Mixing and editing Jet, Mrs Vandebilt and Let Me Roll It – Wings, 27 October 1973

Saturday 27 October 1973 | Stereo mixing and editing | Studio Three, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London

Wings’ Band on the Run mixing continued at Abbey Road on 27 October 1973, with Paul McCartney producing and Geoff Emerick engineering. The three songs addressed were Jet, Mrs Vandebilt and Let Me Roll It.

The session began at 2pm and continued until 4am the following morning. It was the first of three mixing sessions held at Abbey Road, following the work at Kingsway Studios on 25 and 26 October.

From Kingsway to Abbey Road

The previous two days had taken the album’s mixing work to Kingsway Studios. The 25 October session began that two-day block, followed by further mixing and editing on 26 October.

On the 27th, Paul and Geoff Emerick continued the album’s preparation in Studio Three at EMI Studios. The change of location brings the sequence to Abbey Road, where Jet, Mrs Vandebilt and Let Me Roll It received stereo mixing attention.

These entries follow the album through its finishing stages, from the Kingsway work on the title song and other tracks to this overnight session on three more of its best-known songs.

Jet: the edit of RS4 and RS5

Geoff Emerick mixed Jet, with the final version assembled as an edit of RS4 and RS5. The two stereo mixes were joined to create the finished version.

The RS numbers identify stereo remixes. They belong to the mixing stage of the recording process, when the recorded material was being prepared for the album.

Jet’s entry is therefore an editing story as well as a mixing story: the chosen result drew on two mixes, rather than simply taking a single mix from beginning to end.

Mrs Vandebilt: completed in one attempt

Mrs Vandebilt was completed in one stereo-mixing attempt. Alongside Jet’s edited combination, it provides a different picture of the same session: one song reached its finished mix directly, while another required material from two versions.

The album’s preparation moved between those different requirements during the long afternoon, evening and overnight booking.

Let Me Roll It: three mixing attempts

Let Me Roll It took three stereo-mixing attempts. Together with Jet and Mrs Vandebilt, it completed the three-song programme for this first Abbey Road mixing session.

Celebrate Band on the Run

The songs worked on that night became part of Band on the Run’s enduring appeal. For merchandise directly connected with the album, explore the Wings Band on the Run T-shirt.

Follow the October mixing sequence

The connected entries trace three successive dates in the album’s production:

• 25 October 1973: mixing at Kingsway Studios.
• 26 October 1973: further Kingsway mixing and editing.
• 27 October 1973: Jet, Mrs Vandebilt and Let Me Roll It at Abbey Road.

For more of Paul’s recording and performing history, visit the Paul McCartney artist hub. You can also explore the McCartney Photo T-shirt.

Studio Three at Abbey Road

The overnight session took place in Studio Three at EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London.

Frequently asked questions

Which Wings songs were mixed on 27 October 1973?

Jet, Mrs Vandebilt and Let Me Roll It, all for Band on the Run.

Where did the session take place?

In Studio Three at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London.

Who produced and engineered the session?

Paul McCartney produced, and Geoff Emerick was the engineer.

What time did the session finish?

It began at 2pm on 27 October and ended at 4am the following morning.

How was the final mix of Jet assembled?

It was edited together from stereo mixes RS4 and RS5.

How many mixing attempts did the other songs take?

Mrs Vandebilt was completed in one attempt, and Let Me Roll It in three.

The preceding day’s Kingsway session · Paul McCartney artist hub · More On This Day in Beatles History