Recording: Dear Boy by Paul and Linda McCartney

Studio B, Sound Recorders Studio, Los Angeles
Producer: Jim Guercio
Engineer: Armin Steiner

Paul McCartney continued work on the Ram song ‘Dear Boy’ on 9 March 1971.

This was the first LA session with drummer Denny Seiwell, who had previously worked on the album in New York City. Seiwell and the McCartneys arrived at Sound Recorders Studio at 4pm and worked on the song until midnight.

Guercio took half the drum kit away, so I could just play the kick and the snare, on one take, and on the next take he’d take those drums away and I played the tom-toms. He did it for a stereo effect, but that really wasn’t the way I normally recorded. It took away a little of the spontaneity and the realness of the drum part, although it came out okay. It was difficult, a real challenge.

Paul was sitting with his guitar in his lap, and he would play the chords with his fingers, or a slide, and I would play triplets on the strings with very light timbale sticks. It was a very unique sound.