Release year : 1983

Say Say Say / Ode To A Koala Bear (Australian version)

By Paul McCartney • 7" Single • Part of the collection “Paul McCartney • Singles”

Last updated on April 19, 2020

Master album

Pipes Of Peace
By Paul McCartney

Related albums

Related sessions

This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Recording "Ode To A Koala Bear", "Keep Under Cover"
Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 8, 1980
Recording "Say Say Say", "The Man"
May 1981
Sessions with Michael Jackson
April 1982
Mixing "Say Say Say"
Feb 15, 1983
Mixing "Ode To A Koala Bear"
Aug 31, 1983

Track list

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Side 1

Say Say Say

Written by Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson
3:55 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Arrangement, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Electric piano (?), Percussion (?), Synthesizers (?), Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Michael Jackson : Backing vocals, Vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Arrangement, Producer Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Mixing engineer assistant, Recording engineer assistant Jerry Hey : Horns Nathan Watts : Bass Bill Wolfer : Keyboards, Synthesizers David Williams : Electric guitar Chris Smith : Harmonica Ricky Lawson : Drums Ernie Watts : Horns Gary E. Grant : Horns Gary Herbig : Horns
Session Recording: May 1981 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK ; Odyssey Studios, London, UK
Session Recording: April 1982 • Studio Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles, USA ; Sigma Sound Studios, New York City, USA
Session Mixing: Feb 15, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
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

Side 2

Ode To A Koala Bear

Written by Paul McCartney
3:44 • Studio version • B • Australian mix
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Engineer assistant Paul Robinson : Drums Chris Lawrence : Bass
Session Recording: Nov 30, 1980 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Aug 31, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK

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Jan van Driel • Oct 24, 2021 • 3 years ago

I have the Australian 7 inch (Parlophone A.1124) and compared the two versions of 'Ode to a Koala bear'. The yare very similar but he Australian version has a slightly cleaner guitar sound. Most notable difference is that Paul sings "Koala STYLE bear" on some of the verses of the Australian one, whereas he sing "Koala TYPE bear" on the regular mix. This suggests a different vocal take was used. BTW: A koala is not a bear, neither a type or a style of bear ;-)

The PaulMcCartney Project • Oct 24, 2021 • 3 years ago

Thanks Jan for those details about the Australian version of "Ode To A Koala Bear" !!! This page needs some attention, will try to enrich it soon !

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