Filming Mary Had A Little Lamb By Wings β 13 May 1972
Saturday 13 May 1972
On 13 May 1972, Wings filmed four promotional clips for their single Mary Had A Little Lamb.
The filming sessions took place at Southern Television's studios in Southampton, England, just days after the band had travelled from Scotland back to London.
Paul McCartney's Promotional Vision
Earlier in May 1972, Paul McCartney invited director Nicholas Ferguson to High Park Farm in Campbeltown, Scotland, to discuss ideas for the promotional films.
Ferguson recommended set designer Michael Wield, and together they created four distinctive visual concepts:
- A grassy knoll setting
- A circus tent backdrop
- A rustic barn scene
- A blue-screen special effects setup
The aim was to create several different clips suitable for various television programmes in Britain and the United States.
A Relaxed Wings Film Shoot
Ferguson later described the atmosphere during filming as relaxed and highly professional.
It was a very relaxed atmosphere, very easygoing, everything went to plan.
Lighting for the shoot was supplied by Joe's Lights, while the films themselves were vision mixed live during recording, meaning no editing work was needed afterwards.
During the following week, McCartney and Ferguson reviewed the completed footage at a post-production facility in Soho, London.
Where The Promo Clips Appeared
The various promotional clips were later shown on several major television programmes:
- The barn promo aired on Top Of The Pops on 25 May 1972
- The grassy knoll version appeared on The Basil Brush Show on 24 June 1972
- The special effects version debuted in the US on The Flip Wilson Show on 12 October 1972
One version β the circus-themed clip β remained unreleased for decades before finally appearing in 2018 as part of the Red Rose Speedway Archive Collection reissue.
Wings In 1972
At the time of filming, Wings were still in the early stages of establishing themselves following the breakup of The Beatles.
The band's inventive television promos reflected Paul McCartney's growing interest in visual presentation and music video concepts long before MTV popularised the format in the 1980s.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Wings film the Mary Had A Little Lamb promo videos?
Wings filmed the promotional clips on 13 May 1972.
Where were the promo films recorded?
The videos were filmed at Southern Television studios in Southampton, England.
Who directed the Wings promo clips?
The films were directed by Nicholas Ferguson.
How many promo clips were filmed?
Four different promotional clips were created for Mary Had A Little Lamb.
Which unreleased clip surfaced in 2018?
The circus-themed promotional clip was finally released in 2018 as part of the Red Rose Speedway Archive Collection.
β See everything that happened on 13 May in Beatles History
Shop Beatles Merch: Paul McCartney & Wings Collection | Beatles T-Shirts & Tops
0 comments