Paul McCartney & Wings Band on the Run Original UK 1st Press PAS 10007 Poster

$

69

Artist: Paul McCartney & Wings

Title: Band on the Run

Label: Apple Records / EMI Records Ltd.

Catalog Number: PAS 10007

Country: United Kingdom

Year: 1973

Format: Stereo LP (33⅓ RPM)

Matrix Numbers:

• Side 1: YEX 929-2

• Side 2: YEX 930-2

⸻

Overview

This example is a complete first UK pressing of Band on the Run, released December 1973 on Apple Records. Pressed by EMI in Hayes, Middlesex, it stands as one of the most celebrated and collectible post-Beatles releases — both for its musical achievement and the story behind its creation. Recorded partly in Lagos, Nigeria, under challenging conditions, Band on the Run marked Paul McCartney’s definitive artistic comeback and cemented Wings’ reputation as a world-class band.

⸻

Label & Pressing Details

• The black Apple label with three monochrome portraits (Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine) identifies this as a true first-issue Apple/EMI pressing.

• Text includes “An Apple Record” and “℗ 1973 EMI Records Ltd.” — details later removed or revised on mid- to late-1970s represses.

• The YEX 929-2 / YEX 930-2 matrix combination denotes early EMI lacquers, among the best-sounding UK analog cuts for this title.

• These matrices are consistent with 1973 first-batch pressings distributed immediately upon release.

⸻

Sleeve & Packaging

• Front Cover: Laminated gatefold featuring the famous “jailbreak” photograph by Clive Arrowsmith, depicting McCartney, Laine, and several celebrities (including James Coburn, Christopher Lee, Kenny Lynch, Michael Parkinson, and John Conteh).

• Back Cover: Desk still-life design showing passport photos and studio paraphernalia; catalog number PAS 10007 printed at top right.

• Inner Sleeve: Original black printed lyric sleeve with white text — a key first-issue component.

• Poster: Includes the original full-colour fold-out poster of candid studio Polaroids taken during the Lagos and Abbey Road sessions. These images capture Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Tony Visconti, and others during recording and downtime. The poster was exclusive to early UK copies and was omitted from later reissues.

⸻

Audio & Mastering

• The -2/-2 mastering delivers exceptional clarity and warmth typical of EMI’s early Apple cuts.

• Tonally balanced with wide stereo imaging and deep bass response, this pressing remains prized among collectors and audiophiles alike.

• While some copies feature mastering engineer Harry Moss’s (HTM) initials, others like this example were pressed from the same high-quality stampers.

⸻

Historical Significance

Released in late 1973, Band on the Run was a defining album of McCartney’s career. Despite adversity during recording in Nigeria — including stolen tapes, limited equipment, and reduced personnel — the album achieved massive commercial and critical success, producing hits such as Jet, Bluebird, and Band on the Run.

It topped both UK and US charts and won multiple Grammy Awards, reaffirming McCartney’s creative dominance in the post-Beatles era.

⸻

Collector’s Notes

• Complete with original poster, lyric inner sleeve, and laminated gatefold, this copy represents a fully intact first pressing package.

• The vinyl and sleeve appear in Very Good Plus (VG+) condition overall — clean labels, light spindle wear, and moderate edge handling on the sleeve.

• The poster remains bright with only minor fold impressions, rare for this fragile insert.

• The combination of YEX 929-2 / 930-2 matrices, Apple portrait labels, and complete packaging firmly establishes it as a first-issue 1973 UK release.

⸻

Track Listing

Side One:

1. Band on the Run

2. Jet

3. Bluebird

4. Mrs. Vandebilt

5. Let Me Roll It

Side Two:

1. Mamunia

2. No Words

3. Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)

4. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five