the Ground
* Flaming Pie
* Run Devil Run
* Driving Rain
* Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
* Memory Almost Full
* Kisses on the Bottom
* New
* Egypt Station
* McCartney III

with Wings|

* Wild Life
* Red Rose Speedway
* Band on the Run
* Venus and Mars
* Wings at the Speed of Sound
* London Town
* Back to the Egg

The Fireman|

* Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest
* Rushes
* Electric Arguments

Classical|

* Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio
* Standing Stone
* Working Classical
* Ecce Cor Meum
* Ocean's Kingdom

Live albums|

* Wings over America (with Wings)
* Tripping the Live Fantastic
* Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
* Paul Is Live
* Back in the U.S.
* Back in the World Live
* Amoeba's Secret
* Good Evening New York City
* Live in Los Angeles
* Amoeba Gig
* One Hand Clapping

Remix albums|

* Liverpool Sound Collage
* Twin Freaks
* McCartney III Imagined

Compilations|

* Wings Greatest
* All the Best!
* The Paul McCartney Collection
* Wingspan: Hits and History
* Never Stop Doing What You Love
* Pure McCartney
* McCartney I II III
* The 7″ Singles Box

Books|

* High in the Clouds
* Hey Grandude!
* The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
* 1964: Eyes of the Storm

Filmography|

* A Hard Day's Night (1964)
* Help! (1965)
* Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
* Yellow Submarine (1968)
* Let It Be (1970)
* James Paul McCartney (1973)
* Wings Over the World (1979)
* Back to the Egg (1979)
* Concert for Kampuchea (1980)
* Rockshow (1980)
* Rupert and the Frog Song (1984)
* Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
* Put It There (1989)
* MTV Unplugged (1991)
* Get Back (1991)
* Liverpool Oratorio (1991)
* Paul Is Live (1993)
* In the World Tonight (1997)
* Standing Stone (1997)
* Tropic Island Hum (1997)
* Live at the Cavern Club (1999)
* Working Classical (2000)
* Wingspan (2001)
* The Concert for New York City (2001)
* Back in the U.S. (2002)
* Paul McCartney in Red Square (2003)
* The Music and Animation Collection (2004)
* Between Chaos and Creation (2005)
* The Space Within US (2006)
* Memory Almost Full – Deluxe Edition (2007)
* The McCartney Years (2007)
* Ecce Cor Meum (2008)
* Good Evening New York City (2009)
* The Love We Make (2011)
* A Rendez-Vous with Paul McCartney (2013)
* New – Collector's Edition (2014)
* A MusiCares Tribute To Paul McCartney (2015)
* Pure McCartney (2016)
* Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool (2018)

Bootlegs|

* Cold Cuts
* Costello Album
* A Toot and a Snore in '74
* Return to Pepperland

Tours|

* The Paul McCartney World Tour
* The New World Tour
* Driving World Tour
* The 'US' Tour
* Summer Live '09
* Good Evening Europe Tour
* Up and Coming Tour
* On the Run
* Out There
* One on One
* 2018 Secret Gigs
* Freshen Up
* Got Back

Tributes|

* The Art of McCartney
* Let Us in Americana: The Music of Paul McCartney
* Pure McCartney (2013 album)

Lists|

* Awards
* Discography
* Music contributions and appearances
* Song recordings

Related media|

* "Cut Me Some Slack"
* The Family Way
* A Garland for Linda
* "Lisa the Vegetarian"
* The McCartney Interview
* Many Years from Now
* Oobu Joobu
* Paul McCartney Archive Collection
* Paul McCartney's Glastonbury Groove
* Two of Us (film)
* Wide Prairie

Other topics|

* 20 Forthlin Road
* The Beatles
* Brian Clarke
* The Fireman
* Lennon–McCartney
* Heather Mills
* MPL Communications
* "Paul is dead"
* Paul McCartney's band
* Personal relationships
* The Quarrymen
* Wings

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template