When The Night (song)

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Album This song officially appears on the Red Rose Speedway LP.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1973

Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1972 (Paul McCartney was 30 years old)

When I'm Sixty-Four

When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)

Master release

Red Rose Speedway

By Paul McCartney & Wings

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions

Recording "When The Night"

Mar 07, 1972

Mixing "Big Barn Bed", "When The Night"

Jan 09, 1973

Related interviews

RAM, Wings, and Beyond: An Interview with Denny Seiwell

May 22, 2012 • From The Morton Report

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Song facts

“When The Night” is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings from the band’s 1973 album, Red Rose Speedway.

Last updated on November 22, 2018

Lyrics

Well the night was beautiful and mellow, mellow
And the light of the night fell on me, fell on me
You said right
Made me a happy fellow
And the light of the night fell on me

I never will forget the night
I held you close, I held you tight
Oh darling, don't you know

You made my senses reel?
I fell in love and now I feel
Like I will never go
Oh little darling don't you know

That the night was marvelous and yellow, yellow
And the light of the night fell on me (repeat)

I never will forget the way
You taught me how to swing and sway
Oh darling don't you know?

That ever since that special day
My mind can only contemplate
The magic that you show
Oh little darling don't you know

That the night is beautiful and yellow, yellow
And the light of the night fell on me etc
Yeah the light of the night fell on me.

Officially appears on

Red Rose Speedway

LP • Released in 1973

3:41 • Studio version • A

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Electric bass piano

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Henry McCullough :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Denny Seiwell :: Backing vocals, Drums

John Kurlander :: Assistant mixing engineer

Glyn Johns :: Recording engineer

Alan Parsons :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ault :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Mar 07, 1972

Studio :: Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:: Jan 09, 1973

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Red Rose Speedway (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

3:41 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Electric bass piano

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Henry McCullough :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Denny Seiwell :: Backing vocals, Drums

John Kurlander :: Assistant mixing engineer

Glyn Johns :: Recording engineer

Alan Parsons :: Mixing engineer

Peter Mew :: Remastering

Phil Ault :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Mar 07, 1972

Studio :: Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:: Jan 09, 1973

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Red Rose Speedway - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2018

3:37 • Studio version • A2018 • 2018 Remaster

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Electric bass piano

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Henry McCullough :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Denny Seiwell :: Backing vocals, Drums

John Kurlander :: Assistant mixing engineer

Glyn Johns :: Recording engineer

Alan Parsons :: Mixing engineer

Alex Wharton :: Remastering

Steve Orchard :: Remastering

Phil Ault :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Mar 07, 1972

Studio :: Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:: Jan 09, 1973

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Red Rose Speedway - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2018

3:37 • Studio version • A2018 • 2018 Remaster

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Electric bass piano

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Henry McCullough :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Denny Seiwell :: Backing vocals, Drums

John Kurlander :: Assistant mixing engineer

Glyn Johns :: Recording engineer

Alan Parsons :: Mixing engineer

Alex Wharton :: Remastering

Steve Orchard :: Remastering

Phil Ault :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Mar 07, 1972

Studio :: Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:: Jan 09, 1973

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Red Rose Speedway (50th Anniversary)

LP • Released in 2023

3:41 • Studio version • A2023 • 2023 half-speed mastering

Paul McCartney :: Bass, Piano, Producer, Vocals

Linda McCartney :: Backing vocals, Electric bass piano

Denny Laine :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Henry McCullough :: Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals

Denny Seiwell :: Backing vocals, Drums

John Kurlander :: Assistant mixing engineer

Glyn Johns :: Recording engineer

Alan Parsons :: Mixing engineer

Phil Ault :: Assistant recording engineer

Session Recording:: Mar 07, 1972

Studio :: Olympic Sound Studios, London

Session Mixing:: Jan 09, 1973

Studio :: EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Bootlegs

MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol. 5

Unofficial album

3:57 • Studio version

Live in Sheffield 1973

Unofficial live

4:04 • Live

Concert From the concert in Sheffield, United Kingdom on Jul 04, 1973

Live in Cardiff

Unofficial live

3:53 • Live

Concert From the concert in Cardiff, United Kingdom on May 13, 1973

Live in Leeds University 73/5/19

Unofficial live

3:35 • Live

Concert From the concert in Leeds, United Kingdom on May 19, 1973

Green's Playhouse - Glasgow Scotland - May 24, 1973

Unofficial live

4:16 • Live

Concert From the concert in Glasgow, United Kingdom on May 24, 1973

See all bootlegs containing “When The Night”

Live performances

“When The Night” has been played in 14 concerts.

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Latest concerts where When The Night has been played

Newcastle upon Tyne • City Hall • United Kingdom

Jul 10, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour

Sheffield • City Hall • United Kingdom

Jul 04, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour

London • Hammersmith Odeon • United Kingdom

May 27, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour

London • Hammersmith Odeon • United Kingdom

May 26, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour

Glasgow • Green's Playhouse • United Kingdom

May 24, 1973 • Part of Wings 1973 UK Tour

See all concerts where “When The Night” has been played

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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