RAK Studios, London
Producer: Paul McCartney
Wings recorded the song ‘Did We Meet Somewhere Before’ for the Warren Beatty film Heaven Can Wait on 23 March 1978.
Earlier in the month, Paul McCartney received a telephone call from actor Warren Beatty, who wanted a song for his directorial debut Heaven Can Wait. Beatty wrote, directed, produced, and acted in the film, which was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won three Golden Globes.
Beatty visited McCartney at 7 Cavendish Avenue in London, bringing a rough cut of the film with him. Following their meeting, McCartney agreed to write and record a song for the soundtrack.
The recording session took place at RAK Studios at 42-48 Charlbert Street near Regent’s Park in London. It was the first time McCartney had recorded at the Mickey Most-owned complex, which was used by television rehearsals before reopening as a 24-track studio in 1976.
The basic track had McCartney on electric piano, Denny Laine on electric guitar, and Linda McCartney on synthesizer. Paul then overdubbed drums and percussion, electric and bass guitars, Mellotron, and lead vocals, before all three members of Wings added backing vocals. There was also a clarinet solo, although the performer is not known.
Towards the end of the session, McCartney filled two tape reels with stereo mixes, and made a copy of the best to send to Beatty.
In September 1978 McCartney was surprised to discover that Heaven Can Wait was already out in cinemas. He eventually discovered that Beatty had asked several musicians to contribute songs, none of which were chosen for the film.
He asked five separate people to write songs, and like me, they all apparently sent him a song. I don’t know who the other four were, probably John, Ringo, Bert, and Harold. And eventually, he got all the five songs, turned them all down, didn’t use the songs and didn’t ring anyone up to tell them!
An Evening With Paul McCartney, BBC Radio 1
‘Did We Meet Somewhere Before’ eventually appeared in the 1979 film Rock ‘N’ Roll High School.