Written by: McCartney
Recorded: 23-30 December 1969
Producer: Paul McCartney
Released: 17 April 1970 (UK), 20 April 1970 (US)
Available on:
McCartney
Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
Personnel
Paul McCartney: vocals, electric guitar, bass guitar, tom tom, cymbal
The second song recorded at Paul McCartney’s home studio in London, ‘That Would Be Something’ was also the second song on his début solo album.
Like the first song, ‘The Lovely Linda’, it was written at High Park Farm, McCartney’s Scottish retreat.
This song was written in Scotland in 1969 and recorded at home in London – mixed later at EMI (No. 2). I only had one mike, as the mixer and VU meters hadn’t arrived (still haven’t).
Along with ‘Valentine Day’, ‘That Would Be Something’ was mixed at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, on 22 February 1970. On that day he also recorded the songs ‘Every Night’ and ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’.
Although he was largely disdainful of the McCartney album, George Harrison praised ‘That Would Be Something’ upon its release.
‘That Would Be Something’ and ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ I think are great and everything else I think is fair, you know. It’s quite good, but a little disappointing, but maybe I shouldn’t be disappointed, it’s best not to expect anything, then everything’s a bonus. I think those two tracks are very good and the others just don’t do anything for me.
McCartney first performed ‘That Would Be Something’ live on 25 January 1991, during the recording of Unplugged (The Official Bootleg), which was released later that year.
Perhaps inspired by the MTV Unplugged performance, ‘That Would Be Something’ was performed live by The Grateful Dead in September 1991, and again on several other occasions between then and June 1995.
Great song.The album is wonderful.
Isn´t it a pity that Paul didn´t continue composing until he had a whole song. Could have become something really impressive. Lazy McCartney..
Yes it sounds like a completely unfinished demo. The rest of the Beatles could have turned this into something.