Venus and Mars/Rock Show

"Venus and Mars/Rock Show" is a medley of two songs written by Paul and Linda McCartney and originally performed by Wings that make up the first two songs of the album Venus and Mars. The single was released in the United States on 27 October 1975 and in the United Kingdom on 28 November 1975.[1]  The B-side was "Magneto and Titanium Man", another track from the album.[1]  The single version is considerably shorter than the album version of the songs; in the single "Rock Show" is cut by more than 3 minutes and "Venus and Mars" is cut by a few seconds.[1] [2]  "Venus and Mars/Rock Show" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US,[3]  but did not chart on the UK singles chart.[4] In the book The Rough Guide to the Beatles, Chris Ingham praised both songs, describing "Venus and Mars" as "atmospheric" and "Rock Show" as "barnstorming".[5]



Contents
[hide]  *1 Music and lyrics  ==Music and lyrics[ edit] == "Venus and Mars" is an acoustic, folk-like song representing the perspective of a concertgoer waiting for the show to start.[6] [7]  Originally when the song was released fans believed the title referred to Paul and Linda.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blaney_1-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[1] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-words_8-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[8]  Paul has denied this, stating that the song "is about an imaginary friend who's got a girlfriend who's the kind of person who asks what yoursign is before they say hello. That's it: 'A good friend of mine studies the stars.' In fact, in the first verse it's 'a good friend of mine follows the stars,' so it could be ambiguous: a groupie or an astrologer."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blaney_1-4" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[1]  The song is in the key of D major.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-words_8-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[8]
 * 2 Releases
 * 3 Track listing
 * 4 References
 * 5 External links

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:17.9200000762939px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14.3999996185303px;">"Rock Show" is a harder arena rock song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_6-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[6] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-venus_7-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[7]  The chorus of "Rock Show" mentions concerts at Amsterdam'sConcertgebouw, New York's Madison Square Garden, and Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-allmusic_6-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[6]  The verses include musical references such as "Silly Willy with the Philly band" and Jimmy Page's guitar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-words_8-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[8]  In addition to the normal Wings line-up,Allen Toussaint played piano on this song.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-blaney_1-5" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[1] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-eight_2-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[2]  "Rock Show" is in the key of A major.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-words_8-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[8]  A major is the dominant key of D major, the key of "Venus and Mars". ==Releases<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:17.9200000762939px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14.3999996185303px;">"Venus and Mars" also has a reprise that appears on the Venus and Mars album, which serves to open the second side of the LP record.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-eight_2-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[2] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[9]  The reprise incorporates some science fiction lyrics and sound effects, reflecting McCartney's readingIsaac Asimov at the time the song was recorded.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-eight_2-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[2]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:17.9200000762939px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14.3999996185303px;">The single version of the medley was released on the History disc of the 2-disc compilation Wingspan: Hits and History.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[10]  Both songs are also included on the live album Wings Over America, combined in a medley with "Jet".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[11]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:17.9200000762939px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14.3999996185303px;">In 2014 the medley was covered by Kiss on The Art of McCartney covers album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-kiss_12-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[12] ==Track listing<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * UK 7" R6010
 * 1) "Venus and Mars" / "Rock Show" (single edit) – 3:46
 * 2) "Magneto and Titanium Man" – 3:16