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

Wednesday, February 4, 1981

Recording "Dress Me Up As A Robber", "The Pound Is Sinking", "Average Person"

For Paul McCartney

Last updated on May 9, 2020


Master session

Location

  • Recording studio: AIR Studios, Montserrat

Timeline

Master release

AlbumSome of the songs worked on during this session were first released on the "Tug Of War" Official album

Some of the songs from this session also appear on:

I was surprised to get a call from Alan Crowder asking if I’d like to go to Montserrat to record with Paul and producer George Martin, who incidentally I’d just worked with on Gary Brooker’s solo album, Fear of Flying […]

The actual recording days were very easy-going.There was sometimes boating or swimming in the mornings, then into the studio, rarely before midday. We would wind up most evenings around 7 or 8pm, and always with plenty of breaks for wonderful food! Being around the combination of engineer Geoff Emerick, George Martin and Paul was occasionally daunting, but they’re all such great people and made me feel completely at ease.

The only sad memory I have from the whole Caribbean experience was having to turn down an open invite from Paul and George Martin to stay over, after the tracks I’d cut had been finished. Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke, Steve Gadd et al. were all due to fly in. Unfortunately. I had to return to London [because of some commitments].

Drummer Dave Mattacks, from Tug Of War Archive Collection 2015

A first take of “Average Person” has been recorded on this day with Dave Mattacks on the drum. This take remains unreleased. Paul would return to this song a few days later with Ringo Starr on the drums.


Session activities

  1. Dress Me Up As A Robber

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording

  2. The Pound Is Sinking

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording

  3. Average Person

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording

  4. Something That Didn’t Happen / Hear Me Lover

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording


Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

Shop on Amazon

Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium

We owe a lot to Chip Madinger and Mark Easter for the creation of those session pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details!

Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium is the ultimate look at the careers of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr beyond the Beatles. Every aspect of their professional careers as solo artists is explored, from recording sessions, record releases and tours, to television, film and music videos, including everything in between. From their early film soundtrack work to the officially released retrospectives, all solo efforts by the four men are exhaustively examined.

As the paperback version is out of print, you can buy a PDF version on the authors' website

Shop on Amazon

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.