Wings rehearse in Nashville — 5 July 1974

Q: Why were Wings in Nashville in 1974?

Wings spent part of summer 1974 in Nashville rehearsing and absorbing the country music scene. They rented Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr's farm for $2,000 a week. The visit inspired McCartney to write 'Sally G' and 'Junior's Farm'.

Q: What is 'Sally G'?

'Sally G' was written by Paul McCartney on 26 June 1974, inspired by Nashville. It was added to Wings' repertoire on 5 July 1974 and released as a double A-side with 'Junior's Farm' in October 1974.

Q: Who was Claude 'Curly' Putman?

Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr was a Nashville songwriter who wrote 'Green Green Grass of Home' (Tom Jones, 1966) and 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E' (Tammy Wynette, 1968).

Q: Who was Geoff Britton?

Geoff Britton was Wings' drummer in 1974–75, replacing Denny Seiwell. A karate black belt, he left Wings in early 1975 and was replaced by Joe English.

July 5, 2026

On Friday 5 July 1974, Wings rehearsed at a farm in Nashville, Tennessee, owned by songwriter Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr. The band had rented the property for $2,000 a week, staying at the farm and using the garage as a rehearsal space. On this day they added 'Sally G' to their repertoire for the first time.

The Nashville rehearsals

Wings' stay at Curly Putman's farm was part of an extended period in Nashville during the summer of 1974, during which Paul McCartney immersed himself in the city's country music scene. The farm provided a relaxed, private setting away from the pressures of the studio and the road. Rehearsals took place in the garage, with the band working through material for what would become their next phase of recording.

'Sally G' had been written by Paul McCartney on the morning of 26 June 1974, inspired by his time in Nashville. The song — a country-inflected number named after a Nashville bar girl — was added to the band's repertoire on 5 July and would be released as a double A-side single with 'Junior's Farm' in October 1974.

Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr

Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr was one of Nashville's most celebrated songwriters. Born in Alabama in 1930, he wrote some of the most enduring songs in country music history, including 'Green Green Grass of Home' — a worldwide hit for Tom Jones in 1966 — and 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E', a number one country hit for Tammy Wynette in 1968. His farm provided Wings with a genuine connection to the heart of Nashville's songwriting community.

The barbecue

In the evening, the McCartneys held a barbecue party by the side of the farm's lake. The guest list was a remarkable gathering of American music royalty: Roy Orbison, Jimmy Reed, and Chet Atkins were among those present.

Roy Orbison — whose falsetto voice and dramatic ballads had made him one of the most distinctive figures in early rock and roll — had been a contemporary of The Beatles in the early 1960s. The Beatles had supported Orbison on a UK tour in May 1963, a tour on which Orbison's popularity was so great that the billing order was reversed after the first night. Chet Atkins was one of the architects of the Nashville Sound, a guitarist and producer whose influence on country music was immeasurable. Jimmy Reed was a Chicago blues guitarist and singer whose recordings had been a significant influence on The Beatles in their early years.

The mailbox incident

The gate to the Putman property was manned by Dan Ealey, a local fan and bass guitarist who had befriended Wings during their Nashville stay. Ealey brought a firework to the barbecue, which Wings' drummer Geoff Britton used to blow up the farm's mailbox. The McCartneys were strongly critical of Britton the following day.

Geoff Britton had joined Wings in July 1974, replacing Denny Seiwell who had departed during the Band on the Run sessions in Lagos the previous year. Britton was a karate black belt as well as a drummer, and his time with Wings proved short — he left the group in early 1975 and was replaced by Joe English.

Nashville, Tennessee — where Wings rehearsed at Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr's farm during the summer of 1974, adding 'Sally G' to their repertoire on 5 July.

Summary

Date	Friday 5 July 1974
Location	Farm of Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr, Nashville, Tennessee
Rental cost	$2,000 per week
Song added to repertoire	'Sally G' (written by McCartney, 26 June 1974)
Barbecue guests	Roy Orbison, Jimmy Reed, Chet Atkins
Incident	Geoff Britton blew up the farm's mailbox with a firework brought by Dan Ealey

Frequently asked questions

Why were Wings in Nashville in 1974?

Wings spent part of the summer of 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee, rehearsing and absorbing the city's country music scene. They rented the farm of songwriter Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr for $2,000 a week and used the garage as a rehearsal space. The visit inspired Paul McCartney to write 'Sally G' and 'Junior's Farm'.

What is 'Sally G'?

'Sally G' was written by Paul McCartney on the morning of 26 June 1974, inspired by his time in Nashville. It was added to Wings' repertoire on 5 July 1974 and released as a double A-side single with 'Junior's Farm' in October 1974.

Who was Claude 'Curly' Putman?

Claude 'Curly' Putman Jr was a celebrated Nashville songwriter, born in Alabama in 1930. He wrote 'Green Green Grass of Home' — a worldwide hit for Tom Jones in 1966 — and 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E', a number one country hit for Tammy Wynette in 1968.

Who attended the Wings barbecue in Nashville on 5 July 1974?

The barbecue at Curly Putman's farm was attended by Roy Orbison, Jimmy Reed, and Chet Atkins, among others.

What was The Beatles' connection to Roy Orbison?

The Beatles supported Roy Orbison on a UK tour in May 1963. Orbison's popularity was so great that the billing order was reversed after the first night, with Orbison topping the bill over The Beatles.

Who was Geoff Britton?

Geoff Britton was Wings' drummer in 1974–75, having joined the group to replace Denny Seiwell. A karate black belt as well as a drummer, he left Wings in early 1975 and was replaced by Joe English.