Listen to What the Man Said
"Listen to What the Man Said" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Wings | ||||
from the album Venus and Mars | ||||
B-side | "Love in Song" | |||
Released | 16 May 1975 | |||
Recorded | 31 January and 20 February 1975 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:57 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
Wings singles chronology | ||||
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Licensed audio | ||||
"Listen to What the Man Said" on YouTube |
"Listen to What the Man Said" is a hit single from Wings' 1975 album Venus and Mars. The song featured new member Joe English on drums, with guest musicians Dave Mason on guitar and Tom Scott on soprano saxophone.[2] It was a number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US the week of July 19, 1975[3][4] and reached number 1 in Canada on the RPM National Top Singles Chart.[5] It also reached number 6 in the UK, and reached the top ten in Norway and New Zealand and the top twenty in the Netherlands.[6][7] The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.[8][9]
Recording
"Listen to What the Man Said" was recorded in early 1975 by Wings during their
The end of the song also features a small link used to transition into the next song on Venus and Mars, "Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People".
You either have to leave it and stop 'Listen to What the Man Said' dead or you spill over into the next little link piece. I just like that link myself, and thought no one's going to mind that little extra on the record.
— Paul McCartney, Paul McCartney: In His Own Words[14]
Lyrics
The song is an optimistic love song.[15] Even though love may be blind or may cause separated lovers to suffer, the singer believes that love will prevail.[15] This is in accordance with what “the man” said.[15] "The man" is not explicitly identified, but might be God.[15] Author Vincent Benitez believes that "McCartney is advising everyone to stick with the basics of life, which for him means focusing on love."[15] The song is in the key of G major.
The seemingly random words which are spoken before the music begins, according to Chip Madinger and Mark Easter's 2000 book "Eight Arms To Hold You", are said by McCartney.
"Paul's impression of Leo Nocentelli, the guitarist for The Meters (not Wolfman Jack, as has been incorrectly stated), which was placed at the beginning of the song, was taped when he recorded his vocal track," the book says.
The speaker says: "All right, OK... very good to see you down in New Orleans, man, yeah, yeah. Reet, yeah, yeah..." The word "reet" is jazz slang meaning, "good, proper, excellent."[16]
Reception
The song was also included on the numerous greatest hits compilations, including 1987's All the Best!, 2001's Wingspan: Hits and History and 2016's Pure McCartney.[23][24] However, it was not included on the 1978 Wings compilation, Wings Greatest.[25]
The song title inspired "Listen To What The Fans Said", a letters column in the Wings Fan Club magazine, Club Sandwich.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[43] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Owl City version
"Listen to What the Man Said" | |
---|---|
Arctic Poppy via Kobalt | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | Ralph Sall |
American electronica project Owl City covered the song and released it on 17 November 2014.[44] It was released from the compilation album, The Art of McCartney, as a tribute to the English artist.[45]
Background
When asked about covering the track, Adam Young of Owl City stated, "I think they said 'We'd like to have somebody cover one of these three songs on the list.' I'm not sure why they reached out to me. I feel so humbled."[46]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2014–15) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Cross Rhythms Weekly Chart[47] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Cross Rhythms Annual Chart[47] | 62 |
Covers
- The song was covered (as "L.T.W.T.M.S.") by indie pop band The Trouble with Sweeney on their 2004 EP Fishtown Briefcase.[48]
- Ex-Wings member Laurence Juber covered the song on his 2005 album One Wing, despite not being a member of the band at the time of the song's recording and release.[49][50]
- Former Wings member Denny Laine covered "Listen to What the Man Said" in 1996 on his album Wings at the Sound of Denny Laine.[51]
- In 2008, My Favourite Waste of Time.[52]
- The chorus elements from the single were used in the 2003 Dance single "Just The Way You Are" by the Italian dance group Milky.[53] Because of this, Paul and Linda McCartney were given credit on the single.
Personnel
- Paul McCartney — vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, clavinet, percussion
- Linda McCartney — keyboards, backing vocals, percussion[54]
- Denny Laine – vocals, guitars, percussion
- Jimmy McCulloch – guitars
- Joe English – drums, percussion
- Dave Mason – guitar[55]
- Tom Scott – soprano saxophone
References
- ^ Rolling Stone Staff (November 30, 2020). "Paul McCartney's 40 Greatest Solo Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
...but "Listen to What the Man Said"...proved that McCartney would have no trouble fitting into the dawning disco age.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ Paul McCartney, Billboard Hot 100 – Billboard.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Billboard Hot 100, Week of July 19, 1975 – Billboard.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ "RPM Top Singles". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ "Dutch charts: Listen to What the Man Said". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- RIAA. Archived from the originalon 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
- ^ riaa.com
- ^ ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- ^ a b DeRiso, Nick. "40 Years Ago: Paul McCartney and Wings Release Uneven but Ultimately Charming 'Venus and Mars'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ISBN 978-88-909122-1-4.
- ISBN 9780825639104.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
- ^ "Dictionary.com Definition "Reet"". Archived from the original on 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. May 31, 1975. p. 78. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 31, 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ Nelson, P. (May 3, 2001). "Venus and Mars Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
- ISBN 0-517-53367-7.
- ISBN 978-1-4053-8445-2.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1975". Kent Music Report. 29 December 1975. Retrieved 15 January 2022 – via Imgur.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Canadian Chart". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1975-08-09. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- ^ https://chartssinglestop40france.blogspot.com/2017/07/3-aout-1975.html
- GfK Entertainment. Archived from the originalon July 18, 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "Japanese Chart". nifty.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-23. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl Paul McCartney discography". Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1975-08-11. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- allmusic. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 157.
- ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
- ^ "Top 200 Singles of 1975". RPM. 1975-12-27. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1975 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. 1975-12-31. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1975". Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
- ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1975". Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Paul Mc Cartney & Wings – Listen To What The Man Said". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Listen to What the Man Said". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Grow, Kory (9 September 2014). "Paul McCartney Tribute Comp: Bob Dylan, Kiss and More Cover the Beatle". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
- ^ Jon Bream (13 October 2015). "Six years after 'Fireflies,' Owl City is still glowing as an accidental careerist". Star Tribune. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Cross Rhythms – Year-End 2015". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Deusner, S. (June 16, 2004). "Trouble with Sweeney Fishtown Briefcase EP". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ "Just the Way You Are". whosampled.com. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ISBN 978-1-589-79955-4p.139
- ISBN 978-1-785-58218-9