Thinking of Linking
Encyclopedia
"Thinking of Linking" is an early song written by Paul McCartney
and performed by McCartney, George Harrison
and Ringo Starr
on Friday 23 June 1994. This performance did not feature in the original The Beatles Anthology
documentary series but was later included as part of extra footage when the documentary was released on DVD in 2003. The song has a brief guitar introduction, one verse and no chorus.
McCartney wrote the song when he was about 16 years old. In 1988 Paul said "Thinking of Linking was terrible! I thought it up in the pictures, someone in a film mentioned it 'we're thinking of linking' and I came out of there thinking 'That should be a song. Thinking of linking, people are gonna get married, gotta write that! In the same interview McCartney also refers to the song as “Pretty corny stuff!”
Although the song was never completed beyond its one verse, it is historically significant as an example of one of the early songs that John Lennon
and McCartney wrote together or separately before they had a publishing deal. Talking about such early songs, McCartney said "We wrote a few that never got published, before we went with a publisher, and I say, it's really now they're in here [his memory]. They never got put down anywhere so there's really only my memory that can sort of remember them, you know. So it's something I want to do something with actually, 'cause they're pretty rough songs, but they're not bad in a rock-a-billy kind of way.”
On Wednesday 29 January 1969 The Beatles performed an unreheared version of "Peggy Sue Got Married", which became a medley when John began singing words from "Thinking of Linking". This performance is brief and Sulphy and Schweighardt reported, 'Unfortnately, everyone seems to have half-forgotten the tune.' Towards the end of this performance the distinctive introductory guitar chords can also be heard being played.
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 performed by McCartney, George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
and Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
on Friday 23 June 1994. This performance did not feature in the original The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles Anthology is the name of a documentary series, a set of three double albums and a book focusing on the history of The Beatles. Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr all participated in the making and approval of the works, which are sometimes referred to collectively as the...
documentary series but was later included as part of extra footage when the documentary was released on DVD in 2003. The song has a brief guitar introduction, one verse and no chorus.
McCartney wrote the song when he was about 16 years old. In 1988 Paul said "Thinking of Linking was terrible! I thought it up in the pictures, someone in a film mentioned it 'we're thinking of linking' and I came out of there thinking 'That should be a song. Thinking of linking, people are gonna get married, gotta write that! In the same interview McCartney also refers to the song as “Pretty corny stuff!”
Although the song was never completed beyond its one verse, it is historically significant as an example of one of the early songs that John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and McCartney wrote together or separately before they had a publishing deal. Talking about such early songs, McCartney said "We wrote a few that never got published, before we went with a publisher, and I say, it's really now they're in here [his memory]. They never got put down anywhere so there's really only my memory that can sort of remember them, you know. So it's something I want to do something with actually, 'cause they're pretty rough songs, but they're not bad in a rock-a-billy kind of way.”
On Wednesday 29 January 1969 The Beatles performed an unreheared version of "Peggy Sue Got Married", which became a medley when John began singing words from "Thinking of Linking". This performance is brief and Sulphy and Schweighardt reported, 'Unfortnately, everyone seems to have half-forgotten the tune.' Towards the end of this performance the distinctive introductory guitar chords can also be heard being played.
Personnel
- George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
– backing vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - 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...
– lead vocals, acoustic guitar - Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
– 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 ....