Paul McCartney And Wings
Live And Let Die

LA RECENSIONE

"I read the book "Live And Let Die" in one day, started writing the song that same evening, and continued the next day. By evening, I had finished it. Linda wrote the reggae interlude for the song"

Paul McCartney partly recounts the genesis of one of his most famous songs, but also of one of the most celebrated movie songs ever. In the year 1973, he was asked to write the theme for the new film in the "James Bond" series, George Martin was entrusted with the entire soundtrack, and for Paul, it was an opportunity to work again with an old friend. The year '73 saw McCartney busy in the recording studio, on tour, and even in a TV show, the "James Paul McCartney TV Special"; however, Paul managed to concentrate and eventually composed an incredible song.

"Live And Let Die" accompanies the opening credits of the film of the same name, and its author conceived the song by relating to both the possible images and the right atmosphere it should introduce. It starts with a mysterious, dark atmosphere on the piano with Paul singing the few verses, "When you were young and your heart was an open book You used to say life and let life". A spine-chilling intro is enhanced with the backing vocals of Linda and Denny Laine, "you know you did, you know you did, you know you did", at this point the music explodes in an orchestral swirl, a sonic vortex reminiscent of the melody Paul composed for the finale of "A Day In The Life" a few years prior, it rises and rises, everything intensifies and gains strength. Then comes Linda's reggae interlude, "What does it matter to ya When you got a job to do you gotta do it well You gotta give the other fellow hell" and again Paul's vortex that sucks everything toward the string section, the music is strangely calm, the initial theme is revisited only to once more upend the entire melody for a new sound kaleidoscope. A song that is certainly more famous than the film and immediately becomes a classic which the Wings would practically always perform.

The 45 record shows on the B-side the non-essential "I Lie Around", written by Paul but sung by Denny Laine, which was supposed to be included in the original version of "Red Rose Speedway".