Recording "The Song We Were Singing"

“The Song We Were Singing” was the first song recorded with Jeff Lynne, for the “Flaming Pie” album. Mark Lewisohn, in Club Sandwich n°82, Summer 1997:

‘The Song We Were Singing’ was the opening number taped by Paul in his initial sessions with Jeff Lynne, which took place some nine months after the pair had last worked together: on the Beatles’ ‘Real Love‘. ‘The Song We Were Singing’ set the pattern for the songs that would follow, with Paul and Jeff playing guitars, as a foundation on to which they built the other instrumental and vocal tracks. Their aim, successfully achieved, was to adhere to the spirit of Paul’s roughly-recorded demo, evoking memories of the 1960s, when many a late night was enjoyed “chatting, smoking, drinking wine, hanging out… and discussing the vast intricacies of life”. […] Among the instruments played here by Paul is the stand-up bass originally owned by Bill Black and used by the Sun session player on all of Elvis Presley’s earliest and greatest hits – including ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ […]

Did that one, had fun, just enjoyed working, pretty much on the same basis that I worked with Steve [Miller], virtually just me and him doing it all. Now it was me and Jeff just doing it all. He’d play guitar with me and I played bass and drums, and then he’d sing harmony with me — it’s good having somebody like that who’s a guitarist-singer, if you think about it, because it’s John, really, isn’t it? Or George. So it’s something I’m very comfortable with. And we just built the album that way.

Paul McCartney, about working on “The Song We Were Singing” with Jeff Lynne, from the Flaming Pie Archive Collection, 2020

One of the first things that amazed me was what a great drummer Paul McCartney is.

Jeff Lynne, from the Flaming Pie Archive Collection, 2020

In the “Flaming Pie Archive Collection“, it is mentioned that the rough mix was mixed on November 3, 1995. This is not possible if “The Song We Were Singing” was recorded starting November 6, as mentioned in the same booklet. We assume the rough mix has been created during the same days as the recording.

Session activities

1. The Song We Were Singing

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Recording

   AlbumOfficially released on Flaming Pie

2. The Song We Were Singing

   Written by Paul McCartney

   Mixing • Rough mix released on the "Flaming Pie Archive Collection"

   AlbumOfficially released on Flaming Pie - Archive Collection

Staff

Musicians

Going further

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This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.Read our exclusive interview with Luca Perasi

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