Paul McCartney on the Everly Brothers and his contribution to their comeback album, EB 84. Interviewed for the show Music Box (1984).

 



Q: Another bunch of people you admire are the Everly Brothers. Or at least two people. Hardly a bunch.

PAUL: Half a bunch.

Q: Half a bunch, indeed. You wrote their last hit, didn’t you? How did that come about?

PAUL: Dave Edmunds, who’s in the film Give My Regards To Broad Street – plug, plug– 

Q: We’re gonna talk about it, don’t worry.

PAUL: Dave Edmunds said to me that the Everlys had asked him to produce a record. And he said he was going to– he was ringing around a lot of people, asking them if they wanted to contribute, in writing. So I said, “Yeah, please.” ‘Cus they were one of the very first acts that influenced people like me. Along with Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, the Everlys were a very special thing. I think it’s where the Beatles got their two people in harmony thing. John and I were the Everlys, really, when we started. A lot of people– most people when they start I think they imitate someone. And we did. And one of our imitations, really, was the Everlys. So when I got asked to write a song I said it was a privilege and an honour!

Q: You must have been quite chuffed that they decided to team up again, as well.

PAUL: Yeah, I was. They’d had a lot of problems, you know. Brothers. Sometimes it’s a difficult situation. I know, I’ve got a brother. And, you know, we argue. It’s a strange thing, really. ‘Cus you don’t want to argue, but you find yourself in conflict situations. So I was glad to hear that they were getting back together. I think a lot of people of my generation always wanted the Everlys to get back together. [pause] You know, it was always something we wanted. I suppose later generations always wanted the Beatles to get back together. It would be that kind of dream for us to get the Everlys back. So when we knew they were going to do it and Dave asked me, I jumped at the chance. I said, “Give me a week. See if I can come up with anything.” ‘Cus I didn’t want to come up with something that I felt was wrong. So I just, in that week, I came up with ‘On The Wings Of A Nightingale’. And then I liked it and the Everlys liked it, that was the main thing. And they sound just like an Everly Brothers record!

Q: They did, didn’t they?

PAUL: Yeah!


Released in August 1984, the single ‘On The Wings Of A Nightingale’ is the most popular Everly Brothers song recorded since 1970 and the last one to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Perhaps symbolizing their own reunion, the accompanying video shows the brothers rescuing a classic car in order to restore it, driving away together. 

 

Lyrics

When I love / I get a feeling like I’m traveling through the sky / On the wings of a nightingale

As I ride / My head is reeling but I don’t even wonder why / On the wings of a nightingale I’ll fly

High above land and sea / I’ll be thinking of you and me / Couldn’t ask for a better place to be / Oh, I can feel something happening / Oh, I can feel something happening / Oh, I can feel something happening to me

So hold my hand / I got a feeling that the journey has just begun / On the wings of a nightingale

And if you like / We’ll fly together to the land of eternal sun / On the wings of a nightingale of love

High above land and sea / I’ll be thinking of you and me / Couldn’t ask for a better place to be / Oh, I can feel something happening / Oh, I can feel something happening / Oh, I can feel something happening to me

When I love / I get a feeling like I’m traveling through the sky / On the wings of a nightingale

 

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