In August 1974, when Band on the Run was enjoying a seven-week consecutive #1 stint at the top of the UK album charts, Paul McCartney and Wings headed to Abbey Road Studios for the filming of a video documentary and possible live studio album – One Hand Clapping. Despite overwhelming demand for newly recorded material from the biggest band in the world at that time, One Hand Clapping was never officially released.
Filmed and recorded over four days and directed by David Litchfield, the release of One Hand Clapping is a historic moment for Paul McCartney fans. Over the years, various parts of One Hand Clapping have been bootlegged with varying degrees of success. Some of the material has also appeared on official McCartney releases. However, the 2024 release of One Hand Clapping, which features the original artwork designed for the project, including a TV sales brochure for the unreleased film at the time, is the first time the audio for the film—plus several additional songs recorded off-camera - have been officially issued.
One Hand Clapping showcased Wings' new line-up, fresh off their return from Nashville where they recorded the classic single "Junior's Farm." Following the sudden departure of Denny Seiwell and Henry McCullough the previous year on the eve of recording the Wings masterpiece Band on the Run, Paul, Linda and Denny Laine were now joined by guitarist Jimmy McCulloch and drummer Geoff Britton. Additionally joining the band in the studio were orchestral arranger Del Newman and saxophonist Howie Casey, who had previously played with Paul in Hamburg and would go on to join the Wings touring band.
Opening with an instrumental jam that would become the One Hand Clapping theme song, the album features live-in-studio renditions of Wings mega-hits "Live and Let Die," "Band on the Run," "Jet," "My Love," "Hi, Hi, Hi," "Junior's Farm," Paul's much loved solo song "Maybe I'm Amazed," reworked extracts of Beatles classics "Let It Be," "The Long and Winding Road" and "Lady Madonna," the Moody Blues hit "Go Now" with Denny Laine singing, and a Paul solo piano version of the Harry Akst/Benny Davis Tin Pan Alley classic "Baby Face."
One Hand Clapping serves as a celebration of the enduring legacy of Paul McCartney and Wings. It captured a moment when Wings had found and defined their signature sound — just as Paul had shaped popular culture the decade before with The Beatles, he was doing it once again in the '70s with Wings. This recording gives an insight into the inner workings of the band as they work and play together in the studio. It also underscores Paul's incredible talent as a live performer: Fifty years on, Paul is still performing many of these songs in packed stadiums across the world.
