- Album This song officially appears on the Egypt Station Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
2018 ?
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Song facts
“Opening Station” is the opening track from 2018 album “Egypt Station“, a 42 seconds collage of sounds. From “Words Between The Tracks” YouTube series:
When we decided we were going to call the album “Egypt station”, I liked the idea of making a montage of sounds that were sort of like a station, so we found one station and then we added another one to it, the sound effects of real stations, and then we started to make up some little noises that we added to make it like a dreamscape, so the idea being that, this kind of dream location was where all this music was going to emanate from. And you set off on a journey and each song becomes a different station.
Paul McCartney
I wanted to open it with sounds of a station, which is a nod to Sgt. Pepper’s. The sounds of a concert hall. I played it to Geoff Emerick actually, when we were in LA, and he said, “That reminds us of something, doesn’t it?”. And I said “Yup”. So it’s a tribute to that.
Paul McCartney
Interview with producer Greg Kurstin, from Rolling Stone, July 3, 2018:
I see that the album begins with “Station I” and ends with “Station II.” What can you tell me about those tracks?
That started with a choir piece that Paul had worked out on the keyboard. Then we brought in David Campbell to help arrange the choir. We went into a cathedral to record that, which was really cool. It started with us in the studio. Paul had worked out some chords that he wanted the voices to do. Then we started creating different ambient noises, some of which came from tape loops. He had a little portable reel-to-reel player, the one they used on Revolver for “Tomorrow Never Knows.” That was done on this little Brenell tape machine. We created some of the sounds on that, like slowing down guitars.
It’s the same exact tape machine from “Tomorrow Never Knows”?
I’m pretty sure that it is. He was a kid back then experimenting and being like, “Hey, if you do this, it actually loops and you can slow down the tape and make these cool effects.” John had one too.
Greg Kurstin
Last updated on December 22, 2019
Officially appears on
Egypt Station (Limited Orange & Blue LP)
Official album
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Deluxe edition)
Official album • Released in 2018
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Limited Red LP)
Official album • Released in 2018
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Limited Green Spotify LP)
Official album • Released in 2018
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station (Orange cassette)
Cassette • Released in 2018
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Official album • Released in 2018
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition
Official album • Released in 2019
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Egypt Station - Traveller's Edition
Official album • Released in 2019
0:42 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Co-producer
- David Campbell :
- Choral arrangement
- Greg Kurstin :
- Producer
- Steve Orchard :
- Engineering
- Mark 'Spike' Stent :
- Mixing engineer
- Michael Freeman :
- Mixing assistant
- Alex Pasco :
- Engineering
- Julian Burg :
- Engineering assistant
- Matt Tuggle :
- Engineering assistant
- Brad Giroux :
- Engineering assistant
- Derek Stockwell :
- Mixing assistant
- Bobbi Page :
- Choir, Vocal contractor
- Josh Bedlion :
- Choir
- Joanna Bushnell :
- Choir
- Amick Byram :
- Choir
- Elin Carlson :
- Choir
- Laura Dickinson :
- Choir
- Monique Donnelly :
- Choir
- Ally Feder :
- Choir
- Jessica Freedman :
- Choir
- Diane Freiman Reynolds :
- Choir
- Katie Hampton :
- Choir
- James Harper :
- Choir
- Walt Harrah :
- Choir
- Ayana Haviv :
- Choir
- Jennifer Haydn-Jones :
- Choir
- Katherine Hoye :
- Choir
- Laura Jackman :
- Choir
- Raven Kane :
- Choir
- Monica Lee :
- Choir
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker :
- Choir
- Scott Mayo :
- Choir
- Donna Medine :
- Choir
- Ann Sheridan :
- Choir
- Fletcher Sheridan :
- Choir
- Susie Stevens :
- Choir
- Suzanne Waters :
- Choir
- Greg Whipple :
- Choir
- Gerald White :
- Choir
- Session Recording:
- Feb 01, 2018
- Studio :
- Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA
- Session Mixing:
- 2018 ?
- Studio :
- Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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