Getting Closer

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“Getting Closer” is a rock song from the Anglo-American rock band Wings, Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles band. The song was released on the album Back to the Egg.

Background

Despite being released in 1979, Paul McCartney wrote “Getting Closer” in 1974, recording a piano demo for the song later that year. Upon being resurrected by the band for Back to the Egg, the song, originally at a slower tempo, was transformed into a “driving rocker.”

“Getting Closer” and the unreleased song “Cage” were off of demos, the latter being one that Paul and Denny did together. There were times when there was a demo aspect to the sessions, and in some cases we created demos to see how the tune was shaping up. — Laurence Juber, Daytrippin’

Like most of the songs off of Back to the Egg, “Getting Closer” bears an influence from punk and new wave music. Author and Mojo contributor Tom Doyle describes Wings’ version as “power-popping” and reminiscent of the English band Squeeze.

Juber said of the guitars used in the song: “I think I played my Martin D28 on the rhythm track and some Les Paul Custom (the one in the video) for the electric.“

Release

“Getting Closer,” backed with “Spin It On,” was released in the US in June 1979 as the first single from Back to the Egg. The single reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as #20 on Cashbox and #22 on Record World. Despite not being released as the first single in the UK (“Old Siam, Sir” was used instead), the song did see a UK single release in August 1979. Marketed as a Double A-side with “Baby’s Request,” the single was a relative flop, only peaking at #60.

For the release of Back to the Egg, a special was made featuring music videos for multiple songs, including “Getting Closer.” “Old Siam, Sir“, “Spin It On” and “Arrow Through Me” were among the tracks for which videos were made. […]

This is a straight-ahead rock tune with layered crunchy guitars. Paul, who liked to put his rhythmic stamp on a track, spent some time overdubbing a driving part on his Epiphone Casino amped with a Vox AC30 a Beatles’ gear combo for sure, although there was nothing overtly Beatle-esque about the track. The ending section was not completed for some months.

Laurence Juber, in Guitar With Wings, 2014

Getting Closer. Basic guitar was a Fender Stratocaster. To achieve a staccato sound we employed the unusual technique of hitting the guitar strings with a drum stick instead of a plectrum. I also played an Ovation acoustic and Denny a Martin D28 among other things.

Laurence Juber, from Club Sandwich N°14, April / May 1979

Last updated on March 7, 2020

Lyrics