Album This song officially appears on the Say Say Say / Ode To A Koala Bear 7" Single.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1983
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1980, when Paul McCartney was 38 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Recording "Ode To A Koala Bear", "Keep Under Cover"
Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 8, 1980
Tug Of War sessions at AIR Studios, London
December 1980
Aug 31, 1983
“Ode To A Koala Bear” is a song released as the B-side of the single “Say Say Say”.
That day was another regular session day. I think I was booked from 2pm – 5 or 6pm but as always with the possibility the session would go on a bit later, & as it was for Paul, you made yourself available of course. We put the track down with Paul playing piano, me on kit. We left the studio that evening at about 9pm (this was in December) so I think that meant 4pm New York time. It was the same day John was killed. So it may be a touch gruesome, but the Koala Bear track, (which Paul told me was about 1 of his kids toys, who were also there with Linda) was the last track Paul recorded while John was still alive. I know this is weird stuff, but I grew up loving the Beatles, & not only was it a great thrill for me to work with Paul, but such a shock to see him the following day in the same clothes he had been wearing the previous day talking to the press about Johns murder.
Paul Robinson, the drummer for the session, from Steve Hoffman’s forums
Oh, I love you, I still care.
All my affection's there.
I will walk with you to the end of the passage,
My little koala type bear,
Little koala type bear.
I can see you sitting there
With your silent smile.
I won't talk to you for a couple of minutes,
My little koala type bear,
Little koala type bear.
Tell me what it's like
Looking out of eyes,
Like the likes of yours.
Do you find it so surprising
That the likes of me
Likes the likes of you?
I still love you, yes, I do.
All my time on earth.
Will belong to you till the end of the passage,
My little koala type bear
Little koala type bear
Oh I love you
I still care
All my affection's there
I will walk with you till the end of the passage
My little koala (koala) type bear, (koala)
Little koala (koala) type bear.
Oh, oh, oh, - oo -
Oh, I love you, I still care.
All my affection's there.
I will walk with you to the end of the passage,
My little koala (koala) type bear, (koala)
Little koala (koala) type bear.
Oh, oh, oh, oh -
Oh, oh, oh.
Doo, doo, doo.
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.
Say Say Say / Ode To A Koala Bear (Australian version)
7" Single • Released in 1983
3:44 • Studio version • B • Australian mix
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Engineer assistant Paul Robinson : Drums Chris Lawrence : Bass
Session Recording: Nov 30, 1980 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Aug 31, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Say Say Say / Ode To A Koala Bear
7" Single • Released in 1983
3:44 • Studio version • A
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Engineer assistant Paul Robinson : Drums Chris Lawrence : Bass
Session Recording: Nov 30, 1980 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Session Mixing: Aug 31, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London, UK
Pipes Of Peace - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2015
3:44 • Studio version • A2015 • 2015 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Engineer assistant Paul Robinson : Drums Chris Lawrence : Bass Sam Okell : Remastering Alex Wharton : Remastering
Session Recording: Dec 08, 1980 • Studio AIR Studios, London
Recording : Aug 31, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London
7" Single • Released in 2022
3:44 • Studio version • A2015 • 2015 remaster
Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals Linda McCartney : Backing vocals Eric Stewart : Backing vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Jon Jacobs : Engineer assistant Paul Robinson : Drums Chris Lawrence : Bass Sam Okell : Remastering Alex Wharton : Remastering
Session Recording: Dec 08, 1980 • Studio AIR Studios, London
Recording : Aug 31, 1983 • Studio AIR Studios, London
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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 • 6 years ago
No love for the Australian mix?
The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago
Hi Andrew, I didn't know there was an Australian Mix at all ! Awesome :D Thanks for the tip ;)
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/paul-mccartney-ode-to-a-koala-bear-australian-mix.251745/
