Written by: McCartney
Recorded: May 1968
Released: 28 October 1996
Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar
Available on:
Anthology 3
Paul McCartney recorded a demo of Junk at George Harrison's house in Esher, Surrey, towards the end of May 1968. The Beatles recorded demos of at least 26 songs, many of which subsequently appeared on the White Album.
Junk was one of many songs written by The Beatles in Rishikesh, India, where they studied meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
The Kinfauns demos - named after Harrison's bungalow - were widely bootlegged from the 1970s. Unofficial copies of the Junk recording last 2'38", and feature a guitar introduction and harmony vocals unavailable elsewhere. When the recording surfaced in 1996 on Anthology 3, it lasted just 2'25".
The song was never recorded in the studio for the White Album, perhaps due to McCartney's prolific songwriting upon his return from India. A very rough version, lasting just 16 seconds and sung in mock French, was busked on 9 January 1969 during the Get Back sessions in Twickenham Film Studios.
Junk did eventually surface in 1970, on McCartney's self-titled debut solo album. Lasting just 1'57", it was a four-track home recording, made in late 1969 or early 1970, with McCartney playing all instruments. It was later transferred to eight-track at Morgan Studios, London, where further overdubs were added.
An instrumental version with additional Mellotron string effects, titled Singalong Junk, also featured on the McCartney album.
A gorgeous little melody. I'm partial, though, to "Singalong Junk," the instrumental only version with Mellotron from Paul's first solo album.
Yeah, I am hip with your jive. I prefer the singalong version. I can play this song on my guitar. Learned it from some dude on Youtube. Played it during a live gig, all these girls gathered 'round. Ah, it was nice! "Oh, he's playing the song from "Jerry McGuire"! They would exclaim.
I think the article transposes the running times, Anthology 3 is 2'25" not 2'38". For those who enjoy it, Macca also plays Junk on his Unplugged CD.
Thanks Bill - I've corrected the piece. There's also another article on Junk in the Paul McCartney section.
Achingly beautiful melody, crap lyrics. ...And the world became painfully aware that Lennon's contribution to McCartney's lyrics was much greater than previously thought. If only...
I like the words even though I have no idea what the hell they mean! Great song. I wish the Beatles had done a version proper.