One Hand Clapping | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Paul McCartney and Wings album to finally release 50 years after original recording (msn.com)

Back in August 1974, Paul McCartney and Wings’ record Band On The Run was enjoying its seventh consecutive week at No 1 in the UK album charts.The Beatles legend and his group decided to head to Abbey Road Studios to film a video documentary and possible live studio album called One Hand Clapping.Filmed and recorded over four days by David Litchfield, the full live album was previously only available to fans via bootleg.Yet despite massive demand for newly recorded material, One Hand Clapping was never officially released… until now.Set for release on June 14, this will be the first time the audio for the film, plus several additional songs recorded off-camera, have been officially put out.

The announcement shared: “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.”

The announcement added: “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.”