Yellow Book

“Yellow Book” is a track from the 1968 album “McGough & McGear“, by Roger McGough and Mike McCartney – brother of Paul – known professionally as Mike McGear. Paul McCartney helped with the production of the whole album:

Though production was credited to “All of Us,” those duties were in fact shared by several fellows. If his brother Paul was there, Mike recalls, “he would be the producer, ’cause I’d be out on the floor. If our kid didn’t do it, it would be me doing it. I, having been brought up with a musical brother, and having seen so much of what he did, learned a lot myself of what I wanted. If I was in the studio and our kid wasn’t there, Paul Samwell-Smith [later to produce Cat Stevens and Carly Simon] would have helped. He was a great listener, very good producer.“

From Liner notes to CD reissue of McGough & McGear (richieunterberger.com)

“Yellow Book” is a beautiful ballad in the moon-june tradition but with some nicely unusual similes. The words are by Roger. The smooth singer is Michael. At the haunting piano is a haunting friend.

From the original liner notes, by Hunter Davies

Officially appears on

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.