Recording A Love for You and Long Haired Lady: Paul and Linda McCartney – 27 October 1970

Tuesday 27 October 1970 | Recording | Studio B, CBS Studio Building, New York City

Paul McCartney worked on A Love for You and Long Haired Lady in New York on 27 October 1970, continuing the sessions that produced Ram. Paul and Linda McCartney were the producers, with guitarist Hugh McCracken and drummer Denny Seiwell among the musicians involved in this recording period.

The day continued work begun on 26 October, when Paul recorded Hey Diddle and began A Love for You. In the afternoon, attention turned to Long Haired Lady. Bob Dylan later called in at the studio, and that evening Paul and Linda joined him and his family for dinner.

Continuing A Love for You

A Love for You had occupied the musicians during the previous day’s session. Its basic track featured Paul playing his Martin D-28 acoustic guitar and singing a guide vocal, joined by Hugh McCracken on guitar and Denny Seiwell on drums.

Work continued on 27 October as Paul developed the recording within the New York sessions. The song would remain part of his archive for many years, returning to the studio in later periods before reaching an official release.

The recording also figured in plans for a single, paired with Get on the Right Thing on the B-side. That proposed release was shelved after the formation of Wings.

Hugh McCracken and Denny Seiwell

The sessions brought Paul together with musicians outside the Beatles’ established recording lineup. Hugh McCracken supplied guitar alongside Paul’s acoustic playing, while Denny Seiwell provided the drums.

Their contributions belong to the original New York foundation of A Love for You. The recording’s later development would bring in additional musicians, extending its history beyond the group working at CBS in October 1970.

For fans exploring Paul’s solo career, browse the McCartney Photo T-shirt.

Afternoon: Long Haired Lady

In the afternoon, Paul led the session musicians through Long Haired Lady, then carrying the working title Love Is Long. They spent several hours on the song, which was still incomplete when Bob Dylan arrived at the session.

Long Haired Lady went on to become part of Ram, whereas A Love for You remained outside the original album. The two songs therefore represent different outcomes from the same period of work: an album track developed during the sessions and an outtake revisited across later decades.

The working title provides a direct connection with the song’s development. Love Is Long was the name attached to the piece at this stage before it became known as Long Haired Lady.

Bob Dylan visits the studio

Dylan’s arrival brought a social connection into the recording day. He called in while the musicians were still working on Long Haired Lady, before the song had been completed.

That evening, Paul and Linda were invited to dinner with Dylan, his wife Sara and their family at the Dylans’ apartment at 94 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. The visit and dinner form the closing chapter of the day’s account, following the afternoon’s studio work.

If Dylan’s visit has you exploring his music alongside Paul’s, browse the Bob Dylan merchandise collection at Wonderhaul, our sister music-merchandise store.

A Love for You after 1970

A Love for You had an unusually long route from the Ram sessions to release. Paul revisited it in October 1980 at Rude Studio in Campbeltown, Scotland, while working on the unreleased Cold Cuts project.

Those later overdubs included guitar by Laurence Juber and percussion by Steve Holley, adding material during the final Wings period. Further work followed in 1986 and 2002, and the song eventually appeared on the soundtrack of The In-Laws, the remake of the 1979 film.

Jon Kelly’s 1986 mix was included on the 2012 Ram reissue. That archive release brought another stage of the recording’s development to listeners, alongside the song’s soundtrack appearance.

Two days in the Ram story

Read together, the 26 October session and the work on 27 October show Paul moving between songs rather than treating each studio day as a self-contained recording. A Love for You carried over from one date to the next, while Long Haired Lady joined the day’s programme in the afternoon.

For the wider story, explore our Paul McCartney artist hub, covering his Beatles work and solo career.

Another artist-focused choice is the Paul McCartney Photo Rose T-shirt.

CBS Studio B: the recording location

The sessions took place in Studio B at the CBS Studio Building, 49 East 52nd Street, Manhattan, New York City. The map targets that historical studio address, not New York generally. This is the 52nd Street building, distinct from CBS’s other New York studios.

Open the CBS Studio Building address in Google Maps.

Frequently asked questions

Which songs did Paul McCartney work on on 27 October 1970?

He worked on A Love for You and Long Haired Lady during the New York Ram sessions.

Where did the session take place?

In Studio B at the CBS Studio Building in New York City, with Paul and Linda McCartney producing.

Who played on the basic track of A Love for You?

Paul played Martin D-28 acoustic guitar and sang guide vocals, joined by guitarist Hugh McCracken and drummer Denny Seiwell.

What was the working title of Long Haired Lady?

The song was known as Love Is Long.

Did Bob Dylan visit the session?

Yes. Dylan called in while Long Haired Lady was being worked on, and Paul and Linda later joined him and his family for dinner in Greenwich Village.

Which version of A Love for You appeared on the 2012 Ram reissue?

The reissue included Jon Kelly’s 1986 mix of the song.

The previous day: Hey Diddle and A Love for You · Paul McCartney artist hub · More On This Day in Beatles History

For more of your favourite music artists and bands, shop music merchandise at Wonderhaul, our sister store.