A compilation just in time for Christmas? We know your game, Paul McCartney. We cannot knock the Wings frontman for wanting to put together a compilation of what appears to be his favourite hits, but he has gone into overdrive this year. Between a collection of best-of songs and a book detailing the band’s history, there is no shortage of new material from the Band on the Run hitmakers. What, in modern times, does a compilation serve the listener? Those who like Wings enough to buy their records likely have these songs already in their collection. Those listening on streaming services can piece together their own compilation of songs from what they like. Dedicated fans will have live versions downloaded or streaming from sources that, officially, cannot be released. A self-titled compilation effort so many decades after the band’s last release feels like a bit of a redundant task. It’s still Wings, but what’s the point?
Recontextualising the already released songs is a bit of wasted effort for the technologically inclined listener. Want to listen to Arrow Through Me? Just stick it in a playlist or pull out your copy of Back to the Egg. As lovingly crafted as Wings clearly is, what with its booklet and remasters from the previously remastered versions, there isn’t too much in the way of necessary here. A few non-album singles feature, but the glaring omission of Give Ireland Back to the Irish is an indicator of what this compilation really is. This is not the history of Wings but the best of their works. Even a passing listener could tell you what appears on this compilation. Those wanting to know the full story of the band, who want to hear their debut track as embarrassing as it may be, will have to look elsewhere. Wings fans must take the little victories, though, with McCartney not just acknowledging London Town and Back to the Egg but featuring more than a few songs from both releases.
Minor differences are what Wings hopes to bank on. A slightly better remaster, though nothing worth replacing your collection for, nor updating your playlist to include. These songs sound as good as they did on the previous remaster, though there is a focus now on suggesting the quality has improved, even when such improvements are minor. It’s decent enough but the lack of chronology means Wings is more about rifling through your wallet than presenting a real look back at the history of the band. Those wanting that are much better served by either the newly released book on Wings, or just by returning to the songs by the band they know they like already. Wings is surplus to requirement, though it gives us an excuse to celebrate the achievements McCartney and the band made, of which there are many.
Few of those are profiled here, though. The trouble with this compilation is it highlights the singles which were so popular, and the album tracks which, for the likes of Venus and Mars and Wings at the Speed of Sound, were just underwhelming at the best of times. That’s not the point of Wings, though. It’s not the history that matters but the catchy best-of and a few lesser-known songs like She’s My Baby and a One Hand Clapping session track. It’s a real mixed bag of material which, ultimately, is just a nice excuse to return to a very solid discography. Wings had hit after hit, and this compilation could have served as a profile of lesser-known efforts by the McCartney-fronted band. It does, somewhat, but never enough to make it the definitive way to listen.
