The Dog Presides
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- Album This song officially appears on the And The Sun Will Shine / The Dog Presides 7" Single.
Song facts
“The Dog Presides” is a song written and interpreted by English singer Paul Jones (ex-Manfred Mann) in 1968. It features, among others, Paul McCartney on drums and Jeff Beck on guitar. It was released as a single in March 1968. The same line-up also recorded the A-Side, “And The Sun Will Shine“.
Paul McCartney was on drums on that session, It was during the time I used to hang out with Peter Asher and Paul wanted to play drums because he could.
Paul Jones – from the liner notes of The Paul Jones Collection (CD)
Locked into a low-paying contract that forced him to release below-par singles wholly unrepresentative of his undoubted talent or preferred musical direction, and with a band now on the verge of desertion, Beck continued to prop up his income with the odd session. The most notable of these was an inspired contribution to the B-side of ex-Manfred Mann singer Paul Jones’ single ‘And The Sun Will Shine’, cut in the early spring of 1968. Written by the Gibb Brothers – aka the Bee Gees – ‘And The Sun…’ was a fairly innocuous example of late-sixties pop balladry. But its flip side, ‘The Dog Presides’, was much more rewarding to the ear. Cut at Abbey Road’s famous Studio II, ‘The Dog Presides’, featured an all-star cast of musicians and fashionable London faces. Making his debut as a producer was Pete Asher of Peter & Gordon, a singing duo that had already achieved considerable notoriety with four million-selling singles, the best known of which was ‘A World Without Love’. The brother of Jane Asher – then dating Beatle Paul McCartney – Pete had asked McCartney to attend the session at which he ended up playing drums. Also along for the ride was Jeff’s former bandmate and now producer in his own right, Paul Samwell-Smith, who added bass guitar. To give things an extra helping of top-end sheen, Nicky Hopkins brought along his keyboard, leaving Beck to provide some typical fiery runes from the neck of his Gibson Les Paul. The result of all this superstar jamming was a cracking little tune, sung beautifully by Jones, whose panicky harmonica fills were a perfect complement to Jeff’s growling lead lines. For Beck, who reportedly earned a week’s rent from ‘The Dog Presides’, there was only one regret: “Well, all I remember [about it] was hoping Paul McCartney would sing“.
Last updated on September 28, 2021
Officially appears on
And The Sun Will Shine / The Dog Presides
7" Single • Released in 1968
2:45 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Drums
- Nicky Hopkins :
- Keyboards
- Peter Asher :
- Producer
- Paul Jones :
- Harmonica, Lead vocal
- Jeff Beck :
- Guitar
- Paul Samwell-Smith :
- Bass
- Session Recording:
- Early February 1968
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Latest concerts where The Dog Presides has been played
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.