Pipes of Peace (song)
| "Pipes of Peace" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Paul McCartney | ||||
| from the album Pipes of Peace | ||||
| B-side | "So Bad" | |||
| Released | 5 December 1983 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | September/October 1982 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Writer(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
| Producer | George Martin | |||
| Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
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"Pipes of Peace" is a song written by Paul McCartney, which was first released on his album of the same name on 31 October 1983. It was also released as a single on 5 December 1983 and reached number one on many singles charts for two weeks.[1]
In the United States, "Pipes of Peace" was issued as the B-side, and its British B-side, "So Bad", was issued as the A-side. "So Bad" climbed the US charts and became another hit on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]
At Chobham Common, Surrey, a video was shot for "Pipes of Peace", depicting the famous 1914 Christmas truce between British and German troops. It portrays a British and a German soldier, both played by McCartney, who meet up in No Man's Land and exchange photos of their loved ones while other soldiers fraternise and play football. When a shell blast forces the two armies to retreat to their own trenches both men realise that they still have each-other's pictures.[3] The video was produced by Hugh Symonds, featured more than 100 extras, and for added realism McCartney had his hair cut short especially for the shoot. The same story is told in the French film Joyeux Noël.
McCartney had previously had seventeen UK number one singles as a member of The Beatles, one as a member of Wings ("Mull of Kintyre"), and one with Stevie Wonder ("Ebony and Ivory"), but this was his first and only UK number one as a solo artist. He later appeared on three charity singles that reached number one: Ferry Aid (1987), Ferry Cross the Mersey (1989) and Band Aid 20 (2004).
Argentine singer-songwriter Sergio Denis recorded a Spanish version of the song re-titled Pipas de la paz on his album La Humanidad (1984).
The McCartney recording appeared again on his 1987 compilation, All the Best!.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/paul%20mccartney/. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ "Pipes of Peace > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r12651/charts-awards/billboard-single. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
- ^ Daphne Lee (12 July 2009). "Monsters in our minds". Malaysia Star. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/7/12/lifebookshelf/4220546&sec=lifebookshelf. Retrieved 39 March 2010.
| Preceded by "Only You" by The Flying Pickets |
UK number-one single 8 January 1984 |
Succeeded by "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood |
