Call Me Back Again
Encyclopedia
"Call Me Back Again" is a song credited to Paul
and Linda McCartney
and performed by Wings
. It was originally released on the album Venus and Mars
. It was performed throughout their world tours in Australia
and America
and a live version was included on the album Wings Over America
. It was also included on the compilation album Wingspan: Hits and History
. The song was also included on the theatrical version of the film Rockshow
, documenting the Wings 1976 tour, but was excluded from the laserdisc
version of the song.
McCartney primarily wrote the song at the Beverly Hills Hotel
in Beverly Hills, California
in 1974 and completed the song in New Orleans, Louisiana
, where most of the recording sessions for Venus and Mars, including those for "Call Me Back Again," took place. Although the song does not reference the city of New Orleans, it is one of the few songs on Venus and Mars to betray the influence of the city. The song is a bluesy New-Orleans style soul
ballad
. Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone Magazine described it as being "well-sung" and "urban-blues-and-Sixties-soul-influenced." The lyrics tell of the singer's grief that his girlfriend no longer returns his phone calls. Although the phone calls from his girlfriend used to bring him joy, now that she stopped returning his calls he pleads for her to call him back again. Allmusic critic Donald A. Guarisco compares the lyrics to lyrics in classic singles by such soul singers as Wilson Pickett
and Otis Redding
.
"Call Me Back Again" is in the key of F major
and in 12/8 time. The structure is relatively simple, alternating the verse and the refrain
, with an intro
and an outro at the beginning and end. The melody
incorporates gospel music
elements. The song incorporates a prominent horn
part arranged by Tony Dorsey
. Other instrumentation includes what Guarisco describes as "searing guitar riffs and pulsating piano lines."
McCartney's vocal performance has received considerable praise from critics. John Blaney describes his singing as "a killer vocal that underlines a recording to relish," which "has a depth of emotion rarely equaled and reveals what a supreme vocalist he is." Guarisco described his singing as "a wild-eyed wail of a vocal that is a perfect blend of soulful grit and rock energy." Vincent Benitez particularly praised the vocal performance in the outro, stating that "McCartney shines as a bluesy vocal soloist, ad-libbing as the music fades out." In the book The Rough Guide to the Beatles, Chris Ingham noted a similarity between McCartney's vocal in "Call Me Back Again" and that in The Beatles
' song "Oh! Darling
," although he considered "Call Me Back Again" to be "an inert sludge rocker." Author Tim Riley also remarked on the similarity between "Call Me Back Again" and "Oh! Darling." Robert Rodriguez, calling the song "a piano-based soul shouter" took the "Oh! Darling" analogy further, stating that it "fully achieved what the Fabs' 'Oh! Darling' only hinted at, with a full-throated vocal unheard since the coda
of 'Hey, Jude' seven years before." McCartney himself stated "I ended up just sort of ad-libbing a bit, stretching out a bit. I like that myself. I had a chance to sing."
Although the lyrics seem straightforward, music professor Vincent Benitez has postulated a possible alternative interpretation. Benitez notes that in the documentary
Wingspan-An Intimate Portrait, intersperses a live performance of "Call Me Back Again" with McCartney's explanation of a short poem he had written at the time about his feelings about the possibility of a Beatles reunion:
Benitez takes this as evidence that the lyrics of "Call Me Back Again" may have included a message that the Beatles were not interested in reuniting. In particular, he notes that this may be the case if the "you" in the chorus "But I ain't never no no no no no never heard you calling me" refers to a reunion.
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Linda McCartney
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
and performed by Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
. It was originally released on the album Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars is the fourth album by Wings. Released as the follow-up to the enormously successful Band on the Run, Venus and Mars continued Wings' string of success and would prove a springboard for a year-long worldwide tour...
. It was performed throughout their world tours in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and America
Wings over America
Wings over America is the sixth album by Wings and their only live album. In its initial release, it was a triple album and included a poster of the band.-Recording history:...
and a live version was included on the album Wings Over America
Wings over America
Wings over America is the sixth album by Wings and their only live album. In its initial release, it was a triple album and included a poster of the band.-Recording history:...
. It was also included on the compilation album Wingspan: Hits and History
Wingspan: Hits and History
-Disc 2: History:-Chart positions:-Year-end charts:-Certifications:- References :...
. The song was also included on the theatrical version of the film Rockshow
Rockshow
Rockshow is a 1980 concert film by Wings, filmed during their 1976 North American tour. It features 30 songs from four concerts of the tour: New York, May 25 ; Seattle, Washington, June 10 ; Los Angeles, California, June 22 ; and Los Angeles, California, June 23 , although both the cover of the...
, documenting the Wings 1976 tour, but was excluded from the laserdisc
Laserdisc
LaserDisc was a home video format and the first commercial optical disc storage medium. Initially licensed, sold, and marketed as MCA DiscoVision in North America in 1978, the technology was previously referred to interally as Optical Videodisc System, Reflective Optical Videodisc, Laser Optical...
version of the song.
McCartney primarily wrote the song at the Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It was opened on May 12, 1912 by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel. The original main building of The Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Pasadena...
in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
in 1974 and completed the song in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where most of the recording sessions for Venus and Mars, including those for "Call Me Back Again," took place. Although the song does not reference the city of New Orleans, it is one of the few songs on Venus and Mars to betray the influence of the city. The song is a bluesy New-Orleans style soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
. Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone Magazine described it as being "well-sung" and "urban-blues-and-Sixties-soul-influenced." The lyrics tell of the singer's grief that his girlfriend no longer returns his phone calls. Although the phone calls from his girlfriend used to bring him joy, now that she stopped returning his calls he pleads for her to call him back again. Allmusic critic Donald A. Guarisco compares the lyrics to lyrics in classic singles by such soul singers as Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
and Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
.
"Call Me Back Again" is in the key of F major
F major
F major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
and in 12/8 time. The structure is relatively simple, alternating the verse and the refrain
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
, with an intro
Introduction (music)
In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro...
and an outro at the beginning and end. The melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
incorporates gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
elements. The song incorporates a prominent horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
part arranged by Tony Dorsey
Tony Dorsey
Tony Dorsey is an American professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Guildford Heat in the British Basketball League.-Biography:...
. Other instrumentation includes what Guarisco describes as "searing guitar riffs and pulsating piano lines."
McCartney's vocal performance has received considerable praise from critics. John Blaney describes his singing as "a killer vocal that underlines a recording to relish," which "has a depth of emotion rarely equaled and reveals what a supreme vocalist he is." Guarisco described his singing as "a wild-eyed wail of a vocal that is a perfect blend of soulful grit and rock energy." Vincent Benitez particularly praised the vocal performance in the outro, stating that "McCartney shines as a bluesy vocal soloist, ad-libbing as the music fades out." In the book The Rough Guide to the Beatles, Chris Ingham noted a similarity between McCartney's vocal in "Call Me Back Again" and that in The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' song "Oh! Darling
Oh! Darling
"Oh! Darling" is a song by The Beatles composed by Paul McCartney and appearing as the fourth song on the album, Abbey Road, in 1969. Its working title was "Oh! Darling "...
," although he considered "Call Me Back Again" to be "an inert sludge rocker." Author Tim Riley also remarked on the similarity between "Call Me Back Again" and "Oh! Darling." Robert Rodriguez, calling the song "a piano-based soul shouter" took the "Oh! Darling" analogy further, stating that it "fully achieved what the Fabs' 'Oh! Darling' only hinted at, with a full-throated vocal unheard since the coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
of 'Hey, Jude' seven years before." McCartney himself stated "I ended up just sort of ad-libbing a bit, stretching out a bit. I like that myself. I had a chance to sing."
Although the lyrics seem straightforward, music professor Vincent Benitez has postulated a possible alternative interpretation. Benitez notes that in the documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
Wingspan-An Intimate Portrait, intersperses a live performance of "Call Me Back Again" with McCartney's explanation of a short poem he had written at the time about his feelings about the possibility of a Beatles reunion:
- The Beatles split up in '69,
- and since then they've been doing fine
Benitez takes this as evidence that the lyrics of "Call Me Back Again" may have included a message that the Beatles were not interested in reuniting. In particular, he notes that this may be the case if the "you" in the chorus "But I ain't never no no no no no never heard you calling me" refers to a reunion.