On This Day in Beatles History: Wings Begin Recording ‘Single Pigeon’ – 9 March 1972
On Thursday 9 March 1972, Wings began recording the song ‘Single Pigeon’ during sessions for their second studio album Red Rose Speedway. The recording took place in Studio One at Olympic Studios in London, with Glyn Johns producing and Phil Chapman working as engineer.
The session marked the beginning of work on one of the album’s most unusual and atmospheric tracks, combining Paul McCartney’s reflective songwriting with experimental studio arrangements.
The inspiration behind ‘Single Pigeon’
Paul McCartney later revealed that the song began with a simple observation. While looking out of a window one day, he noticed a solitary pigeon and began imagining a story behind it.
He explained:
“I had seen a single pigeon, just pecking around – a blue-grey pigeon on its own near some railings – and I thought the combination of those words was quite winning: ‘single pigeon’. I began to think about why the pigeon might be single.
The minute you decide to make up a story about a pigeon, it’s not just a pigeon. It’s a character in a play. It’s a guy who’s had an argument with his girl the night before, and he’s got chucked out of the house. So here he is. He’s single now. All because of the ‘Sunday morning fight about Saturday night’.”
The whimsical observation developed into a reflective song about loneliness and regret, typical of McCartney’s ability to transform everyday moments into lyrical storytelling.
Recording the backing track at Olympic Studios
The backing track recorded on 9 March 1972 featured several members of Wings performing on instruments that differed from their usual roles.
The musicians involved in the session were:
- Paul McCartney – piano and lead vocals
- Henry McCullough – acoustic guitar
- Denny Laine – drums
- Denny Seiwell – bass guitar
The unusual arrangement helped create the delicate and understated feel that defines the final recording.
Tensions during the Red Rose Speedway sessions
Although the recording sessions for Red Rose Speedway produced several notable songs, they were not without difficulties. Producer Glyn Johns became increasingly frustrated with the relaxed atmosphere surrounding the sessions.
According to Johns, the band’s informal approach to recording sometimes slowed progress in the studio. Reflecting on the experience later, he commented:
“They wanted to enjoy themselves in the studio. They obviously like to take their time over recording. I’d say ‘fantastic’ if I could see a good end result emerging. Their idea of having a good time isn’t mine necessarily, that’s the point.”
By the end of March 1972, Johns had decided to leave the project.
Additional overdubs at Abbey Road
Although the basic track for ‘Single Pigeon’ was recorded in March 1972, the song continued to evolve over the following months.
Further overdubs were added at Abbey Road Studios on 29 January 1973, during an unusual session that saw members of Wings playing instruments they did not normally perform.
During the session:
- Paul McCartney played trombone
- Denny Laine played saxophone
- Denny Seiwell played cornet
These additional brass elements added subtle colour to the final arrangement.
‘Single Pigeon’ and Red Rose Speedway
‘Single Pigeon’ eventually appeared on Wings’ album Red Rose Speedway, released in 1973. The album represented an important stage in the development of Wings as a band and helped establish Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles career.
Although the album’s recording process was sometimes turbulent, it produced several memorable tracks and marked a transition toward the more confident sound that Wings would achieve later in the decade.
Recording Session – Quick Facts
Date: 9 March 1972
Song: ‘Single Pigeon’
Artist: Wings
Album: Red Rose Speedway
Studio: Olympic Studios (Studio One), London
Producer: Glyn Johns
Engineer: Phil Chapman
Notable detail: The backing track featured unusual instrument roles among members of Wings.
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