"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.[1] It was a number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US[2] and reached number 1 in Canada on the RPM National Top Singles Chart.[3] 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.[4][5] The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.[6][7]
"Listen to What the Man Said" was recorded in early 1975 by Wings during their New Orleans sessions for Venus and Mars.[1][8][9] It was a song for which Paul McCartney had high hopes, but early recordings did not live up to the song's potential.[8][9] McCartney said in 1975 of his initial opinion of the song, "It was one of the songs we’d gone in with high hopes for. Whenever I would play it on the piano, people would say ‘Oh, I like that one.’ But when we did the backing track, we thought we didn't really get it together at all."[10] After Mason added guitar overdubs, the band was still dissatisfied.[8][9] However, once Scott recorded the sax solo, judgements were changed.[8][9] Although several takes of the solo were recorded, the very first take was the one that was used.[8][9] McCartney said of Tom Scott's impact on the track, "Someone said [famous jazz musician] ‘Tom Scott lives near here.’ We said, yeah, give him a ring, see if he turns up, and he turned up within half an hour! There he was, with his sax, and he sat down in the studio playing through. The engineer was recording it. We kept all the notes he was playing casually. He came in and I said ‘I think that’s it.’ He said ‘Did you record that?’ I said yes, and we listened to it back. No one could believe it, so he went out and tried a few more, but they weren’t as good. He’d had all the feel on this early take, the first take."[10] The effect of a kiss smack heard on the track was recorded by engineer Alan O'Duffy, who taped Linda doing it.[11]
Reverse side to the single "Listen to What the Man Said"
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[12]
Lyrics
The song is an optimistic love song.[13] Even though love may be blind or may cause separated lovers to suffer, the singer believes that love will prevail.[13] This is in accordance with what “the man” said.[13] “The man” is not explicitly identified, but might be God.[13] Author Vincent Benitez believes that, "McCartney is advising everyone to stick with the basics of life, which for him means focusing on love."[13] 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."[14]
Reception
Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called "Listen to What the Man Said" "a typically sweet and lovely melody".[15]Billboard described it as a "perfect mix of quality and commerciality."[16]Cash Box said "clarinets spice the song and give it a distinct flavor while McCartney's supple vocal style will make this an automatic addition to almost anyone’s play list."[17] Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone called it "deliciously catchy" and "as fine an example of slick, professional entertainment and carefully crafted 'product' as has ever hit the airwaves".[18] Author John Blaney described the song as "a slice of radio-friendly pop" and "a joyous celebration of love and life, buoyed by Linda's equally exuberant backing vocals...".[9] Benitez described the song as "another great example of McCartney-style pop, a buoyant and optimistic song about love where words and music are wedded together.[13] Authors Roy Carr and Tony Tyler note about the song that "artful and sensitive production elevate what was originally a piece of inconsequential whimsy into what can only be described as High Pop", also describing the song as "likeable" and "hummable".[19] Author Chris Ingham described the song as "superior pop".[20]
American electronica project Owl City covered the song and released it on 17 November 2014.[39] It was released from the compilation album, The Art of McCartney, as a tribute to the English artist.[40]
Background
When asked about covering the track, Young 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."[41]
Charts
Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for "Listen to What the Man Said"
The song was covered (as "L.T.W.T.M.S.") by indie pop band The Trouble with Sweeney on their 2004 EPFishtown Briefcase.[43]
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.[44][45]
Former Wings member Denny Laine covered "Listen to What the Man Said" in 1996 on his album Wings at the Sound of Denny Laine.[46]
The chorus elements from the single were used in the 2003 Dance single "Just The Way You Are" by the Italian dance group Milky.[48] Because of this, Paul and Linda McCartney were given credit on the single.
^ abcdeMadiger, C. & Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. p. 205. ISBN0-615-11724-4.
^ abcdefBlaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone: A Critical Discography of Their Solo Work. Jawbone Press. pp. 107–108. ISBN978-1-906002-02-2.
^ abDeRiso, Nick. "40 Years Ago: Paul McCartney and Wings Release Uneven but Ultimately Charming 'Venus and Mars'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
^"Listen to What the Man Said". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
^Grow, Kory (9 September 2014). . 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.
Paul McCartney - Listen to What the Man Said on YouTube
March 22, 2023
listen, what, said, single, from, wings, 1975, album, venus, mars, song, featured, member, english, drums, with, guest, musicians, dave, mason, guitar, scott, soprano, saxophone, number, single, billboard, chart, reached, number, canada, national, singles, cha. 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 1 It was a number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US 2 and reached number 1 in Canada on the RPM National Top Singles Chart 3 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 4 5 The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies 6 7 Listen to What the Man Said Single by Wingsfrom the album Venus and MarsB side Love in Song Released16 May 1975 1975 05 16 Recorded31 January and 20 February 1975GenreSoft rock pop rockLength3 57LabelCapitolSongwriter s Paul McCartney Linda McCartneyProducer s Paul McCartneyWings singles chronology Walking in the Park with Eloise 1974 Listen to What the Man Said 1975 Letting Go 1975 Venus and Mars track listing13 tracksSide one Venus and Mars Rock Show Love in Song You Gave Me the Answer Magneto and Titanium Man Letting Go Side two Venus and Mars Reprise Spirits of Ancient Egypt Medicine Jar Call Me Back Again Listen to What the Man Said Treat Her Gently Lonely Old People Crossroads Theme Official audio Listen To What The Man Said on YouTube Contents 1 Recording 2 Lyrics 3 Reception 4 Chart performance 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 Owl City version 6 1 Background 6 2 Charts 6 2 1 Weekly charts 6 2 2 Year end charts 7 Covers 8 Personnel 9 References 10 External linksRecording Edit Listen to What the Man Said was recorded in early 1975 by Wings during their New Orleans sessions for Venus and Mars 1 8 9 It was a song for which Paul McCartney had high hopes but early recordings did not live up to the song s potential 8 9 McCartney said in 1975 of his initial opinion of the song It was one of the songs we d gone in with high hopes for Whenever I would play it on the piano people would say Oh I like that one But when we did the backing track we thought we didn t really get it together at all 10 After Mason added guitar overdubs the band was still dissatisfied 8 9 However once Scott recorded the sax solo judgements were changed 8 9 Although several takes of the solo were recorded the very first take was the one that was used 8 9 McCartney said of Tom Scott s impact on the track Someone said famous jazz musician Tom Scott lives near here We said yeah give him a ring see if he turns up and he turned up within half an hour There he was with his sax and he sat down in the studio playing through The engineer was recording it We kept all the notes he was playing casually He came in and I said I think that s it He said Did you record that I said yes and we listened to it back No one could believe it so he went out and tried a few more but they weren t as good He d had all the feel on this early take the first take 10 The effect of a kiss smack heard on the track was recorded by engineer Alan O Duffy who taped Linda doing it 11 Reverse side to the single Listen to What the Man Said 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 12 Lyrics EditThe song is an optimistic love song 13 Even though love may be blind or may cause separated lovers to suffer the singer believes that love will prevail 13 This is in accordance with what the man said 13 The man is not explicitly identified but might be God 13 Author Vincent Benitez believes that McCartney is advising everyone to stick with the basics of life which for him means focusing on love 13 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 14 Reception EditAllmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine called Listen to What the Man Said a typically sweet and lovely melody 15 Billboard described it as a perfect mix of quality and commerciality 16 Cash Box said clarinets spice the song and give it a distinct flavor while McCartney s supple vocal style will make this an automatic addition to almost anyone s play list 17 Paul Nelson of Rolling Stone called it deliciously catchy and as fine an example of slick professional entertainment and carefully crafted product as has ever hit the airwaves 18 Author John Blaney described the song as a slice of radio friendly pop and a joyous celebration of love and life buoyed by Linda s equally exuberant backing vocals 9 Benitez described the song as another great example of McCartney style pop a buoyant and optimistic song about love where words and music are wedded together 13 Authors Roy Carr and Tony Tyler note about the song that artful and sensitive production elevate what was originally a piece of inconsequential whimsy into what can only be described as High Pop also describing the song as likeable and hummable 19 Author Chris Ingham described the song as superior pop 20 The song was also included on the numerous greatest hits compilations including 1987 s All the Best and 2001 s Wingspan Hits and History 21 22 However it was not included on the 1978 Wings compilation Wings Greatest 23 The song title inspired Listen To What The Fans Said a letters column in the Wings Fan Club magazine Club Sandwich Chart performance EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1975 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 24 25 14Canada RPM 100 Top Singles 26 1Canada RPM Adult Contemporary 27 2Germany Media Control 28 42Ireland Singles Chart 4Japan Oricon 29 46Netherlands Dutch Top 40 30 18New Zealand 31 9Norway VG lista 3UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company 32 6US Billboard Hot 100 33 1US Billboard Easy Listening 34 8 Year end charts Edit Chart 1975 PositionAustralia Kent Music Report 24 100Canada RPM 100 35 13New Zealand 36 25US Billboard Hot 100 37 42Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited States RIAA 38 Gold 1 000 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Owl City version Edit Listen to What the Man Said Song by Owl Cityfrom the album The Art of McCartneyReleased17 November 2014 2014 11 17 Length3 36LabelArctic Poppy via KobaltSongwriter s Paul McCartney Linda McCartneyProducer s Ralph SallAmerican electronica project Owl City covered the song and released it on 17 November 2014 39 It was released from the compilation album The Art of McCartney as a tribute to the English artist 40 Background Edit When asked about covering the track Young 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 41 Charts Edit Weekly charts Edit Weekly chart performance for Listen to What the Man Said Chart 2014 15 PeakpositionUK Cross Rhythms Weekly Chart 42 1Year end charts Edit Year end chart performance for Listen to What the Man Said Chart 2015 PeakpositionUK Cross Rhythms Annual Chart 42 62Covers EditThe song was covered as L T W T M S by indie pop band The Trouble with Sweeney on their 2004 EP Fishtown Briefcase 43 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 44 45 Former Wings member Denny Laine covered Listen to What the Man Said in 1996 on his album Wings at the Sound of Denny Laine 46 In 2008 Freedy Johnston covered this song on his album My Favourite Waste of Time 47 The chorus elements from the single were used in the 2003 Dance single Just The Way You Are by the Italian dance group Milky 48 Because of this Paul and Linda McCartney were given credit on the single Personnel EditPaul McCartney vocals bass guitars keyboards clavinet percussion Linda McCartney keyboards backing vocals percussion 49 Denny Laine vocals guitars percussion Jimmy McCulloch guitars Joe English drums percussion Dave Mason guitar 50 Tom Scott soprano saxophoneReferences Edit a b Mason S Listen to What the Man Said Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 Paul McCartney singles allmusic Retrieved 2010 08 12 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 Gold and Platinum RIAA Archived from the original on 2013 02 25 Retrieved 2012 10 12 riaa com a b c d e Madiger C amp Easter M 2000 Eight Arms to Hold You 44 1 Productions p 205 ISBN 0 615 11724 4 a b c d e f Blaney J 2007 Lennon and McCartney Together Alone A Critical Discography of Their Solo Work Jawbone Press pp 107 108 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 Luca Perasi Paul McCartney Recording Sessions 1969 2013 2013 L I L Y Publishing p 133 ISBN 978 88 909122 1 4 Gambaccini Paul 1976 Paul McCartney In His Own Words ISBN 9780825639104 a b c d e f Benitez V P 2010 The Words and Music of Paul McCartney The Solo Years Praeger pp 68 69 ISBN 978 0 313 34969 0 Dictionary com Definition Reet Archived from the original on 2018 07 08 Retrieved 2019 03 12 Erlewine S T Venus and Mars 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 Carr R amp Tyler T 1978 The Beatles An illustrated record Harmony Books pp 109 110 ISBN 0 517 53367 7 Ingham C 2009 The Rough Guide to the Beatles 3rd ed Penguin p 117 ISBN 978 1 4053 8445 2 Erlewine S T All the Best Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 Erlewine S T Wingspan Hits and History Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 Wings Greatest 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 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 Australian Chart Book St Ives N S W 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 charts de GfK Entertainment Archived from the original on 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 Paul McCartney Charts and Awards allmusic Retrieved 13 October 2011 Whitburn Joel 1993 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 1993 Record Research p 157 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 American single certifications Paul Mc Cartney amp 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 One Wing Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 Paul McCartney covers Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 Performs the Hits of Wings Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 My Favourite Waste of Time Allmusic Retrieved 2011 10 13 Just the Way You Are whosampled com Retrieved 2011 10 13 Still the Greatest The Essential Songs of The Beatles Solo Careers ISBN 978 1 589 79955 4 p 139 Come Together Lennon and McCartney in the Seventies ISBN 978 1 785 58218 9External links EditPaul McCartney Listen to What the Man Said on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Listen to What the Man Said amp oldid 1143653751, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
