Album This song officially appears on the Kisses On the Bottom Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 2012
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 2011, when Paul McCartney was 69 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Recording "Kisses On The Bottom"
May 2011 ?
Orchestra overdubs for "My Valentine"
Oct 05 - 06, 2011
2021 ?
Officially appears on Kisses On the Bottom
Officially appears on Wallflower
“My Valentine” is a song written by Paul McCartney. It was one of the two original songs featured on his 2012 album “Kisses On The Bottom” (the other one being “Only Our Hearts“).
“My Valentine” was written for his third wife, Nancy Shevell, whom he married in October 2011. From DailyMail:
They wed in a lavish ceremony in October last year. And Paul McCartney, 70, has now lifted the lid on how a rainy day inspired him to write a song about wife Nancy Shevell. The singer famously wrote a love letter to his American heiress wife on Valentine’s Day while on holiday in Morocco. […]
The former Beatles star wrote the tune on a rainy day while on holiday in Morocco as the couple about their hotel to keep dry. Paul revealed: ‘We were on holiday together, Nancy and I, and it was raining, it’s kind of led me towards a kind of minor-y type thing and the sentiment of you know, oh it’s raining.’
I was in Morocco with Nancy, who’s now my wife, and we were having a nice holiday but it was raining rather a lot. I said, “A pity it’s raining” and she said “It doesn’t matter, we can still have a good time.” And I’m like that, too, I don’t mind at all. So there was an old piano, slightly out of tune, in the foyer of the hotel. And there was this lovely Irish guy who knew so much old stuff, like Beautiful Dreamer, If You Were The Only Girl In The World … Again, stuff from my Dad’s era. I used to enjoy listening to him and he put me in mind of that genre.
So one afternoon, when it was raining, I was in that foyer, and without anyone noticing except a couple of waiters who were clearing up, I sat at the piano and started knocking around with this little tune: “What if it rained? We didn’t care. She said that someday soon the sun was gonna shine … ” So we did that one and eventually I had the pleasure of working with Eric (Clapton), who put a lovely acoustic guitar part on. And by the way, I forgot the important ingredient, the day I wrote it was Valentine’s Day, a fairly important fact! It was our first dance, very romantic.
Paul McCartney – from the “Kisses On The Bottom” liner notes
Prior to the recording for “Kisses On The Bottom“, McCartney performed “My Valentine” for Nancy at their wedding:
Paul performed a special song late in the evening. He had written it especially for ‘his lovely’ Nancy for this day.
It was lovely. She was truly touched and looked as though she shed a tear. I had a lovely time. It was superb. It couldn’t have been more superb or perfect a wedding.
Sir David Frost
“My Valentine” was recorded with Eric Clapton on guitar (he also played on “Get Yourself Another Fool“, another track of “Kisses On The Bottom“).
When I played it to Tommy [LiPuma], he said ‘Yeah, I love it, great.’ So we did that one and eventually I had the pleasure of working with Eric [Clapton], who put a lovely acoustic guitar part on.
Paul McCartney
When we were recording [My Valentine] we were in Abbey Road, and I said, ‘Say Eric, the last time we were working here together, was when you were sitting over there playing guitar on George’s song ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’.’ So there was an, I don’t know what, 40 year gap, and only 10 yards physically.
Paul McCartney
What if it rained
We didn't care
She said that someday soon the sun was gonna shine
And she was right, this love of mine
My valentine
As days and night
Would pass me by
I’d tell myself that I was waiting for a sign
Then she appeared, a love so fine
My valentine
And I will love her for life
And I will never let a day go by
Without remembering the reasons why
She makes me certain that I can fly
And so I do
Without a care
I know that someday soon the sun is gonna shine
And she'll be there, this love of mine
My valentine
Solo
What if it rained
We didn't care
She said that someday soon the sun was gonna shine
And she was right, this love of mine
My valentine
CD Single • Released in 2012
3:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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 2012
3:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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
Kisses On the Bottom (Deluxe version)
Official album • Released in 2012
3:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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
iTunes Live from Capitol Studios
Official live • Released in 2012
3:22 • Live • L1
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano Karriem Riggins : Drums John Pizzarelli : Guitar Alan Broadbent : Orchestra conductor John Clayton : Bass Anthony Wilson : Guitar Gayle Levant : Harp Joel Derouin : Violin Joe Walsh : Guitar Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Vanessa Freebairn-Smith : Principal cellist Jodi Burnett : Cello Songa Lee : Violin Katia Popov : Violin Michele Richards : Violin Kathleen Sloan : Violin Marcy Vaj : Concertmaster Josefina Vergara : Violin Rob Brophy : Viola Rudy Stein : Cello Sid Page : Violin Mario DeLeon : Violin Henry Gronnier : Violin Tammy Hatwan : Violin Serena McKinney : Violin Evan Wilson : Principal violist Thomas Diener : Viola Leah Katz : Viola Jennifer Kuhn : Cello
Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
3:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
3:12 • Studio version • B • Johnny Mandel Original Arrangement
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
3:31 • Live • L1 • Live From Capitol Studios
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano Karriem Riggins : Drums John Pizzarelli : Guitar Alan Broadbent : Orchestra conductor John Clayton : Bass Anthony Wilson : Guitar Gayle Levant : Harp Joel Derouin : Violin Joe Walsh : Guitar Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Vanessa Freebairn-Smith : Principal cellist Jodi Burnett : Cello Songa Lee : Violin Katia Popov : Violin Michele Richards : Violin Kathleen Sloan : Violin Marcy Vaj : Concertmaster Josefina Vergara : Violin Rob Brophy : Viola Rudy Stein : Cello Sid Page : Violin Mario DeLeon : Violin Henry Gronnier : Violin Tammy Hatwan : Violin Serena McKinney : Violin Evan Wilson : Principal violist Thomas Diener : Viola Leah Katz : Viola Jennifer Kuhn : Cello
Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012
Official album • Released in 2016
3:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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 2016
3:16 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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
Paul McCartney & Spotify Singles: Under The Staircase
Streaming • Released in 2018
3:07 • Live • L2
Concert From ""Under The Staircase" Spotify show" in London, United Kingdom on Jul 23, 2018
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
2:11 • Studio version • A1 • Promo edit
Paul McCartney : Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Guitar London Symphony Orchestra : Orchestra Alan Broadbent : Orchestra arrangement, Orchestra conductor Roman Simovic : Concertmaster Eric Clapton : Guitar Sam Okell : Assistant engineer (?) Paul Pritchard : Assistant engineer (?) Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Gordon Davidson : Assistant engineer (?) Fernando Lodeiro : Assistant engineer Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering Kris Burton : Assistant engineer (?)
Session Recording: May 2011 ? • Studio Avatar Studios, New York, USA
Session Orchestra overdubs: Oct 05 - 06, 2011 • 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
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:14 • Studio version • A2 • Alternate guitar solo by Eric Clapton
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:31 • Live • With alternate guitar solo ?
Concert From "Live From Capitol Studios" in Los Angeles, USA on Feb 09, 2012
Unofficial live
3:51 • Live
Concert From "Live at BBC Maida Vale" in London, United Kingdom on Oct 16, 2013
Unofficial live
3:38 • Live
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 11, 2013
2012 • For Paul McCartney • Directed by Paul McCartney
“My Valentine” has been played in 288 concerts and 13 soundchecks.
Bogota • Estadio El Campin • Colombia
Nov 01, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Lima • Estadio Nacional • Peru
Oct 27, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Córdoba • Alberto Kempes Stadium • Argentina
Oct 23, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
Florianópolis • Estádio da Ressacada • Brazil
Oct 19, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
São Paulo • Allianz Parque • Brazil
Oct 16, 2024 • Part of Got Back Tour
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
"My Valentine" 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.
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