The recording process was plagued with difficulties, including equipment problems and band members leaving. McCartney's bandmate Denny Laine has said that the group was often in fear for their lives due to the political unrest in Lagos.

Despite these challenges, "Band on the Run" was a hit. It spawned three hit singles: the title track, "Jet," and "Helen Wheels." The album reached No. 1 on the charts in several countries, including the US and UK, and went on to win several awards, including a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.

The album's cover art, which features McCartney and his bandmates escaping from a prison, has become iconic. The image was inspired by an earlier conversation McCartney had with a journalist about the difficulties of being a musician and the feeling of being trapped.

"Band on the Run" remains one of McCartney's most beloved albums and is considered a classic of 1970s rock.