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Read the original blog post7.39am
31 March 2008
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Written by: McCartney-Laine
Recorded: August-November 1973
Producer: Paul McCartney
Released: 30 November 1973 (UK), 3 December 1973 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums
Linda McCartney: vocals, keyboards
Denny Laine: vocals, guitar
Ian Horne, Trevor Jones: backing vocals
Available on:
Band On The Run
Denny Laine’s first co-writing credit on a Wings release, No Words was…
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11.52pm
15 May 2015
Offline “No Words” I’d say is a good candidate for the list of “underrated McCartney songs” — and in the list of collaborations he did, in this case with Denny Laine. It’s an inspired melody with effective chord changes, and well executed. It also has a Beatlesque tonality to it. Among many qualities I like, the ending that resolves to a Bm7 to E7 with a guitar solo fadeout is very satisfying. I’m baffled as to why it’s so unrecognized. McCartney has produced quite a few songs that are uninspired (but yet he gives them the old college try); this is not one of them.
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1.01pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
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@Pineapple Records I quite agree! 
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1.46pm
26 January 2017
Offline I love No Words. I don’t understand why it doesn’t get the deserved attention, especially because its on BOTR. No Words has the feel of some of the Red Rose Speedway side one sleepy tunes that I really dig, but unfortunately most of these tracks fall out of the discussion.
Still, its ‘73 Macca. He would literally do no wrong.
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7.44pm
15 May 2015
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What I’d like to know is what was the process of writing this song like, between Paul and Denny? Who wrote which parts? Did they sit together and work out stuff, or just merge after they independently wrote their parts? Or a little of both? How so? Etc.
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11.04pm
26 January 2017
Offline Pineapple Records said
What I’d like to know is what was the process of writing this song like, between Paul and Denny? Who wrote which parts? Did they sit together and work out stuff, or just merge after they independently wrote their parts? Or a little of both? How so? Etc.
The intro definitely sounds like Paul to me. As does that ascending three note melody in the “your burnin love” section. Those parts are just vintage McCartney
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
11.37am
15 May 2015
Offline sir walter raleigh said
The intro definitely sounds like Paul to me. As does that ascending three note melody in the “your burnin love” section. Those parts are just vintage McCartney
You’re probably right. Also those repeated quick bass riffs where I think classical strings are augmenting (the notes are E-F#-A-F#-A, rapidly).
What makes the song distinctive is that sad melody with its unique chord sequence of A-A7-Em-F#. Somehow I think Denny was responsible for the F# major chord and the melody overlaying it (“You wanna give your love away, and end up giving nothing”)
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5.50pm
26 January 2017
Offline It sounds like Denny Lane could have written the lyrics and melody, which Paul harmonized over in his typical brilliant fashion.
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-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
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-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
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