Mary Had a Little Lamb (Paul McCartney song)
Encyclopedia
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" is Wings
' version of the traditional nursery rhyme, recorded, according to Paul McCartney
at the time, in response to the BBC
ban on their previous single, the political "Give Ireland Back to the Irish
", though McCartney has since denied this. Wings lead guitarist Henry McCullough plays mandolin, and the McCartney children sing on the chorus. McCartney has claimed that record logs reveal that the song was recorded before "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" had been banned by the BBC, but a source says that the song was recorded after "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
The song was virulently attacked by rock critics at the time, although a few critics thought it to be deliberately ironic. It reached the top 10 in the UK, peaking at #9. However, many US radio stations chose instead to play the pop/rock B-side, "Little Woman Love
". Apple Records
in the US even revised the picture sleeve for the single to credit both sides by name (see reverse cover), but the single still failed to rise above #28 in the U.S.
The song was released as a single on 12 May 1972. It was included as a bonus track on the remastered version of Wild Life released in 1993.
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....
' version of the traditional nursery rhyme, recorded, according to Paul McCartney
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...
at the time, in response to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
ban on their previous single, the political "Give Ireland Back to the Irish
Give Ireland Back to the Irish
"Give Ireland Back to the Irish" is a Paul and Linda McCartney song written in response to the events of Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland on 30 January 1972...
", though McCartney has since denied this. Wings lead guitarist Henry McCullough plays mandolin, and the McCartney children sing on the chorus. McCartney has claimed that record logs reveal that the song was recorded before "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" had been banned by the BBC, but a source says that the song was recorded after "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
The song was virulently attacked by rock critics at the time, although a few critics thought it to be deliberately ironic. It reached the top 10 in the UK, peaking at #9. However, many US radio stations chose instead to play the pop/rock B-side, "Little Woman Love
Little Woman Love
"Little Woman Love" is a Wings song released as a B-side to the single "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on 12 May 1972. It was composed by Paul McCartney in 1970 and recorded during the Ram sessions but left of the album, then released as a single, although, in keeping with McCartney's practice at the...
". Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
in the US even revised the picture sleeve for the single to credit both sides by name (see reverse cover), but the single still failed to rise above #28 in the U.S.
The song was released as a single on 12 May 1972. It was included as a bonus track on the remastered version of Wild Life released in 1993.