The Chris Barber Band records Catcall – 20 July 1967

Q: What is the difference between Catswalk and Catcall?

Catswalk was McCartney's original Quarry Men-era title. It was retitled Catcall for The Chris Barber Band's recording, which featured a chorus of catcalls.

Q: Did Paul McCartney play on the Catcall recording?

Yes. McCartney can be heard calling "Please play it slower" and singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". He likely also played organ. Jane Asher was also present.

July 20, 2026

The Chris Barber Band records Catcall – 20 July 1967

Thursday 20 July 1967 | Chappell Recording Studios, 52 Maddox Street, London

On 20 July 1967, The Chris Barber Band recorded Catcall at Chappell Recording Studios on Maddox Street in London — a jazz-style instrumental written by Paul McCartney and originally composed during his Quarry Men days under the title Catswalk.

From Catswalk to Catcall

McCartney had written Catswalk as a jazz-style instrumental during the Quarry Men era. The song was never properly recorded by The Beatles, though a rehearsal from late 1962 at the Cavern Club had been captured on tape.

McCartney knew band leader Chris Barber, who played trombone with his trad jazz group The Chris Barber Band, and decided to offer him the song. The band had already recorded a version at London's Marquee Club in July 1967, but McCartney felt it could be done better — prompting the Chappell Studios session.

For the recording, the song was retitled Catcall and given an over-the-top arrangement complete with a chorus of catcalls. McCartney and Jane Asher were among those taking part in what was evidently a fun and lively session. McCartney can be heard on the recording calling “Please play it slower” before the half-speed coda, and singing the chorus of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”. He is also likely to have played organ on the track.

Session Details

Date	Thursday 20 July 1967
Studio	Chappell Recording Studios, 52 Maddox Street, London
Producers	Chris Barber, Giorgio Gomelsky, Reggie Kind
Track recorded	Catcall
Original title	Catswalk
Composer credit	Paul McCartney
McCartney's contributions	Catcalls, spoken interjections, organ (likely)
Also present	Jane Asher
UK single release	20 October 1967
Chart position	Did not chart

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Chappell Recording Studios, 52 Maddox Street, London — where The Chris Barber Band recorded Catcall on 20 July 1967.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Catcall by The Chris Barber Band?

Catcall is a jazz-style instrumental written by Paul McCartney, originally composed during his Quarry Men days under the title Catswalk. It was recorded by The Chris Barber Band at Chappell Recording Studios in London on 20 July 1967 and released as a UK single on 20 October 1967.

What is the difference between Catswalk and Catcall?

Catswalk was the original title Paul McCartney gave to the instrumental during the Quarry Men era. When he offered the song to The Chris Barber Band, it was retitled Catcall for their recording, which featured an arrangement with a chorus of catcalls.

Did Paul McCartney play on the Catcall recording?

Yes. McCartney participated in the Catcall session at Chappell Recording Studios on 20 July 1967. He can be heard calling "Please play it slower" before the half-speed coda and singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow". He is also likely to have played organ on the recording. Jane Asher was also present.

Did Catcall chart in the UK?

No. Despite its McCartney connection, Catcall failed to chart when it was released as a UK single on 20 October 1967.

Who was Chris Barber?

Chris Barber was a British jazz trombonist and band leader who fronted The Chris Barber Band, a prominent trad jazz group. He was known to Paul McCartney, who offered him the song Catswalk (retitled Catcall) for recording in 1967.