Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) / Fields Of St Etienne (US)

Track list

Side 1

1. Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)

   Written by Jay Livingston, Ray Evans

   3:04 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Producer Ringo Starr : Drums Mary Hopkin : Acoustic guitar, Vocals

   SessionRecording : July 6 or 13, 1969 ? • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road • London • UK

   SessionRecording : Aug 17, 1969 ? • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road Studios • London • UK

Side 2

1. Fields Of St Etienne

   Written by Graham Lyle, Benny Gallagher

   3:12 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass Ringo Starr : Drums Mary Hopkin : Acoustic guitar, Vocals Unknown : Backing vocals, Woodwind instruments

   SessionRecording : July 6 or 13, 1969 ? • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road • London • UK

   SessionRecording : Aug 17, 1969 ? • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road Studios • London • UK

This single was initially scheduled for release in the UK on September 12, 1969, as Apple 16, but it was reportedly issued only in France (although no confirmed evidence of this French release has been found).

It was then announced that “Fields of St. Etienne” would be released as the A-side in the UK, with a planned release date of October 3, but this release never materialized. There is some ambiguity regarding which version of “Fields of St. Etienne” was intended for release: the liner notes of “Post Card (2010 remaster)” indicate that Mary Hopkin had recorded an earlier version produced by Geoff Emerick, prior to the version produced by Paul McCartney, and suggest that the Emerick-produced version was the one originally scheduled for the single.

‘Fields Of St. Etienne’ was intended as Mary’s third UK single, scheduled for September 1969. It was written, as was ‘Sparrow’, by Mary’s friends and Apple Publishing songwriters Gallagher & Lyle. Mary later re-recorded the track with Paul McCartney in a much simpler form. The recording included here is previously unissued. The arrangement is by Richard Hewson and the production by Geoff Emerick. Although Mary loved the song, she felt at the time that this version was not in keeping with her own musical vision and she asked Apple to cancel its release.

From the liner notes of “Post Card (2010 remaster)“

As this single was ultimately not released, Mary Hopkin’s third UK single became “Temma Harbour,” produced by Mickie Most and released in January 1970.

“Que Sera, Sera,” backed with “Fields of St. Etienne” (produced by Paul McCartney), was eventually released in the United States in June 1970, reaching number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

MARY REVIVES DORIS DAY HIT

MARY HOPKIN’S long-awaited new Apple single — the follow-up to “Goodbye” — is almost certain to be a revival of the Doris Day film hit of some years ago, “Que Sera, Que Sera.” Paul McCartney is reported to have re-arranged the number and to have written additional material. The single is due for release next Friday (12) by Apple.

From New Musical Express, September 6, 1969

Beatles reserve LP track to give ‘Trash’ a chance

[…] Mary Hopkin’s new single is now unlikely to be the Doris Day oldie, “Que Sera Sera.” Instead, the B-side song “Fields of St. Etienne,” written by Apple pair Gallagher and Lyle, may become the main title. […]

From Disc And Music Echo – September 20, 1969