Related interviews
Dec 07, 1985 • From The Times
Jan 01, 2005
Paul McCartney discusses songwriting and RAM with Mansun's Paul Draper
May 28, 2012 • From Drowned In Sound
Related articles
Paul and Linda McCartney go and live in Scotland for a few months
April 10 to August 1970
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Song facts
“Heart Of The Country” is a song from 1971 album “Ram” credited to Paul & Linda McCartney. From Wikipedia:
[…] The song is a simple acoustic tune with a heavy bass chorus, and an unusually mellow sound to the acoustic guitar that was achieved by tuning all of the strings a full step lower than standard pitch. The song is about a man searching for a farm in the middle of nowhere. The song reflects Paul’s heading for the Scottish countryside to escape the headaches associated with the Beatles’ break-up at the time. […]
In a contemporary review for Ram, Jon Landau of Rolling Stone gave “Heart of the Country” a negative review, calling it the album’s “lowest point“, and the song that “most clearly indicates [Ram’s] failures“. Landau described the song as “an evenly paced, finger-picking styled tune, with very light jazz overtones, obviously intended as Paul’s idea of “mellow.”“. However, Landau believed McCartney’s lyrics about the country “ring false“.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described the song as “an effortless folk-pop tune that ranks among [McCartney’s] very best songs“. Erlewine also praises its “imaginative and gorgeous arrangement“. In 2013, Rolling Stone rated “Heart of the Country” at number 26 in its list of Paul McCartney’s best post-Beatles songs.
The scat is something he wrote while he was recording the song, and, of course, it can be heard traditionally within jazz records. Great song, love it!
Engineer Eirik Wangberg, interviewed by Claudio Dirani, 2005
In June 1971, Paul & Linda McCartney filmed a promotional video for “Heart Of The Country” and “3 Legs“, another song from “Ram“, in their Scottish farm.
In 1973, Paul McCartney performed a small rendition of “Heart Of The Country“, part of a medley with “Blackbird“, “Bluebird” and “Michelle“, for the TV special “James Paul McCartney“.
In 1991, “Heart Of The Country” was rehearsed in anticipation of the “Unplugged” TV program, but was finally excluded.
Paul re-recorded ‘Heart Of The Country‘ at the tail-end of 2012 for a new Linda McCartney Foods advert promoting their new chilled range. Only a fragment of 44 seconds has been released.
Last updated on August 2, 2023
Lyrics
I look high, I look low
I look in everywhere I go
Looking for a home
In the heart of the country
I'm gonna move, l'm gonna go,
I'm gonna tell everyone I know
Looking for a home
In the heart of the country
Heart of the country
Where the holy people grow
Heart of the country
Smell the grass in the meadow
Whoa whoa whoa whoa
Horse, I wanna sheep,
I wanna get me a good night's sleep
Living in a home
In the heart of the country
I'm gonna move, l'm gonna go
I'm gonna tell everyone I know
Living in a home
In the heart of the country
In the heart of the country
Horse, I got a sheep
Give me a good night's sleep
Uh hu
Heart of the country
Where the holy people grow
Heart of the country
Smell the grass in the meadow
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1971
2:27 • Studio version • B • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
LP • Released in 1971
2:27 • Studio version • A • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
The Back Seat of My Car / Heart Of The Country
7" Single • Released in 1971
2:27 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
LP • Released in 1977
2:27 • Studio version • C • Stereo • Instrumental version
- Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
- Producer
- Richard Hewson :
- Arrangements, Orchestration
- Tony Clark :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Vic Flick :
- Guitar
- Clem Cattini :
- Drums
- Herbie Flowers :
- Bass
- Steve Gray :
- Piano
- Roger Coulan :
- Organ
- Jim Lawless :
- Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- The Swingle Singers :
- Vocals
- The Mike Sammes Singers :
- Vocals (?)
- Session Recording:
- Jun 15, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 16, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 17, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 18, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1993
2:27 • Studio version • A1993.1 • 1993 remaster by Steve Hoffman
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Steve Hoffman :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
2:27 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
CD • Released in 1995
2:27 • Studio version • C1995 • Stereo • Instrumental version. 1995 remaster
- Percy "Thrills" Thrillington :
- Producer
- Richard Hewson :
- Arrangements, Orchestration
- Tony Clark :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Vic Flick :
- Guitar
- Clem Cattini :
- Drums
- Herbie Flowers :
- Bass
- Steve Gray :
- Piano
- Roger Coulan :
- Organ
- Jim Lawless :
- Percussion
- Alan Parsons :
- Second engineer
- The Swingle Singers :
- Vocals
- The Mike Sammes Singers :
- Vocals (?)
- Session Recording:
- Jun 15, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 16, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- Jun 17, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Jun 18, 1971
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Wingspan Hits And History (US version)
Official album • Released in 2001
2:25 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Remastering
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Wingspan Hits And History (Japanese version)
Official album • Released in 2001
2:25 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Remastering
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2001
2:25 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Geoff Emerick :
- Remastering
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
2:21 • Studio version • B • Mono • Original mono promo LP, especially made for the American AM stations. All the songs have different mixes
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Producer
- Denny Seiwell :
- Brushes
- Hugh McCracken :
- Electric guitar
- Eirik Wangberg :
- Mix engineer
- Jim Guercio :
- Recording engineer
- Tim Geelan :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Brosnan :
- Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Nov 16, 1970
- Studio :
- CBS Studios, New York City
- Session Mixing:
- March-April 1971
- Studio :
- Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
0:50 • Alternate take • Acoustic version from 'Backyard'
Films
1971 • For Paul & Linda McCartney • Directed by Roy Benson
2013 • For Linda McCartney
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
Going further
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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