Recording: Deliver Your Children and Morse Moose And The Grey Goose ā 19 May 1977
Thursday 19 May 1977 | London Town, Studio
Fair Carol, Waterlemon Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands
Wings continued recording 'Deliver Your Children' and 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose' aboard the Fair Carol ā a 105-foot yacht moored in Waterlemon Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands, fitted out as a floating studio using equipment from the Record Plant in New York. Both songs would appear on London Town (1978).
The Fair Carol
The Fair Carol was a 105-foot motor yacht chartered by McCartney for the London Town recording sessions. It was moored in Waterlemon Bay on the north-east coast of St John ā the smallest and least developed of the three main US Virgin Islands, much of which is protected as a national park. The yacht was fitted out with recording equipment supplied by the Record Plant, one of New York's premier recording studios, whose mobile unit had previously been used for sessions by John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, and others.
The concept of recording on a yacht in the Caribbean was both practical and romantic: it allowed Wings to work in isolation, away from the distractions of London or New York, in conditions that were deliberately relaxed and informal. The sessions on the Fair Carol ran from approximately April to June 1977.
Wings in 1977
By May 1977, the Wings line-up had changed significantly from the 1976 tour. Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English had both left the group in late 1977 ā the London Town sessions were recorded with a reduced line-up of Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine, with session musicians brought in as needed. This three-piece core gave London Town a somewhat different character from the fuller sound of Wings at the Speed of Sound and the live recordings of the 1976 tour.
The Songs
'Deliver Your Children' was written by Denny Laine and Paul McCartney ā one of the few Wings songs to carry a joint Laine/McCartney credit. It is an acoustic folk-influenced track with a gentle, pastoral quality that suited the Caribbean setting. 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose' is a more ambitious piece ā a long, multi-sectioned track that closes side two of London Town, running to over six minutes. Both songs reflect the relaxed, sun-drenched atmosphere of the Virgin Islands sessions.
London Town
London Town was released on 31 March 1978. It reached number 4 in the UK and number 2 in the US. The album's title track and lead single 'With A Little Luck' ā which reached number one in the US ā were also recorded during the Virgin Islands sessions. The album has a softer, more introspective character than its predecessor Wings at the Speed of Sound, reflecting both the reduced line-up and the unhurried pace of the Caribbean recording environment.
Key Facts: 19 May 1977
- Location: Fair Carol, Waterlemon Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands
- Songs recorded: 'Deliver Your Children', 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose'
- Album: London Town (released 31 March 1978)
- Wings line-up: Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine (plus session musicians)
- Recording equipment: Record Plant mobile unit, New York
- 'Deliver Your Children' credit: Laine/McCartney
- 'With A Little Luck' US chart position: Number one
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Wings record on a yacht in the Caribbean?
McCartney chartered the Fair Carol to create an isolated, relaxed recording environment away from London and New York. The sessions ran from approximately April to June 1977 in Waterlemon Bay, St John, US Virgin Islands.
What is the Fair Carol?
A 105-foot motor yacht fitted out with recording equipment from the Record Plant in New York. It was moored in Waterlemon Bay on the north-east coast of St John, US Virgin Islands.
Who was in Wings during the London Town sessions?
Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine, with session musicians as needed. Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English had both left the group, reducing Wings to a three-piece core.
What is Morse Moose And The Grey Goose?
A long, multi-sectioned track that closes side two of London Town, running to over six minutes. It is one of the more ambitious pieces on the album.
What was the most successful single from London Town?
'With A Little Luck', which reached number one in the US. The album itself reached number 4 in the UK and number 2 in the US.
ā Paul McCartney
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