Written by: Paul McCartney, Denny Laine
Recorded: 18, 19 May 1977
Producer: Paul McCartney
Released: 27 March 1978 (US), 31 March 1978 (UK)
Available on:
London Town
Personnel
Denny Laine: vocals, acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar
Linda McCartney: vocals
Jimmy McCulloch: acoustic guitar
Joe English: drums
‘Deliver Your Children’ is the eleventh track on Wings’ penultimate album London Town.
It was one of five songs on the album co-written by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine.
I think that was a long time ago, out there in LA, when I first started to do that. I got so far with it, and Paul came along with a couple of ideas for the arrangement. I do this all the time, I’ll write a song, it’ll be probably all the words and a tune, but it’ll need something and I’m not happy with it. And he’ll come and help me with it. So that’s how that came together.
BBC Radio 1, 1978
As with ‘Children Children’ on the album, the lead vocals on ‘Deliver Your Children’ were sung by Laine.
Denny Laine wrote most of the words and tune and I just helped him a little bit. He takes the lead vocal on this one and I help him on harmonies. Denny also plays the Spanish guitar you hear coming in and out.
BBC Radio 1, 1978
In the studio
Wings began recording ‘Deliver Your Children’ on 18 May 1977. It was laid down during the second set of sessions for London Town, which took place on the Fair Carol, a motor yacht stationed at Waterlemon Bay in St John’s in the Virgin Islands.
Wings spent several hours working on an arrangement, and eventually recorded a backing track with Denny Laine on acoustic guitar and guide vocals, Jimmy McCulloch on a second acoustic guitar, Paul McCartney on bass guitar, and Joe English on drums.
‘Deliver Your Children’ was completed on 19 May 1977. Denny Laine double-tracked his lead vocals, followed by harmonies by Laine and McCartney.
The release
‘I’ve Had Enough’ was released as a single on 16 June, as Wings’ follow-up to ‘With A Little Luck’. ‘Deliver Your Children’ was on the b-side.
The single was not a commercial success, peaking at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and 42 on the UK singles chart.