UK Release date : Friday, May 12, 1972
Mary Had A Little Lamb / Little Woman Love (UK)
By Wings • 7" Single • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Singles”
Last updated on July 3, 2023
UK Release date : Friday, May 12, 1972
By Wings • 7" Single • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Singles”
Last updated on July 3, 2023
Previous single Feb 25, 1972 • "Give Ireland Back To The Irish" by Wings released in the UK
Article April 20 - July 22, 1972 • Ads published in Sounds Magazine to launch a Paul McCartney fan club
Interview May / June 1972 ? • Wings interview for McCartney Productions
Single May 12, 1972 • "Mary Had A Little Lamb / Little Woman Love (UK)" by Wings released in the UK
TV show May 25, 1972 • Top Of The Pops
Single May 29, 1972 • "Mary Had A Little Lamb / Little Woman Love (UK)" by Wings released in the US
This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Nov 13, 1970
Jan 21, 1971
Recording "Mary Had A Little Lamb"
Mar 27, 1972
Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney
3:32 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass (?), Percussion, Piano, Producer, Recorder (?), Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Maracas (?), Moog (?), Vocals Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Bass (?), Electric guitar Henry McCullough : Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Mandolin Denny Seiwell : Backing vocals, Drums, Percussion, Recorder (?), Xylophone (?) Heather Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Glyn Johns : Recording engineer Mary McCartney : Backing vocals Phil Ault : Assistant recording engineer
Session Recording: Mar 27, 1972 • Studio Olympic Sound Studios, London
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
2:09 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Piano, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer Denny Seiwell : Drums, Percussion Tony Clark : Mixing engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Milt Hinton : Double bass John Leckie : Assistant mixing engineer
Session Recording: Nov 13, 1970 • Studio CBS Studios, New York City
Session Overdubs: Jan 21, 1971 • Studio A&R Studios, New York City
Session Mixing: Nov 10, 1971 • 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
“Mary Had a Little Lamb / Little Woman Love” was Wings’ second non-album single (Wings’ first non-album single was “Give Ireland Back To The Irish“, released in February 1972).
Originally scheduled for the 5th, the Wings’ single ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’/‘Little Woman Love’ is released in the UK. Described by Paul and Linda as “A song for spring to make people happy,” its EMI release number comes exactly 1,000 singles after The Beatles’ début ‘Love Me Do’ in October 1962. (The American release takes place on May 29.)
From Badman, Keith. The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001 . Music Sales. Kindle Edition.
The illustrations used on the front and back sleeves, as well as on the 7″ disc, were created by Clara Miller Burd (1873-1933).
Anecdote: the Parlophone catalogue number (R 5949) is exactly one thousand higher than the Beatles’ first Parlophone single “Love Me Do” which was R 4949.
Mother Goose helped write the “A” side; the nursery rhyme we all know and love gets a bouncy treatment. Flip is a “Lady Madonna”-ish rocker. Both will fly.
From Cashbox Magazine – June 17, 1972
Wings’ ‘Little Lamb’
OUT tomorrow (Friday) is a new single follow-up to Paul McCartney’s “Give Ireland Back To The Irish.” By Paul’s Wings group, the topside is titled “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” described by Paul and wife Linda as “A song for Spring to make people feel happy.” The flip is a bluesy rocker with rolling piano and Paul shouting the vocals.
From Melody Maker, May 6, 1972
BOLAN SLIPS AS McCARTNEY RIPS
WINGS “Mary Had A Little Lamb” (Apple). After the highly controversial “Give Ireland Back To The Irish”, the McCartneys return with a highly commercial song which incorporates the traditional nursery rhyme as lyrics. Whereas “Ireland” heavily featured Henry McCullough’s aggressive lead guitar and hardly featured the likes of Linda, “Mary” has the latter’s piano up—front as the main rhythm instrument, while Henry tastefully accents the production on mandolin. The single comes complete with a coloured label. Wings will have no trouble findin radio play with this one.
From New Musical Express, May 6, 1972
If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.
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