Penina

Track list

Side 1

1. Penina

   Written by Paul McCartney

   2:36 • Studio version • A

   Performed by : Jotta Herre João Martins : Producer Thilo Krasmann : Arranger

   

2. North

   Studio version

Side 2

1. To Grandma

   Studio version

2. The Needing Of Love

   Studio version

“Penina” is a song written by Paul McCartney in December 1968, during a holiday in Portugal.

The Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, where Paul stayed, was home to the first golf course built in the Algarve, opened in 1966. One night during his stay, at around 1:30 a.m., Paul entered the hotel lobby to exchange five pounds for Portuguese escudos. Afterward, he wandered into the hotel bar, where the resident band Jota Herre was performing. Recognizing the world-famous musician, the band invited him to join them on stage.

The bar, which had been nearly empty and close to closing, quickly filled with hotel guests and staff once word spread. Paul sat at the piano and improvised a song titled “Penina,” delighting the crowd with an impromptu performance that turned into a lively, late-night party lasting until around 4 a.m. Paul “gave” the song to Jota Herre, who were thrilled by the gesture.

On January 9, 1969, during the “Get Back” sessions, Paul played a version of “Penina,” joined by John Lennon and Ringo Starr.

Jota Herre recorded and released the song in March 1969. That same year, Portuguese singer Carlos Mendes also recorded his own version, which was likewise released as a single.

What’s the story behind a song called “Penina” which I believe you wrote for a Portugese band leader in 1968? Might you ever record it yourself?

I went to Portugal on holiday and returned to the hotel one night slightly the worse for a few drinks. There was a band playing and I ended up on the drums. The hotel was called Penina, I made up a song with that name, someone made enquiries about it and I gave it to them. And, no, I shouldn’t think I’d ever record it myself!

Paul McCartney, Club Sandwich interview, 1994

I gave this song to a group when I turned up in Portugal, ‘cos I turned up pissed out of my skull one night and wanted to drink in this hotel, you know, about 12 (midnight). I sat in on drums, and they said, ‘Give us a song,’ so I said, ‘Yeah… I’ve been to Alberferra, I had a great time there,’ you know. It was called ‘La Penina’, which was the name of the hotel, and I ended up in La Penina and they were all digging and singing along. It was good, you know. It was one of those that was right, you know. So, William Hickey said that I had given away this £20,000 song. But then, Derek Taylor said, ‘It’s not that he gave away a song, he gave away more of a riff for them to build around.

Paul McCartney – From “The Beatles: Off the Record 2 – The Dream Is Over” by Keith Badman, 2009

That night, we all gathered around Paul and Linda, had a drink and then he proposed: let’s play. It was after one o’clock in the morning. Paul gave an unforgettable show. He played successively piano, bass, guitar and drums. He played drums like I’ve never seen a musician play. Every time more people came into the room. Paul returned to the drums and asked for “one minute”. He started to hum and challenged the crowd to try to follow the harmonic sequence that was coming out. It was 4 o’clock in the morning and, right there, he composed and sang the song and the lyrics of the song he offered us. In the end, he gave it a title, the name of the hotel.

Giuseppe Flaminio – member of Jota Herre – From Jesse Tedesci on Twitter

Beatle Paul writes a £20,000 holiday tip

In one of those spontaneous gestures for which the Beatles are well known, Paul McCartney is making an escudo millionaire out of a Portuguese bandleader. It all started during the 26-year-old bachelor Beatle’s New Year holiday in Portugal’s Algarve.

McCartney had spent an evening listening to the resident band at the resort’s luxury Penina Golf Hotel. He decided to give a tip in appreciation. And composed a few bars — called Penina — for the lucky bandleader, Anibal Cunha. To help them along McCartney beat out the rhythm on the drums.

As the shareholders of Northern Songs (currently standing at 33s. a share) know, McCartney compositions never fall to net £20,000 at the very least.

But before they rush to cell an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to ask about their percentage from “Penina”, they may care to note the view Paul’s business associate Derek Taylor, of the Beatle’s firm Apple.

“Naturally he has obligations to his shareholders and fellow directors“, says Mr. Taylor. “One of the sad facts of life is that he is in business. But this was not a whole song he gave to the bandleader. It was more a rif“.

A rif, in the trade, is the name given to a repeated musical phrase coupled with a suggested rhythm.

Northern Songs shareholders in fact are presently benefiting from a rif, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”. John Lennon and Paul McCartney borrowed from another performer, Jimmy Scott. The Marmalade version of this song topped the hit parade this week for the first time.

“John and Paul saw him right,” says Mr. Taylor. “They are themselves often asked for help on their travels. And it just isn’t possible for them to refuse.“From the Daily Express – January 9, 1969

From the Daily Express – January 9, 1969