Tape copying: Famous Groupies, Morse Moose And The Grey Goose, Don't Let It Bring You Down by Wings – 26 May 1977

Q: What was the Fair Carol?

A chartered yacht moored near St John, US Virgin Islands, where Wings set up a mobile recording unit to record London Town tracks in early 1977.

Q: What is 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose'?

The closing track on London Town. On 26 May 1977 only the 'Morse Moose' section (approx. 6:40) existed; the 'Grey Goose' section was added later in London.

Q: Who was Geoff Emerick?

Chief engineer on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Abbey Road. He engineered several Wings albums including London Town. His memoir Here, There And Everywhere (2006) is essential Beatles studio reading.

May 26, 2026

Tape copying: Famous Groupies, Morse Moose And The Grey Goose, Don't Let It Bring You Down by Wings – 26 May 1977

Thursday 26 May 1977 | Studio, Wings
Fair Carol, St John, US Virgin Islands
Producer: Paul McCartney
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Mark Vigars

As Wings' Caribbean recording sessions for the London Town album drew to a close, studio engineer Geoff Emerick made copies of the master takes of three songs on 26 May 1977. The songs were 'Famous Groupies', 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose', and 'Don't Let It Bring You Down'. At this point, the album's closing track existed as a 6:40 instrumental known simply as 'Morse Moose'; the 'Grey Goose' section would be recorded later in the year in London.

St John, US Virgin Islands — Wings recorded tracks for London Town aboard the Fair Carol in early 1977.

The Fair Carol Sessions

The London Town sessions had taken an unconventional form. Rather than recording in a conventional studio, Wings had spent several weeks recording aboard the Fair Carol — a chartered yacht moored in the waters around St John in the US Virgin Islands. A mobile recording unit had been set up on board, with Geoff Emerick engineering the sessions. The Caribbean location gave the album some of its warmth and looseness, though the logistics of recording on a boat presented their own challenges.

By 26 May 1977, the Virgin Islands sessions were winding down. The tape copying of master takes was a standard end-of-session procedure — creating safety copies of the recordings before they were transported back to London for further work and mixing.

The Songs

'Famous Groupies' — a McCartney song that appeared on the finished London Town album, a wry and affectionate portrait of the women who followed rock bands on tour.

'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose' — the album's closing track in its finished form, a lengthy instrumental piece that combined two sections. At the time of the 26 May tape copy, only the 'Morse Moose' section (running to approximately 6:40) had been recorded; the 'Grey Goose' section was added later in London, extending the track to its final length.

'Don't Let It Bring You Down' — another London Town track, a gentle McCartney ballad that appeared on the finished album.

London Town

London Town was Wings' fifth studio album, released on 31 March 1978. It was recorded across multiple locations: the Virgin Islands (aboard the Fair Carol), London studios, and elsewhere. By the time of its release, Wings had undergone significant personnel changes — Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English had left the group, leaving McCartney, Linda McCartney, and Denny Laine as a trio for much of the album's completion.

The album reached number two in the UK and number two in the US. Its lead single, 'With A Little Luck', reached number one in the US and number five in the UK.

Geoff Emerick

Geoff Emerick (1945–2018) had been one of the most important figures in The Beatles' recording history, serving as chief engineer on Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), and Abbey Road (1969). His work with McCartney continued into the solo years — he engineered several Wings albums, including London Town. His memoir Here, There And Everywhere (2006) remains one of the most detailed accounts of The Beatles in the studio.

Key Facts: 26 May 1977

Session: Tape copying — master takes
Location: Fair Carol, St John, US Virgin Islands
Producer: Paul McCartney
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Mark Vigars
Songs copied: 'Famous Groupies', 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose', 'Don't Let It Bring You Down'
'Morse Moose' at this stage: 6:40 instrumental (without 'Grey Goose' section)
'Grey Goose' section recorded: Later in 1977, London
Album: London Town (released 31 March 1978)
Album chart positions: UK number 2, US number 2

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Fair Carol?

A chartered yacht moored in the waters around St John in the US Virgin Islands, where Wings set up a mobile recording unit to record tracks for London Town in early 1977. Recording on a boat was unconventional but gave the sessions a distinctive atmosphere.

What is 'Morse Moose And The Grey Goose'?

The closing track on London Town. At the time of the 26 May 1977 tape copy, only the 'Morse Moose' section (approximately 6:40) had been recorded. The 'Grey Goose' section was added later in London, completing the track.

When was London Town released?

31 March 1978. It reached number two in both the UK and the US. Its lead single 'With A Little Luck' reached number one in the US.

Who was Geoff Emerick?

Chief engineer on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Abbey Road, and one of the most important figures in The Beatles' recording history. He engineered several Wings albums including London Town. His memoir Here, There And Everywhere (2006) is one of the most detailed accounts of The Beatles in the studio.