Paul McCartney/Wings-song by song thread

Mull Of Kintyre - this is one of my favorite McCartney songs. Maybe because its never been overplayed here in the US. It felt like my little secret. I recall Girls School being played on the radio for a minute. But Mull of Kintyre was special. IMO, it has aged beautifully. The melody has a timeless quality to it so it doesn't sound dated to my ears one bit.

I can still see the black label to the single in my mind. Brings me right back to high school.

 

Have to correct myself: LT appeared in spring 1978.

 

Mull of Kintyre

An amazing timeless Celtic song. This is a masterpiece, a highlight. Really a brilliant moment with a terrific performance. Bravo.

Lyrics:

Mull of Kintyre
Oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre

Far have I travelled and much have I seen
Dark distant mountains with valleys of green
Past painted deserts, the sunset's on fire
As he carries me home to the Mull of Kintyre

Mull of Kintyre
Oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre

Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen
Carry me back to the days I knew then
Nights when we sang like a heavenly choir
Of the life and the times of the Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Kintyre
Oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre

Smiles in the sunshine and tears in the rain
Still take me back where my memories remain
Flickering embers grow higher and higher
As they carry me back to the Mull of Kintyre

Mull of Kintyre
Oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre

Mull of Kintyre
Oh mist rolling in from the sea
My desire is always to be here
Oh Mull of Kintyre

Credits:

Produced by Paul McCartney
Written by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine
Acoustic Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocal by Paul McCartney
Backing Vocal, Percussion by Linda McCartney
Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Backing Vocal by Denny Laine
Bagpipes by Campbeltown Pipe Band
Label: Capitol
Release Date: November 11, 1977
Recorded at Spirit of Ranachan Studio at High Park Farm in Scotland
Length: 4:44 minutes

Paul's own words:

Wingspan 2002

"I certainly loved Scotland enough, so I came up with a song about where we were living: an area called Mull of Kintyre. It was a love song really, about how I enjoyed being there and imagining I was travelling away and wanting to get back there."

Source: Mull of Kintyre (song) - Wikipedia

Promo Films:

 

From the quite-interesting-to-listen-to "Piano Tape", circa 1974:

 

Yes, Jimmy and Joe were still with the band at that point. Jimmy's departure was announced Labor Day weekend while I believe Joe left in November.

 

The album was recorded in August 1976 and released on May 6, 1977.

 

Another way of interpreting the immortal Mull of Kintyre

 

Never heard of that tape! Must have a listen.

 

More about Mull of Kintyre...

Susan Boyle - Mull of Kintyre - Windsor - 2012:

 

And a reggae version

 

I just can t stop this

 

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Mull Of Kintyre (Instrumental) · German Classic Rock Orchestra:

 

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Nottingham Forest Football Club Anthem:

 

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There is a promo edit version (3:31 minutes):

UK Promo 7"



US Promo 7"

 

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The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show:

 

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Countdown interview + video:

 

I’d guess this is German to

Die fidelen Limburger - Mull of Kintyre - Lazy Bumblebee

 

I hate to be that guy, but it seems I must....

It was on A&M. Named after it's founders Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss...

Edit: PS, Love that track. I think it's definitely my favorite Linda vocal...

 

yes, this is the one I have...

 

More about Mull of Kintyre...

Mull of Kintyre - Looking back on a Scottish mega-hit

(18 August 2017)



The late summer might seem like a strange time to write and record a Christmas number one but that is exactly what happened on a Kintyre farm 40 years ago this month.

 

I saw him play several times in Toronto, and each time he busted out Mull as an encore, featuring the local Toronto pipes band of course. It always felt like a bit of a special treat to know that I got to hear a song that those stateside were missing out on...

 

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The Big Issue interview - December 18, 2018

Making Mull Of Kintyre: Paul McCartney takes us to High Park Farm 40 years on

"Mull of Kintyre, the whole area of Kintyre and Argyllshire, is very special because of the memories it holds for me and the family,” says McCartney, speaking to The Big Issue four decades on. “It’s really nice to think that the love we have for the area was captured in a song and brought to the attention of many people around the world.”

A cosy-jumper acoustic ode to the mist rolling in from the sea and his desire always to be by his chosen corner of Scotland’s weather-beaten west coast, 40 years ago Paul McCartney and his band Wings’ Mull Of Kintyre became the biggest and – arguably – best Christmas No 1 of all time. "

 

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VR experience

New 'Pure McCartney VR' Documentary: 'Mull of Kintyre'



"On its release in 1977, the 'Mull of Kintyre' single became somewhat of a phenomenon, selling over two million copies and taking the much desired number one position at Christmas.

But how was the song written? In this new VR documentary - created in association with Jaunt VR, directed by Tony Kaye, and with sound engineering by Geoff Emerick - Paul tells us how he fell in love with Scotland all over again through Linda's eyes, and how he came to write and record the song with the Campbeltown Pipe Band.

There is also more than one opportunity to hear Paul's Scottish accent (Mrs Doubtfire, eat your heart out!) and watch him (try to) play the bagpipes!"

Watch the video below:

 

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Denny Laine:

 

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Denny Laine's version: