Saturday 2 November 1974 | Recording | Studio Two, EMI Studios, London | By Beatles Fabdom
On 2 November 1974, Wings continued recording “Rock Show” at EMI Studios on Abbey Road. Paul McCartney produced the session, with Geoff Emerick and Mark Vigars engineering.
The band added guitars, Minimoog synthesizer and chimes to a backing track recorded the previous day. This early recording was subsequently labelled “Rock Show 1st Version”, and the song went through further recording sessions before its release on Venus and Mars.
| Date | Saturday 2 November 1974 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Wings |
| Song | Rock Show |
| Studio | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London |
| Producer | Paul McCartney |
| Engineers | Geoff Emerick and Mark Vigars |
| Work carried out | Guitar, Minimoog synthesizer and chime overdubs |
| Recording designation | Rock Show 1st Version |
| Album project | Venus and Mars |
The opening sessions for Venus and Mars
Wings began the recording work for Venus and Mars in November 1974. The group then consisted of Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton.
That line-up was different from the trio who had made Band on the Run. McCulloch and Britton had joined Paul, Linda and Denny, giving Wings a five-person membership as the new album sessions began.
“Rock Show” was the song tackled at the first session on 1 November. The following day’s work therefore belongs to the beginning of the album’s recording history, months before its release in May 1975.
The 34 takes recorded on 1 November
The backing track used on 2 November came from a lengthy session the previous day. Wings recorded 34 takes in total, with Paul on bass, Jimmy McCulloch and Denny Laine on guitars, and Geoff Britton on drums.
The take numbering needs a little care. After 18 takes, the band paused and McCartney reconsidered the arrangement. They then began another sequence numbered 1–16. The last of those takes was selected as the best.
Thus, the chosen performance was the last of 34 attempts across two numbering sequences, rather than a reel entry simply numbered “take 34”. It ran for more than seven minutes and became the basis for the next day’s overdubs.
| Musician | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Paul McCartney | Bass guitar |
| Denny Laine | Guitar |
| Jimmy McCulloch | Guitar |
| Geoff Britton | Drums |
Guitars, Minimoog and chimes: 2 November 1974
Wings returned to Studio Two on Saturday 2 November to build on the selected performance. More guitar parts were recorded, along with Minimoog synthesizer and chimes.
These were overdubs: additional parts recorded onto an existing backing track. They were not another complete set of basic takes.
The session account identifies the instruments added, but does not assign each of the day’s overdubs to an individual musician. The basic-track personnel listed above belong to the previous day’s recording.
Wings merchandise: the collage T-shirt
The Wings Collage T-shirt features a band-themed front design and a repeated Wings print on the back.
Why the tape was marked Rock Show 1st Version
The recording was marked “Rock Show 1st Version”. Wings did not retain it as the final album performance: the band returned to the song later in November and again during the New Orleans sessions in 1975.
The label identifies this particular stage in the recording history. It should not be confused with the completed Venus and Mars track, even though the song title was the same.
The November sessions show a song being revisited through new basic recordings as well as overdubs. The 2 November work was one stage in that process, rather than the completion of the released master.
Further Abbey Road work in November
Wings resumed recording “Rock Show” on 14 November. Percussionist Kenneth “Afro” Williams joined them on congas for six takes.
On 15 November, the band recorded another 23 takes, numbered 7–29. The basic line-up for that session had McCartney on piano, Laine and McCulloch on guitars, Britton on drums and Williams on congas.
Take 12 was selected, after which McCartney added bass and lead vocals and McCulloch added more guitar. Even this was not the end of the song’s recording history.
New Orleans and Los Angeles: the later recording
The Venus and Mars project moved to Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans in early 1975. “Rock Show” received further recording attention there in January and February.
Additional work followed at Wally Heider Studios in Los Angeles. Our article on the Rock Show overdubs of 7 March 1975 continues the chronology into that later phase.
| Date | Work |
|---|---|
| 1 November 1974 | First backing-track session at EMI Studio Two |
| 2 November 1974 | Guitar, Minimoog and chime overdubs on the first version |
| 14–15 November 1974 | Further basic recordings at EMI Studio Two |
| January–February 1975 | Further recording at Sea-Saint Studios, New Orleans |
| 7 March 1975 | Later overdub work in Los Angeles |
| May 1975 | Released on Venus and Mars |
Rock Show on Venus and Mars
On the finished album, “Rock Show” follows the opening title track. The two songs were also issued together as a single medley in 1975, with “Magneto and Titanium Man” on the B-side.
Paul McCartney’s official discography lists the single’s release as 28 November 1975. The pairing also became part of Wings’ live presentation, linking the album’s opening sequence with the band’s concert repertoire.
That live chapter is reflected in the Wings Over America black T-shirt, which features concert imagery and a Wings emblem on the reverse.
The 2014 Archive Collection
The expanded 2014 Venus and Mars Archive Collection included “Rock Show – Old Version” among its bonus tracks, alongside other material from the period.
The official track listing distinguishes that bonus recording from the remastered album version. It gives listeners a way to explore an earlier studio approach separately from the familiar released track.
Studio Two location map: Abbey Road, London
The 2 November session took place in Studio Two at EMI Studios, 3 Abbey Road, St John’s Wood, London NW8 9AY, now known as Abbey Road Studios.
The map marks the studio complex containing Studio Two. Abbey Road remains a working recording studio and is not open to the general public for routine visits or tours.
Open Abbey Road Studios in Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
What did Wings record on 2 November 1974?
They added guitar, Minimoog synthesizer and chime overdubs to the first version of Rock Show.
Where did the session take place?
It took place in Studio Two at EMI Studios on Abbey Road in London.
Who produced and engineered the session?
Paul McCartney produced it, with Geoff Emerick and Mark Vigars engineering.
How many takes had Wings recorded the previous day?
They recorded 34 takes across two numbering sequences. The final take of the second sequence was selected for overdubs.
Was this the finished album recording?
No. The recording was marked Rock Show 1st Version, and the song underwent further recording before its release on Venus and Mars.
Was an old version later released?
Yes. Rock Show – Old Version appeared among the bonus tracks on the 2014 Venus and Mars Archive Collection.
Official releases: Venus and Mars Archive Collection and Venus and Mars / Rock Show single.
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