Wings recorded ‘Junior’s Farm’ at the Sound Shop Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday 13 July 1974. The session ran from 6pm to 4am the following morning, with the first takes not recorded until 10pm while the song was still being arranged.
| Date | Saturday 13 July 1974 |
| Studio | Sound Shop Studio, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Producer | Paul McCartney |
| Engineer | Ernie Winfrey |
| Session times | 6pm – 4am (first takes from 10pm) |
The recording session
Earlier on 13 July, Wings had rehearsed ‘Junior’s Farm’ at the farm owned by Nashville songwriter Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr, where the band were staying during their time in Tennessee. The song had been written before their arrival in the US, but the lyrics were completed during their stay at the farm.
The recording session at the Sound Shop Studio began at 6pm. The song still needed arranging, and it wasn’t until 10pm that the first takes were committed to tape. The session ran through the night, finishing at 4am on 14 July.
The backing track featured Paul McCartney on bass guitar, Denny Laine and Jimmy McCulloch on electric guitars, Linda McCartney on electric piano, and Geoff Britton on drums. Overdubs included lead and harmony vocals — the harmonies by the McCartneys and Laine — with Britton adding more snare and hi-hat, Linda overdubbing a Moog synthesiser part, and a final bass guitar overdub during the song’s ending.
Engineer Ernie Winfrey recalls the session
This was actually the last track we recorded. Paul essentially showed everyone what he thought they should be playing but everyone seemed to take it a notch higher. Jimmy McCulloch really got to shine on this song. He, Linda and Denny all overdubbed harmony vocals. Denny was also playing some really nice electric rhythm guitar. The breath on the end is Paul’s of course.
Ernie Winfrey, studio engineer
Paul McCartney Recording Sessions (1969–2013), Luca Perasi
Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr and Junior’s Farm
Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr (1930–2016) was one of Nashville’s most celebrated country songwriters. He wrote ‘Green Green Grass of Home’ (a worldwide hit for Tom Jones in 1966), ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E’ (Tammy Wynette, 1968), and ‘My Elusive Dreams’ (David Houston and Tammy Wynette, 1967). Wings rented his farm for $2,000 a week during their Nashville stay.
Putman later recalled the experience warmly:
They just seemed to enjoy being out in the country. They rode horses. I have a pond and they went swimming in it… Paul was very likable, personable. He just seemed like one of us.
Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr
American Songwriter, Jan/Feb 2011
The song ‘Junior’s Farm’ takes its name from Putman’s farm, where Wings stayed and rehearsed. The title is a direct tribute to their host and the setting that inspired the recording.
The Wings lineup in 1974
Wings in July 1974 comprised Paul McCartney (vocals, bass guitar), Linda McCartney (vocals, keyboards, Moog), Denny Laine (vocals, guitar), Jimmy McCulloch (guitar, vocals), and Geoff Britton (drums).
Jimmy McCulloch (1953–1979) was a Scottish guitarist who had previously played with Thunderclap Newman, whose ‘Something in the Air’ reached number one in the UK in 1969. He joined Wings in 1974 and remained until 1977. He died in September 1979 at the age of 26.
Geoff Britton was a karate champion and drummer who joined Wings in 1974. He had broken his foot while karate training on 3 June 1974 but concealed the injury from the rest of the band. He left Wings in early 1975 and was replaced by Joe English.
Denny Laine (1944–2023) had been the lead singer of The Moody Blues before joining Wings as a founding member in 1971. He remained with McCartney until the band’s dissolution in 1981. He died in December 2023.
‘Junior’s Farm’ — release and reception
‘Junior’s Farm’ was released as a double A-side single with ‘Sally G’ on 25 October 1974 in the UK and 4 November 1974 in the US. It reached number three in the UK and number four in the US. The single was not included on any Wings studio album at the time of its release, though it later appeared on compilations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- When was ‘Junior’s Farm’ recorded?
- ‘Junior’s Farm’ was recorded at the Sound Shop Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, on 13 July 1974. The session ran from 6pm to 4am, with the first takes from 10pm.
- Who is Junior’s Farm named after?
- The song is named after the farm owned by Nashville songwriter Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr, where Wings stayed and rehearsed during their time in Nashville. Wings rented the farm for $2,000 a week.
- Who was Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr?
- Claude ‘Curly’ Putman Jr (1930–2016) was a celebrated Nashville country songwriter, best known for ‘Green Green Grass of Home’ (Tom Jones, 1966) and ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E’ (Tammy Wynette, 1968).
- Who was in Wings in 1974?
- Wings in 1974 comprised Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch, and Geoff Britton.
- When was ‘Junior’s Farm’ released?
- ‘Junior’s Farm’ was released as a double A-side single with ‘Sally G’ on 25 October 1974 in the UK and 4 November 1974 in the US. It reached number three in the UK and number four in the US.
- Who was Jimmy McCulloch?
- Jimmy McCulloch (1953–1979) was a Scottish guitarist who had previously played with Thunderclap Newman (‘Something in the Air’, UK number one 1969). He joined Wings in 1974 and died in September 1979 at the age of 26.
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