Charity Bubbles

“Charity Bubbles” is a song written by Mike McGear (Paul McCartney’s brother) and Roger McGough, members of the comedy, poetry and music trio The Scaffold. It originally appeared on the group’s 1969 album “L the P” under the title “Stop Blowing Those Charity Bubbles.”

To support the album’s release, the song was issued as a single in a newly recorded version. Retitled “Charity Bubbles,” this version features Paul McCartney on lead guitar.

[“Charity Bubbled” and its B-side “Goose“] were written by the team of Mike McGear and Roger McGough, and neither was particularly memorable, falling halfway between outdated psychedelia and pastiche. Paul’s playing is full of bends and pulls, reminiscent of his lead guitar work on “Watching Rainbows” at the Twickenham sessions (see the January 14 entry), as well as his fills on “Another Girl.”

From “That Magic Feeling: The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970,” by John C. Winn, 2009

“Lily The Pink” went on to be a gigantic hit. It was Number One for a month over Christmas and the New Year, selling a million and giving the NP Organisation a terrific credibility boost. Unfortunately, as a novelty record, albeit a brilliant one, it did not herald a string of Scaffold best-sellers. I was promoted to co-producer with Norrie for the follow-up, “Stop Blowing Those Charity Bubbles”, but it failed even to creep into the Top Fifty. I was absolutely certain that anything following a massive Number One had to totter at least into the bottom of the charts, but despite Paul McCartney’s guitar solo, “Charity Bubbles” sunk. I was still hitless, in chart terms, in any capacity.

Tim Rice – Co-producer – From “Oh, What A Circus” by Tim Rice, 2012

Officially appears on