Wednesday 26 October 1977 | Recording and demo mixing | Studio Two, Abbey Road Studios, London
Wings continued work on “I’m Carrying” on 26 October 1977, with Paul McCartney producing and Geoff Emerick engineering. Paul re-recorded his lead vocal and added Mellotron and electric guitar, using a Gizmotron to give the guitar a bowed, string-like sound.
The session developed an earlier acoustic recording rather than beginning the song from scratch. The orchestral strings heard in the finished arrangement came later, in January 1978.
The session at a glance
| Date | Wednesday 26 October 1977 |
|---|---|
| Studio | Studio Two, Abbey Road, London |
| Producer | Paul McCartney |
| Engineer | Geoff Emerick |
| Song | I’m Carrying |
| Album | London Town |
| Work | New lead vocal, Mellotron and Gizmotron-treated electric guitar |
| Separate task | Mixing the four-track Sweetest Little Show in Town demo |
| Later completion | String overdub, 6 January 1978 |
From the Virgin Islands to Abbey Road
The foundation of “I’m Carrying” had been recorded on 5 May 1977, aboard the Fair Carol yacht in the US Virgin Islands. Paul performed the acoustic song in a single take.
That intimate beginning remained central to the recording. The October work added colour and a revised vocal rather than replacing the song’s acoustic identity with a full-band remake.
The sequence also reflects the wider development of London Town: recordings made during the yacht sessions were revisited in London as the album took shape.
A new lead vocal
Paul re-recorded his lead vocal during the Abbey Road session. This was a return to an existing song, not the first performance committed to tape.
“I’m Carrying” depends on a relatively restrained presentation. The acoustic guitar and vocal leave room for the additional textures without turning the track into one of the album’s larger ensemble pieces.
The previous day’s work on another album song is covered in our Café on the Left Bank article for 25 October 1977.
What the Gizmotron added
The Gizmotron was developed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. Attached to a guitar, it mechanically bowed the strings, allowing sustained tones resembling orchestral string instruments.
On this date Paul used it for the electric-guitar additions to “I’m Carrying”. The result belonged to the guitar performance, even though its sustained character could suggest a different instrumental source.
This matters when following the arrangement’s development: the October bowed-guitar texture and the later orchestral strings were separate contributions.
Mellotron and orchestral strings
Paul also added Mellotron during the session. Alongside the Gizmotron guitar, it expanded the palette around the acoustic foundation.
The recording was completed on 6 January 1978 with a string overdub arranged by Bobby Richards at AIR Studios. The January session also included final stereo mixing of “I’m Carrying”.
Those stages should remain distinct: the bowed guitar and Mellotron were October additions; the orchestral overdub followed in January.
The Sweetest Little Show in Town demo
Another task during the session was mixing a four-track demo of “Sweetest Little Show in Town”. The ballad had been recorded at Paul’s home studio in Scotland.
This was a demo mix, separate from the overdubs on “I’m Carrying”. The Abbey Road date identifies when Paul mixed that tape, not when its original performance was recorded.
It offers a small glimpse of work beyond the immediate album track: an existing home recording could be brought into the same day’s schedule as a more developed studio master.
The finished London Town album
“I’m Carrying” became the third track on London Town, following the title song and “Café on the Left Bank”. The official album listing gives the release date as 31 March 1978.
Read our UK London Town release article for the finished record. The song also later appeared as the B-side of the “London Town” single, as documented in Paul’s official single listing.
Location map: Abbey Road Studios
Frequently asked questions
What did Paul add to I’m Carrying on 26 October 1977?
A re-recorded lead vocal, Mellotron and electric guitar played with a Gizmotron.
Where was the session?
Studio Two at Abbey Road Studios, London, with Geoff Emerick engineering.
What is a Gizmotron?
A guitar attachment developed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme that mechanically bows the strings to create sustained tones.
When was the original recording made?
On 5 May 1977 aboard the Fair Carol yacht in the US Virgin Islands.
When were orchestral strings added?
On 6 January 1978 at AIR Studios, with an arrangement by Bobby Richards.
What other work took place on 26 October?
Paul mixed a four-track home demo of Sweetest Little Show in Town, originally recorded in Scotland.
Continue exploring: Café on the Left Bank session · London Town UK release · On This Day in Beatles History.
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