Why was it left off Wings Greatest?

It was omitted from the 1978 Wings Greatest compilation despite its chart success, later corrected on All The Best! (1987) and Wingspan: Hits and History (2001).

US single release: Listen To What The Man Said by Wings – 26 May 1975

Q: Did 'Listen To What The Man Said' reach number one?

Yes — it topped the charts in the US and Canada, and reached number six in the UK. It was Wings' third US number one.

Q: Who played the saxophone solo?

Tom Scott, an American jazz musician visiting the session, recorded the solo in a single take.

Q: What album is 'Listen To What The Man Said' from?

Venus And Mars, Wings' fourth studio album, released 30 May 1975. It reached number one in both the UK and the US.

May 26, 2026

US single release: Listen To What The Man Said by Wings – 26 May 1975

Monday 26 May 1975 | Release, Wings

'Listen To What The Man Said' by Wings was released in the United States on 26 May 1975, the lead single from Wings' fourth album Venus And Mars. The single had been issued in the UK on 16 May 1975. The b-side was 'Love In Song', another Venus And Mars track recorded at Abbey Road in 1974. Venus And Mars itself followed later in May 1975.

Chart Performance

'Listen To What The Man Said' was a major international hit:

United States: Number 1
Canada: Number 1
UK: Number 6
Ireland, New Zealand, Norway: Top 10

The US number one was Wings' third American chart-topper, following 'My Love' (1973) and 'Junior's Farm' (1974). It confirmed Wings as one of the most commercially successful acts in the world in the mid-1970s.

The Song

'Listen To What The Man Said' is a bright, optimistic pop song built around a memorable horn arrangement and a saxophone solo played by Tom Scott, the American jazz musician who happened to be visiting the recording session and was invited to contribute. McCartney later recalled that Scott's solo was recorded in a single take and was exactly what the song needed.

The song's production — warm, polished, and radio-friendly — was characteristic of the Venus And Mars sessions, which had taken place in New Orleans and Los Angeles as well as Abbey Road. The album marked a commercial and creative high point for Wings, and 'Listen To What The Man Said' was its most immediate and successful moment.

Venus And Mars

Venus And Mars was Wings' fourth studio album, released on 30 May 1975 in the UK and US. It reached number one in both countries and was the group's most commercially successful album to that point. The album was recorded across multiple locations: Abbey Road Studios in London, Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans, and Wally Heider Studios in Los Angeles.

The album featured contributions from a number of notable musicians, including Dave Mason, Allen Toussaint, and the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. Its cover — featuring two billiard balls, one red and one yellow — was designed by Hipgnosis.

Compilations

The popularity of 'Listen To What The Man Said' led to its inclusion on two major Wings/McCartney compilations:

All The Best! (1987) — McCartney's first major solo compilation
Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) — the double-disc Wings retrospective released to accompany the Wingspan documentary

Notably, it was omitted from Wings Greatest (1978), the group's first hits compilation — an unusual decision given its chart success.

Key Facts: 26 May 1975

Single: 'Listen To What The Man Said' / 'Love In Song'
Artist: Wings
US release date: 26 May 1975
UK release date: 16 May 1975
Album: Venus And Mars (released 30 May 1975)
US chart position: Number 1
Canada chart position: Number 1
UK chart position: Number 6
Saxophone solo: Tom Scott (recorded in one take)
Compilations: All The Best! (1987), Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
Omitted from: Wings Greatest (1978)

Frequently Asked Questions

Did 'Listen To What The Man Said' reach number one?

Yes — it topped the charts in both the United States and Canada, and reached number six in the UK. It was Wings' third US number one single.

Who played the saxophone solo on 'Listen To What The Man Said'?

Tom Scott, an American jazz musician who happened to be visiting the recording session and was invited to contribute. McCartney later recalled that Scott's solo was recorded in a single take.

What album is 'Listen To What The Man Said' from?

Venus And Mars, Wings' fourth studio album, released on 30 May 1975. It reached number one in both the UK and the US.

Why was 'Listen To What The Man Said' left off Wings Greatest?

It was omitted from the 1978 Wings Greatest compilation despite its chart success — an unusual decision that was later corrected when it appeared on All The Best! (1987) and Wingspan: Hits and History (2001).