My Love by Paul McCartney & Wings

Album: Red Rose Speedway (1973)

Charted: 9 1

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Songfacts®:

Paul McCartney wrote this love song for his wife Linda.
This was recorded live with an orchestra. McCartney allowed guitarist Henry McCullough to improvise his solo in the final take. McCartney recalled to Mojo magazine October 2010: "I'd sort of written the solo, as I often did with our solos. And Henry walked up to me before the take and just sort of said (adopts Celtic brogue), Hey, would it be all right if I try something else?' And I said, (uncertainly) 'Er…yeah.' It was like, 'Do I believe in this guy?' And he played the solo on 'My Love,' which came right out of the blue."

As for McCullough, it was a career-defining moment for the young guitarist, as overruling Paul McCartney is rarely prudent in the studio. In our interview with Henry McCullough, he explained: "I can't remember what it was I was asked to play, but whatever it was I refused and said that I was going to change the solo. So Paul says, 'Well, what are you going to play?' I said, 'I don't know.' Well, that put the fear of God in him, I think. Because there I am, just me and a 50-piece orchestra in the studio and there's George Martin in the control room and Paul. I knew it was going to be a turning point in some shape or form regardless of what I came up with. I don't use pedals or anything, so I just plugged into the amp and that was it - it was all over and done with very quickly. I went in and they ran the track and I did it once and went back into the control room and there was silence. And I thought I was going to have to do it again or something. But it was not the case.

This was a turning point for me, because I was able to, in later life, look back on it and say, 'That's what I did for Paul McCartney. I gave him that solo.' But it came from somewhere else and through me to Paul, and this is what flabbergasted him. And not having worked like that before, it was a little new to him. I came out of the studio that day and I was a very happy man, because I had confronted this thing I knew was there, that hadn't quite shown its head. And that was where I left me mark, you know."
This is one of three songs of the same title to top the American singles chart. Petula Clark's "My Love," was # 1 in 1966 whilst Justin Timberlake's song of the same title reached the peak position in 2006.
In the sleeve notes for Red Rose Speedway, the message "We love you, baby" was written in Braille specifically for Stevie Wonder.
A violin rendition was used on the season 7 finale of Friends during Chandler and Monica's wedding ceremony.

Comments: 14

David Brownlow from Northern IrelandI had the pleasure of meeting Henry McCullough when I was in my early teens when he was home visiting his mother in Portstewart on the north coast of Ireland. (This was a few years after he'd recorded this track with Wings). I love this insight into the way he persuaded McCartney to allow him to do his own solo. It would be nice if the video clip on this page was that of the official music video of 'My love' with McCullough playing the solo!
Unoque from Shreveport, LaWhen I was between the ages of 7-10 I heard an R&B singer sing “My Love Does It Good” it was on a 45. Who was that singer?
Jennifur Sun from RamonaLOVE THIS SONG. can't imagine any guy loving me so much he would write a song like this for the world to hear. Same way with my fav (well tied for first fav) Smokey Robinson tune: "I'll Try Something New."
Barry from Sauquoit, NyAs stated in a below post, "My Love", peaked at #1 {for 4 weeks} on May 27th, 1973...
And what artist knocked "My Love" out of the top spot, why it was fellow ex-Beatle, George Harrison, with "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)"...
Kramo from Toronto, CanadaI like McCartney. Although he can suck really hard. This song makes me want to hit something. All that wo wo wo nonsense. It's a pain to listen to.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 16th, 1973, Paul McCartney and Wings performed "My Love" on the ABC-TV special 'James Paul McCartney'...
Eight days earlier on April 8th, 1973 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #73; and on May 27th it peaked at #1 (for 4 weeks) and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 9 of those 18 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
And on the same day it reached #1 on the Top 100 it also peaked at #1 (for 3 weeks) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
R.I.P. Linda McCartney (1941 - 1998), Jimmy McCulloch (1953 - 1979), and Sir Paul will celebrate his 72nd birthday in two months on June 18th.
Buddy from Branford, CtWow, I'm suprised Paul allowed Henry McCullough to play his own lead?? Because as you know with Paul, I'm sure he had a demo of this song fully finished.
Glad he let Henry do his own thing. Wonder what lead Paul had first?
As with Badfinger, he gave a demo of the complete song" Come and Get it" (even with his own vocals) to Badfinger and told them he wanted the song recorded just like his demo.
And after listning to Badfinger sing the vocals, he chose Tom Evans as the lead vocalist. Ive heard Pauls version of Come & Get it. Its exactly the same only Paul singing.
Its almost as if they took Pauls voice off and put Tom's voice in. Paul could of easily had a hit with this one but I Believe he wasa Beatle then.(Not sure)
Terry from Algonquin, IlThere is a lot more behind the words of this song. I have an understanding that the song is related to other lovers of Linda's. "Only my love does it good to me".

SilverBeat
George from Belleville, NjThis is a world class ballad.It has a timeless melody.The lyrics are charming.When McCartney was on,nobody could write a ballad quite like him. He was writing great songs even after the Beatles broke up.This song has a dreamy effect.It is now a classic.
Gerry from Houston, TxI love this song... sounds so much more Beatles than Wings
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOh No!!! the 'cute' Beatle bumped by the 'quiet' Beatle. On June 2nd, 1973 "My Love" reached #1 & stayed there for four weeks. Then "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" by George Harrison moved into the #1 position for one week!!!
Sarah from Kennewick, WaPaul's sweetest ballad. I love this song.
Paula from Laredo, TxOnly a true Romantic could write such beautiful words
Tricia from Rockville Centre, NyI love this song...especially when I seen a couple dance their first dance at a wedding..its a beautiful wedding song....and I think of how beautiful and angelic Paul's beloved wife Linda was....defiently a true love anthem!

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