Too Many People

Last updated
"Too Many People"
Too Many People label.jpg
Single by Paul & Linda McCartney
from the album Ram
A-side "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"
Released2 August 1971
Recorded10 November 1970
Genre Psychedelic rock
Length4:10
Label Apple
Songwriter(s) Paul McCartney
Producer(s) Paul and Linda McCartney
Paul & Linda McCartney singles chronology
"Another Day"
(1971)		"Too Many People"
(1971)		"The Back Seat of My Car"
(1971)

"Too Many People" is a song by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda McCartney, from the 1971 album Ram . The song was issued as the B-side of the "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" single, and was also included on The 7" Singles Box in 2022. [1]

Contents

Background

"Too Many People" contains lyrical digs at McCartney's former bandmate and songwriting partner John Lennon, as well as his wife Yoko Ono. According to Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci, it is "McCartney's bitchiest kissoff to his ex-bandmates." [2] McCartney recalled in an interview with Playboy in 1984:

I was looking at my second solo album, Ram, the other day and I remember there was one tiny little reference to John in the whole thing. He'd been doing a lot of preaching, and it got up my nose a little bit. In one song, I wrote, "Too many people preaching practices", I think is the line. I mean, that was a little dig at John and Yoko. There wasn't anything else on it that was about them. Oh, there was "You took your lucky break and broke it in two". [3]

The song begins with the line "piece of cake", which was later revealed to be a veiled comment at Lennon:

Piss off, cake. Like, a piece of cake becomes piss off cake, And it's nothing, it's so harmless really, just little digs. But the first line is about "too many people preaching practices". I felt John and Yoko were telling everyone what to do. And I felt we didn't need to be told what to do. The whole tenor of the Beatles thing had been, like, to each his own. Freedom. Suddenly it was "You should do this". It was just a bit the wagging finger, and I was pissed off with it. So that one got to be a thing about them.

— Paul McCartney, Mojo , 2001 [4] [5]
Ono and Lennon in 1969. John Lennon en echtgenote Yoko Ono verlaten het Hilton Hotel te Amsterdam, omrin, Bestanddeelnr 922-2493.jpg
Ono and Lennon in 1969.

The line "You took your lucky break and broke it in two" was originally "Yoko took your lucky break and broke it in two", though McCartney revised it before recording the song. [6] Despite this, Gallucci interprets the line as a "dig at Lennon's relationship with Yoko Ono." [2]

Rolling Stone remarked that "Too Many People"'s "incredibly sweet melody is proof that McCartney could use his charm as a weapon when he wanted to." [7]

The introduction to the song, as well as the bridge, alternate the tonic chord of G major with its minor subdominant chord of C minor. [6] This allows McCartney to go from the bridge to a repetition of the introduction music as a means of moving the music back to the verses. [6] According to Vincent Perez Benitez, this strategy "enhance[s] the coherence of the song," in a manner consistent with McCartney's earlier song "Maybe I'm Amazed." [6] "Too Many People" incorporates guitar solos in both the middle and at the end of the song. [6]

McCartney also recorded an instrumental version of "Too Many People" that was released on his Thrillington album. In this version a stereo phaser was used to produce a sound that music journalist Ian Peel describes as coming from a "psychedelic echo chamber." [8]

Recording

"Too Many People" was initially recorded on 10 November 1970 in Columbia Studios in New York City. Most of the overdubbing, including adding brass instruments to the beginning of the song, occurred in January 1971. Additional overdubbing took place in March and April 1971. [4]

Aftermath

Following the release of Ram, John Lennon pointed out several songs that he claimed were attacks at him, among them being "Too Many People".

There were all the bits at the beginning of Ram like 'Too many people going underground'. Well that was us, Yoko Ono and me. And 'You took your lucky break', that was considering we had a lucky break to be with him.

— John Lennon [4]

In response, Lennon wrote "How Do You Sleep?" for his album Imagine , an attack at McCartney, which featured musical contributions from George Harrison. McCartney later wrote "Dear Friend", a truce offering to Lennon, and released it on the album Wild Life with his band, Wings. [9]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone rated "Too Many People" to be McCartney's 3rd greatest post-Beatles song, 2 slots ahead of its A-side "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" and behind only "Band on the Run" and "Maybe I'm Amazed." [7] Billboard described "Too Many People" as "wailing sentimentality." [10] Capital Journal critic Steve Gettinger called "Too Many People" a high point of Ram stating that it is "bright and bitter, carefully constructed" and "unmistakably Beatles." [11] Boston Globe critic Ernie Santosuosso described it as "a loud meditation about society" with a "particularly violent guitar statement," praising the music more than the lyrics. [12]

Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn described "Too Many People" as "a sort of musical extension of Thomas Malthus that includes some of the humorous irony of the vintage Beatles," with lines such as "Too many reaching for a piece of cake" and "Too many hungry people losing weight." [13] Hilburn goes on to state that the song provides a lyrical surprise, which he likens to an O. Henry story, in which the lyrics turn to "a statement about the resolution of ones problems in a difficult self-centered world." [13] Hilburn suggests that this may be a reference to McCartney's experience with the Beatles' breakup. [13]

According to Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso, the song's "haughty sermonizing" towards Lennon is one of the weaknesses of the Ram album, [14] though fellow Ultimate Classic Rock critic Gallucci rated the song as the 4th best Beatles' post-breakup fight song. [2]

Of the instrumental version on Thrillington , Peel states that "rock 'n' roll is transformed into funky jazz with more than a hint of studio experimentation." [8]

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band</i> 1970 studio album by John Lennon

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is the debut solo studio album by English musician John Lennon. Backed by the Plastic Ono Band, it was released by Apple Records on 11 December 1970 in tandem with the similarly titled album by his wife, Yoko Ono. At the time of its issue, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band received mixed reviews overall, but later came to be widely regarded as Lennon's best solo album.

<i>Imagine</i> (John Lennon album) 1971 album by John Lennon

Imagine is the second solo studio album by British musician John Lennon, released on 9 September 1971 by Apple Records. Co-produced by Lennon, his wife Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, the album's elaborate sound contrasts the basic, small-group arrangements of his first album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970), while the opening title track is widely considered to be his signature song.

"How Do You Sleep?" is a song by English rock musician John Lennon from his 1971 album Imagine.

<i>Ram</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Paul and Linda McCartney

Ram is the only studio album credited to the husband-and-wife music duo Paul and Linda McCartney, and the former’s second album post-Beatles. Released on 17 May 1971 by Apple Records, it was recorded in New York with guitarists David Spinozza and Hugh McCracken, and future Wings drummer Denny Seiwell. Three singles were issued from the album: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey", "The Back Seat of My Car" and "Eat at Home". The recording sessions also yielded the non-album single "Another Day".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ballad of John and Yoko</span> 1969 single by the Beatles

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in May 1969. It was written by John Lennon and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership, and chronicles the events surrounding the wedding of Lennon and Yoko Ono. The song was the Beatles' 17th UK number-one single and their last for 54 years until "Now and Then" in 2023. In the United States, it was banned by some radio stations due to the lyrics' reference to Christ and crucifixion. The single peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song has subsequently appeared on compilation albums such as Hey Jude, 1967–1970, Past Masters, and 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Day (Paul McCartney song)</span> 1971 single by Paul McCartney

"Another Day" is a song by English rock musician Paul McCartney that was released as the A-side of a non-album single in February 1971. It was his debut single as a solo artist following the Beatles break-up in 1970. McCartney credited his wife Linda as a co-writer on the song, triggering legal action from ATV on behalf of the publishing companies Northern Songs and Maclen Music. The lyrics describe the daily routine of a lonely woman, using an observational style similar to McCartney's narrative in the 1966 ballad "Eleanor Rigby".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him</span> 1980 song by Yoko Ono

"Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" is a song by Yoko Ono from the album Double Fantasy with John Lennon. Other versions were released, including one released as a single where Ono's voice was removed, leaving what had been Lennon's backing vocal as the primary vocal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Back Seat of My Car</span> 1971 single by Paul and Linda McCartney

"The Back Seat of My Car" is a song written by Paul McCartney, released as the closing track of his and his wife Linda's 1971 album, Ram. Several months later, it was released as a single in the UK, peaking at number 39. The song modulates stylistically between a sweeping piano-and-orchestra ballad similar to McCartney's "The Long and Winding Road" and upbeat rock sections before ending in a raucous and passionate finale.

"Oh Yoko!" is a 1971 song written and performed by John Lennon. It was first released on his album Imagine, and was later included in the greatest hits compilation Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon.

"Grow Old with Me" is one of the final songs written by John Lennon. It was first recorded by Lennon as a demo while in Bermuda. A handwritten lyric sheet for the song is dated July 5, 1980 "Fairyland Bermuda." The song was first released on the posthumous album Milk and Honey in 1984. It was also rumored to be among the songs planned as a possible reunion single by his former bandmates during the making of The Beatles Anthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh My Love</span> 1971 song by John Lennon

"Oh My Love" is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that appeared on Lennon's Imagine album in 1971.

"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1973 album Mind Games. The song is included on the 1990 box set Lennon.

"Out the Blue" is a song written by John Lennon and originally released on his 1973 album Mind Games. The song is included on the 1990 boxset Lennon, the 2005 two-disc compilation Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon, the 2010 album Gimme Some Truth and the 2020 compilation album Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes.

"I Know (I Know)" is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1973 album Mind Games. The song is included on the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology and the 2020 compilation album Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes.

"Big Barn Bed" is a song by Paul McCartney and Wings from the band's 1973 album Red Rose Speedway. The songwriting credits are attributed to Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney.

"New York City" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on Lennon's and Yoko Ono's 1972 Plastic Ono Band album Some Time in New York City.

"Bless You" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. It is a ballad expressing his love for his wife Yoko Ono, from whom he was separated at the time. Alternative versions appeared on the compilation albums Menlove Ave. and John Lennon Anthology

"Scared" is a song written by John Lennon that was first released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. Alternate versions were subsequently released on the compilation albums Menlove Ave. and John Lennon Anthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Me (Yoko Ono song)</span> Song by Yoko Ono

"Touch Me" is a song written by Yoko Ono that was first released on her 1970 album Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band. An edited version was later released in the U.S. as the b-side to John Lennon's single "Power to the People."

<i>Lennon Remembers</i> Book by Jann Wenner

Lennon Remembers is a 1971 book by Rolling Stone magazine co-founder and editor Jann Wenner. It consists of a lengthy interview that Wenner carried out with former Beatle John Lennon in December 1970 and which was originally serialised in Rolling Stone in its issues dated 21 January and 4 February 1971. The interview was intended to promote Lennon's primal therapy-inspired album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and reflects the singer's emotions and mindset after undergoing an intense course of the therapy under Arthur Janov. It also serves as a rebuttal to Paul McCartney's public announcement of the Beatles' break-up, in April 1970.

References

  1. ↑ "' The 7" Singles Box' – Out 2 December 2022". PaulMcCartney.com. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Gallucci, Michael (22 October 2013). "Top 10 Beatles Post-Breakup Fight Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  3. ↑ "Paul McCartney 1984 Playboy Interview". The Trustees of Indiana University. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 "Too Many People". The Beatles Bible. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  5. ↑ Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN   978-1-906002-02-2.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Benitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. pp. 28–29. ISBN   978-0-313-34969-0.
  7. 1 2 Dolan, Jon; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Hermes, Will & Sheffield, Rob (September 13, 2017). "Paul McCartney's 40 Greatest Solo Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-06-19.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. 1 2 Peel, Ian (2013). The Unknown Paul McCartney. Titan. ISBN   9781781162750.
  9. ↑ "Dear Friend". The Paul McCartney Project. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Billboard Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 29 May 1971. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  11. ↑ Gettinger, Steve (19 June 1971). "Paul (and Linda) McCartney album has ups and downs". Capital Journal. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-06-27– via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Santosuosso, Ernie (30 May 1971). "McCartney LP Needs Lennon". Boston Globe. p. 32. Retrieved 2020-06-27– via newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 3 Hilburn, Robert (23 May 1971). "Disappointing Solo Album From Paul McCartney". Los Angeles Times. p. 47. Retrieved 2020-06-27– via newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ DeRiso, Nick (May 15, 2016). "How Paul McCartney's 'Ram' Became a Moment of Handmade Genius". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.