Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

UK Release date : Monday, November 16, 1987

Once Upon a Long Ago #2

By Paul McCartney12" Single • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Singles

Last updated on September 18, 2016

Track list

Hide track details

Side 1

  1. Once Upon A Long Ago

    Written by Paul McCartney

    4:34 • Studio versionA3 • Long version

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Synthesizers, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals, Tambourine George Martin : Mixing engineer, Orchestration Adrian Brett : Flute Tim Renwick : Electric guitar Nick Glennie-Smith : Keyboards Phil Ramone : Producer Henry Spinetti : Drums Nigel Kennedy : Violin Stan Sulzmann : Sax

    Session Recording: Mar 11, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Session Recording: Mar 12, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Session Overdubs: Jul 01, 1987 • 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

  2. Back On My Feet

    Written by Paul McCartney, Declan MacManus / Elvis Costello

    4:25 • Studio versionA

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Guitars, Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Jon Jacobs : Recording engineer Tim Renwick : Guitar Nick Glennie-Smith : Keyboards Charlie Morgan : Drums Phil Ramone : Producer Steve Lyon : Assistant recording engineer

    Session Recording: Mar 09, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, 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

  3. Midnight Special

    Written by Traditional

    4:01 • Studio versionA

    Paul McCartney : Bass, Producer, Vocal Mick Green : Guitar Chris Whitten : Drums Mick Gallagher : Piano Peter Henderson : Recording engineer

    Session Recording: Jul 20, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Session Mixing: Jul 22, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

  4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore

    Written by Duke Ellington, Bob Russell

    2:55 • Studio versionA

    Paul McCartney : Guitar, Producer, Vocals Mick Gallagher : Piano Peter Henderson : Recording engineer Nick Garvey : Bass Henry Spinetti : Drums

    Session Recording: Jul 21, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Session Mixing: Jul 22, 1987 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK


From Wikipedia:

Release and charts

[…] The song was released in four versions. Two different 12″ singles feature “long” and “extended” versions (mixed by George Martin and Peter Henderson, respectively); the 7″ single and the CD single (McCartney’s first) features an edit of the long version and a b-side from each the two 12″ singles, as well as “Back on My Feet“, a b-side for all four iterations; and the album version featured on All the Best! contains an alternate ending. “Back on My Feet” was also the first released song from the songwriting collaboration between McCartney and Elvis Costello. Both 12″ and CD singles also featured songs from yet to be released McCartney’s cover album Choba B CCCP.

Once Upon a Long Ago” reached number ten in the United Kingdom Singles Chart, McCartney’s last Top 10 in his homeland until the release of “FourFiveSeconds” in 2015. The single was not released in the United States nor included on the US version of All the Best!, although it did appear on the longer UK/Canada version. The song has remained unavailable on any US released album, although it is a bonus track on the 1993 UK remastered version of Press to Play – the 1993 remastered Paul McCartney Collection has never been released in the US.

Track listings

7″ single (R 6170)
  1. “Once Upon a Long Ago” – 4:12
  2. “Back on My Feet” – 4:20
12″ single, version one (12R 6170)
  1. “Once Upon a Long Ago” (Long Version) – 4:34
  2. “Back on My Feet” – 4:21
  3. “Midnight Special” – 3:56
  4. “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” – 2:51
12″ single, version two (12RX 6170)
  1. “Once Upon a Long Ago” (Extended Version) – 6:06
  2. “Back on My Feet” – 4:21
  3. “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” – 3:15
  4. “Kansas City” – 4:00
CD single (CDR 6170)
  1. “Once Upon a Long Ago” – 4:12
  2. “Back on My Feet” – 4:21
  3. “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” – 2:51
  4. “Kansas City” – 4:00
Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.