Wednesday 10 August 1977 | Paul McCartney, Studio, Wings
| Studio | Spirit of Ranachan Studio, Low Ranachan Farm, Campbeltown, Scotland |
| Producer | Paul McCartney |
| Engineers | Geoff Emerick, Mark Vigars |
Following the recording of Wings’ ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ on 9 August 1977, the song was edited on 10 August 1977.
Paul McCartney had concerns that the ending was not quite right, so he repeated an earlier section of the bagpipers and drummers playing the chorus. That resulted in the song’s length being reduced by 10 seconds.
‘Mull Of Kintyre’ still had guide vocals at this stage, and was completed on 3 October 1977 with the addition of new lead and harmony vocals, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar.
The day ended with a jam session, during which Wings recorded a piece known as ‘Jam (Day After Pipers)’. The following day they recorded another titled ‘Jam (Good One)’, before a break in Wings recording sessions until October. The main reason for the break was the arrival of the McCartneys’ son James McCartney, who was born on 12 September 1977.
Mull Of Kintyre
‘Mull Of Kintyre’ was released as a double A-side single with ‘Girls’ School’ on 11 November 1977. It became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, topping the charts for nine weeks and becoming the best-selling UK single of 1977. It held the record for the best-selling UK single of all time until 1984, when it was surpassed by Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.
The song was inspired by the Mull of Kintyre peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, where McCartney owned High Park Farm. The bagpipes were played by the Campbeltown Pipe Band, who were recruited locally and recorded outdoors in a field near the studio.
Engineer Geoff Emerick had a long history with McCartney, having been the recording engineer for The Beatles at Abbey Road from 1966, working on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, and other albums.
Wings — officially licensed merch
Paul McCartney: Wings Band on the Run Unisex T-Shirt (Black).
Spirit of Ranachan Studio, Campbeltown
Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, Scotland — home of Paul McCartney’s High Park Farm and the Spirit of Ranachan Studio where ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ was recorded and edited in August 1977.
Wings — officially licensed merch
Paul McCartney: Wings Over America ’76 Unisex T-Shirt (Charcoal Grey).
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to 'Mull Of Kintyre' on 10 August 1977?
Wings edited 'Mull Of Kintyre' at the Spirit of Ranachan Studio in Campbeltown. McCartney repeated an earlier section of the bagpipers and drummers playing the chorus, reducing the song's length by 10 seconds.
When was 'Mull Of Kintyre' completed?
'Mull Of Kintyre' was completed on 3 October 1977 with the addition of lead and harmony vocals, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar. It was released on 11 November 1977.
How successful was 'Mull Of Kintyre'?
'Mull Of Kintyre' became the first UK single to sell more than two million copies, topping the charts for nine weeks. It was the best-selling UK single of all time until 1984.
Who played the bagpipes on 'Mull Of Kintyre'?
The bagpipes were played by the Campbeltown Pipe Band, who were recruited locally and recorded outdoors in a field near the Spirit of Ranachan Studio.
Why did Wings take a break from recording after 11 August 1977?
Wings took a break from recording sessions until October 1977, primarily because of the birth of Paul and Linda McCartney's son James McCartney on 12 September 1977.
→ Recording: Mull Of Kintyre by Wings – 9 August 1977
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