- Album This song officially appears on the Press To Play Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1985 (Paul McCartney was 43 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
October 1st - December 6th 1985
April 14th-18th 1986
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Song facts
“Talk More Talk” is a song from 1986 album “Press To Play“.
This piece of controlled eccentricity stands out for its syncopation even on Press. Indistinct conversation leads into Paul duetting with himself in superb style. “The basic track was done in a day. Lyrically it was picking out quotes that I liked from, I think, a Tom Waits interview. ‘I don’t actually like sitting-down music’, great things like that“. There’s a 12-string guitar in there somewhere and slowed-down and speeded-up voices express great thoughts like ‘All he wants is a handyman; all he wants is quick service‘ and ‘I hear water going through the pipes‘. Great.
The basic track was done in a day. Lyrically it was picking out quotes that I liked from, I think, a Tom Waits interview. ‘I don’t actually like sitting down music’, great things like that, random cut-outs. ‘A master can highlight the phrases his words to digress’. I liked the surrealism of that line. I like ‘art’ films, Bunuel, Bergman, ‘The Seventh Seal’. I could never make out what the hell they were about, but there was something attractive about the abstractness of them. So I’ve gone that way on ‘Talk More Talk’ and ‘However Absurd’, which are the two main surrealist lyrics.
Paul McCartney, interview in Sound On Sound, Octobre 1986
Last updated on May 2, 2020
Lyrics
Spoken word:
A master can highlight the phrases,
Sleazy instruments, half talked, half baked ideas...
Dad, you didn't say O.K...
The window was open, outside was a spaceship,
(A master can highlight the phrases) it took off into the sky
leaving a trail of smoke behind it...
Short of the standard. Was it the sum?
What was rehearsal? Conventional drum?
Not quite a hundred. Less than a ton.
Clearly the time came, the plan had begun.
With talk, more talk. Chat, more chat,
Words of a feather are worn in a hat.
Talk, more talk. Chat more chat.
I'm happy to do it for you…
Developed since earlier days at the school.
Cheapest sensations were used as a rule.
Outstanding to memory, major free flow.
Bio-degradable, look out below for…
Talk more talk,
Oh I love to hear the gentle sound
Of conversation sprinkled around
A room where I can be at one with you for…
Talk more talk. Chat more chat,
Words of a feather are worn in a hat.
Talk more talk. Chat more chat. Happy to do it for you…
I'm happy to do it for you… I'm happy to do it for you…
I'm Happy to do it, I'm happy to do it..
I'm happy to do it for you.
Digital organ, finishing stretch,
Instrumentation, analogue Gretsch.
Not quite a thousand, lower than that.
Possible bargain for listening at that…
Talk, more talk. Chat, more chat,
Words of a feather are worn in a hat.
Talk more talk. Chat more chat.
I'm happy to do it for you…
Spoken word:
All you want is a handyman and all you want is quick service.
Because I'm a house owner. I am a house owner.
It may be worth something someday.
I hear water going through the pipes.
I don't actually like sitting down music. Music is ideas.
Talk, more talk. Chat, more chat.
Words of a feather are worn in a hat.
Talk more talk. Chat more chat.
Talk, more talk. Chat, more chat.
Words of a feather are worn in a hat.
Talk more talk. Chat more chat.
Spoken word:
A master can tell, highlight the phrases his words to digress.
Grey flannel trousers…Grey flannel trousers.
A blazer and grey flannel trousers.
Officially appears on
Only Love Remains / Tough On A Tightrope
12" Single • Released in 1986
5:56 • Studio version • A1 • 12" mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Vocals
- James McCartney :
- Vocals
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Jacobs :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Steve Jackson :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Recording :
- Unknown date prior to March 1985
- Studio :
- Unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- 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
Official album • Released in 1986
5:18 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Vocals
- James McCartney :
- Vocals
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Steve Jackson :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Recording :
- Unknown date prior to March 1985
- Studio :
- Unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- 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
Official album • Released in 1986
5:18 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Vocals
- James McCartney :
- Vocals
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Steve Jackson :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Recording :
- Unknown date prior to March 1985
- Studio :
- Unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- 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
Official album • Released in 1993
5:18 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Vocals
- James McCartney :
- Vocals
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Steve Jackson :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Recording :
- Unknown date prior to March 1985
- Studio :
- Unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- 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
Unofficial album
5:41 • Studio version • A1 • 12" mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Vocals
- James McCartney :
- Vocals
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Jacobs :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Steve Jackson :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Recording :
- Unknown date prior to March 1985
- Studio :
- Unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- 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
UK Singles Collection - Volume 03
Unofficial album • Released in 2007
5:53 • Studio version • A1 • 12" mix
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mixing engineer, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Vocals
- James McCartney :
- Vocals
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Jacobs :
- Mixing engineer
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Steve Jackson :
- Assistant engineer, Vocals
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Recording :
- Unknown date prior to March 1985
- Studio :
- Unknown
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- 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
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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