NEW BOOK: LONDON TOWN. THE STORY OF AN ADVENTUROUS ALBUM

Released in March 1978, London Town is an interesting turning point along Wings’ musical trajectory, even though the album was the outcome of a rather complicated situation, which resulted in the group’s line-up crumbling and downsizing to a trio, as happened for Band on the Run. Although not as successful as the earlier album, it remains one of the most charming episodes, if not entirely consistent, within the group’s discography.

Within a musical scene dominated by punk and disco music, London Town is imbued by many influences that reinforced McCartney’s own identity and artistic style. Beside its folk-acoustic flavour – the result of the songwriting collaboration between Paul and Denny Laine – the album features a modern touch with the use of synthesizers which prove that McCartney’s interest in electronic music was alive way before McCartney II. The use of sound effects (seagulls, Morse code signals, studio chatter, laughter and sneers) helps bringing the music to life and adds a filmic quality to the whole album and to its almost impressionistic approach.

The decision to record part of London Town on a boat amid the Virgin Islands, meant that McCartney prioritised feeling over anything else for his music. This form of isolation, which had never been tried before by Wings, created a relaxed atmosphere that contributed a variety of sounds, flavours and moods that perfectly illustrate why this album remains so popular among fans.

Enriched by images and photos, the volume London Town. The Story of an Adventurous Album tells of one of McCartney‘s most brilliant, although eccentric, records. In its detailed account of the album’s creation and analysis of its songs, based on contemporary sources and in-depth interviews by the author with assistant engineers Tim Summerhayes (“Mull of Kintyre”) and Tom Anderson (who helped Geoff Emerick on the Fair Carol boat) or arrangers Wil Malone and Mick Vickers, the book walks readers through various aspects of the album, from the technical side (the recording equipment used in the Caribbean, the instrumentation) to Paul McCartney’s skills for arranging and producing music, with his usual strokes of genius scattered throughout.

The volume covers the timeline of the sessions, the stories behind the songs of the album, material from the period (the many McCartney demos including the legendary “Waterspout”, the single “Mull of Kintyre” / “Girls’ School”), their harmonic and rhythmic inventions, the lyrics’ analysis, the commercial success, the promotional strategy, the critical reception. The departures of Wings’ members Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English are also explored, as well as Denny Laine’s project Holly Days.

Innocent and sinister, elegant and grotesque, dreamlike and sullen, catchy and inconsequential, romantic and salacious; ladies and gentlemen, London Town. A fascinating insight into the most “atmospheric” album by Wings.