Wings Over America & Rock Show DVD Reissue CONFIRMED
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left hand man:
Okay, Got the standard edition yesterday and listened to the whole thing non stop. Very first impression, Wings were a powerhouse band live, they were at their absolute peak and this remaster really showcases that. McCartney's bass is just thunderous, the way it should be on every one of his albums. A complaint I've always had is that McCartney's bass always sounds too far back in the mix, I want it up front and in your face, after all this is one of the premiere bassist so he should be heard very distinctly. The Rick is the absolute best bass for McCartney the Hofner though more Iconic always sounds muffled to me, doesn't have that thump like the Rick. I already had the Capitol CDs of this album so I played some of those first so I could compare the sound, right away I noticed that the remaster is louder, sharper, clearer with a more dynamic range. One thing I really like is that you can hear the crowds delight better. You really hear them react when the guitar riff of Let Me Roll It hits. The performances just thrilled the crowds. The performances are just awesome, I have a whole new respect for songs like Spirits Of Ancient Egypt and Medicine Jar, I mean Wings are just rocking out on these songs. I know most people talk about Maybe I'm Amazed but for me Call Me Back Again and Beware My Love are the vocal performances to hear, McCartney is one of the absolute greatest singers. This album clearly shows that he is a premiere rock shouter. Joe English on the drums is just excellent, without a doubt he is the best drummer McCartney ever had. I actually heard rolls and fills I never noticed before. I also noticed that you can really hear when he hits the cymbals, the crashes really help highlight the songs. I've stated many times that WOA is my very fave McCartney album, with this absolutely fantastic remaster It's my fave all over again. Oh I have to mention Hi Hi Hi and Soily, how can anyone say Wings were lightweight and soft if they listen to these songs, they just come blasting out of the speakers! Their performance of Hi Hi Hi is just a scorching smoking hard rocker, one of McCartney absolute best rockers. I am just thrilled with this remaster, this album has never ever sounded better! Now for the Rockshow blu-ray.
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Excellent writeup there from Left Hand Man - sums up my thoughts as well! So true about hearing fills from Joe (and licks from Jimmy) that I'd never heard before - this was the one album from Macca's main catalogue that was in desperate need of a remaster and thank heavens we not only got it, but got it big style. LHM also reminded me of a question I asked myself just the other day when listening to it:
left hand man:
McCartney's bass is just thunderous, the way it should be on every one of his albums. A complaint I've always had is that McCartney's bass always sounds too far back in the mix, I want it up front and in your face, after all this is one of the premiere bassist so he should be heard very distinctly. The Rick is the absolute best bass for McCartney the Hofner though more Iconic always sounds muffled to me, doesn't have that thump like the Rick.
*Where* is his Rickenbacker these days? I assume (hope!?!) he still owns it? He absolutely needs to have it out on tour with him, for the exact reason LHM notes - while I love the iconic look and sound of the Hofner, I'm in love the sound from that Rick - pure yet powerfully in your face. (Sorry if there's a well-known story about it of which I'm just unaware.)
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McCartney still has his Rick, he MAY still bring it on tour as a back up. The Rick probably weighs about 8 lbs, whereas his Hofner weighs about 4 lbs. To play the Rick 3 hours is not realistic at this point. McCartney has already said he loves the Hofner and that people tend to associate it with him, so he plays it. In a stadium or arena, the difference in tone between the basses would be negligible, especially with bad acoustics, and other instruments playing along.
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RMartinez:
McCartney still has his Rick, he MAY still bring it on tour as a back up. The Rick probably weighs about 8 lbs, whereas his Hofner weighs about 4 lbs. To play the Rick 3 hours is not realistic at this point. McCartney has already said he loves the Hofner and that people tend to associate it with him, so he plays it. In a stadium or arena, the difference in tone between the basses would be negligible, especially with bad acoustics, and other instruments playing along.
Am aware of the weight issue, RM, and wasn't implying he use it all show long (which he wouldn't anyway as he doesn't play bass for the entire show). He could use both - and I totally disagree re the difference in tone! Sorry, that's like saying a Gretsch sounds like a Gibson, which sounds like a Fender, etc etc etc so with the poor acoustics in *some* venues, the difference between them is negligble.....?! Of course it isn't. And the only backup for a Hofner is...another Hofner! If that's your trademark sound on certain/most material, you don't then pull out a Fender P Bass. Just saying the Rick would definitely add something on some material and it is a sound - and a look - with which Paul is also associated. I hate the thought that it's been relegated to the dustbin along with much of the material that he used it on.
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Holly Days:
RMartinez:
McCartney still has his Rick, he MAY still bring it on tour as a back up. The Rick probably weighs about 8 lbs, whereas his Hofner weighs about 4 lbs. To play the Rick 3 hours is not realistic at this point. McCartney has already said he loves the Hofner and that people tend to associate it with him, so he plays it. In a stadium or arena, the difference in tone between the basses would be negligible, especially with bad acoustics, and other instruments playing along.
Am aware of the weight issue, RM, and wasn't implying he use it all show long (which he wouldn't anyway as he doesn't play bass for the entire show). He could use both - and I totally disagree re the difference in tone! Sorry, that's like saying a Gretsch sounds like a Gibson, which sounds like a Fender, etc etc etc so with the poor acoustics in *some* venues, the difference between them is negligble.....?! Of course it isn't. And the only backup for a Hofner is...another Hofner! If that's your trademark sound on certain/most material, you don't then pull out a Fender P Bass. Just saying the Rick would definitely add something on some material and it is a sound - and a look - with which Paul is also associated. I hate the thought that it's been relegated to the dustbin along with much of the material that he used it on.
Paul probably hasn't touched a rickenbacker in the 21st century. It would make a world of difference if he swapped it for the hofner, and I wouldn't mind a bit if he did it either! And it's not that he's carrying an eight pound bass for three hours. There are currently only TWELVE songs in the 39 song setlist that Paul is playing bass on. Pretty weird, huh?
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Doesn't anyone remember the footage on The Space Within US of the rack of like 10 Hofner bass guitars just on the side of the stage? The man is prepared.
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Hey! Maybe your dream of Paul playing his Rick in concert will come true. Let's see what happens!
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WixRocks!:
Doesn't anyone remember the footage on The Space Within US of the rack of like 10 Hofner bass guitars just on the side of the stage? The man is prepared.
Yeah, I noticed that. He should play the Jubilee bass Hofner made for him with the Union Jack on the front!
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RMartinez:
WixRocks!:
Doesn't anyone remember the footage on The Space Within US of the rack of like 10 Hofner bass guitars just on the side of the stage? The man is prepared.
Yeah, I noticed that. He should play the Jubilee bass Hofner made for him with the Union Jack on the front!
Ehhh...bit flashy for my taste.
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WixRocks!:
RMartinez:
WixRocks!:
Doesn't anyone remember the footage on The Space Within US of the rack of like 10 Hofner bass guitars just on the side of the stage? The man is prepared.
Yeah, I noticed that. He should play the Jubilee bass Hofner made for him with the Union Jack on the front!
Ehhh...bit flashy for my taste.
Yeah, like his stage show.
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Michelley:
OK, I don't like Time to Hide. Mediocre song, mediocre singing by Denny (?) -- especially coming after the gorgeous lilting rendition of Let 'Em In. I could just imagine the whole stadium lighting up a fat one during Let 'Em In, so maybe they didn't notice that Time to Hide is kinda meh. I absolutely love the whole acoustic portion of the WOA show, from Picasso's Last Words through Yesterday. It's like a folk show within a rock show. Great.
How strange.....I LOVE TIME TO HIDE 2:
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superman38:
Everybody elses Wings Over America got breaks between tracks?
nope
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RMartinez:
WixRocks!:
RMartinez:
WixRocks!:
Doesn't anyone remember the footage on The Space Within US of the rack of like 10 Hofner bass guitars just on the side of the stage? The man is prepared.
Yeah, I noticed that. He should play the Jubilee bass Hofner made for him with the Union Jack on the front!
Ehhh...bit flashy for my taste.
Yeah, like his stage show.
Do you mean the lights and screens? I find about 75% of them to be tasteful.....but a hofner bass with the union jack plastered on it plus Paul's bellhop costume is one of the tackiest looking combos I've seen.
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WixRocks!:
RMartinez:
WixRocks!:
RMartinez:
WixRocks!:
Doesn't anyone remember the footage on The Space Within US of the rack of like 10 Hofner bass guitars just on the side of the stage? The man is prepared.
Yeah, I noticed that. He should play the Jubilee bass Hofner made for him with the Union Jack on the front!
Ehhh...bit flashy for my taste.
Yeah, like his stage show.
Do you mean the lights and screens? I find about 75% of them to be tasteful.....but a hofner bass with the union jack plastered on it plus Paul's bellhop costume is one of the tackiest looking combos I've seen.
He's never played the Union Jack Hofner with his bellhop costume. Maybe you would like it!
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There's nothing wrong with the Union FLAG bass !!!!!! (please note I'm a Brit )
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superman38:
But the pause in between the tracks ruined it for me.
Is yours a download or CD?, because the CD only has gaps between Band On The Run and Hi Hi Hi and Hi H i Hi and Soily everything else flows as most live albums.
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WixRocks!:
Holly Days:
RMartinez:
McCartney still has his Rick, he MAY still bring it on tour as a back up. The Rick probably weighs about 8 lbs, whereas his Hofner weighs about 4 lbs. To play the Rick 3 hours is not realistic at this point. McCartney has already said he loves the Hofner and that people tend to associate it with him, so he plays it. In a stadium or arena, the difference in tone between the basses would be negligible, especially with bad acoustics, and other instruments playing along.
Am aware of the weight issue, RM, and wasn't implying he use it all show long (which he wouldn't anyway as he doesn't play bass for the entire show). He could use both - and I totally disagree re the difference in tone! Sorry, that's like saying a Gretsch sounds like a Gibson, which sounds like a Fender, etc etc etc so with the poor acoustics in *some* venues, the difference between them is negligble.....?! Of course it isn't. And the only backup for a Hofner is...another Hofner! If that's your trademark sound on certain/most material, you don't then pull out a Fender P Bass. Just saying the Rick would definitely add something on some material and it is a sound - and a look - with which Paul is also associated. I hate the thought that it's been relegated to the dustbin along with much of the material that he used it on.
Paul probably hasn't touched a rickenbacker in the 21st century. It would make a world of difference if he swapped it for the hofner, and I wouldn't mind a bit if he did it either! And it's not that he's carrying an eight pound bass for three hours. There are currently only TWELVE songs in the 39 song setlist that Paul is playing bass on. Pretty weird, huh?
Yeah, I think the last time I saw Paul with the Rick was in some rehearsal/session photos with Robbie and Hamish, which would place it '89-'93, though I'm not sure if that's the bass that actually made the final recordings. As to whether or not he's used it anywhere or thumbed around on it in studio since then, who knows? In the end, the Hofner is surely more iconic than the Rick for the general paying public at a Macca concert, though Wings fans and '70s fans likely see the Rick in the same light. I know I'd love to see it one more time. I love its sound, and how he looked playing it, and that's why I bought one myself. I thought it went better with Wings than with the Beatles. Also, one thing I noticed watching Rockshow was how his bass/piano split is similar to today, only arranged differently. I think he did 12 or 13 songs on bass in WOA, and 10 on piano.
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OMG, the deluxe set arrived today and I do mean DELUXE!!! My first impression is to be absolutely BLOWN AWAY! This is the most fabulous set yet. The cover and all the books are glorious and I am luving all the textures, colours, and unique design each book has to offer. Just into disc 1 and the sound is BIG, BOLD, and BEAUTIFUL! I've got the stereo cranked and it's like I'm there at the concert - remarkable! BEST deluxe set yet!
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Spirits of Ancient Egypt - wow, the sound is so powerful and defined. The remastering is fantastic! It's like the recordings have truly come to LIFE. I'm hearing all kinds of stuff I never heard before on the original.
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LetMeRollIt89:
WixRocks!:
Holly Days:
RMartinez:
McCartney still has his Rick, he MAY still bring it on tour as a back up. The Rick probably weighs about 8 lbs, whereas his Hofner weighs about 4 lbs. To play the Rick 3 hours is not realistic at this point. McCartney has already said he loves the Hofner and that people tend to associate it with him, so he plays it. In a stadium or arena, the difference in tone between the basses would be negligible, especially with bad acoustics, and other instruments playing along.
Am aware of the weight issue, RM, and wasn't implying he use it all show long (which he wouldn't anyway as he doesn't play bass for the entire show). He could use both - and I totally disagree re the difference in tone! Sorry, that's like saying a Gretsch sounds like a Gibson, which sounds like a Fender, etc etc etc so with the poor acoustics in *some* venues, the difference between them is negligble.....?! Of course it isn't. And the only backup for a Hofner is...another Hofner! If that's your trademark sound on certain/most material, you don't then pull out a Fender P Bass. Just saying the Rick would definitely add something on some material and it is a sound - and a look - with which Paul is also associated. I hate the thought that it's been relegated to the dustbin along with much of the material that he used it on.
Paul probably hasn't touched a rickenbacker in the 21st century. It would make a world of difference if he swapped it for the hofner, and I wouldn't mind a bit if he did it either! And it's not that he's carrying an eight pound bass for three hours. There are currently only TWELVE songs in the 39 song setlist that Paul is playing bass on. Pretty weird, huh?
Yeah, I think the last time I saw Paul with the Rick was in some rehearsal/session photos with Robbie and Hamish, which would place it '89-'93, though I'm not sure if that's the bass that actually made the final recordings. As to whether or not he's used it anywhere or thumbed around on it in studio since then, who knows? In the end, the Hofner is surely more iconic than the Rick for the general paying public at a Macca concert, though Wings fans and '70s fans likely see the Rick in the same light. I know I'd love to see it one more time. I love its sound, and how he looked playing it, and that's why I bought one myself. I thought it went better with Wings than with the Beatles. Also, one thing I noticed watching Rockshow was how his bass/piano split is similar to today, only arranged differently. I think he did 12 or 13 songs on bass in WOA, and 10 on piano.
The liner notes from Driving Rain states that Paul plays the ric on a track or two, although there are no pics of this