Spies Like Us (song)
Encyclopedia
"Spies Like Us" is the title song to the 1985 Warner Bros.
motion picture of the same name
, starring Chevy Chase
, Dan Aykroyd
and Donna Dixon
. It was written and performed by Paul McCartney
, and was a top-ten hit in the United States in early 1986, reaching #7 on the singles chart, making it McCartney's final top-10 hit in the U.S. to date. It also reached #13 in the UK.
Multiple releases were issued in the UK: a regular 7" single, a 7" shaped picture disc, a regular 12" single featuring extended mixes and the B-side "My Carnival" (a song by Wings
from the Venus and Mars
session) and a 12" picture disc.
The minute-long outro is uptempo and features Linda singing "spies like us" repeatedly. When the movie Spies Like Us
hit the theaters, producers opted to play the outro first in the closing credits before playing the entire song.
The video for the song, directed by John Landis
(who also directed the movie), was not aired by the BBC
because Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase appeared in it playing instruments. British labour rules prohibit non-musicians from performing in videos, and Aykroyd and Chase did not actually play on the record. (Ironically, both actors were accomplished musicians: Aykroyd on harmonica and Chase on piano.) The video ends with McCartney, Chase and Aykroyd walking across Abbey Road, parodying the famous album cover.
"Spies Like Us" was released on CD in 1993, as part of the release of The Paul McCartney Collection
, as a bonus track on the album Press to Play
. The B-side, "My Carnival", was released as a bonus track on Venus and Mars, and the 12" single was an exclusive to iTunes. Perhaps because McCartney has many other hits (solo and with the Beatles
), "Spies" has been largely forgotten by the public despite its top-ten position, and is rarely heard even on oldies
radio stations.
McCartney, the song, and its associated film were all referenced in the Self
song "Out With a Bang".
12" single
My Carnival
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
motion picture of the same name
Spies Like Us
Spies Like Us is a 1985 American comedy film directed by John Landis and starring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Forrest, and Donna Dixon...
, starring Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
and Donna Dixon
Donna Dixon
Donna Dixon is an American actress.Donna Dixon was born in Alexandria, Virginia; her father, Earl Dixon, owned a club on U.S. 1, called "Hillbilly Heaven." She is a 1975 graduate of Groveton High School and attended The George Washington University...
. It was written and performed by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, and was a top-ten hit in the United States in early 1986, reaching #7 on the singles chart, making it McCartney's final top-10 hit in the U.S. to date. It also reached #13 in the UK.
Multiple releases were issued in the UK: a regular 7" single, a 7" shaped picture disc, a regular 12" single featuring extended mixes and the B-side "My Carnival" (a song by Wings
Wings (band)
Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
from the Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars
Venus and Mars is the fourth album by Wings. Released as the follow-up to the enormously successful Band on the Run, Venus and Mars continued Wings' string of success and would prove a springboard for a year-long worldwide tour...
session) and a 12" picture disc.
The minute-long outro is uptempo and features Linda singing "spies like us" repeatedly. When the movie Spies Like Us
Spies Like Us
Spies Like Us is a 1985 American comedy film directed by John Landis and starring Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Forrest, and Donna Dixon...
hit the theaters, producers opted to play the outro first in the closing credits before playing the entire song.
The video for the song, directed by John Landis
John Landis
John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedies, his horror films, and his music videos with singer Michael Jackson.-Early life and career:...
(who also directed the movie), was not aired by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
because Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase appeared in it playing instruments. British labour rules prohibit non-musicians from performing in videos, and Aykroyd and Chase did not actually play on the record. (Ironically, both actors were accomplished musicians: Aykroyd on harmonica and Chase on piano.) The video ends with McCartney, Chase and Aykroyd walking across Abbey Road, parodying the famous album cover.
"Spies Like Us" was released on CD in 1993, as part of the release of The Paul McCartney Collection
The Paul McCartney Collection
The Paul McCartney Collection is a 16 volume set of reissues by Paul McCartney of his solo and Wings albums, with most adding bonus tracks. The discs in the collection were released separately in most of the world, with half appearing on June 7, 1993, and the remainder on August 9 of the same year...
, as a bonus track on the album Press to Play
Press to Play
-Personnel:* Paul McCartney – bass, acoustic and electric guitars, lead vocals* Neil Jason – bass* Eric Stewart – acoustic and electric guitars* Pete Townshend – electric guitars* Carlos Alomar – acoustic and electric guitars* Eddie Rayner – keyboards...
. The B-side, "My Carnival", was released as a bonus track on Venus and Mars, and the 12" single was an exclusive to iTunes. Perhaps because McCartney has many other hits (solo and with the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
), "Spies" has been largely forgotten by the public despite its top-ten position, and is rarely heard even on oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
radio stations.
McCartney, the song, and its associated film were all referenced in the Self
Self (band)
Self is an American alternative pop/rock band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee and largely the brainchild of writer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Matt Mahaffey....
song "Out With a Bang".
Track listings
7" single- "Spies Like Us"
- "My Carnival"
12" single
- "Spies Like Us" (party remix by John Potoker)
- "Spies Like Us" (remix by Art of Noise)
- "Spies Like Us" (DJ version)
- "My Carnival (party mix)"
Personnel
Spies Like Us- Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
– vocals, bass, guitar, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Eddie RaynerEddie RaynerEddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Eric StewartEric StewartEric Stewart is an English musician, songwriter and record producer most known for his tenure with The Mindbenders in the 1960s, and 10cc from 1972 to 1995....
– backing vocals - Kate RobbinsKate RobbinsKatherine Robbins is an English actress, comedienne and singer.-Biography:Robbins is a first cousin once removed of Paul McCartney and older sister of Amy Robbins . She attended Wirral Grammar School for Girls and won the Drama Prizes each year, notably with her monologue "All this glitters is not...
– backing vocals - Ruby James – backing vocals
- Linda McCartneyLinda McCartneyLinda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
– backing vocals
My Carnival
- Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
– vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, piano - Linda McCartneyLinda McCartneyLinda Louise McCartney, Lady McCartney was an American photographer, musician and animal rights activist. Her father and mother were Lee Eastman and Louise Sara Lindner Eastman....
– keyboards, percussion, vocals - Denny LaineDenny LaineDenny Laine is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, guitarist, and lead singer of The Moody Blues' 1965 debut album "The Magnificent Moodies"; and, later, best known for his role as co-founder of Wings...
– guitars, keyboards, vocals - Jimmy McCullochJimmy McCullochJames 'Jimmy' McCulloch was a Scottish musician and songwriter, born in Dumbarton and raised in Clydebank and Cumbernauld, Scotland, who was best known for playing lead guitar in Paul McCartney's Wings from 1974 to 1977...
– guitars, vocals - Joe English – drums, percussion
- Benny SpellmanBenny SpellmanBenny Spellman was an American rhythm and blues singer, best known for his 1962 hit "Lipstick Traces ," written by Allen Toussaint and the original version of "Fortune Teller", covered by The Rolling Stones among others. "Lipstick Traces" reached #28 on the US Billboard Black singles chart and #80...
– vocals - The MetersThe MetersThe Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
– vocals