Video: 'Paul McCartney Band on the Run BBC Documentary classic albums'

(Monday, September 3, 1973) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his British–American rock band Wings began recording sessions for Band On The Run, the group’s third studio album (McCartney’s fifth album after leaving The Beatles in April 1970) today at EMI’s studio in Lagos, Nigeria, tracking “Ma Moonia,” a working title for “Mamunia.”

The album was mostly recorded in Lagos as McCartney wanted to make an album in an exotic location.

Shortly before departing London for Lagos on Aug. 30, 1973, drummer Denny Seiwell (Aug. 29) and guitarist Henry McCullough (Aug. 15) left the group.

With no time to recruit replacements, McCartney went into the studio with just his wife Linda and Denny Laine.

McCartney therefore played bass, drums, percussion and most of the lead guitar parts.

The studio was of poor quality and conditions in Nigeria were tense and difficult; the McCartneys were robbed at knifepoint, losing a bag of song lyrics and demo tapes.

After the band’s return to England, final overdubs and further recording were carried out in London, mostly at AIR Studios.

“Mamunia,” for example, would be completed at AIR Studios with overdubs during the week of Oct. 15-19, 1973.