The Accidental Saxophone Solo That Made "Listen To What The Man Said" a Wings Classic
One of the most memorable moments on Listen to What the Man Said is its bright, melodic soprano saxophone solo — a performance that almost happened by accident.
Recorded during sessions for Venus and Mars, the saxophone part was played by American jazz musician Tom Scott. What makes the recording remarkable is that the version heard on the final record was actually Scott's warm-up take.
Calling in Tom Scott
By the time the recording session was winding down, Paul McCartney and the band had already spent hours working on the track.
Instead of packing up immediately, the musicians stayed in the studio chatting for a while. McCartney later recalled the relaxed atmosphere of the evening and how Scott's contribution elevated the song.
"So we'd finished the session, we just sat around and chatted for a couple of hours. I think what he plays on that song is lovely and that, overall, it worked."
— Paul McCartney, Paul McCartney In His Own Words (Paul Gambaccini)
McCartney and Linda McCartney had recently seen Tom Scott perform with George Harrison in December 1974. Impressed by his playing, they contacted him to see if he could contribute to the recording.
Scott was able to arrive at the studio within an hour.
A Warm-Up That Became the Final Take
When Scott arrived, he had never heard the song before.
Putting on headphones, he began improvising along with the track as a way of learning the structure. With his eyes closed, he played a spontaneous soprano sax line — assuming it was simply a rehearsal before the real recording began.
What Scott didn't realise was that the tape was already rolling.
When the song faded out, he opened his eyes and saw the control room reacting enthusiastically.
"I'd never heard the song before. I thought I was just learning it as I was warming up on my soprano sax with headphones on – I had no idea they were recording me. I had my eyes closed throughout, and when the fade of the song ended, I looked up at the recording booth. Everyone was applauding!"
— Tom Scott, The McCartney Legacy: Volume 2: 1974–80
Scott immediately offered to record another take, telling the band he didn't even know what he had played.
But the spontaneous performance had captured something special.
Capturing a Perfect Studio Moment
Although Scott recorded several additional overdubs afterwards, the producers ultimately decided that the original warm-up take had the best feel.
The effortless improvisation gave the song a light, joyful energy that perfectly matched the spirit of the recording.
Scott later reflected that some of the best musical moments happen when musicians simply react instinctively rather than overthinking a part.
A Defining Sound of a Wings Hit
Released in 1975, "Listen To What The Man Said" became one of Wings' biggest hits, reaching No.1 in the United States and helping propel Venus and Mars to major commercial success.
And at the heart of the song is a saxophone solo that was never meant to be the final version — a reminder that sometimes the magic of the studio comes from the unexpected first take.
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