Mumbo (song)
| "Mumbo" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Wings | |
| from the album Wild Life | |
| Released | 7 December 1971 |
| Recorded | 26 July, 1 September and 2–15 October 1971[1] |
| Length | 3:54 |
| Label | Apple |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Paul McCartney |
"Mumbo" is a song by the British-American rock band Wings, released as the opening track on their debut album WIld Life (1971).[2]
Background and recording
Recording of "Mumbo" began on 26 July 1971 as a jam started by Paul McCartney on piano and, according to him during an interview with NME a few months after the session, everyone else "just fell in" to the jam. The performers were Linda McCartney on tambourine, Denny Laine on bass, Paul on a piano that, according to engineer Alan Clarke, was out of tune, and Denny Seiwell on drums.[3][4] Paul returned to "Mumbo" on 1 September, adding percussion and an electric guitar.[5] On a Friday between 2 and 15 October, more overdubs were added, including backing vocals from Paul and Linda, organ by Paul, and more electric guitars from Laine and Paul.[6]
Release and reception
"Mumbo" appears as the opening track on Wild Life (1971), the debut album by the British-American rock band Wings. Author John Blaney states that "its raw energy more than makes up for what it lacks in lyrical content[.]"[7] John Mendelsohn in Rolling Stone called it a "raucous rock and roll rampage that, like “Smile Away,” may be taken as a small self-send-up".[8] Goldmine magazine critic John M. Borack called it "nothing more than a seemingly spontaneous jam captured with the tape rolling."[9] In Record Collector, Jamie Atkins opined it to be a "sloppy bit of nonsense barroom boogie".[10] A reprise of the track titled "Mumbo Link" appears as the final track, albeit initially unlisted until the CD reissue, when it was listed for the first time.[11]
Personnel
According to authors Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair:[12]
- Paul McCartney – tuned down piano, organ, percussion, electric guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Linda McCartney – tambourine, backing vocals
- Denny Laine – bass, electric guitar
- Denny Seiwell – drums
References
Citations
- ↑ Kozinn & Sinclair 2022, p. 290, 301, 307.
- ↑ Madinger & Easter 2018, p. 163.
- ↑ Kozinn & Sinclair 2022, pp. 290–91.
- ↑ Green, Richard (20 November 1971). "Paul McCartney is like a man who has dodged the death sentence". New Musical Express. p. 6–7. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Kozinn & Sinclair 2022, p. 301.
- ↑ Kozinn & Sinclair 2022, pp. 307, 309.
- ↑ Blaney 2007, p. 57.
- ↑ Mendelsohn, John (20 January 1972). "Wild Life [US Bonus Tracks]". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Borack, John M. (9 May 2022). "An aural upgrade to Wings debut album 'Wild Life' a Grade A reason to revisit the record". Goldmine. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Atkins, Jamie (27 November 2018). "1971-73". Record Collector. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
- ↑ Blaney 2007, p. 58.
- ↑ Kozinn & Sinclair 2022, p. 291, 301, 309.
Bibliography
- Blaney, John (2007). Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone (1st ed.). Jawbone Press. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- Kozinn, Allan; Sinclair, Adrian (2022). The McCartney Legacy Volume 1: 1969–73 (1st ed.). New York City: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-300072-8.
- Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2018) [2000]. Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, MO: 44.1 Productions. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
