Recording "The Song We Were Singing"

Nov 06-10, 1995 • For Paul McCartney

Part of


"Flaming Pie" sessions with Jeff Lynne at Hog Hill Mill #1

Nov 01 to Dec 05, 1995 • Songs recorded during this session appear on Flaming Pie

Album Songs recorded during this session officially appear on the Flaming Pie Official album.
Studio:
Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

Master release


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About

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.

Last updated on September 26, 2020

Songs recorded


1.

The Song We Were Singing

Written by Paul McCartney

Recording

Album Officially released on Flaming Pie


2.

The Song We Were Singing

Written by Paul McCartney

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

Album Officially released on Flaming Pie - Archive Collection

Staff

Musicians

Paul McCartney:
Producer
Jeff Lynne:
Producer
Geoff Emerick:
Engineer
Jon Jacobs:
Engineer

Going further


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

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