(Article by Jessy Krupa, of the music blog "PopMatters.com"): "After the success of the 'Another Day' single and the 'Ram' album, it was time for Paul and Linda McCartney to release another single. This time, Paul accepted the American method of releasing album tracks, so 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' was issued with fellow album track, 'Too Many People'.
"Some people are of the opinion that 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' is about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, because of the line 'Hands across the water / Heads across the sky' and because of World War II Admiral William Frederick Halsey Junior. While McCartney has stated that the song's Halsey was inspired by the real-life Admiral Halsey, the chorus' lyrics were actually inspired by WW2's American aid programs.
"The 'Uncle Albert' parts were actually based on Paul's own Uncle Albert, a man who had the strange habit of only quoting Bible verses when he was drunk. Instead of trying to make a cohesive meaning of the track, it is better to think of it as a combination of several songs. All of the background vocals were improvised during the recording by Linda, thus giving her both a songwriting and a producing credit.
"Recorded at 'CBS Studios' after several other 'Ram' tracks were completed, 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' was slightly more complicated than the other tracks. For example, the innovative sound effect of the rain and thunder in the background was not some synthesized studio trick.
"Recording assistant Armin Steiner was said to have stood on the edge of a cliff, recording a thunderstorm as it raged on in order to get the sound. In order to achieve the telephone effect, Paul gurgled (in order to imitate an old-fashioned telephone ringing) and spoke through a 'highpass filter'.
"This song wasn't just a collaboration amongst the future members of 'Wings' (guitarists Hugh McCracken and David Spinozza, as well as drummer Denny Seiwell worked on it) - 'bebop' trumpeter Marvin Stamm also played a major part by performing the flugelhorn solo, albeit in a separate studio at another time. Former 'Beatles' producer George Martin was also involved, arranging the four French horns heard slightly afterward, but the actual recording varies from his specifications.
"In fact, the recording was treated like that of a classical music piece, with assistant engineer Dixon Van Winkle later stating that the twelve different sections of the song gave it 'the feel of an overture' and that he was 'surprised when the record went so big'." Singles chart high points: No. 1 in the USA in 1971, but with no release in the UK (it would, however, eventually feature in Britain - during an episode of the "Only Fools and Horses" BBC 'sitcom' in 1991!).
15 Comments (since 27 Jun 2015)
leejohnson
(Article by Jessy Krupa, of the music blog "PopMatters.com"): "After the success of the 'Another Day' single and the 'Ram' album, it was time for Paul and Linda McCartney to release another single. This time, Paul accepted the American method of releasing album tracks, so 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' was issued with fellow album track, 'Too Many People'.
leejohnson
"Some people are of the opinion that 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' is about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, because of the line 'Hands across the water / Heads across the sky' and because of World War II Admiral William Frederick Halsey Junior. While McCartney has stated that the song's Halsey was inspired by the real-life Admiral Halsey, the chorus' lyrics were actually inspired by WW2's American aid programs.
leejohnson
"The 'Uncle Albert' parts were actually based on Paul's own Uncle Albert, a man who had the strange habit of only quoting Bible verses when he was drunk. Instead of trying to make a cohesive meaning of the track, it is better to think of it as a combination of several songs. All of the background vocals were improvised during the recording by Linda, thus giving her both a songwriting and a producing credit.
leejohnson
"Recorded at 'CBS Studios' after several other 'Ram' tracks were completed, 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' was slightly more complicated than the other tracks. For example, the innovative sound effect of the rain and thunder in the background was not some synthesized studio trick.
leejohnson
"Recording assistant Armin Steiner was said to have stood on the edge of a cliff, recording a thunderstorm as it raged on in order to get the sound. In order to achieve the telephone effect, Paul gurgled (in order to imitate an old-fashioned telephone ringing) and spoke through a 'highpass filter'.
leejohnson
"This song wasn't just a collaboration amongst the future members of 'Wings' (guitarists Hugh McCracken and David Spinozza, as well as drummer Denny Seiwell worked on it) - 'bebop' trumpeter Marvin Stamm also played a major part by performing the flugelhorn solo, albeit in a separate studio at another time. Former 'Beatles' producer George Martin was also involved, arranging the four French horns heard slightly afterward, but the actual recording varies from his specifications.
leejohnson
"In fact, the recording was treated like that of a classical music piece, with assistant engineer Dixon Van Winkle later stating that the twelve different sections of the song gave it 'the feel of an overture' and that he was 'surprised when the record went so big'." Singles chart high points: No. 1 in the USA in 1971, but with no release in the UK (it would, however, eventually feature in Britain - during an episode of the "Only Fools and Horses" BBC 'sitcom' in 1991!).
leejohnson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Albert/Admiral_Halsey
AnSpailpin
Love this orchestrated piece for years buy your resarce of the backstory males this jam even better,thanks!
andypritchard
Keep meaning to jam this. Flippin' brilliant.
ErnieBilko
Genius...
roseyrhymes
nice.
Sid_Bonkers
Brilliant, always loved this track.
Sid_Bonkers
Had to re play it and listen to it again after reading your intro, sorry if I messed up your 'Play' to 'Love' stats :)
leejohnson
@Sid_Bonkers They go pretty much ballistic anyway, for whatever reason. No probs.