UK album release: Band On The Run by Paul McCartney and Wings

Wings’ third album, Band On The Run, was released in the United Kingdom on 30 November 1973.

Band On The Run was the follow-up to Red Rose Speedway. It was released in the USA on 3 December 1973.

Band On The Run was initially a slow burner, and it took eight months before it topped the UK album chart on 27 July 1974. It spent seven weeks at the top, was on the charts for a total of 124 weeks, and became the UK’s biggest-selling album of 1974.

It was a similar picture in the US. Band On The Run reached number one in the US in early 1974 following the single release of ‘Jet’.

Although sales declined after the single peaked, the album returned to number one several months later after the title track was released. In all, Band On The Run had three spells at the top of the US album chart, and was eventually certified triple platinum. In early 1975 Wings were also given the Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.

By the end of 1974 Band On The Run had sold more than six million copies worldwide, making it Wings’ most-successful album. The slow climb up the charts and continued high placing allowed McCartney to reconsider the direction of Wings and to recruit a new guitarist and drummer prior to more recordings and world tours.