Released in 1971
Written by Paul McCartney • Linda Eastman / McCartney
Last updated on June 18, 2025
Album This song officially appears on the Ram LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1971
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1970, when Paul McCartney was 28 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Jan 01, 2005
“Long Haired Lady” is a track from 1971 “Ram” album, by Paul & Linda McCartney. From “Eight Arms To Hold You” by Chip Madinger & Mark Easter:
[…] ‘Long Haired Lady’ was one of the first in the solo McCartney catalog to feature the element of being “pieced together”. Paul had three segments “Well Well Well”, “Who’s The Lady?” and “Love Is Long” which he fashioned into one epic-length track, the longest on the LP […]
Long Haired Lady is very period piece, [fey Californian accent] ‘My long-haired lady.’ Very ’70s.
Paul McCartney, Mojo magazine, July 2001
From mixing engineering Eirik Wangberg:
Although the main bulk of the track had been done in New York, we did record a lot of background vocals at Sound Recorders.
There is also something about Long Haired Lady I’d like to mention. I remember playing the song back to Paul in the studio. He rested his arms on my shoulders after hearing it and, as I turned and looked at his face, tears were rolling down. Paul is a very, very sensitive person! Listening to his vocal work with Linda really got him into it. It was amazing.
Engineer Eirik Wangberg, interviewed by Claudio Dirani, 2005
In 2005, “Long Haired Lady” received the remix treatment of DJ Hellraiser, and was released on the “Twin Freaks” album.
George Martin ignored for work on Ram album ? | Steve Hoffman Music Forums – George Martin wrote arrangements for this song and others on RAM ?
Well well well well well
Do you love me like you know you ought to do?
Well well well well well
Or is this the only thing you want me for?
Well, I've been meaning to talk to you about it for sometime,
Sweet little lass you know, my long haired lady.
Who's the lady that makes that brief occasional laughter?
She's the lady who wears those flashing eyes.
Who'll be taking her home when all the dancing is over?
I'm the lucky man she will hypnotize.
Long haired lady.
Bees are buzzing about my sweet delectable lady,
Birds are humming about their big surprise.
Who's your favourite person, dear phenomenal lady?
I belong to the girl with the flashing eyes.
Long haired lady.
My love is long, love is long, my love is long
I'll sing your song, love is long, my love is long
And when you're young, love is long, your love is long
When your lips lead into song, love is long, your love is long.
Official album • Released in 1971
6:05 • Studio version • B • Mono
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Armin Steiner : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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
LP • Released in 1971
6:05 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Armin Steiner : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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
LP • Released in 1977
5:49 • Studio version • C • Stereo • Instrumental version
Percy "Thrills" Thrillington : Producer Richard Hewson : Arrangements, Orchestration Tony Clark : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Vic Flick : Guitar Clem Cattini : Drums Herbie Flowers : Bass Steve Gray : Piano Jim Lawless : Percussion Alan Parsons : Second engineer The Swingle Singers : Vocals Unknown : Other strings, Pizzicatto strings, Trombones, Trumpets The Mike Sammes Singers : Vocals (?)
SessionRecording : Jun 15, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jun 16, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jun 17, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jun 18, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1993
6:05 • Studio version • A1993.1 • 1993 remaster by Steve Hoffman
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Armin Steiner : Recording engineer Steve Hoffman : Remastering
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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
6:05 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Peter Mew : Remastering Armin Steiner : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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
CD • Released in 1995
5:49 • Studio version • C1995 • Stereo • Instrumental version. 1995 remaster
Percy "Thrills" Thrillington : Producer Richard Hewson : Arrangements, Orchestration Tony Clark : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Vic Flick : Guitar Clem Cattini : Drums Herbie Flowers : Bass Steve Gray : Piano Jim Lawless : Percussion Alan Parsons : Second engineer The Swingle Singers : Vocals Unknown : Other strings, Pizzicatto strings, Trombones, Trumpets The Mike Sammes Singers : Vocals (?)
SessionRecording : Jun 15, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jun 16, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jun 17, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jun 18, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 2005
4:50 • Studio version
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Clive Goddard : Mixing engineer Freelance Hellraiser / Roy Kerr : Producer
SessionRecording : Circa 2004 • Studio : Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Official album • Released in 2012
6:05 • Studio version • A2012 • Stereo • 2012 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Armin Steiner : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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 2012
6:05 • Studio version • B2012 • Mono • 2012 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Armin Steiner : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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 2012
5:49 • Studio version • C2012 • Thrillington: 2012 remaster
Percy "Thrills" Thrillington : Producer Richard Hewson : Arrangements, Orchestration Tony Clark : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Vic Flick : Guitar Clem Cattini : Drums Herbie Flowers : Bass Steve Gray : Piano Jim Lawless : Percussion Alan Parsons : Second engineer The Swingle Singers : Vocals Unknown : Other strings, Pizzicatto strings, Trombones, Trumpets The Mike Sammes Singers : Vocals (?)
SessionRecording : Jun 15, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jun 16, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
SessionOverdubs : Jun 17, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
SessionMixing : Jun 18, 1971 • Studio : EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Bootleg • Released in 2002
6:02 • Outtake • Early take - Ram sessions 11/70 - 3/71
Bootleg • Released in 2004
6:01 • Studio version • B • Mono • Original mono promo LP, especially made for the American AM stations. All the songs have different mixes
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin (?), Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals, Producer, Vocals Denny Seiwell : Drums Hugh McCracken : Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin (?) Eirik Wangberg : Mix engineer Phil Ramone : Recording engineer Marvin Stamm : Brass Mel Davis : Brass Ray Crisara : Brass Snooky Young : Brass The New York Philharmonic Orchestra : Horns, Strings Jim Guercio : Recording engineer Tim Geelan : Recording engineer Ted Brosnan : Assistant recording engineer Dixon Van Winkle : Assistant recording engineer Armin Steiner : Recording engineer
SessionRecording : Oct 27, 1970 • Studio : CBS Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : Jan 11, 1971 • Studio : A&R Studios, New York City
SessionOverdubs : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
SessionMixing : March-April 1971 • Studio : Sunset Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles, USA
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
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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Evan • Jun 12, 2025 • 3 weeks ago
George Martin wrote the arrangements for this song as well
The PaulMcCartney Project • Jun 18, 2025 • 2 weeks ago
Thanks Evan. I didn't know about George Martin's involvement, but after some research, it seems it is mentioned in the RAM deluxe book. Thanks a lot ! Will update the page !