During today's Jimbo Lunch, I picked up a copy of a CD called Chronicles of Wings, attributed to Denny Laine and Paul McCartney. It was made in Argentina, dated 2007, and it's definitely not a bootleg. A number of Wings/Beatles songs mixed with Laine-penned numbers, with Denny singing lead. Amazon is selling it for $9.99, here's the description:

Denny Laine's first claim to fame was as a member of the early Moody Blues ('Go Now' was their hit in the lean Laine days). He earned his 'wings' and became far more successful when he joined up with Paul McCartney in his post-Beatles outfit Wings and remained with Macca until Wings expired in 1980. The Chronicles Of Wings, features a series of recordings captured during rare moments between Paul McCartney and Denny Laine while on tour with Wings. Features 'Band On The Run', 'Blackbird', 'Clock On The Wall' and 'I Would Only Smile'.

I wanna know how much input Macca really has on this. No help in the minimal liner notes. Can somebody find some more info? Beatlepeople?

I saw this in Border's last weekend, I ALMOST picked it up. I thought it looked kinda strange that McCartney's name was on it, but it was on some strange label. so I passed on it.
Let us know how it is Jimbo

Jeff

1 BLACKBIRD
2 BAND ON THE RUN
3 LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID
4 SILLY LOVE SONGS
5 GO NOW
6 MULL OF KYNTIRE
7 PICASSO´S LAST WORDS
8 CLOCK ON THE WALL
9 WEEP FOR LOVE
10 NOTHING TO GO BY
11 LIGHT ON THE WATER
12 TIME TO HIDE
13 I WOULD ONLY SMILE
14 ANYONE CAN FLY

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TP5TH0/?tag=imwan-20

It's a combination of unreleased Wings tracks with Denny on lead vocals, and some solo recordings from both during and after the Wings years. Some have been heavily bootlegged, some were legitimately released on other Denny Laine pseudo-albums such as Japanese Tears (long out of print) and A Tribute To Paul McCartney.

See, Denny's solo catalogue (such as it is ) is an overlapping, redundant mess. There are 4 "major" unreleased Wings songs with Denny on lead vocals which are worth owning ~ Weep For Love, I Would Only Smile, Send Me The Heart and Japanese Tears ~ the last track was done in response to Macca's drug bust in Japan in Wings' final days. Trouble is, Denny has re-recorded all those songs too, and both the original and the newer versions are strewn throughout many different Denny Laine compilations without much clue on the packages as to which is which.

The most complete and professional version of a Denny Laine collection was put out by Cherry Red about 5 years ago:



>> This is the ultimate collection of ex Wings & Moody Blues vocalist/guitarist. Featuring musical contributions from Paul & Linda McCartney and keyboardist Rick Wakeman. 20 tracks including the singles 'Japanese Tears', 'Say You Don't Mind', 'Go Now', 'Land Of Peace', 'Hometown Girl' & 'Wings On My Feet'. Includes complete discography of solo material & exclusive photographs that have not been published before. 2002. <<

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005UO45/?tag=imwan-20

But it's missing "I Would Only Smile", so at the very least you need two comps to have all the Wings tracks.

Good post. I have a disc somewhere in my collection, I forget the name. Neither of the aforementioned. Same kind of thing though -- no good liner notes, no real credits, ...

I just wish they would re-release Japanese Tears on CD. That was an official release, first release of the McCartney-relevant tracks. Another "real" (authorized, legitimate, or whatever) release worth checking out is Holly Days. Again, featuring McCartney and possibly other Wings-mates. http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a ... m=lk_imwan

I saw him on TV not long ago. PBS had some nostalgia concert thing with all these 60's/early 70's British bands, I forget what it was exactly. I think Denny Laine performed with the Moody Blues at this thing, I don't recall exactly. I only caught a little bit of it where they were interviewing him. He now has grey hair. And speaking of grey hair, have you seen Jimmy Page lately?

i seem to recall that the old thoughtscape sounds (anyone remember them) had a denny laine comp that i always wanted and never bought.

renny

I bought that Spreading My Wings comp just to get "Japanese Tears" on CD.

The CD I bought yesterday sound great, but I don't hear much (or any) Macca on there.