By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Dec 01, 2010 at 8:05 AM

No ex-Beatle had as successful a solo career as erstwhile moptop Paul McCartney, whose "Band on the Run" was released to acclaim in 1973.

In the United States, the "Band on the Run" LP hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart ... three times! It spawned the hit singles "Jet" and "Band on the Run." Even if you don't instantly recognize the famous album cover photo of the band caught in the beam of a police spotlight, you'll know the hits.

Beyond those, there were other great tunes, like "Let Me Roll It," which would have fit nicely on The Beatles' "Abbey Road."

Even more than 30 years later, "Band on the Run" is still respected. It previously got a pretty major reissue overhaul, but Hear Music/MPL has issued a three-disc version as the first installment in the "Paul McCartney Archive Collection."

The first disc has the remastered original record and disc two has rarities. "Helen Wheels" was a single that was added to "Band on the Run" in the U.S. "Country Dreamer," also here, was the b-side. "Zoo Gang," the flipside of the "Band on the Run" single, is also included, alongside six tunes from "One Hand Clapping," a 1974 documentary.

Sadly, most of the bonus live tracks included on the 25th anniversary reissue are not here.

But disc three is a DVD with music videos for "Band on the Run," "Mamunia" and "Helen Wheels" and an album promo video. There are videos from the album cover photo shoot and a Wings visit to Nigeria, as well as the original "One Hand Clapping," recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

The reissue is available in a number of formats. On the low end is a single-disc reissue of the original record (about $12). On the upper end of the spectrum is the three-disc set packaged with a big hardcover book (at about $90). In between are a double-album vinyl version (about $30) and the three-disc version in CD-sized package (about $20).

I have the last one, so I can't comment on the hardcover book, but certainly if you're shopping for a massive McCartney fan, that's the one you'll want. Passing fans will survive with the most basic. And, there are options in between, as you've seen.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.