Reception

Released: 8 June 1979 (UK), 11 June 1979 (US)

Available on:
Back To The Egg

Personnel

Paul McCartney: bass guitar
Linda McCartney: Mellotron
Denny Laine: electric guitar
Laurence Juber: electric guitar, ARP guitar synthesizer
Steve Holley: drums
Dierdre Margary: spoken word

‘Reception’ is the opening track on Wings’ last album Back To The Egg.

The piece, which was recorded with the working title ‘Radio’, was recorded on 22 September 1978 at Lympne (pronounced Lim) Castle in Kent, England.

We laid down a track with a Meters-like groove, Denny and I playing interlocking funky guitar parts. Then I overdubbed a lead guitar melody using an ARP Avatar guitar synthesizer.

One of the castle’s owners, Dierdre Margary, contributed to ‘Reception’, speaking lines from AP Herbert’s poem ‘The Poodle And The Pug’ (the clearest words are “With tufts of hair stuck here and there/Which one would like to tug”). The track also features snippets of radio shows including The Lutheran Hour from Norea Radio.

We recorded most of it in a medieval castle in Kent. For a whole month we took over this fortress and proceeded to record in the kitchen, the stairwell, the spiral staircase and the main hall. What’s more, the owner found herself narrating a story called ‘The Poodle And The Pug’ on a special track. It was good. It was interesting. We like to record in unusual places because it gives the recordings a healthier and brighter approach. I personally don’t believe in acoustic myths. I think that, as long as you have good mikes and good songs, you can record anywhere.

‘Reception’ was sampled by Paul McCartney and Youth for The Fireman’s first album Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest.