Paul McCartney and Wings’ One Hand Clapping to be released on 14 June

Paul McCartney and Wings’ 1974 live recording One Hand Clapping is to be released on 14 June 2024.

One Hand Clapping was recorded and filmed live at Abbey Road Studios over five days in August 1974, for a documentary directed by David Litchfield. Some of the material has been widely bootlegged, with extracts also appearing on official McCartney releases, but the full version has never before been issued.

The album will be available in 2xCD, 2xLP, and digital editions, plus an online exclusive vinyl version that includes a bonus 7″ EP containing six songs recorded on the final day: ‘Blackpool’, ‘Blackbird’, ‘Country Dreamer’, ‘Twenty Flight Rock’, ‘Peggy Sue’, and ‘I’m Gonna Love You Too’.

It will also be available to stream in Dolby Atmos, with a new mix by Giles Martin and Steve Orchard.

Here’s the full press release:

Paul McCartney & Wings One Hand Clapping Live Studio Sessions from 1974 Newly Mixed
Now available for the first time
Official album from seldom-seen documentary film – featuring several previously unreleased tracks
One of music’s most mythical live albums finally to be released

Available in various formats:

• 2LP/2CD/Digital
• Online Exclusive: 2LP +7”
• June 14th, 2024

The wait is over: With the June 14 release of One Hand Clapping, one of the most bootlegged live albums in musical history will finally receive a proper release. In August 1974, when Band on the Run was enjoying a seven-week consecutive #1 stint at the top of the UK album charts, Paul McCartney and Wings headed to Abbey Road Studios for the filming of a video documentary and possible live studio album – One Hand Clapping. Despite overwhelming demand for newly recorded material from the biggest band in the world at that time, One Hand Clapping was never officially released.

Filmed and recorded over four days and directed by David Litchfield, the release of One Hand Clapping is a historic moment for Paul McCartney fans. Over the years, various parts of One Hand Clapping have been bootlegged with varying degrees of success. Some of the material has also appeared on official McCartney releases. However, the June 14 release of One Hand Clapping, which features the original artwork designed for the project, including a TV sales brochure for the unreleased film at the time, is the first time the audio for the film—plus several additional songs recorded off-camera–have been officially issued.

One Hand Clapping showcased Wings‘ new line-up, fresh off their return from Nashville, where they recorded the classic single Junior’s Farm. Following the sudden departure of Denny Seiwell and Henry McCullough the previous year on the eve of recording the Wings masterpiece Band on the Run, Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine were now joined by guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton. Additionally joining the band in the studio were orchestral arranger Del Newman and saxophonist Howie Casey, who had previously played with Paul in Hamburg and would go on to join the Wings touring band.

Opening with an instrumental jam that would become the One Hand Clapping theme song, the album features live-in-studio renditions of Wings mega-hits “Live and Let Die,” “Band on the Run,” “Jet,” “My Love,” “Hi, Hi, Hi,” “Junior’s Farm,” Paul’s much loved solo song “Maybe I’m Amazed,” reworked extracts of Beatles’ classics “Let It Be,” “The Long and Winding Road” and “Lady Madonna,” the Moody Blues hit “Go Now” with Denny Laine singing, and a Paul solo piano version of the Harry Akst/Benny Davis Tin Pan Alley classic “Baby Face.”

One Hand Clapping will be released in multiple formats, including an online exclusive 2LP + 7” package featuring an exclusive vinyl single of previously unreleased solo performances recorded on the final day of the sessions in the backyard of Abbey Road studios. These include the unreleased track “Blackpool,” The Beatles’ iconic “Blackbird,” Wings B-side “Country Dreamer,” and cover versions of Eddie Cochran’s “Twenty Flight Rock” (the first song Paul played to John Lennon when they met in 1957) and Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue” and “I’m Gonna Love You Too.”

One Hand Clapping serves as a celebration of the enduring legacy of Paul McCartney and Wings. It captured a moment when Wings had found and defined their signature sound – just as Paul had shaped popular culture the decade before with The Beatles, he was doing it once again in the 70s with Wings. This recording gives an insight into the inner workings of the band as they work and play together in the studio. It also underscores Paul’s incredible talent as a live performer: Fifty years on, Paul is still performing many of these songs in packed stadiums across the world.

ONE HAND CLAPPING FORMATS

2LP + 7” (D2C)

*Previously released 2010 Band on the Run Archive Collection DVD
** Previously released as bonus audio on Archive Collection releases

Disc 1

SIDE ONE

One Hand Clapping* 02:15
Jet* 03:59
Soily* 03:55
C Moon/Little Woman Love* 03:19
Maybe I’m Amazed* 04:52
My Love* 04:15

SIDE TWO

01.Bluebird* 03:27
02. Let’s Love* 01:09
03. All of You* 02:04
04. I’ll Give You a Ring* 02:03
05. Band on the Run* 05:20
06. Live and Let Die* 03:26
07. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five* 05:50
08. Baby Face* 01:56

Disc 2

SIDE ONE

Let Me Roll It** 04:28
Blue Moon of Kentucky 03:05
Power Cut 01:33
Love My Baby 01:13
Let It Be 01:02
The Long and Winding Road/Lady Madonna 02:10

SIDE TWO

Junior’s Farm 04:17
Sally G 03:28
Tomorrow 02:12
Go Now 03:35
Wild Life 04:30
Hi, Hi, Hi 03:57

Disc 3 (7”)

SIDE ONE

Blackpool 01:43
Blackbird 02:27
Country Dreamer** 02:17

SIDE TWO

Twenty Flight Rock 02:08
Peggy Sue 01:24
I’m Gonna Love You Too 01:10

2LP / 2CD

SIDE ONE

One Hand Clapping* 02:15
Jet* 03:59
Soily* 03:55
C Moon/Little Woman Love* 03:19
Maybe I’m Amazed* 04:52
My Love* 04:15

SIDE TWO

Bluebird* 03:27
Let’s Love* 01:09
All of You* 02:04
I’ll Give You a Ring* 02:03
Band on the Run* 05:20
Live and Let Die* 03:26
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five* 05:50
Baby Face* 01:56

SIDE ONE

Let Me Roll It** 04:28
Blue Moon of Kentucky 03:05
Power Cut 01:33
Love My Baby 01:13
Let It Be 01:02
The Long and Winding Road/Lady Madonna 02:10

SIDE TWO

Junior’s Farm 04:17
Sally G 03:28
Tomorrow 02:12
Go Now 03:35
Wild Life 04:30
Hi, Hi, Hi 03:57

One Hand Clapping will also be available to stream in Dolby Atmos
Atmos mix by Giles Martin and Steve Orchard

One Hand Clapping by Paul McCartney and Wings:
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, piano, electric piano, Hammond organ, celeste, harmonium, acoustic guitar
Linda McCartney: Moog, electric piano, Mellotron, tambourine, backing vocals
Danny Laine: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Jimmy McCulloch: electric guitar, backing vocals
Geoff Britton: drums
Featuring Tuxedo Brass Band and Howie Casey
Orchestra conducted by Del Newman
Produced by Paul McCartney