Getting Closer
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- Album This song officially appears on the Back To The Egg Official album.
Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Getting Closer” is a rock song from the Anglo-American rock band Wings, Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles band. The song was released on the album Back to the Egg.
Background
Despite being released in 1979, Paul McCartney wrote “Getting Closer” in 1974, recording a piano demo for the song later that year. Upon being resurrected by the band for Back to the Egg, the song, originally at a slower tempo, was transformed into a “driving rocker.”
“Getting Closer” and the unreleased song “Cage” were off of demos, the latter being one that Paul and Denny did together. There were times when there was a demo aspect to the sessions, and in some cases we created demos to see how the tune was shaping up. — Laurence Juber, Daytrippin’
Like most of the songs off of Back to the Egg, “Getting Closer” bears an influence from punk and new wave music. Author and Mojo contributor Tom Doyle describes Wings’ version as “power-popping” and reminiscent of the English band Squeeze.
Juber said of the guitars used in the song: “I think I played my Martin D28 on the rhythm track and some Les Paul Custom (the one in the video) for the electric.“
Release
“Getting Closer,” backed with “Spin It On,” was released in the US in June 1979 as the first single from Back to the Egg. The single reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as #20 on Cashbox and #22 on Record World. Despite not being released as the first single in the UK (“Old Siam, Sir” was used instead), the song did see a UK single release in August 1979. Marketed as a Double A-side with “Baby’s Request,” the single was a relative flop, only peaking at #60.
For the release of Back to the Egg, a special was made featuring music videos for multiple songs, including “Getting Closer.” “Old Siam, Sir“, “Spin It On” and “Arrow Through Me” were among the tracks for which videos were made. […]
This is a straight-ahead rock tune with layered crunchy guitars. Paul, who liked to put his rhythmic stamp on a track, spent some time overdubbing a driving part on his Epiphone Casino amped with a Vox AC30 a Beatles’ gear combo for sure, although there was nothing overtly Beatle-esque about the track. The ending section was not completed for some months.
Laurence Juber, in Guitar With Wings, 2014
Getting Closer. Basic guitar was a Fender Stratocaster. To achieve a staccato sound we employed the unusual technique of hitting the guitar strings with a drum stick instead of a plectrum. I also played an Ovation acoustic and Denny a Martin D28 among other things.
Laurence Juber, from Club Sandwich N°14, April / May 1979
Last updated on March 7, 2020
Lyrics
Say you don't love him
My salamander
Why do you need him
* Oh no don't answer
Oh no I'm getting closer
I'm getting closer
To your heart
Keeping ahead
Of the rain
On the road
Watching my windscreen wipers
Radio playing me a danceable ode
Cattle beware of snipers
When will you see me
My salamander
Now don't try to tell me
Repeat*
Hitting the chisel
And making a joint
Glueing my fingers together
Radio play me a song with a point
Sailor beware of weather
l'm getting closer
My salamander
Well when will we be there
Repeat*
I'm getting closer
To your heart
I'm getting closer
To your heart
Closer closer
Closer closer
Closer closer
Closer closer
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1979
3:23 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Laurence Juber :
- Electric guitar
- Steve Holley :
- Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Recording engineer
- Chris Thomas :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- October 1978
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- March 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Getting Closer / Baby's Request
7" Single • Released in 1979
Studio version • A1
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Laurence Juber :
- Electric guitar
- Steve Holley :
- Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Recording engineer
- Chris Thomas :
- Producer
- Session Recording:
- October 1978
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
3:23 • Studio version • A
- Session Recording:
- October 1978
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- March 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
7" Single • Released in 2022
3:23 • Studio version • A2022 • 2022 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Electric guitar, Mellotron, Producer, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals, Keyboards
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Laurence Juber :
- Electric guitar
- Steve Holley :
- Drums
- Mark Vigars :
- Assistant engineer
- Phil McDonald :
- Recording engineer
- Chris Thomas :
- Producer
- Alex Wharton :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- October 1978
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
- Session Overdubs:
- March 1979
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Abbey Road
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
Unofficial album • Released in 1992
Latest concerts where Getting Closer has been played
Concert For The People of Kampuchea
Dec 29, 1979 • United Kingdom • London • Hammersmith Odeon
Glasgow • Apollo Centre • United Kingdom
Dec 17, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Glasgow • Apollo Centre • United Kingdom
Dec 16, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Newcastle upon Tyne • City Hall • United Kingdom
Dec 14, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Birmingham • Odeon Cinema • United Kingdom
Dec 12, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour