Spies Like Us / My Carnival

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From the press release:

PAUL McCARTNEY MARKS RETURN TO CAPITOL WITH “SPIES LIKE US”

Paul McCartney’s first and only single for 1985 — and his first for Capitol Records since his return this fall to the label which first signed the Beatles in 1962 — is the theme song for Spies Like Us, a feature film comedy (Warner Bros.) starring Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase and directed by John Landis. Produced by McCartney, Phil Ramone and Hugh Padgham, “Spies Like Us” continues McCartney’s venturing into film songwriting, following his blockbuster hit for the James Bond thriller Live And Let Die, as well as songs for 1983’s Beyond The Limit and his own full-length feature, last year’s Give My Regards to Broad Street.

One of the world’s most successful recording artists and songwriters, McCartney took time out from working on a new album to see a rough cut of the film at Landis’ request. Sufficiently impressed and inspired, McCartney wrote and recorded the song in one week.

Says McCartney, “John Landis rang me and said he wanted an uptempo rock ‘n’ rolly thing. I thought I might have done a Bondy type song — the 75-piece orchestra, more melodic, with maybe an Eastern touch, the known ingredients for a ‘spy’ type of song. (But) I think one of the fun things about what I’m doing now is varying those things a bit.”

The single features backing vocals from Linda McCartney, 10 cc’s Eric Stewart, Paul’s cousin Kate Robbins, and Ruby James. Keyboards were performed by Eddie Rayner of Split Enz. McCartney plays every other instrument on the record.

The single’s ‘B’ side is “My Carnival,” which was recorded during the 1975 New Orleans sessions for the Venus & Mars LP. The late Jimmy McCulloch, R&B legend Benny Speelman, and The Meters’ George Porter appear on the record.

Last updated on August 10, 2020