Wings (2) – Back To The Egg

This record right here, is the crown jewel of my collection, without question. I bought it at a local thrift shop a while back, it was in the "new arrivals" basket. It's immaculate condition, had everything it came with, the record looks (And Sounds!) like it was only played once or twice. I look at the sticker; The suckers were only asking $10 for the thing! Needless to say I bought it in a heartbeat, best $10 I ever spent! The best-sounding record, the most prestigious, the rarest record I own, all at the same time!

I was excited to find this Aussie pressing since it was done with the Maxicut process. I was disappointed to find out it was mastered too hot (more treble than necessary.) No trouble selling it though.

This promo piece is beyond rare. Not sure if the promo picture disc LP is just as rare. You'd be very fortunate to own either one.

The first side of BACK TO THE EGG is great. "Getting Closer" has a nervy energy, "Spin It On" works well as a new wave/rockabilly hybrid, "Old Siam Sir" is a stab at heavy rock with a killer hook, and "Arrow Through Me" is a classic Macca love song. The second side isn't as great, with only the ballads "Winter Rose / Love Awake" and "Baby's Request" leaving much of an impression. But overall this is easily the most adventurous post-Beatles solo album McCartney had released, even if it doesn't all work. No issues with this pressing, the music is punchy, crisp and clear. My copy plays nice and clean with occasional faint surface noise.

It's close between this and the Ram album in mono which is worth more. Thousands of Pounds, Dollars, whatever. Half a year's wages?Would be nice to get a BTTE box and have him issue a picture disc as part of the vinyl versions when it comes out (Like was done with Beatles boxes like Let It Be).

My copy sounds fantastic. Has a set of 5 trading cards with the back cover images. Also Arrow was used in OH HEAVENLY DOG starring Chevy Chase and Benji !

Re the not for sale commercially statement. I actually saw this for sale at HMV Cardiff, held it in my hands. Really did not like the band so ed it over. Guess who's sorry now?

A recent reevaluation of back to the egg has flipped overall public opinion of what used to be considered dreck to what is now considered a top 3 Wings lp. I don’t fall into that camp but I never felt it was dreck either so I didn’t have far to go. It’s in my top 5 for Wings lps behind red rose, band on the run, Venus and mars and London Town.

I like classic Beatles. I like obscure Beatles. I like pretty Beatles, ugly Beatles, busy Beatles, lazy Beatles, quiet Beatles, noisy Beatles, multi-tracked Beatles, one-take Beatles....AND with the exception of Ringo (sorry), I like ALL of each Beatle's records, without the other three, up to 1979.
THIS one though...for a start, it was overshadowed by hundreds of other things going on in one of the greatest years in pop music, 1979. A whole WAVE of it, a NEW WAVE in fact. Macca & Co. tried to be a part of it here but the result was not only well below par for him it was below par in comparison to most music going on that year. And why? Well. It's ordinary music. Very ordinary. S'alright, no more than that....from one of the greatest recording artists of all time. I keep my copy but really it's just a gap-filler in the collection.

The quality of the pressing is as expected. Uk first press, can't go wrong. The sound is full, robust, warm but h'mmm sorry, the top end, for a 1979 album, is dull. Not a pressing fault. It's the EQ. Possibly the worst sounding Wings album from an engineering or mastering point of view. Sorry, everyone...but someone needs to warn people. Don't start here to see what Paul McCartney can do!

My personal favorite Wings album! Probably my favorite record from McCartney in general. Great sounding pressing.