London Town (Wings song): Difference between revisions
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According to Beatles biographer John Blaney, it "presents a romanticized view of London; part reportage and part fantasy."<ref name=blaney/> Blaney elaborates that it combines "idealisation with acute observations of everyday street life."<ref name=blaney/> Music professor Vincent Benitez compares the effect of "quixotic" presentation of the people of London with that of the McCartney penned Beatle song "[[Penny Lane]]."<ref name=words/> Benitez notes a theme of loneliness throughout the lyrics, as the singer feels alienated from the Londoners he describes.<ref name=words/> |
According to Beatles biographer John Blaney, it "presents a romanticized view of London; part reportage and part fantasy."<ref name=blaney/> Blaney elaborates that it combines "idealisation with acute observations of everyday street life."<ref name=blaney/> Music professor Vincent Benitez compares the effect of "quixotic" presentation of the people of London with that of the McCartney penned Beatle song "[[Penny Lane]]."<ref name=words/> Benitez notes a theme of loneliness throughout the lyrics, as the singer feels alienated from the Londoners he describes.<ref name=words/> |
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"London Town" is a [[soft rock]] song.<ref name=words/> It is in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[E major]].<ref name=words/> |
"London Town" is a [[soft rock]] song.<ref name=words/> It is in the [[key (music)|key]] of [[E major]].<ref name=words/> The introduction to the song obscures the [[tonic (music)|tonic]] by beginning phrases in different keys, but the key of E major is established at the end of the introduction and is then used to begin the first verse.<ref name=words/> |
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==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
Revision as of 00:52, 23 December 2018
"London Town" | ||||
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Single by Wings | ||||
from the album London Town | ||||
B-side | "I'm Carrying" | |||
Released | 26 August 1978 | |||
Recorded | February – March 1977 | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 4:10 | |||
Label | Parlophone/EMI (UK) Capitol (US) | |||
Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney Denny Laine | |||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Wings singles chronology | ||||
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"London Town" is the title and opener track from Wings' 1978 album London Town. It was the third of three single releases from the LP. It reached #39 in the US, #43 in Canada and #60 in the UK. It also reached #17 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart in the US.
Writing and recording
Paul McCartney and Denny Laine began writing "London Town" in Perth, Australia, in late 1975 during the Wings Over the World tour, but they completed it later in Scotland.[1][2] The recording features a lead vocal by Paul McCartney and backing vocals by Linda McCartney and Laine.[1] It was one of the first songs recorded for the London Town album, prior to the departures of Joe English and Jimmy McCulloch, who play drums and guitar, respectively, on the track.[1] Laine also plays guitar, Paul McCartney plays bass guitar and Linda McCartney plays keyboards.[1]
Lyrics and music
The lyrics of "London Town" describe "ordinary people and everyday life in London.[3] According to Beatles biographer John Blaney, it "presents a romanticized view of London; part reportage and part fantasy."[1] Blaney elaborates that it combines "idealisation with acute observations of everyday street life."[1] Music professor Vincent Benitez compares the effect of "quixotic" presentation of the people of London with that of the McCartney penned Beatle song "Penny Lane."[2] Benitez notes a theme of loneliness throughout the lyrics, as the singer feels alienated from the Londoners he describes.[2]
"London Town" is a soft rock song.[2] It is in the key of E major.[2] The introduction to the song obscures the tonic by beginning phrases in different keys, but the key of E major is established at the end of the introduction and is then used to begin the first verse.[2]
Critical reception
Author Chris Ingham praised "London Town" as one of the best tracks on the album, stating that it was "full of the most sensitive pop synthesizer touches".[4] McCartney biographer Peter Ames Carlin called it "a pleasantly spaced-out perspective on city life".[5] Tom Waseleski of the Beaver County Times recognised the song as having "more substance" than other of McCartney's soft rock tracks.[6] Henry McNulty of the Hartford Courant praised it for it's "fine, clear harmonies" and "sprightly, inventive melody," recognizing it as one of the few decent songs on the album (along with the other two singles).[7] Author Tim Riley calls it "willfully sulky".[8] Beatles biographers Roy Carr and Tony Tyler regard "London Town" as an "anachronism", with several Beatle-esque touches, including opening chords that sound like "Blackbird" and a chord progression similar to that in "The Fool on the Hill".[9]
Weekly charts
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK | 60[10] |
Canada | 43[11] |
US Billboard Hot 100 | 39[12] |
US Easy Listening | 17[13] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 123–124. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- ^ a b c d e f Benitez, Vincent P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. p. 79–80. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
- ^ Grove, Martin A. (1978). Paul McCartney: Beatle with Wings!. Manor Books. p. 86. ISBN 0532-171918.
- ^ Ingham, C. (2009). The Rough Guide to the Beatles (3rd ed.). Penguin. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-4053-8445-2.
- ^ Carlin, P.A. (2010). Paul McCartney: A Life. Touchstone. p. 249. ISBN 1-4165-6210-9.
- ^ Waseleski, T. (12 April 1978). "Paul McCartney: His Return to Basics is Perfect". Beaver County Times. p. B-14. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
- ^ McNulty, Henry (23 April 1978). "Schizoid 'London Town'". Hartford Courant. p. 6G. Retrieved 2018-12-22 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Riley, T. (2002). Tell Me Why: The Beatles: Album By Album, Song By Song, The Sixties And After. Da Capo. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-306-81120-3.
- ^ Carr, Roy; Tyler, Tony (1981). The Beatles: An Illustrated Record. Harmony Books. p. 125. ISBN 0-517-54493-8.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (|name-list-style=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Official Charts: Wings". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
- ^ "RPM 100 Singles". Library and Archives Canada. 28 October 1978. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
- ^ "WIngs singles". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 157.
External links
- Paul McCartney songs
- 1978 singles
- Wings (band) songs
- Songs written by Paul McCartney
- Capitol Records singles
- Song recordings produced by Paul McCartney
- Songs written by Denny Laine
- Music published by MPL Music Publishing
- Music videos directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg
- 1977 songs
- Songs about London
- The Beatles song stubs