Wings at the Speed of Sound is the fifth studio album by Wings, released on 25 March 1976 as a follow-up to their previous album Venus and Mars. Issued at the height of the band's popularity, it reached the top spot on the US album chart and peaked at number 2 on the UK album chart. Both singles from the album also reached the top 5 of the UK and US singles charts, with 'Silly Love Songs' reaching number 1 in the US. The album was recorded and released in the midst of Wings' highly successful Wings Over the World tour, with songs from the album performed on the tour after its release. Subsequently, performances of "Let 'Em In", "Time to Hide", 'Silly Love Songs' and "Beware My Love" were included on the live album Wings over America, released in December 1976. As a reaction to critics who believed Wings was merely a vehicle for Paul McCartney, the album featured every member of the band taking lead vocals on at least one song, and two songs from the album are written or co-written by band members other than the McCartneys.

It's widely accepted that McCartney was never the serious artiste that Lennon was; he never claimed to be, and more importantly (as this album bears out) never needed to be. This 1976 recording found McCartney and Wings at their peak. It's full of glimmering pop gems more concerned with infectious hooks and unforgettable melodies than social relevance.

The opener "Let 'Em In" is almost childlike in its simplicity, and is effective precisely because of that lack of premeditation. "Cook of the House" and "Wino Junko" are good fun, conveying a loose sense of mirth that's both appealing and contagious. The highlight of the album is the near-manifesto "Silly Love Songs," in which Paul makes a case for the everlasting appeal of said compositions, and after a listen to AT THE SPEED OF SOUND, you can't help but see it his way.

The CD reissue contains three bonus tracks, including the trad jazz instrumental "Walking in the Park with Eloise," which McCartney's father wrote, and the charming laid-back country "Sally G," which is better than most of the songs on the album.



Track List:

01. Let 'Em In [05:12]
02. The Note You Never Wrote [04:24]
03. She's My Baby [03:07]
04. Beware My Love [06:30]
05. Wino Junko [05:22]
06. Silly Love Songs [05:54]
07. Cook of the House [02:39]
08. Time to Hide [04:35]
09. Must Do Something About It [03:42]
10. San Ferry Anne [02:09]
11. Warm and Beautiful [03:17]
12. Walking in the Park with Eloise [03:12]
13. Bridge over the River Suite [03:12]
14. Sally G. [03:41]

Personnel:
Paul McCartney - vocals, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, double bass
Linda McCartney - vocals, keyboards
Denny Laine - vocals, acoustic, electric and bass guitars, piano, harmonica
Jimmy McCulloch - vocals, acoustic, electric and bass guitars
Joe English - vocals, drums, percussion

Additional musicians:
Tony Dorsey - trombone
Thaddeus Richard - saxophone, clarinet, flute
Steve Howard - trumpet, flugelhorn
Howie Casey - saxophone
George Tidwell - trumpet