This was his third solo album, but his first as part of a group, which included wife Linda, former Moody Blue Denny Laine (who left that group after one hit single, and before they went melodic and successful) and Denny Seiwell, a session drummer who had played on Paul's previous LP, the excellent "Ram."
"Wild Life" came out in a nondescript cover in early December, 1971. Although Paul threw a big launch party, it still undersold. Not having any identifying language (or even a clear photograph) on the cover probably hurt sales. So did the weird contents... Paul had said he wanted to record everything quickly, the way Bob Dylan used to at the time. (But Dylan didn't do that because he was a wizard... he did it because he had no patience for studio recording).
Here's the track listing:
SIDE 1:
"Mumbo" – 3:54
"Bip Bop" – 4:14
"Love Is Strange" (Mickey Baker, Sylvia Vanderpool, Ethel Smith) – 4:50
"Wild Life" – 6:48
SIDE 2:
"Some People Never Know" – 6:35
"I Am Your Singer" – 2:15
"Bip Bop Link" – 0:52
"Tomorrow" – 3:28
"Dear Friend" – 5:53
"Mumbo Link" – 0:45 (a brief reprise)
BONUS CUTS (1993 CD) -- these were all on non-album 45s:
"Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
"Mama's Little Girl" (from 1972, but not released until 1990)
In 2007, the album went onto iTunes with another bonus, the instrumental version of "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (which had been the B-side of that single).
SO... not a lot to work with. The bonus tracks are boring and "Bip Bop" is cringeworthy. "Mumbo" is just a messy jam... may have been good as a b-side. However, "Dear Friend" is apparently an outtake from "Ram," and is excellent. It's reportedly Paul's move toward conciliation with John. (For those keeping track, that means "Too Many People" was a dig from Paul to John, who responded with "How Do You Sleep?").
"Tomorrow," "Some People Never Know" and "Wild Life" are interesting, but too long.
"Love Is Strange" backed with the weak "I Am You Singer" was pressed as a promo single in the UK (Apple R5932) but was cancelled due to the album's slow sales (seems like the opposite of what you'd do to spur sales back then... singles could drive albums). I have seen scans of labels for the single from places like Turkey and Ghana, as well as a Mexican EP of songs from this album, but nothing else.
So let's tackle the 45 first...
I would have released "Love Is Strange" b/w "Mumbo," using the photo above for the picture sleeve. An unusual choice since the A-side is a cover (a first in Beatledom), but that's obviously what was planned anyway. And it is a great recording.
The songs is MUCH too long, though, at 4:50. It's as if Paul forgot all about song structure for a few minutes. Truly bizarre. I have made what would have been an effective single edit of this song.
To review: I've condensed the first 90 seconds so each motif isn't repeating 67 times. I go right to the first verse, wherein the band sings in off-key unison and sounds positively demonic. I was sure I was being invited to a cult.
The first verse immediately goes into a guitar solo?! Then another refrain. Then a gingerly drum breakdown! I've cut all of that out, and gone right to Paul singing the second verse solo. After all, this is what people want to hear! The joyous "la la la" bridge positively soars now that it's in the middle of the song (and not buried 3:30 in); I also cut it down so it doesn't repeat 92 times.
From here, I let it roll right into the ringing guitar and then through the very-McCartney-esque major sixth chord at the end. Great!
Now to the album itself... with "Mumbo" taken care of as a b-side, I would remove that. I would also remove "Bip Bop." I would, however, leave their short link pieces to add character (and since they're actually well played instrumentals). I would trim down some of the 5+ minute tracks, but I'll leave the full-length "Love Is Strange." Give the people an extra helping of what they (would have) like(d).
Since "Dear Friend" was a "Ram" outtake, I'm going to raid that larder to get a few more. And I'm going to start the album with a SLOW SONG. Truly mindblowing.
SIDE 1:
"Wild Life" – 6:48
"I Lie Around" -- "Ram" outtake; originally released as the b-side to "Live & Let Die"
"A Love For You" -- "Ram" outtake; released in 2003 on the soundtrack to "The In-Laws"
"Dear Friend"
SIDE 2:
"Bip Bop Link" – 0:52
"Love Is Strange" (Mickey Baker, Sylvia Vanderpool, Ethel Smith) – 4:50
"Some People Never Know" – 6:35
"Mumbo Link" – 0:45
"I Am Your Singer" – 2:15
"Tomorrow" – 3:28
And the album ends with Paul imploring "Baby, don't let me down tomorrow!" Excelsior!
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