Paul McCartney’s Wings Album Soars More Than 5,000% In Sales

Paul McCartney doesn’t need to release anything new to bring himself back on the Billboard charts, though, of course, he’s not yet done creating. The legendary musician appears on a pair of rankings this week — not under his own name, but rather with the moniker he used during one of the most successful periods of his post-Beatles career. As fans raced to get their hands on a reissued version of a decades-old title, the beloved project experiences a surge in sales.

Wings’s Venus and Mars Returns to the Billboard Charts

Wings’s Venus and Mars is back on two Billboard charts. The full-length reappears on the Vinyl Albums tally at No. 23 and also lands on the Top Album Sales ranking, where it settles at No. 45. The set isn’t brand new, but now it’s back in the conversation in the music industry, if only for a short time, as interest in the collection grew exponentially.

A Rare Appearance for Venus and Mars

Venus and Mars is now back among the bestselling vinyl titles in the U.S. for just the second time ever. It once climbed as high as No. 11 on that ranking, nearly giving Wings a top 10 on a list that didn’t even exist when the album first arrived..

Over on the Top Album Sales tally, the collection has only spent a total of three frames as one of the top-selling releases in the country. The highest it’s ever climbed on that chart is No. 31, so while this latest return at No. 45 doesn’t mark a new peak, it’s also not too far from it’s best showing.

A Massive Sales Gain for the Wings Classic

According to Luminate, Venus and Mars sold 2,500 copies in the U.S. in the most recent tracking week. That’s a strong number for a reissue of an album that’s been around for decades — and especially notable given how little it moved just a week prior. In the previous frame, the set couldn’t even manage 100 copies. That means that from one span to the next, the Wings title enjoyed a sales spike of 5,435%.

The Special Venus and Mars Reissue

The Venus and Mars surge can be attributed to a recent reissue that targets McCartney’s most devoted supporters. The full-length was re-released on vinyl in a half-speed remastered form, which may not sound like a major change, but it was enough to grab the attention of collectors and audiophiles alike. While the music remains largely the same, the format offers improved sound quality and a what must be a unique listening experience.

Venus and Mars originally arrived in 1975, following Wings’s breakout success with Band on the Run. The set includes the beloved singles “Listen to What the Man Said” and “Letting Go,” and it showed that post-Beatles, McCartney was still able to craft big wins and critical favorites – ones that have clearly stood the test of time.