Helen Wheels

Album This song officially appears on the Helen Wheels / Country Dreamer 7" Single.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1973

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions




Mixing "Helen Wheels"

Oct 02, 1973



Related interviews


Paul McCartney: The Rolling Stone Interview

Jan 31, 1974 • From RollingStone


Paul McCartney by Paul Gambaccini

Mar 30, 1979 • From RollingStone


Interview for Dutch magazine Algemeen Dagblad

Oct 15, 2010 • From Algemeen Dagblad

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Song facts

From Wikipedia:

Helen Wheels” is a song by Paul McCartney & Wings. The song was named after Paul and Linda McCartney’s Land Rover, which they nicknamed “Hell on Wheels“.

Release

The single was released prior to Band on the Run and was not included on the original UK release of the album. However, Capitol Records vice president of promotion Al Coury persuaded McCartney to include it on the American release. The song peaked at number 10 in the United States on 12 January 1974 and at number 12 in the United Kingdom charts.

In the book Paul McCartney In His Own Words published in 1976, McCartney said:

“Helen Wheels is our land rover. It’s a name we gave to our land rover, which is a trusted vehicle that gets us around Scotland. It takes us up to the Shetland Islands and down to London. The song starts off in Glasgow, and it goes past Carlisle, goes to Kendal, Liverpool, Birmingham and London. It’s the route coming down from our Scottish farm to London, so it’s really the story of the trip down. Little images along the way. Liverpool is on the West coast of England, so that is all that means.”

 

From AllMusic:

Man critics and pop fans wrote Paul McCartney off as a mere purveyor of sugary pop in the 1970’s due to hits like “Silly Love Songs” but a close look at his work from this era reveals he also recorded several bracing rockers. One of the best was “Helen Wheels,” a raucous 1973 single that was added to American pressings of Band On The Run. The lyrics were inspired by Paul McCartney’s land rover and pay homage to Chuck Berry’s travelling-themed rockers like “The Promised Land” as they describe a trip from Scotland to England on the M-6 motorway: “M6, south down to Liverpool/Where they play the west coast sound/Sailor Sam, he came from Birmingham/But he never will be found.” This narrative is pumped up by an exciting melody that builds from swinging, breathlessly paced verses into a shout-along chorus that underlines the phrase “Helen – hell on wheels” with go-for-broke enthusiasm. McCartney raises the excitement level even higher on his recording of “Helen Wheels” with a gutsy arrangement that marries snarling electric guitars to a shuffling, ska-styled beat. McCartney wails over the top of this driving sound with an abandon reminiscent of his early Beatles, adding the ideal final touch to make it a fun rocker. As a result, “Helen Wheels” became a top-10 hit for McCartney. It did simarly well around the world and stands alongside “Jet” and “Junior’s Farm” as one of McCartney’s finest rockers from this era.

Paul McCartney in "Conversations With McCartney", by Paul Du Noyer:

I like that because it’s a British road song and there’s not many of those around. It’s always Route 66. How many songs have got Carlisle in them? And Birmingham, not Brimingham, Alabama. The M6… Linda loved Scotland. I still love setting off in London, going up the motorway, and you see the land change. It’s like going all the way through America. We always cheer as we go over the border then around Loch Lomond. It’s got a lot of memories for me, that Land Rover with everything in the back, dogs, kids, us all up at the front, and me, driving on this epic journey.
From GQ Magazine, August 2020 – Photo from Mary McCartney : “[Helen Wheels is] the old Land Rover which we used to drive up to Scotland in when we were kids. To me, that’s part of my childhood, so I was like, ‘Let’s get that out.’ It’s from the early 1970s; those kind of cars are made to last. It’s not necessarily the most comfortable thing to drive around in – it’s quite bumpy – but I love it.”

Last updated on August 5, 2020

The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.

"Helen Wheels" is one of the 154 songs covered.

Lyrics

Said farewell to my last hotel
It was never much kind of abode,
Glasgow town never brought me down
When I was heading out on the road,
Carlisle city never looked so pretty
And the Kendal freeway's fast.
Slow down driver, want to stay alive
I want to make this journey last

Helen - Hell on wheels
Ain't nobody else gonna know the way she feels
Helen - Hell on wheels
And they never gonna take her away.

M6 south down to Liverpool
Where they play the west coast sound
Sailor Sam he came from Birmingham
But he never will be found.
Doing fine when a London sign
Greets me like a long lost friend,
Mr Motor won't you check her out,
She's got to take me back again.

Helen - Hell on wheels
Ain't nobody else gonna know the way she feels
Helen - Hell on wheels
And they never gonna take her away.

Got no time for a rum and lime
I wanna get my right foot down
Shake some dust off of this old bus
I gotta get her out of town
Spend the day upon the motorway
Where the carburettors blast
Slow down driver, wanna stay alive,
I want to make this journey last.

Helen - Hell on wheels
Ain't nobody else gonna know the way she feels
Helen - Hell on wheels
And they never gonna take her away

Officially appears on


Helen Wheels / Country Dreamer

7" Single • Released in 1973

3:48 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (US version)

Official album • Released in 1973

3:47 • Studio versionA • Additional track only on the US release

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


All Time Favourites

Official album • Released in 1993

Studio version


Band On The Run (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

3:48 • Studio versionA1993 • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (DTS 5.1)

Official album • Released in 1996

3:47 • Studio versionC • DTS Mix / Quadraphonic version

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Early 1974
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (25th Anniversary)

Official album • Released in 1999

3:47 • Studio versionA1999 • 1999 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer
Greg Calbi :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (25th Anniversary)

Official album • Released in 1999

3:27 • InterviewB • Crazed - Includes Paul McCartney & Christopher Lee interview about the making of "Band On The Run" album

Performed by :
Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyDenny Laine
Paul McCartney :
Producer
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
September 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria


Wingspan Hits And History (US version)

Official album • Released in 2001

3:47 • Studio versionA2001 • 2001 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

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

3:47 • Studio versionA2001 • 2001 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

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

Official album • Released in 2001

3:47 • Studio versionA2001 • 2001 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

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


MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol. 5

Unofficial album

3:44 • Studio version


UK Singles Collection - Volume 01

Unofficial album • Released in 2007

3:48 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2016

3:46 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Moog
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant recording engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant mixing engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Oct 02, 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2016

3:47 • Studio version • A stereo downmix of the DTS-CD 5.1 mix released in May 1996


Band On The Run - Ultimate Archive Collection

Unofficial album • Released in 2016

5:32 • InterviewB • Crazed - Includes Paul McCartney & Christopher Lee interview about the making of "Band On The Run" album

Performed by :
Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyDenny Laine
Paul McCartney :
Producer
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
September 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria


Films


Helen Wheels

1973 • Directed by Roy Benson

Live performances

“Helen Wheels” has been played in 1 concerts.

Latest concerts where Helen Wheels has been played


Lift Off With Ayshea

Dec 19, 1973 • United Kingdom • TV show

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.

Shop on Amazon

Contribute!

Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!

Joseph Ahern 6 years ago

Was watching a video on YouTube and noticing that Paul is playing most of the instruments. I don't know who was playing all the interesting solos on lead guitar. Would that be Paul or Denny?


The PaulMcCartney Project 6 years ago

Hi Joseph, thanks for the question. I unfortunately don't have the answer to this question ! Would require some researching ! Adding to the list :)


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