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- Album This song officially appears on the Junior's Farm / Sally G 7" Single.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
July 1974
Jul 09, 1974
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Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Sally G” was the B-side to the Paul McCartney and Wings single “Junior’s Farm.”
McCartney composed the song after visiting a country music club in Printer’s Alley.
Like the A-side, it was recorded in Nashville in 1974 during the band’s visit. Unlike the A-side, it was strongly country music-influenced, including prominent use of Nashville backing musicians such as Vassar Clements, Lloyd Green and Johnny Gimble supporting Wings.
In the US, “Sally G” charted separately from “Junior’s Farm” on both Billboard’s country singles chart and on the Billboard Hot 100 where it reached #51 and #39 (#17 when still listed as the flip of “Junior’s Farm”), respectively. Like many Wings singles, the song was not included on an album at the time of release.
Last updated on July 20, 2014
Lyrics
Somewhere to the south of New York City
Lies the friendly state of Tennessee
Down in Nashville town then I met a pretty
Who made a pretty big fool out of me
And they call her Sally, Sally G
Why d'you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
The night life took me down to Printers Alley
Where Sally sang a song behind the bar
I ran my eyes across her as she sang a tangled mime
I used to love to hear her sweet guitar
And they call her Sally, Sally G
Why d'you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
Me and Sally took up
Things began to look up
Me and her were going strong
Then she started lyin'
I could see our love was dyin'
I heard a voice say
"Move along, move along"
Well, now I'm on my own again
I wonder if she ever really understood
I never thought to ask her what the letter G stood for
But I know for sure it wasn't good
And they call her Sally, Sally G
Why d'you wanna do the things you do to me?
You're my Sally, Sally G
You took the part that was the heart of me, Sally G
Take a chance
Sally G
Yeah, Sally G
Officially appears on
7" Single • Released in 1974
3:40 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar
- Geoff Britton :
- Drums
- Lloyd Green :
- Dobro, Pedal steel guitar
- Ernie Winfrey :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Bob Wills :
- Violin
- Johnny Gimble :
- Violin
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
- Session Mixing:
- July 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, 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
Wings At The Speed Of Sound (1993)
Official album • Released in 1993
3:39 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar
- Geoff Britton :
- Drums
- Lloyd Green :
- Dobro, Pedal steel guitar
- Ernie Winfrey :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Bob Wills :
- Violin
- Johnny Gimble :
- Violin
- Peter Mew :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
- Session Mixing:
- July 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, 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
Venus And Mars - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2014
3:41 • Studio version • A2014
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar
- Geoff Britton :
- Drums
- Lloyd Green :
- Dobro, Pedal steel guitar
- Ernie Winfrey :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Bob Wills :
- Violin
- Johnny Gimble :
- Violin
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
- Session Mixing:
- July 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, 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
7" Single • Released in 2022
3:40 • Studio version • A2022 • 2022 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar
- Geoff Britton :
- Drums
- Lloyd Green :
- Dobro, Pedal steel guitar
- Ernie Winfrey :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Bob Wills :
- Violin
- Johnny Gimble :
- Violin
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
- Session Mixing:
- July 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, 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
3:39 • Studio version • Early take
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Unofficial album • Released in 2000
3:39 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar
- Geoff Britton :
- Drums
- Lloyd Green :
- Dobro, Pedal steel guitar
- Ernie Winfrey :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Bob Wills :
- Violin
- Johnny Gimble :
- Violin
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
- Session Mixing:
- July 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, 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
UK Singles Collection - Volume 01
Unofficial album • Released in 2007
3:40 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals
- Jimmy McCulloch :
- Acoustic guitar
- Geoff Britton :
- Drums
- Lloyd Green :
- Dobro, Pedal steel guitar
- Ernie Winfrey :
- Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
- Bob Wills :
- Violin
- Johnny Gimble :
- Violin
- Session Recording:
- Jul 09, 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
- Session Mixing:
- July 1974
- Studio :
- Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, 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
Let 'Em Out Vol. 1 - Wings At The Speed Of Sound Sessions And More
Unofficial album • Released in 2010
3:34 • Alternate take • Alt mix by Ernie Winfrey
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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does this song refer to the Western Room in Printers Alley? I only know of ONE stage that was behind the bar and I think I know who Sally G is.....Dianne Sherrill. Am I right?
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the interesting question. I had to do a bit of research, and find this on the Beatles Rarity (awesome site, btw!)
http://www.thebeatlesrarity.com/2013/06/27/asknat-concerning-the-paul-mccartney-wings-nashville-sessions/
"According to Skull Schullman, owner of the Printer’s Alley Club (mentioned in the song), Paul wrote the song in his bar. It was originally to be “Diane G” after country singer Diane Gaffney but Paul changed the name after learning that Diane had once sued a newspaper. Paul invited Nashville musicians Lloyd Green (pedal steel guitar) and Johnny Gimble (fiddle) to join in with Wings on the recording, which took place on July 9th."
So Diane Gaffney seems to be the right answer !
On Junior's Farm, I believe the correct lyric is "as she sang A Tangled Mind", which is an old Hank Snow song from the 50s, rather than "mime". Love your site!
Hi Mike, thanks for your input & kind words ! Most review sites (Genius, MetroLyrics...) mention "A Tangled Mime" ; but "A Tangled Mind" surely makes more sense. Will do a bit more research, thanks !
What an idiot I am. Just realized I put Junior's Farm, which I was listening to at the time, in my earlier comment when I meant Sally G. Thanks for not pointing out my stupidity :)