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- Album This song officially appears on the Figure of Eight CD Single.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1986 (Paul McCartney was 44 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
August 1986
"Beautiful Night" / "Loveliest Thing" session
Aug 21-22, 1986
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Song facts
“Loveliest Thing” is love song written by McCartney, recorded in 1986, and finally released in 1989 as the B-Side of the “Figure Of Eight” CD single.
While promoting “Press To Play” in New York City in August 1986, Paul went into the studio with producer Phil Ramone (who previously worked with Paul the previous year on the “Spies Like Us” single). Phil Ramone was at this time producing Billy Joel ; and as a result, Billy Joel’s band played on the two songs worked on during those sessions – “Beautiful Night” and “Loveliest Thing“.
Beyond those initial sessions, there are conflicting views on how “Loveliest Thing” took its final form for its 1989 release:
- On the “Pizza & Fairytales” bootleg by Vigotone, the liner notes mention some overdubs being done in June 1987 (still with Phil Ramone).
- On the book “Paul McCartney – Recording sessions (1969-2013)” by Luca Perasi, overdubs sessions are placed in June-July 1988 (at Hog Hill Studio)
- Finally, on “Flowers In The Dirt” re-released in 2017, no overdubs are mentioned ; with final mix placed in August 1986, following a day of recording.
Last updated on March 29, 2017
Lyrics
To me you are the loveliest thing I've seen all day
You can't take that away
No, you can't take that away
All my life, I wondered why it couldn't be this way
That was up until today
Oh it had to be this way
Today, wait until the morning comes
Before you slip away
Without permission
Without suspicion
Without permission given
You seem to have a friendlier smile than all the rest
Well I looked and you were best
Yeah i've looked at all the rest
You can't imagine passionate words that I would say
If only you would stay
Oh you know you gotta stay
Today, wait until the morning comes
Before you slip away
Without permission
Without suspicion
Without permission given
You used to be and early bird
But how was I to know you would leave without shedding a tear
I only want to love you
I'll make a wish and suddenly I'm glad that I have you here
Oh I'm glad I have you here
Today
To me you are the loveliest thing I've seen all day
And you can't take that away
No, you can't take that away
All my life, I wondered why it couldn't be this way
That was up until today
Yeah, it had to be this way
Today, wait until the morning comes
Before you slip away, today
Before you slip away
Without permission
Without suspicion
Without permission given to you, ah
Officially appears on
CD Single • Released in 1989
3:59 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Steve Rinkoff :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Dave O'Donnell :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 22, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
Flowers In The Dirt - Special Package
Official album • Released in 1990
3:59 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Steve Rinkoff :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Dave O'Donnell :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 22, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
Official album • Released in 1993
3:59 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Steve Rinkoff :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Dave O'Donnell :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 22, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2017
4:02 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Steve Rinkoff :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Dave O'Donnell :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 22, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2000
4:00 • Studio version • A1 • Slight differences with final mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
4:01 • Studio version • A1 • Slight differences with final mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
UK Singles Collection - Volume 04
Unofficial album • Released in 2007
4:01 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Steve Rinkoff :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Dave O'Donnell :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 22, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
Flowers In The Dirt - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:59 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Piano, Vocals
- Phil Ramone :
- Producer
- Neil Jason :
- Bass
- David Brown :
- Electric guitar
- Liberty Devitto :
- Drums
- David Lebolt :
- Synthesizer
- Steve Rinkoff :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Dave O'Donnell :
- Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Aug 21, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 22, 1986
- Studio :
- The Power Station, New York, USA
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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I’ve been listening to Paul’s love songs for !inda lately. I’ve been weeping to Somedays, I owe it all to you and the song India, really touched me. India is full of Paul’s expression of loss for his lovely Linda, his long haired lady. I feel so much his deep sorrow. I wish I could move on like Paul himself has. I love you Paul and Linda.
Thanks for your comment Angela. "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Loveliest Thing" are surely my favored Paul's love songs for Linda !
I’ve been considering this today. God blessed Paul Mcartney with the ability to affect people’s lives with positive songwriting, and help all people enjoy and be healed with his music. In return he gave Paul, Linda as a gift to make him happy and loved. He and his family are blessed and giving all of us happiness.