- Album This song officially appears on the Back To The Egg Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
September 11 to 29, 1978
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Song facts
Although this was not to be a concept album, the narrative of ‘setting up for the show’ was a familiar theme in the McCartney lyric book. This reflective moment gained something from the castle ambience. While Paul played the opening acoustic guitar, I sat in the spiral stairwell doubling his part on an acoustic 12-string with the third string de-tuned a step or two. It was not deliberate, that was how the guitar came out of the case. The tuning worked harmonically with Paul’s part so I did not touch it. We added little ‘wah wah’ pedal guitar, tremolo electric guitar, volume pedal on bass, glockenspiel and ethereal backing vocals. Steve played some tuned bongo-type drums called boobams.
Laurence Juber, in Guitar With Wings, 2014
Open Tonight. Paul played his Martin and I played a 12 string with a crazy tuning. The bass was played through a volume pedal to get the slightly bowed sound.
Laurence Juber, from Club Sandwich N°14, April / May 1979
Last updated on March 7, 2020
Lyrics
We're open tonight for fun
So bring all your friends come on
We're open tonight come one, come all
We're opening all our doors
We're clearing back all the floors
We're open tonight come one come all
Come one, come all
We're open tonight
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1979
1:28 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Denny Laine :
- Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar
- Laurence Juber :
- 12-string acoustic guitar, Electric guitar
- Steve Holley :
- Percussion
- Session Recording:
- September 11 to 29, 1978
- Studio :
- Lympne Castle, Kent
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 1993
1:28 • Studio version • A
- Session Recording:
- September 11 to 29, 1978
- Studio :
- Lympne Castle, Kent
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Bootlegs
Back To The Egg - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
1:29 • Studio version • A
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
Going further
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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