Recording and mixing "Man We Was Lonely"

In late December 1969 and on January 17, 1970, Paul McCartney began recording new material using a Studer J37 4-track tape recorder that had recently been installed at his home in London. Believing these experiments could evolve into his first solo album, he moved to EMI Studios, Abbey Road, to continue the work. He spent time there on January 24, February 7 and 8 and again on February 15.

From February 16 to February 20, Paul relocated to Morgan Studios, where he continued recording the album. On February 21, 22 and 24, he returned to EMI Studios.

On this day, February 25, Paul McCartney arrived at EMI Studios at 10:45 a.m. for a 45-minute playback session of the tracks recorded so far for the “McCartney” album. He then turned his attention to a new song, “Man He Was Lonely,” which would later be renamed to “Man We Was Lonely“

The basic track — featuring vocals and acoustic guitar — was recorded between 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. over 12 takes. Only Takes 10 and 12 were complete, with Take 12 chosen as the master.

Overdubs began at 3:15 p.m. and continued until 9 p.m., including bass drum, bass guitar, a second acoustic guitar, electric slide guitar, and harmony vocals by Paul and Linda.

The song was mixed in a single attempt from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., with engineer Phil McDonald applying Artificial Double Tracking (ADT) to the electric guitar and the second acoustic guitar. The finished mix was then added to the album’s master reel.

The chorus (“Man We Was Lonely”) was written in bed at home, shortly before we finished recording the album. The middle (“I used to ride…”) was done one lunchtime in a great hurry, as we were due to record the song that afternoon. Linda sings harmony on this song, which is our first duet together. The steel-guitar sound is my Telecaster played with a drum peg.

Paul McCartney – From the press release of “McCartney”, April 1970

Session activities

1. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 1

2. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 2

3. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 3

4. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 4

5. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 5

6. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 6

7. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 7

8. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 8

9. Man We Was Lonely

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording • Take 9

10. Man We Was Lonely

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording • Take 10

11. Man We Was Lonely

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording • Take 11

12. Man We Was Lonely

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording • Take 12

13. Man We Was Lonely

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Recording • SI onto take 12

14. Man We Was Lonely

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Mixing

    AlbumOfficially released on McCartney

Staff

Musicians on "Man We Was Lonely"

Production staff

Going further

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