Paul McCartney and Wings: Red Rose Speedway

Red Rose Speedway has always been the underrated entry in the Wings catalog. Released in April 1973, it was Paul's first number one album in the US and gave us "My Love," one of his most enduring ballads. Originally intended as a double album, EMI forced McCartney to pare it down to a single disc. The Archive Collection finally addresses that history.

The 2018 reissue comes in two vinyl configurations. The standard 2LP pairs the original nine track album on LP1 with bonus material on LP2, including "Hi, Hi, Hi," "Live and Let Die," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and several B sides. The Reconstructed Double Album 2LP presents the originally conceived track list as Macca intended it back in 1972, complete with tracks that ended up scattered across various releases over the years.

Alex Wharton and Steve Orchard handled the remaster at Abbey Road. The results are mixed. Some collectors have noted the 2018 vinyl sounds somewhat veiled compared to clean original UK pressings, lacking the punch and color of the first press. Others find the soundstage wide and the presentation clean. Our experience falls somewhere in between. It's a perfectly listenable pressing that won't offend anyone, but it doesn't exactly jump out of the speakers either. Dynamics feel slightly restrained.

From a physical standpoint, the pressing is flat and reasonably quiet. The retro tip on gatefold faithfully recreates the original artwork, and the 16 page booklet adds context. A download card provides access to 320kbps MP3s.

If you want the definitive vinyl experience for this album, I'd point you toward the 2023 Record Store Day release. Miles Showell cut that edition at half speed from a high resolution transfer of the original 1973 master tapes, and the improvement is significant. That pressing has the dynamics and presence the 2018 version lacks. It was limited to 5,000 copies but can still be found.

The 2018 Archive Collection remains a solid choice for completists who want the bonus material and reconstructed double album on vinyl. The price has come down considerably since release. Just don't expect reference quality sonics. 💵

Note: The 2023 Half Speed Master rates considerably higher for those seeking the best audio quality. However, it is missing that second album, which is full of classic Wings songs.

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