Wingspan (2001) 

 

Disc One
  1. Listen to What the Man Said
  2. Band on the Run
  3. Another Day
  4. Live and Let Die
  5. Jet
  6. My Love
  7. SillyLove Songs
  8. Pipes of Peace
  9. C Moon
  10.Hi Hi Hi
  11.Let 'Em In
  12.Goodnight Tonight
  13.Junior's Farm
  14.Mull of Kintyre
  15.Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
  16.With a Little Luck
  17.Coming Up
  18.No More Lonely Nights
  
Disc Two
   1. Let Me Roll It
   2. The Lovely Linda
   3. Daytime Nightime Suffering
   4. Maybe I'm Amazed
   5. Helen Wheels
   6. Bluebird
   7. Heart of the Country
   8. Every Night
   9. Take it Away
   10.Junk
   11.Man We Was Lonely
   12.Venus and Mars/Rock Show
   13.Back Seat of My Car
   14.Rockestra Theme
   15.Girlfriend
   16.Waterfalls
   17.Tomorrow
   18.Too Many People
   19.Call Me Back Again
   20.Tug of War
   21.Bip Bop/Hey Diddle
   22.No More Lonely Nights

 

ABy 2001, the market was already saturated with McCartney retrospectives. There had been live albums, box sets, anthologies, and more than one “definitive” greatest hits collection. So the arrival of Wingspan: Hits and History felt less like an event and more like a brand extension. Still, if one had to pick just one McCartney compilation to cover the most ground in the simplest package, this two-disc set was—and remains—a respectable choice.

Despite the prominent branding, don’t be misled by the word “Wings.” Much like previous compilations, the line between Paul’s solo work and his work with Wings is intentionally blurred to the point of being irrelevant. The truth is, for all practical purposes, Wings *was* McCartney—with a revolving cast of contributors supporting him. This set wisely leans into that reality, mixing both eras freely and focusing more on the strength of the songs than their organizational labels.

What’s most curious, though, is the arbitrary cutoff point. Although Wingspan was released in 2001, not a single track here is from after 1984. Which means, effectively, this could have been issued as a double-disc version of All the Best!, the 1987 compilation with almost identical time limitations. The absence of later-period material is noticeable—not because the later work was uniformly brilliant, but because it would have made for a more complete portrait.

Still, as compilations go, this is a generous offering. The first disc (“Hits”) collects the expected radio staples—Band on the Run, Jet, Live and Let Die—while the second (“History”) digs a little deeper, showcasing album tracks and lesser-known singles that, while not chart-toppers, highlight McCartney’s range and melodic gift. For those only familiar with the big hits, Disc Two is where the real surprises live.

Is it essential? Probably not if you already own All the Best! or a handful of the original albums. But if you’re looking for a solid, expansive McCartney primer—or just want to fill in some gaps without diving headlong into the full discography—Wingspan does the job admirably. It won’t give you the whole story, but it tells the best chapters well.

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