Released in 1974
Written by Paul McCartney • Linda Eastman / McCartney
Last updated on November 4, 2016
Album This song officially appears on the Junior's Farm / Sally G 7" Single.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1974
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Wife, player, mother, lover... Linda
Oct 05, 1974 • From Sounds
McCartney: 'Abbey Road' revisited
May 31, 1975 • From Melody Maker
Winter 1994 • From Club Sandwich
From Wikipedia:
“Junior’s Farm” is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed with McCartney’s band Wings. It was a number-three hit single in the United States. It was issued as a non-album single.
Writing and release
It was recorded in 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee, while the band was staying at the Lebanon, Tennessee farm of Curly Putman Jr., which accounts for the title.
The song continued McCartney and Wings’ success after the Band on the Run album. It made number 16 on the United Kingdom charts.
The photo for the single’s picture sleeve featured the members of Wings dressed in appropriate costumes from the song’s lyrics (for example, Geoff Britton as a poker dealer and Denny Laine as the “Eskimo”). However, the photo only appeared on the picture sleeve of the single in Spain and in advertisements elsewhere. In the UK and the US, the single was released in an Apple Records company sleeve. In some other countries in Europe, a black-and-white band photo was used instead (see alternative cover).
This was McCartney’s last release on Apple Records before signing a solo recording contract with Capitol Records in May 1975, following the dissolution of the Beatles’ partnership.
Music video
The music video of Junior’s Farm shows Paul McCartney playing a Kay electric bass guitar.
B-side and later release
The B-side, “Sally G“, was also a top-20 hit on the US charts, peaking at number 17. “Junior’s Farm” was later released on the McCartney/Wings compilation Wings Greatest in 1978 and the US version of All the Best! in 1987, although it was not on the UK edition of the latter album. The 3-minute radio edit of the song was included on the Wingspan: Hits and History compilation. “Sally G” was released in 1993 as a bonus track on Wings at the Speed of Sound in The Paul McCartney Collection. Both songs are now remastered and featured on the Hear-Music version of Venus and Mars released in November 2014.
You should have seen me with the poker man,
I had a honey and I bet a grand,
Just in the nick of time I looked at his hand.
I was talking to an Eskimo,
Said he was hoping for a fall of snow,
When up popped a sea lion ready to go.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go
Down to junior's farm where I want to lay low.
Low life, high life, oh, let's go,
Take me down to junior's farm.
At the Houses of Parliament
Ev'rybody's talking 'bout the President,
We all chip in for a bag of cement.
Olly Hardy should have had more sense,
He bought a gee-gee and he jumped the fence,
All for the sake of a couple of pence.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go
Down to junior's farm where I want to lay low,
Low life, high life, oh, let's go,
Take me down to junior's farm,
Everybody tag along.
I took my bag into a grocer's store,
The price is higher than the time before,
Old man asked me why is it more.
I said you should have seen me with the poker man,
I had a honey and I bet a grand,
Just in the nick of time I looked at his hand.
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go
Down to junior's farm where I want to lay low,
Low life, high life, oh, let's go,
Take me down to junior's farm,
Let's go, let's go,
Down to junior's farm where I want to lay low.
Low life, high life, oh, let's go,
Take me down to junior's farm
Ev'rybody tag along.
Take me down to junior's farm.
7" Single • Released in 1974
4:23 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1978
4:23 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1990
4:20 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
4:23 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
4:23 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Wingspan Hits And History (US version)
Official album • Released in 2001
3:04 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Emerick : Remastering Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer Peter Mew : Remastering
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Wingspan Hits And History (Japanese version)
Official album • Released in 2001
3:04 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Emerick : Remastering Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer Peter Mew : Remastering
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2001
3:04 • Studio version • A2001 • 2001 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Emerick : Remastering Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer Peter Mew : Remastering
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Venus And Mars - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2014
4:24 • Studio version • A2014 • 2014 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering Sam Okell : Remastering
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2016
4:24 • Studio version • A2014 • 2014 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Keyboards Denny Laine : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Jimmy McCulloch : Backing vocals, Electric guitar Geoff Britton : Drums Alan O'Duffy : Mixing engineer Ernie Winfrey : Recording engineer Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering Sam Okell : Remastering
Session Recording: July 16-18, 1974 • Studio Soundshop Recording Studios, Nashville, USA
Session Mixing: Oct 07, 1974 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • From the books "Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs" • Buy Volume 1 (1970-1989) and Volume 2 (1990-2012) on Amazon
On The Run - Bologna, Italy - November 26, 2011
Unofficial live
3:43 • Live
Concert From the concert in Bologna, Italy on Nov 26, 2011
On The Run - Bologna, Italy - November 27, 2011
Unofficial live
3:46 • Live
Concert From the concert in Milan, Italy on Nov 27, 2011
Unofficial live
3:49 • Live
Concert From the concert in Montreal, Canada on Jul 26, 2011
1974 • For Paul McCartney & Wings • Directed by David Litchfield
Concert Nov 21, 1974 in London
Concert Jul 15, 2011 in New York
Concert May 06, 2013 in Goiania
Concert Oct 18, 2023 in Adelaide
“Junior's Farm” has been played in 188 concerts and 18 soundchecks.
Paris • La Defense Arena • France
Dec 05, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Paris • La Defense Arena • France
Dec 04, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Mexico City • Foro Sol • Mexico
Nov 14, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Mexico City • Foro Sol • Mexico
Nov 12, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Monterrey • Estadio BBVA • Mexico
Nov 08, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
"Junior's Farm" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.
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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Andrew Lynch • 4 years ago
All The Best!