Love Awake

Song facts

On the new album track “Love Awake”, the group were joined in the studio by the Black Dyke Mills Band. Originally called the Alan Wharton Reed and Brass Band in 1836, this Yorkshire band changed their name to Black Dyke Mills Band in 1851 when they were affiliated to the textile firm John Foster and Sons. An amateur band, their professional occupations range from a schoolmaster, builder, office manager, and textile worker. They have been the most consistent winners of the National Brass Band Championship and this year, have become the European Brass Band Champions. They have previously been associated with Paul when he produced their single on the APPLE label of “Thingumybob” coupled with “Yellow Submarine”

From Club Sandwich N°14, April / May 1979

The most anthemic song on the album, it combines a classic McCartney ballad with the antique burnish of a North of England brass band. When we cut the basic track at the castle, Paul and Denny strummed acoustics while I played a high strung guitar. This is one of the secret weapons of the studio guitar slinger’s arsenal. It’s a regular guitar, but only the top two strings are tuned normally. The bottom four are pitched one octave higher — essentially the top half of a 12-string guitar. The result is an airy harpsichord-like sonority that blends with other acoustics, adding an extra dimension and sparkle. Also known as ‘Nashville’ tuning, it can be heard on records by Simon & Garfunkel, the Eagles and Joni Mitchell, as well as many country records. I had played bass on a demo version of this, probably in Scotland.

When it came time to overdub the bass part Paul said he liked my ideas and that I should play it, not him. He then gave me picking tips as my recording debut as a bassist was nervously made. Much like his own production mentor, George Martin, Paul has a knack of putting you at ease to bring out the best in a creative situation.

Laurence Juber, in Guitar With Wings, 2014

Love Awake. l played a Fender Bass, Paul a Martin and Denny a little ‘High-strung’ guitar. This doesn’t refer to its nervous disposition but to the tuning. The tinkly bit after ‘snow falls in the winter’ is a little trick, alternating harmonics and plucked notes.

Laurence Juber, from Club Sandwich N°14, April / May 1979

Last updated on March 7, 2020

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