Album This song officially appears on the McCartney LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1970
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1969, when Paul McCartney was 27 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
December 23-30, 1969
Summer 1991 • From Club Sandwich
Paul and Linda McCartney retreat in Scotland
October 22 to November 17, 1969
“That Would Be Something” is the second track on Paul McCartney’s debut solo album, “McCartney“, released in April 1970. It was also the second song recorded for the album. Paul performed all the instruments himself — acoustic guitar, bass, electric guitar, tom-tom, and cymbal — and provided vocal percussion to emulate a drum rhythm.
Paul first performed the song live on January 25, 1991, during the recording of “Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)“, which was released later that year. He also included it in the brief summer tour that followed in support of the album.
In 2001, Paul revisited “That Would Be Something” in an acoustic performance for a radio show promoting the “Wingspan” compilation. The performance was also featured in the accompanying Wingspan television special.
It’s very McCartney, very me.
Paul McCartney – Quoted in “Paul McCartney: Recording sessions (1969 – 2013)” by Luca Perasi
This song was written in Scotland in 1969 and recorded at home in London – mixed later at EMI (No. 2). I only had one mike, as the mixer and VU meters hadn’t arrived (still haven’t).
Paul McCartney – From the press release of “McCartney”, April 1970
This is a little song from when Linda and I were getting together, a simple little thing that I used to jam. I recorded it all on my own for McCartney and heard it again a couple of weeks before the Unplugged show and thought that it was nice. And I was looking for something a little bit bluesy so that Robbie could play slide and Hamish could harmonise. It worked quite well. There’s no lyrics, really: hippies and the rain, a very ’60s idea, very peace and love.
Paul McCartney – From Club Sandwich 58, Summer 1991
Despite the sense of betrayal felt by the other Beatles when Paul McCartney issued the press release for “McCartney” that implied he was leaving the band, George Harrison had some positive words for two of the album’s tracks: “That Would Be Something” and “Maybe I’m Amazed“:
That Would Be Something and Maybe I’m Amazed I think are great and everything else I think is fair, you know. It’s quite good, but a little disappointing, but maybe I shouldn’t be disappointed, it’s best not to expect anything, then everything’s a bonus. I think those two tracks are very good and the others just don’t do anything for me. The arrangements for ‘Teddy Boy’ and ‘Junk’, with a little bit more arrangement could have sounded better. Me, Ringo and John, not only do we see each other, but we see so many musicians and other bands, maybe Paul does too. But I just get the impression that he doesn’t. That he’s so isolated from it, he’s out on a limb. The only person he’s got to tell him if the song’s good or bad is Linda. In the Beatle days, if someone came in with a song that had a corny line and some of the others got a bit embarrassed by it, we’d say it!
George Harrison, 1970 – From “The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001” by Keith Badman, 2009
That would be something
It really would be something
that would be something
To meet you in the falling rain, momma,
meet you in the falling rain.
LP • Released in 1970
2:43 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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
Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
Official live • Released in 1991
4:02 • Live • L1
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Percussion Robbie McIntosh : Acoustic guitar Hamish Stuart : Acoustic bass, Vocal harmonies Paul Wickens : Piano Blair Cunningham : Drums Geoff Emerick : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Eddie Klein : Assistant engineer Gary Stewart : Assistant engineer Peter Craigie : Assistant engineer Gary Bradshaw : Monitor engineer
Concert From "MTV Unplugged" in Wembley, UK on Jan 25, 1991
McCartney (by DCC Compact Classics)
CD • Released in 1992
2:43 • Studio version • A1992 • Stereo • 1992 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Steve Hoffman : Remastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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
2:43 • Studio version • A1993 • Stereo • 1993 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Peter Mew : Remastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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
McCartney - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2011
2:42 • Studio version • A2011 • Stereo • 2011 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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 2017
2:42 • Studio version • A2011 • Stereo • 2011 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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 2020
2:43 • Studio version • A2020 • 2020 half-speed mastering
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Miles Showell : Mastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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
McCartney I II III Limited Edition Colour 3LP Box Set
LP • Released in 2022
2:42 • Studio version • A2011 • Stereo • 2011 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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 2022
2:42 • Studio version • A2011 • Stereo • 2011 remaster
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Producer, Recording engineer, Vocals Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering
SessionRecording : Dec 23-30, 1969 • Studio : Paul McCartney's home • London • UK
SessionMixing : Feb 22, 1970 • Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
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
Where Footprints Never Go - Unofficial Rarities - Ultimate Archive Collection
Bootleg • Released in 2016
0:36 • Live • L2 • From "Wingspan Memorial Day Special" radio show
Concert From "Wingspan: Memorial Day Weekend Special" in , USA on May 25, 2001
Live bootleg
3:26 • Live
Concert From the concert in Barcelona, Spain on May 08, 1991
Live bootleg
2:54 • Live
Concert From the concert in Westcliff-on-Sea, UK on Jul 19, 1991
Live bootleg
3:23 • Live
Concert From the concert in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jul 24, 1991
Rehearsals For The New World Tour 1993
Live bootleg
3:09 • Live
Concert From the concert in Westcliff-on-Sea, UK on Jul 19, 1991
“That Would Be Something” has been played in 8 concerts.
Wingspan: Memorial Day Weekend Special
May 25, 2001 • USA • Radio show
Copenhagen • Falkoner Theatre • Denmark
Jul 24, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
Westcliff-on-Sea • Cliffs Pavilion • UK
Jul 19, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
St Austell • Cornwall Coliseum • UK
Jun 07, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
Naples • Teatro Palapartenope • Italy
Jun 05, 1991 • Part of Unplugged 1991 Summer Tour
See all concerts where “That Would Be Something” has been played
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.
If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.
Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.