Basement Flat

Song facts

“Basement Flat” is a track from the 1968 album “McGough & McGear“, by Roger McGough and Mike McCartney – brother of Paul – known professionally as Mike McGear. Paul McCartney helped with the production of the whole album:

Though production was credited to “All of Us,” those duties were in fact shared by several fellows. If his brother Paul was there, Mike recalls, “he would be the producer, ’cause I’d be out on the floor. If our kid didn’t do it, it would be me doing it. I, having been brought up with a musical brother, and having seen so much of what he did, learned a lot myself of what I wanted. If I was in the studio and our kid wasn’t there, Paul Samwell-Smith [later to produce Cat Stevens and Carly Simon] would have helped. He was a great listener, very good producer.“

From Liner notes to CD reissue of McGough & McGear (richieunterberger.com)

“Basement Flat” could probably drive you mad eventually, especially that pneumatic drill. It’s written by Roger, composed by Michael, with an echo, a cuckoo clock and friends thrown in. The whole session was improvised, though it doesn’t always show, but it does tell in the line “So why don’t you marry me”. You can sense Michael having a go at singing in different ways, waiting to see how the instruments will answer him.

From the original liner notes, by Hunter Davies

Last updated on June 29, 2021