UK release date:
Mar 31, 1978
US release date:
Mar 31, 1978

Master release


Related sessions

This album has been recorded during the following studio sessions


"London Town" sessions #1

February 7 to March 31, 1977



"London Town" sessions #2

May 1 to May 31, 1977




"London Town" sessions #4

October 25 to December 1, 1977



"London Town" sessions #5

December 3 to 14, 1977


"London Town" sessions #6

January 4 to 23, 1978


Mixing "Girlfriend"

Jan 12, 1978


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Track list

Disc 1


1.

London Town

Written by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine

4:10 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar (?), Bass, Electric guitar (?), Piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Electric piano
Jimmy McCulloch :
Electric guitar, Slide guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
February 7 to March 31, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
August 1977
Studio :
Spirit Of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown, Scotland

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


2.

Cafe On The Left Bank

Written by Paul McCartney

3:27 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards, Percussion (?)
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Percussion (?)
Jimmy McCulloch :
Electric guitar, Percussion (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums, Percussion (?)
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 02, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
November 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


3.

I'm Carrying

Written by Paul McCartney

2:44 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Producer, Synthesizers, Vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 05, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
December 3 to 14, 1977
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


4.

Backwards Traveller

Written by Paul McCartney

1:09 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
October 25 - December 1, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


5.

Cuff Link

Written by Paul McCartney

2:02 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Bass (?), Drums, Producer, Synthesizer
Linda McCartney :
Keyboards (?)
Denny Laine :
Bass (?), Synthesizer
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
October 25 - December 1, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


6.

Children Children

Written by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine

2:22 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar (?), Autoharp (?), Backing vocals, Bass, Flute, Producer, Violin
Linda McCartney :
Autoharp (?), Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Flute, Vocals
Jimmy McCulloch :
Acoustic guitar (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums, Harmonica, Vocals (?)
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
February 7 to March 31, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

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.

Girlfriend

Written by Paul McCartney

4:42 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Piano (?), Producer, Synthesizers, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Piano (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer
Unknown musician(s) :
Flutes, Strings

Session Recording:
February 14, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
October 25 to December 1, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
January 12, 1978
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


8.

I've Had Enough

Written by Paul McCartney

3:06 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards, Tambourine (?)
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Electric guitar
Jimmy McCulloch :
Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 1 to May 31, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
Nov 24, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
January 4-23, 1978
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


9.

With A Little Luck

Written by Paul McCartney

5:46 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Backing vocals, Bass, Drums (?), Electric piano, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards (?)
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Synthesizer (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums (?)
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 10 and 12, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
November 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


10.

Famous Groupies

Written by Paul McCartney

3:36 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar (?), Bass, Electric guitar (?), Mellotron, Percussion, Producer, Slide guitar (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar (?), Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?)
Jimmy McCulloch :
Electric guitar, Slide guitar (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 13, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
November 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


11.

Deliver Your Children

Written by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine

4:18 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Spanish guitar, Vocals
Jimmy McCulloch :
Acoustic guitar (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 1 to May 31, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
November 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


12.

Name And Address

Written by Paul McCartney

3:09 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Bass (?), Electric guitar, Percussion, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Organ
Denny Laine :
Backing vocals, Bass (?), Electric guitar (?)
Jimmy McCulloch :
Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
February 7 to March 31, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


13.

Don't Let It Bring You Down

Written by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine

4:35 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Irish tin whistle, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Irish tin whistle
Jimmy McCulloch :
Acoustic guitar (?)
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Brushes, Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
May 25, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin

Session Overdubs:
November 24, 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Wednesday, January 18, 1978
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


14.

Morse Moose And The Grey Goose

Written by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine

6:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric piano, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Piano
Jimmy McCulloch :
Electric guitar
Geoff Emerick :
Recording engineer
Joe English :
Drums
Mark Vigars :
Assistant engineer
Pete Henderson :
Assistant engineer
Steve Churchyard :
Assistant engineer
Gavin Wright :
Violin

Session Recording:
May 1 to May 31, 1977
Studio :
Record Plant Mobile Studio, Fair Carol Yacht, US Virgin Islands

Session Overdubs:
November 1977
Studio :
EMI Studios, Abbey Road

Session Overdubs:
December 3 to 14, 1977
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

About

From Wikipedia:

London Town is the sixth studio album by Wings, released in 1978. Recording the album was a long and tumultuous project which saw the loss of two band members, the birth of a baby and the release of the then best-selling single in British history.

History

After the commercial zenith of 1976 with Wings at the Speed of Sound and its well-received Wings Over the World tour, Wings’ leader Paul McCartney planned on making 1977 a similar year. However, things did not quite work out as planned.

In February 1977, Wings began recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios, which continued until the end of March. Here, Wings recorded five songs: “Girls’ School“, “Name and Address“, “London Town“, “Children, Children” and Linda McCartney’s “B-Side to Seaside“, later issued as the flip-side of the Wings single “Seaside Woman” (issued under the name “Suzy and the Red Stripes“). The initial plan of touring the US again was thwarted by Linda’s discovery that she was pregnant with her and Paul’s third child. (Mary had been born in 1969 and Stella in 1971). With the knowledge that they were not going to tour and had time at their disposal – and once again looking for different locales to record in – Wings found themselves moored on a yacht called “Fair Carol” in the Virgin Islands during the month of May where several new songs were recorded. Reflecting the nautical locale, the album’s initial working title was Water Wings. As Linda’s pregnancy progressed, the band halted the sessions for the album, save for the recording of a new track called “Mull of Kintyre” that August and the completion of the already begun “Girls’ School“, which would be released as a single – Wings’ one and only release in 1977.

Before the single’s release came two defections from Wings. Drummer Joe English had become homesick for America and returned home, and lead guitarist Jimmy McCulloch left to join the Small Faces that September. For the first time since 1973’s Band on the Run, Wings were down to the core three of Paul, Linda and Denny Laine, reflected on the picture sleeve of the single, which just showed the three remaining members.

In November, two months after the birth of son James, and shortly after sessions for London Town resumed, the Scottish tribute “Mull of Kintyre” was released to enormous commercial success, becoming the UK’s biggest-selling single (even outstripping The Beatles’ largest seller “She Loves You“). Although it would be topped in 1984 by Band Aid, “Mull of Kintyre” still ranks as the UK’s fourth biggest selling single and the largest selling non-charity single.

After some final overdubbing in January 1978, London Town was completed and preceded by the US #1 “With a Little Luck” that March, while the album was released a week later. The album also features the song “Girlfriend” which was also recorded by American pop star Michael Jackson, who featured it on his 1979 album Off the Wall. London Town generally fared well with the critics and in the charts, reaching #4 in the UK and #2 in the US where it sold over one million copies and went platinum. But after its strong start, it did not have the staying power of Wings’ previous releases, with subsequent singles “I’ve Had Enough” and the title track becoming small hits. Although the advent of punk music (which sent the music industry into a period of change) would certainly have contributed to the slightly smaller sales of London Town, the album is now considered to mark the end of Wings’ commercial peak and the beginning of a minor commercial slump for McCartney. On 14 May 1978, Paul and Linda McCartney were interviewed for BBC Radio’s The Simon Bates Show, to endorse the album, and “With a Little Luck“.

Paul McCartney was reportedly displeased with Capitol Records in the US, where “Mull of Kintyre” flopped (its B-Side, “Girls School,” did make a modest dent in the Top 40, reaching #33), and was further dismayed at what he viewed as lacklustre promotion for London Town. With his contract at an end, he promptly signed up with Columbia Records for North America only (remaining with EMI worldwide) and would stay there until 1984, before returning to Capitol in the US.

In 1993, London Town was remastered and reissued on CD as part of “The Paul McCartney Collection” series with “Mull of Kintyre” and its B-side “Girls School” as bonus tracks. […]

From puremccartney.com – PAUL DURING THE LONDON TOWN COVER SHOOT, LONDON, 1978
From Melody Maker – April 1, 1978
From Melody Maker – April 1, 1978

Last updated on August 12, 2022

Contribute!

Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!

Jason Childers 7 years ago

There should be an entry of the "Paul McCartney Collection" edition of London Town, which includes the bonus tracks "Mull of Kintyre" and "Girls School".


The PaulMcCartney Project 7 years ago

Thanks Jason - "London Town - Paul McCartney Collection" added at https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/album/london-town-1993/ !


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