On This Day in Beatles History: Wings Mix ‘Arrow Through Me’ – 9 March 1979
On Friday 9 March 1979, Paul McCartney and producer Chris Thomas mixed the Wings song ‘Arrow Through Me’ in stereo at Replica Studio in London. The track was prepared for inclusion on Wings’ seventh studio album Back To The Egg.
The mixing session represented the final stage in the development of one of the album’s most distinctive songs, notable for its smooth groove, layered harmonies and prominent brass arrangement.
Recording ‘Arrow Through Me’
Although the mixing took place in London in March 1979, the song had been recorded several months earlier during the sessions for Back To The Egg.
The basic track for ‘Arrow Through Me’ was recorded on 10 July 1978 in Scotland, where Wings had begun work on material for their next album following the success of London Town.
Additional work on the song continued later that year, with the recording completed during an overdub session at Abbey Road Studios on 10 October 1978. These overdubs added further instrumentation and helped refine the track’s distinctive arrangement.
A unique sound within Back To The Egg
‘Arrow Through Me’ stands out within the Back To The Egg album because of its funk-influenced rhythm, prominent brass section and intricate vocal harmonies. The track represents one of Paul McCartney’s more rhythmically experimental songs from the late 1970s.
Reflecting on the song many years later, McCartney admitted that he had not listened to it for decades after recording it:
“There are some songs that I just hadn’t heard literally since I recorded them. One was called ‘Arrow Through Me’. That is a kind of funky little thing. Interesting harmonies, interesting brass riff. As I say, something I recorded and then not listened to again.”
Despite McCartney’s own modest recollection, the song has since gained appreciation among fans for its unusual groove and polished arrangement.
The Back To The Egg sessions
The album Back To The Egg was released in 1979 and represented a stylistic shift for Wings. The record blended polished studio production with a slightly harder, more contemporary sound influenced by the late-1970s music scene.
Recording sessions for the album took place in several locations, including:
- Spirit of Ranachan Studios in Scotland
- Abbey Road Studios in London
- additional production and mixing sessions in London studios such as Replica Studio
The album would ultimately become the final studio release by Wings before Paul McCartney began moving toward a new phase of his solo career in the early 1980s.
Recording Session – Quick Facts
Date: 9 March 1979
Song: ‘Arrow Through Me’
Artist: Wings
Album: Back To The Egg
Studio: Replica Studio, London
Producers: Paul McCartney and Chris Thomas
Notable detail: Final stereo mix prepared for the album.
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