I Lie Around (Paul and Linda McCartney) 

Recording: October-November, 1970, January, 1971 (overdubs part 1) and November, 1972 (overdubs part 2) Location: Columbia Studios, A&R Studios (overdubs part 1), New York City, Abbey Road Studios or Olympic Studios (overdubs part 2), London Release: July 1973, “Live and Let Die” single B-side

 

“I Lie Around” is another episode dedicated to the praise of the country life, so typical of McCartney’s early solo period. This acoustic track is built on a very original arpeggio, with strings played in ascending sequence on guitar: backwards, that is, with respect to the vast majority of songs.

Denny Seiwell: “It was originally recorded for the RAM sessions, but finished in the UK. I don't remember if it was at Abbey Road or Olympic Studios. I s(a)ng some backing vocals. Some of the guitar licks sound like Henry McCullough, but I’m not so sure and Paul played a lot of the guitar solos too.”[1]

In New York, once the basic track had been recorded, the song was very carefully arranged and filled chock-full of instruments. McCartney finished it off it with strong piano chords, electric guitars and a powerful horn arrangement, probably overdubbed in January.

When the song was finished in London in 1972, McCartney came up with some new ideas. For the opening, Paul used some unusual sound effects that he captured en plein air, along with some voices singing the praises of bucolic pleasures (Denny Laines’s voice might be recognizable) that culminate in a cathartic plunge into a body of water. For the ending, instead, he used his Mellotron to create additional ambient effects.

Then, more guitar breaks were added, that almost certainly included a contribution by McCullough. McCartney generously allowed Denny Laine to sing it, leaving just a few bars of his original vocal take towards the end of the song.  The song was released as the B-side to the “Live and Let Die” single (1973).

Musicians:

Paul McCartney vocals, backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, piano, Mellotron • Linda McCartney backing vocals • Denny Laine vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (?) • Hugh McCracken electric guitar (?) • Henry McCullough (?) backing vocals, electric guitar (?) • Denny Seiwell backing vocals, drums • Unknown musicians horns

 

 

 

[1] Interview courtesy of Denny Seiwell, 12/11/2011.