Getting Closer (song)
"Getting Closer" | ||||
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Single by Wings | ||||
from the album Back to the Egg | ||||
A-side |
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B-side |
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Released |
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Recorded | 10 October 1978 | |||
Genre | Rock, power pop[2] | |||
Length | 3:21 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Producer(s) |
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Wings singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() French 7-Inch single cover | ||||
"Getting Closer" is a rock song from the British rock band Wings, Paul McCartney's post-Beatles band. The song was released on the album Back to the Egg.
Background
Despite being released in 1979, McCartney was working on "Getting Closer" as early as May 1973, with its first demo recording being made then by actor Dustin Hoffman on holiday in Montego Bay, Jamaica.[3] In 1974, McCartney made a piano demo for the song.[4] Upon being resurrected by the band for Back to the Egg, the song, originally at a slower tempo, was transformed into a "driving rocker."[4]
"Getting Closer" and the unreleased song "Cage" were off of demos, the latter being one that Paul and Denny did together. There were times when there was a demo aspect to the sessions, and in some cases we created demos to see how the tune was shaping up.
Like most of the songs off of Back to the Egg, "Getting Closer" bears an influence from punk and new wave music.[6] Author and Mojo contributor Tom Doyle describes Wings' version as "power-popping" and reminiscent of the English band Squeeze.[7]
Juber said of the guitars used in the song: "I think I played my Martin D28 on the rhythm track and some Les Paul Custom (the one in the video) for the electric."[8]
Release
"Getting Closer," backed with "Spin It On," was released in the US in June 1979 as the first single from Back to the Egg. The single reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as #20 on Cashbox and #22 on Record World. Despite not being released as the first single in the UK ("Old Siam, Sir" was used instead), the song did see a UK single release in August 1979. Marketed as a Double A-side with "Baby's Request," the single was a relative flop, only peaking at #60.[9][10]
For the release of Back to the Egg, a special was made featuring music videos for multiple songs, including "Getting Closer." "Old Siam, Sir", "Spin It On" and "Arrow Through Me" were among the tracks for which videos were made.
Reception
Billboard described "Getting Closer" as "an uplifting raker in which McCartney's soaring vocals play off strong guitar, keyboards and drum lines."[11] Cash Box called it "a dynamic, churning pop-rocker," saying that the "slamming guitar and aggressive vocals" were reminiscent of Band on the Run.[12] Record World called it "another superbly crafted McCartney hook."[13]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
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Australia (Kent Music Report)[14] | 57 |
Canada (RPM)[15] | 18 |
Irish Singles Chart[16] | 24 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] | 29 |
UK Singles Chart[18] | 60 |
US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 20 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1979) | Rank |
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Canada (RPM)[20] | 127 |
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[21] | 136 |
Personnel
- Paul McCartney – vocals, bass, Epiphone Casino electric guitar, Mellotron
- Linda McCartney – keyboards, backing vocals
- Denny Laine – electric guitar, Martin D28 acoustic guitar,[22] backing vocals
- Laurence Juber – electric guitar, Ovation acoustic guitar[23]
- Steve Holley – drums
References
- ^ "Music Week" (PDF).
- ^ Weinbender, Nathan. "Paul McCartney is releasing his 25th solo album, so we're ranking his post-Beatles career highlights". Inlander.
- ^ Kozinn, Allan; Sinclair, Adrian (13 December 2022). The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969–73. HarperCollins. p. 555. ISBN 978-0-06-300072-8. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ a b Benitez, Vincent Perez. The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years.
- ^ Terrill, Marshall (10 August 2010). "Exclusive: Ex-Wings guitarist, Laurence Juber, talks about attending 'Paul McCartney University'". Daytrippin' Beatles Magazine.
- ^ McCartney: Songwriter ISBN 0-491-03325-7 p. 122
- ^ Doyle, p. 174
- ^ "Back to the Egg". Laurence Juber. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007.
- ^ "Paul McCartney singles". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. June 16, 1979. p. 87. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 16, 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 16, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Canadian Chart". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. 4 August 1979. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
- ^ "Irish Chart". Irish Charts. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney discography". Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "Paul McCartney". Official Charts.
- ^ "Paul McCartney – Awards". AllMusic.
- ^ "RPM Year-End 1979".
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Getting Closer (Song)".
- ^ "Getting Closer (Song)".
- v
- t
- e
- Wild Life (1971)
- Red Rose Speedway (1973)
- Band on the Run (1973)
- Venus and Mars (1975)
- Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
- London Town (1978)
- Back to the Egg (1979)
- Wings over America (1976)
- Wings over Europe (2018)
- One Hand Clapping (2024)
- Wings Greatest (1978)
- Cold Cuts (unreleased)
- Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
- "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
- "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
- "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon"
- "My Love"
- "Live and Let Die" / "I Lie Around"
- "Helen Wheels" / "Country Dreamer"
- "Mrs. Vandebilt" / "Bluebird"
- "Jet" / "Mamunia"
- "Let Me Roll It"
- "Band on the Run" / "Zoo Gang"
- "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"
- "Junior's Farm" / "Sally G"
- "Listen to What the Man Said" / "Love in Song"
- "Letting Go" / "You Gave Me the Answer"
- "Venus and Mars"/"Rock Show" / "Magneto and Titanium Man"
- "Silly Love Songs" / "Cook of the House"
- "Let 'Em In" / "Beware My Love"
- "Maybe I'm Amazed" / "Soily"
- "Seaside Woman"
- "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
- "With a Little Luck" / "Backwards Traveller"/"Cuff Link"
- "I've Had Enough" / "Deliver Your Children"
- "London Town" / "I'm Carrying"
- "Goodnight Tonight" / "Daytime Nighttime Suffering"
- "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Getting Closer"
- "Arrow Through Me" / "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Rockestra Theme"
- "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)"
- "Mama's Little Girl"
- "Big Barn Bed"
- "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
- "No Words"
- "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"
- "Call Me Back Again"
- "She's My Baby"
- "Must Do Something About It"
- "Warm and Beautiful"
- "Girlfriend"
- Wings University Tour (1972)
- Wings Over Europe Tour (1972)
- Wings 1973 UK Tour (May 1973)
- Wings Over the World tour (1975-1976)
- Wings UK Tour 1979 (1979)
- Wings Over the World (1979)
- Concert for Kampuchea (1980)
- Rockshow (1980)
- Back to the Egg (1981)
- Wingspan – An Intimate Portrait (2001)
- 1972 Wings Tour Bus
- Discography
- Songs
- McGear
- Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (album)
- Japanese Tears
- Standard Time
- Suzy and the Red Stripes
- The Oriental Nightfish
- Wide Prairie
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