Paul McCartney and Wings released the album Band on the Run in 1973. It appeared in the United Kingdom on 30 November and in the United States on 5 December, making 1973 the standard answer to the question.
Band on the Run was Wings’ third studio album and McCartney’s fifth album after leaving the Beatles. Much of it was recorded at EMI’s studio in Lagos, Nigeria, after McCartney chose an overseas setting for the project. The album’s themes of escape and freedom resonated with listeners and helped restore McCartney’s momentum after a difficult period for Wings.
The record became one of McCartney’s most successful post-Beatles releases. Its songs include the title track, “Jet,” and “Let Me Roll It.” The cover photograph shows McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, and other figures caught in a spotlight against a dark background.
A frequent source of confusion is the album’s association with 1975, the year Wings released its follow-up, Venus and Mars. Band on the Run came two years earlier and was McCartney’s final album released on Apple Records.