US Release date : Monday, November 2, 1987
All The Best! (US version)
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Compilations”
Last updated on March 26, 2020
US Release date : Monday, November 2, 1987
By Paul McCartney • Official album • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Compilations”
Last updated on March 26, 2020
Session Oct 23, 1987 • Recording batch 2 of demos with Elvis Costello
Album Nov 02, 1987 • "All The Best! (UK version)" by Paul McCartney released in the UK
Album Nov 02, 1987 • "All The Best! (US version)" by Paul McCartney released in the US
Article Nov 05, 1987 • Paul McCartney commerorates 20 years of Rolling Stone magazines
Article Nov 07, 1987 • Paul McCartney donates £15,000 to the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre
Next album Mar 07, 1988 • "Past Masters Volume 1" by The Beatles released in the UK
This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
5:13 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Producer, Synthesizers, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Moog Denny Laine : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar Tony Visconti : Orchestration Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Monday : Assistant engineer Pete Swettenham : Assistant engineer Beaux Arts Orchestra : Horns, Strings
Session Recording: September 1-23, 1973 • Studio EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria
Session Overdubs: October 1973 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Late October / Early November 1973 • Studio Kingsway Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
4:09 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Moog (?), Piano (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards, Moog (?) Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Piano (?) Tony Visconti : Orchestration Howie Casey : Sax Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Pete Swettenham : Assistant engineer Beaux Arts Orchestra : Strings
Session Recording: October 1973 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Late October / Early November 1973 • Studio Kingsway Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney
3:43 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizers, Vocals, Vocoder Stevie Wonder : Backing vocals, Drums, Electric piano, Percussion, Synthesizers, Vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer Mike Stavrou : Assistant recording engineer
Session Recording: Feb 28, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, Montserrat
Session Overdubs: Mar 30, 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Overdubs: October 1981 • Studio Strawberry Studios South, Dorkins, Surrey
Session Mixing: Jan 19, 1982 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
3:57 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Clarinet, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Moog, Producer, Strings arrangement, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Bongos, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Joe English : Drums, Percussion Sid Sharp Strings : Cello, Violas, Violins Gayle Levant : Harp Tony Dorsey : Strings arrangement Dave Mason : Electric guitar Tom Scott : Saxophone Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Biff Dawes : Assistant mixing engineer
Session Recording: Jan 31, 1975 and Feb 20, 1975 • Studio Sea-Saint Recording Studio, New Orleans, USA
Session Overdubs: Mar 03 to Mar 06, 1975 • Studio Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Session Overdubs: Mar 10, 1975 • Studio Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
Session Mixing: Mar 26, 1975 • Studio Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
5:56 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Mellotron (?), Percussion (?), Piano (?), Producer, String conductor, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Tambourine (?) Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Piano (?) Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar (?) Howie Casey : Horns Joe English : Drums, Percussion (?) Thaddeus Richard : Horns Mark Vigars : Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer Pete Henderson : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Howard : Horns Tony Dorsey : Horns, String arrangements
Session Recording: Jan 16, 1976 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: January - March 1976 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: January - March 1976 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
5:11 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Military drum (?) Jimmy McCulloch : Bass Howie Casey : Flutes, Horns Joe English : Drums Thaddeus Richard : Flutes, Horns Mark Vigars : Assistant mixing engineer, Assistant recording engineer Pete Henderson : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Howard : Flutes, Horns Tony Dorsey : Flutes, Horns
Session Recording: Feb 03, 1976 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs: January - March 1976 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: January - March 1976 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
3:55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Electric piano (?), Percussion (?), Synthesizers (?), Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Michael Jackson : Backing vocals, Vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Jerry Hey : Horns Nathan Watts : Bass Bill Wolfer : Keyboards, Synthesizers David Williams : Electric guitar Chris Smith : Harmonica Ricky Lawson : Drums Ernie Watts : Horns Gary E. Grant : Horns Gary Herbig : Horns
Session Recording: May 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK ; Odyssey Studios, London, UK
Session Recording: April 1982 • Studio Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, USA ; Sigma Sound Studios, New York City, USA
Session Mixing: Feb 15, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
3:13 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Bass (?), Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?), Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Bass (?), Electric guitar (?) George Martin : Producer Henry McCullough : Electric guitar Denny Seiwell : Drums, Percussion (?) Ray Cooper : Duck-call, Percussion (?), Tympani Bill Price : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Session Recording: Oct 19, 1972 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Overdubs: Oct 20, 1972 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Oct 21, 1972 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
3:42 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums, Percussion David Spinozza : Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Mixing engineer
Session Recording: Oct 12, 1970 • Studio CBS Studios, New York City
Session Overdubs: January 1971 • Studio A&R Studios, New York City
Session Mixing: Feb 08, 1971 • Studio A&R Studios, New York City
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
4:34 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Cornet, Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Tambourine Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Bass Henry McCullough : Drums Denny Seiwell : Cornet, Xylophone Mark Vigars : Assistant mixing engineer Heather Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Mary McCartney : Backing vocals Alan Parsons : Mixing engineer Mike Bobak : Recording engineer
Session Recording: Sep 02, 1972 • Studio Morgan Studios, London
Session Mixing: Nov 07, 1972 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Junior's Farm
Studio version
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
Studio version
Written by Paul McCartney
3:52 • Live • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitars, Electric piano, Mixing engineer, Percussion, Producer, Recording engineer, Synthesizers, Tambourine, Vocals Eddie Klein : Mixing assistant
Session Recording: June - July 1979 • Studio Home Studio, Peasmarsh, Sussex, UK
Session Recording: June - July 1979 • Studio Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland
Session Mixing: September 1979 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Goodnight Tonight
Studio version
With A Little Luck
Studio version
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
4:09 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Electric piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Bass Henry McCullough : Electric guitar Denny Seiwell : Drums Richard Hewson : Orchestra arrangement Mark Vigars : Assistant recording engineer Richard Lush : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Session Recording: Jan 25, 1973 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Recording: Jan 26, 1973 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Session Overdubs & mixing: Jan 27, 1973 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
From Club Sandwich N°46, Winter 1987:
To save you some head-scratching: the US have ‘Junior’s Form’ and ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’ to themselves, while the rest of us have ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, ‘Once Upon A Long Ago’, ‘We All Stand Together’, ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ and ‘Pipes Of Peace’ that they don’t have. Paul’s British and American singles history explains most of this. ‘Junior’ was a bigger hit Stateside than at home, while ‘Albert/Halsey’ (a US number one) was never a British single. The live ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ was actually a bigger American than British hit: American fans may well have it on Wings Over America, while the rest of us can count it a happy bonus, ‘Long Ago’ and Rupert’s song are British-only singles; ‘Mull’ was an American B-side, only later promoted as half of a double A-side, ‘Pipes’ remained an American B-side. One other difference might escape the casual observer: the live ‘Coming Up’ (from Wings’ last tour) on the flip of Paul’s McCartney II version was the American hit (number one, in fact), so that’s the one on their album.
All The Best can afford to exclude five British or American top ten hits. ‘Hi Hi Hi’ (on Wings’ Greatest), ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ (Wings Wild Life CD), ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ (Now That’s What I Call Christmas – Various Artists), ‘Waterfalls (McCartney II) and ‘Helen Wheels’ (Band On The Run in the US). And from ‘Let Me Roll It’ to ‘The Man’, we all have favourite album tracks we’d fit in if we could. But a hits album, rightly, is all about singles.
That being so, programming is obviously important. Both versions of All The Best achieve the same variety of mood that you get on a really good purpose-made album. One exception is Side Four on the Rest of the World set: after ‘Say Say Say’, the listener can wind down to the Horlicks hour in the pleasantest possible way. Editorial policy tends towards Bournvito, but there still seems nothing wrong with this – after all, Frank Sinatra designed whole albums for that time of day.
But why is the score ROW 20-USA 17? That’s our old friend the compact disc again. To keep things tidy, tracks on the American CD, record and tape will be the same, approaching the maximum CD time limit. Elsewhere the CD will lack ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, ‘Goodnight Tonight’ and ‘With A Little Luck’. The first is on the Wings Over America double CD and the last will be out on the London Town CD before too long. With an excellent sleeve by Michael Ross, who also did ‘Once Upon A Long Ago’, and a clever film-and-animation TV advert by Derek Hayes, the signs look good for All The Best. The demand is there and much care has been taken to meet it in a satisfying way. Happy listening!
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