Another Day

Album This song officially appears on the Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why 7" Single.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1971
Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1969 (Paul McCartney was 27 years old)

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions






Mixing "Another Day"

Feb 08, 1971

Related interviews


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Song facts

I’d been working in New York with Phil Ramone. Linda and I were having a great time, working pretty hard, and one of the songs we had that was sounding good was called ‘Another Day’. It just felt like the first one that I thought ‘That could be a single’. It was as simple as that, really.

Paul McCartney, from Club Sandwich N°47/48, Spring 1988

From Wikipedia:

Another Day” is a song recorded by Paul McCartney in New York in 1970, during the sessions for his album Ram. Although it was the first single of McCartney’s solo career, “Another Day” was actually written and previewed during The Beatles’ Let It Be Sessions in 1969. It was officially released on 19 February 1971 in the UK, with “Oh Woman, Oh Why” as the B-side. Neither song was included on the original pressings of Ram.

History

Another Day” is written in an observational style reminiscent of “Eleanor Rigby“; Denny Seiwell, the drummer from the Ram Sessions, called it “‘Eleanor Rigby’ in New York City.” The lyrics describe the drudgery and sadness of an unnamed woman’s life at work and at home.

Paul’s wife, Linda McCartney, provided vocal harmonies on “Another Day“. Describing his and Linda’s distinctive harmonies, McCartney said “I wanted ‘our’ sound.” Paul was deliberately attempting to create a unique McCartney style, a musical identity outside of The Beatles. McCartney had decided to list Linda as co-writer of more than half the songs on Ram, and this decision extended to “Another Day.” Despite her lack of a musical pedigree, he insisted that Linda had been an active collaborator, making valuable suggestions about lyrics and melodies. Linda’s credits as co-writer were later regarded as business manoeuvres in the post-Beatles legal matters.

Matching the lyrical sense of isolation and social alienation was the unique sound of “Another Day.” Studio Assistant Engineer of the Ram sessions Dixon Van Winkle said that Paul asked him to pick the single. With McCartney’s blessing, Winkle mixed the song and pressed 100 copies for radio stations. “The next day I heard it on the air, I realized…we got carried away with the bass part…it pumped like crazy. But we never remixed the song, and Paul never said anything.

McCartney has played the song live several times over the years first on his 1993 World Tour and then for the first time in 20 years on his 2013 Out There Tour.

Recording

According to drummer Denny Seiwell, the song was the first one taped during the RAM sessions in New York City at Columbia Studios. Basic track consisted of McCartney on acoustic guitar, Dave Spinozza on electric and Denny Seiwell on drums, with many overdubs added in subsequent sessions (bass, percussion, lots of other guitar parts).

Later release

Although “Another Day” and “Oh Woman, Oh Why” were not originally included on Ram, some CD re-releases of Ram have one or both songs as bonus tracks. “Another Day” has also appeared on several of McCartney’s greatest hits albums, including All the Best!. It also appeared on the Wings greatest hits compilations Wings Greatest and Wingspan: Hits and History even though the song was not credited to Wings and predates the band’s formation. The single was re-released as part of Record Store Day 2012. It was included on the Special and Deluxe editions of the 2012 remaster of Ram.

The song was included on an EP (along with “Oh Woman, Oh Why“, “Junk” and “Valentine Day“) released only in Mexico.

In popular culture

This song is referenced in John Lennon‘s “How Do You Sleep?” in the line “The only thing you done was Yesterday, and since you’ve gone you’re just Another Day“. It was featured prominently in a 2009 episode of The Simpsons titled “Bart Gets a ‘Z'”, and has also been included in several films such as 50 First Dates (2004) and The Lovely Bones (2009).

Paul McCartney in "Wingspan: Paul McCartney's Band on the Run":

I like the idea of writing songs about ordinary people and day-to-day lives, and Another Day is one of them. We all get up in the morning and do our usual stuff, yet somehow – even through it all – there are often magic moments. We recorded it in New York with the help of Phil Ramone and it was a hit which, at that time, was especially pleasing.

We were sitting in Studio A2 one day listening to the takes and Paul asked me to pick the single. I had definite feelings about the record and was in love with ‘Another Day.’ Paul said, ‘Okay. “Another Day” it is.’ I mixed the track and David Crawford cut about 100 copies of it in a back room at A&R for the radio stations. The next day when I heard it on the air, I realized it was a disaster! We got carried away with the bass part, and when it hit the radio station’s compressor, it pumped like crazy! I learned that lesson real quick! But we never remixed the song, and Paul never said anything about it.

Dixon Van Winkle, from MixOnline, August 1, 2004

Last updated on May 30, 2020

The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.

"Another Day" is one of the 154 songs covered.

Lyrics

Ev'ry day she takes a morning bath she wets her hair,
Wraps a towel around her as she's heading for the bedroom chair
It's just another day

Slipping into stockings, stepping into shoes
Dipping in the pocket of her raincoat
It's just another day

At the office where the papers grow she takes a break
Drinks another coffee and she finds it hard to stay awake
It's just another day

Du du du du du du, it's just another day
Du du du du du du, it's just another day

CHORUS
So sad, so sad,
Sometimes she feels so sad
Alone in her apartment she'd dwell
Till the man of her dreams comes to break the spell
Ah, stay, don't stand her up
And he comes and he stays
but he leaves the next day, so sad
Sometimes she feels so sad

As she posts another letter to the sound of five,
People gather 'round her and she finds it hard to stay alive.
It's just another day

Du du du du du du, it's just another day
Du du du du du du, it's just another day

CHORUS

Ev'ry day she takes a morning bath she wets her hair,
Wraps a towel around her as she's heading for the bedroom chair
It's just another day

Slipping into stockings, stepping into shoes
Dipping in the pockets of her raincoat
Ah, it's just another day

Du du du du du du, it's just another day
Du du du du du du, it's just another day

Officially appears on


Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why

7" Single • Released in 1971

3:45 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Another Day / Oh Woman Oh Why (Promo)

7" Single • Released in 1971

3:45 • Studio versionA1 • Mono • Promotional version

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Wings Greatest

Official album • Released in 1978

3:45 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


All The Best! (Box Set)

Official album • Released in 1987

3:40 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


All The Best! (UK version)

Official album • Released in 1987

3:42 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


All The Best! (US version)

Official album • Released in 1987

3:42 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


All Time Favourites

Official album • Released in 1993

Studio version


Wings Greatest (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

3:45 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Ram (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

3:41 • Studio versionA1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Wingspan Hits And History (US version)

Official album • Released in 2001

3:43 • Studio versionA2001 • 2001 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Percussion (?), Producer, Tambourine (?), Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals
Geoff Emerick :
Remastering
Denny Seiwell :
Drums, Percussion
David Spinozza :
Acoustic guitar (?), Electric guitar
Tim Geelan :
Recording engineer
Ted Brosnan :
Assistant recording engineer
Dixon Van Winkle :
Mixing engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Oct 12, 1970
Studio :
CBS Studios, New York City

Session Overdubs:
January 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Session Mixing:
Feb 08, 1971
Studio :
A&R Studios, New York City

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Bootlegs


MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol. 1

Unofficial album

3:24 • Demo • 1/9/69

Recording :
Jan 09, 1969


MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol.24

Unofficial album

3:33 • Soundcheck • Unknown soundcheck '93



Dome In Rehearsal

Unofficial live

4:15 • Soundcheck

Concert From the concert in Fukuoka, Japan on Nov 18, 1993



Videos

Live performances

“Another Day” has been played in 133 concerts and 14 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where Another Day has been played







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.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Another_Day_(Paul_McCartney_song)

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