Tuesday 16 July 1974 | Sound Shop Studio, Nashville, Tennessee
Producer: Paul McCartney | Engineer: Ernie Winfrey
On 16 July 1974, Paul McCartney recorded the instrumental Walking In The Park With Eloise at Sound Shop Studio in Nashville — a song written by McCartney's father, Jim McCartney, for his pre-war group Jim Mac's Jazz Band. Released under the name The Country Hams, it brought together some of Nashville's finest musicians in an informal session designed as a personal gift for Jim McCartney.
The Story Behind the Song
“My father did write a song – only the one, to my knowledge – and many years later I said, ‘Dad, you know that song you wrote: ‘Walking In The Park With Eloise’?’ He said, ‘I didn’t write it – I just made it up.’ Anyway, I told him that I’d recorded it with some friends of mine in Nashville. One of the friends was Chet Atkins, and he’d brought along Floyd Cramer. We got together and made a little recording of the song specially to play to my dad.”
— Paul McCartney, Anthology
“We were having dinner with Chet Atkins, the guitar player, one night in Nashville, and Paul had been playing a lot of his music for Chet, and he said: ‘Here’s one that my dad wrote a long time ago’ – and he started playing it. Chet got talking to Paul, saying that the song should be recorded and that it would be nice for his dad. So we got Chet playing on it and Floyd Cramer, the piano player, and Chet got together a nice little band called The Country Hams with lots of other Nashville people.”
— Linda McCartney, Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone, John Blaney
The Recording
The tune had the working title Eloise at this stage. It was recorded live in the studio following several rehearsal takes, with the only overdub being a washboard part played by McCartney. Afterwards he asked engineer Ernie Winfrey to mix it in stereo.
Musicians
| Paul McCartney | Producer, washboard |
| Denny Laine | Guitar |
| Geoff Britton | Drums |
| Chet Atkins | Guitar |
| Floyd Cramer | Piano |
| Bobby Thompson | Banjo |
| Bill Puitt | Clarinet |
| Denis Good | Trombone |
| Don Sheffield | Trumpet |
Paul McCartney & Wings — The Mid-70s Years
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Walking In The Park With Eloise?
Jim McCartney, Paul McCartney's father, for his pre-war group Jim Mac's Jazz Band.
Who played on Walking In The Park With Eloise?
Paul McCartney, Denny Laine, Geoff Britton, Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Bobby Thompson, Bill Puitt, Denis Good, Don Sheffield. Released as The Country Hams.
Where was it recorded?
Sound Shop Studio, Nashville, Tennessee, 16 July 1974.
→ 16 July in Beatles History
→ Paul McCartney: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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