Pipes of Peace (song)
| "Pipes of Peace" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Paul McCartney | ||||
| from the album Pipes of Peace | ||||
| B-side | "So Bad" | |||
| Released | 5 December 1983 | |||
| Recorded | September–October 1982 | |||
| Studio | AIR, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Pipes of Peace" is a song written by English musician Paul McCartney, released as the title track on his 1983 album of the same name. It was also released as a single in December 1983 and reached number 1 on the UK singles charts for two weeks. The song also reached number 1 on the Irish singles chart.[1]
Recording[edit]
The basic track was recorded on 10 September 1982 at AIR Studios,[2] with orchestral overdubs added later, probably at the same studio. Paul McCartney plays piano, bass and knee-percussion, while tabla was added by James Kippen, who tried "something like 20–30 takes" before McCartney was satisfied.[3] A special session was organized to have the Pestalozzi Children Choir adding their voices.
Personnel[edit]
- Paul McCartney – vocals, bass, piano, synthesizer, knee-percussion, drums, orchestra arrangements
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals
- Eric Stewart – backing vocals
- Adrian Brett – pan flute
- James Kippen – tabla[4]
- Pestalozzi Children Choir – choir
Charts[edit]
In the United States, "Pipes of Peace" was issued as the B-side, and its British B-side, "So Bad", was issued as the A-side.[5] "So Bad" reached number 23 at the US Billboard Hot 100[6] and reached number 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. "So Bad" peaked at 18 on the Canadian RPM Chart (and two weeks at #2 AC).[7][8]
Video[edit]
At Chobham Common, Surrey, a video was shot for "Pipes of Peace", depicting the famous 1914 Christmas truce between British and German troops.[9] It portrays a British and a German soldier, both played by McCartney, who meet up in No Man's Land and exchange photos of their loved ones while other soldiers fraternise and play football. When a shell blast forces the two armies to retreat to their own trenches both men realise that they still have each other's pictures.[10] The video was produced by Hugh Symonds, featured more than 100 extras, and for added realism McCartney had his hair cut short especially for the shoot.
In November 2014, the British supermarket chain Sainsbury's, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, produced a Christmas advert[11] whose look and narrative were widely recognized[12] as being based on McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" video. As in "Pipes of Peace" the British and German soldier return to their trenches to discover that they have inadvertently swapped their gifts from home.
Other[edit]
Argentine singer-songwriter Sergio Denis recorded a Spanish version of the song re-titled Pipas de la paz on his album La Humanidad (1984).
The McCartney recording was included on the UK and Canada version of the 1987 compilation All the Best!, and the 2001 compilation Wingspan: Hits and History.
In 2017, the band MUNA covered the song for Capitol Music Group’s compilation Holidays Rule Vol. 2.[13][14]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ Pipes of Peace Archive Edition, 2015
- ^ Luca Perasi, Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969–2013), 2013, L.I.L.Y. Publishing, p.232.
- ^ Claudio Dirani (5 December 2005). "The Stunning Percussion On Pipes Of Peace". Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ "Paul McCartney– So Bad / Pipes Of Peace (Vinyl) at Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ^ "Pipes of Peace > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". allmusic. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 18, 1984" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 50 AC - March 17, 1984" (PDF).
- ^ "When peace broke out". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2014
- ^ Daphne Lee (12 July 2009). "Monsters in our minds". Malaysia Star. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "1914 | Sainsbury's Ad | Christmas 2014". YouTube.
- ^ "Sainsbury's Christmas ad is basically just a rehash of Pipes of Peace". 13 November 2014.
- ^ Staff (2022-06-18). "The 50 Best Paul McCartney Covers Ever". Cover Me. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2017-09-22). "Jimmy Fallon & Paul McCartney Cover 'Wonderful Christmastime' on 'Holiday's Rule Vol. 2' Album Featuring Norah Jones, Roseanne Cash, MUNA & Others". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
