Recording, mixing: Man We Was Lonely by Paul McCartney

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney recorded ‘Man We Was Lonely’, the final song for his debut album McCartney, on this day.

The day began at 10.45am with a 45 minute playback of the songs recorded thus far for the album. Between 11.30am and 2.15pm he taped the basic track for the new song, most likely involving acoustic guitar and vocals, in 12 takes.

Overdubs, recorded from 3.15-9pm, included electric guitar, bass guitar, bass drum and two vocal tracks, including contributions from Linda McCartney. McCartney played his Fender Telecaster using a drum peg, giving a steel guitar effect, overdubbing the instrument twice.

Man We Was Lonely was mixed in stereo in just one attempt, although the mix session was booked from 9-11pm. The song was then added to the master reel.

Further playbacks and tape copying followed on subsequent days. All the EMI sessions were booked under the pseudonym Billy Martin, to allow McCartney to record the album anonymously.