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Paul McCartney's Previously Unreleased Versions of John Lennon-Inspired DEAR FRIEND Available Now

By: Nov. 16, 2018
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Paul McCartney's Previously Unreleased Versions of John Lennon-Inspired DEAR FRIEND Available Now  Image

Today, to mark the forthcoming reissues of Paul McCartney's 11th and 12th classic works from his revered catalogue, 'Dear Friend', the John Lennon-inspired closing track to Paul McCartney And Wings' debut album 'Wild Life', has been made available to hear as two special instant grats. The first a remastered version, and the second a beautifully intimate unreleased home recording. The re-releases come fully remastered and expanded across multi format installments of his GRAMMY-winning Archive Collection, to be released December 7, 2018 via MPL/Capitol/UMe.

Speaking of the track, Paul comments "With 'Dear Friend', that's sort of me talking to John after we'd had all the sort of disputes about The Beatles break up. I find it very emotional when I listen to it now. I have to sort of choke it back. I remember when I heard the song recently, listening to the roughs [remastering works-in-progress] in the car. And I thought, 'Oh God'. That lyric: 'Really truly, young and newly wed'. Listening to that was like, 'Oh my God, it's true!' I'm trying to say to John, 'Look, you know, it's all cool. Have a glass of wine. Let's be cool.' And luckily we did get it back together, which was like a great source of joy because it would have been terrible if he'd been killed as things were at that point and I'd never got to straighten it out with him. This was me reaching out. So, I think it's very powerful in some very simple way. But it was certainly heartfelt."

ABOUT THE REISSUES:


PAUL McCARTNEY AND WINGS: WILD LIFE
PAUL McCARTNEY AND WINGS: RED ROSE SPEEDWAY

LIMITED NUMBERED DELUXE EDITIONS TO INCLUDE REMASTERED ORIGINAL ALBUMS, BONUS TRACKS, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED DEMOS, RARE AND NEVER BEFORE SEEN VIDEO, EXCLUSIVE BOOKS FEATURING NEW INTERVIEWS WITH PAUL, PHOTOS, ARTWORK, & MUCH MORE

First up is the four-disc (3CD, 1DVD) limited deluxe edition of Wild Life, the debut album from Wings, originally released December 1971. Written by Paul and Linda McCartney (with the exception of a cover of Mickey & Sylvia's 'Love Is Strange'), Wild Life is beloved by fans for its raw and direct vibe--having been recorded in just over a week with the majority of tracks laid down in a single take. Wild Life's limited deluxe edition treatment features the full album remastered at Abbey Road plus 25 bonus audio tracks including rough mixes of the album, original single edits, B-sides, home recordings and other previously unreleased material across three CDs. The set's DVD features rare footage of acoustic home videos, rehearsals and more. The Wild Life deluxe package includes a 128- page book written by David Fricke telling the story behind the album - including track-by-track information and new interviews with Paul and key album personnel, a 48-page scrapbook of tour diaries, lyrics and set lists, unpublished Polaroids, lyrics, notes and memorabilia from the MPL archives. Wild Life's download redemption card will provide access to all audio in HD 24/96kHz unlimited high-resolution versions.

Next up is a six-disc (3CD, 2DVD + 1Blu-ray) numbered limited deluxe edition of the second Wings album and first credited to Paul McCartney and Wings, Red Rose Speedway. Released in April 1973 and featuring the #1 single 'My Love,' Red Rose Speedway was the first Wings album to hit #1 on the U.S. chart. The Red Rose Speedway limited deluxe edition features three discs of audio including the original album remastered at Abbey Road, no less than 35 bonus audio tracks, including a reconstruction of the originally conceived double album version of Red Rose Speedway, singles, B-sides, alternate mixes and previously unreleased tracks. The 2DVD + Blu-ray portions of the deluxe are packed with rare and previously unseen footage, including the James Paul McCartney TV Special, interviews and music videos, as well as the never before seen film The Bruce McMouse Sho fully restored and remixed in stereo and 5.1 surround sound. The package includes a folio containing 14 replica hand drawn original character sketches by Paul and facsimile dialogue sheets for the film, a 128-page book containing many previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney, expanded album and single artwork from the archives and story behind the album - including new interviews with Paul McCartney, and key album personnel - and track-by-track information, written by Amanda Petrusich, five replica handwritten lyric sheets and photo print, a 64-page 'Wings In Morocco' photo book, all housed in a numbered outer slipcase. The Red Rose Speedway download redemption card will provide access to all audio in HD 24/96kHz unlimited high-resolution versions.

Finally, the 11-disc Paul McCartney and Wings 1971-73 numbered limited edition super deluxe compilation features not only the entire contents of the Wild Life four-disc numbered limited deluxe edition and of the Red Rose Speedway 6-disc numbered limited deluxe edition-but also the exclusive live album, Wings Over Europe. This exclusive collection features 20 previously unreleased, newly mixed live tracks recorded over the course of 5 shows, an introduction featuring Paul recounting memories of the 1972 tour, a 96-page photo book including previously unreleased images by Linda McCartney and Captain Snap, a replica of the 1972 Wings Over Europe tour program, and access to downloadable 24/96kHz unlimited high-resolution audio versions.

The Paul McCartney Archive Collection debuted with the November 2, 2010 re-release of Paul McCartney and Wings' 1973 milestone Band on the Run, which won the 2010 GRAMMY Award for Best Historical Album, while the Archive Collection's Deluxe Edition Box Set of the 1976 classic Wings Over America took the 2013 GRAMMY for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. The most recent previous installment was 2017's reissue of Paul's eighth studio album Flowers In The Dirt, which ROLLING STONE called "spectacular... an extraordinary document," and the OBSERVER hailed as "perhaps the greatest record to emerge from the world of AOR in 1989... an absolute pleasure to rediscover today."

Every release in the ongoing Paul McCartney Archive Collection is supervised by Paul himself, who oversees all aspects of each and every title from remastering to the curation of lost tracks, outtakes, artwork, photographs and video from his personal vaults, and much more. The result is one of the most ambitious and personal undertakings of its kind, one that encompasses more than 40 years of cherished, classic material from the most successful songwriter and recording artist in music history.

See below for the Deluxe Edition track listings.

Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway are also available on:
2CD - Special Edition
2LP - 180 Gram vinyl with MP3 download card
Digital Download/Streaming - Standard & Special Edition
Plus
A 2LP recreation of the Red Rose Speedway "Original Double Album" on 2LP - 180 Gram vinyl with
MP3 download card

PAUL McCARTNEY AND WINGS: WILD LIFE
Paul McCartney Archive Collection Limited Deluxe Edition


Numbered heavy weight kraft board slipcase. Cover silkscreen printed.
128 page essay book written by David Fricke.
Folio containing; 48-page facsimile notebook, 12 replica medium format Polaroid pictures, plus
"The Ball" album launch party invite.
CD portfolio containing 3CDs & 1DVD.

CD1 - Remastered Album

1. Mumbo
2. Bip Bop
3. Love Is Strange
4. Wild Life
5. Some People Never Know
6. I Am Your Singer
7. Bip Bop (Link)
8. Tomorrow
9. Dear Friend
10. Mumbo (Link)

CD2 - Rough Mixes

1. Mumbo [Rough Mix]
2. Bip Bop [Rough Mix]
3. Love Is Strange (Version) [Rough Mix]
4. Wild Life [Rough Mix]
5. Some People Never Know [Rough Mix]
6. I Am Your Singer [Rough Mix]
7. Tomorrow [Rough Mix]
8. Dear Friend [Rough Mix]

CD3 - Bonus Tracks

1. Good Rockin' Tonight [Home Recording]
2. Bip Bop [Home Recording]
3. Hey Diddle [Home Recording]
4. She Got It Good [Home Recording]
5. I Am Your Singer [Home Recording]
6. Outtake I
7. Dear Friend [Home Recording I]
8. Dear Friend [Home Recording II]
9. Outtake II
10. Indeed I Do
11. When The Wind Is Blowing
12. The GreatcAnd Seagull Race [Rough Mix]
13. Outtake III
14. Give Ireland Back To The Irish
15. Give Ireland Back To The Irish (Version)
16. Love Is Strange [Single Edit]
17. African Yeah Yeah

DVD - Bonus Video

1. Scotland, 1971
2. The Ball
3. ICA Rehearsals
4. Give Ireland Back To The Irish (Rehearsal)

Plus 24/96kHz unlimited high-resolution audio download of the remastered album and bonus audio



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