Silly Love Songs

For the Glee episode, see Silly Love Songs (Glee).

"Silly Love Songs"
Single by Wings
from the album Wings at the Speed of Sound
B-side	"Cook of the House"
Released	1 April 1976 (US) 30 April 1976 (UK)
Format	7" single
Recorded	1976
Genre	Soft rock, Disco
Length	5:53 (commercial 7" version) 3:22 (DJ copy edit)
Label	MPL Communications (UK) MPL Communications/Capitol (US)
Writer(s)	Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Producer	Paul McCartney
Certification	BPI (UK) Silver 1 June 1976 RIAA (US) Gold 11 June 1976
Wings singles chronology
"Venus and Mars/Rock Show" (1975) "Silly Love Songs" (1976) "Let 'Em In" (1976)
Wings at the Speed of Sound track listing 11 tracks Side one "Let 'Em In" "The Note You Never Wrote" "She's My Baby" "Beware My Love" "Wino Junko" Side two "Silly Love Songs" "Cook of the House" "Time to Hide" "Must Do Something About It" "San Ferry Anne" "Warm and Beautiful"

"Silly Love Songs" is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. The song appears on the 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. It was also released as a single in 1976. The US single was released on 1 April 1976 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The UK single was released on 30 April 1976 and reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.

History

McCartney had often been teased by music critics as well as former Beatle and friend, John Lennon, for writing lightweight songs and he wrote this number in response.

Linda McCartney and Denny Laine can be heard chanting "I Love You" during the bridge.

Not unlike "Goodnight Tonight", another of McCartney's singles from the era, the instrumentation in Silly Love Songs features a distinct disco flavour. Both "Silly Love Songs" and "Goodnight Tonight" appear again on McCartney's second greatest hits compilation, All the Best!.

This song was used in the pilot episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air when Carlton Banks is heard singing the first verse while taking a shower.

In 2005, the song was sampled in Jenn Cuneta's Come Rain, Come Shine.

In 2008, the song was listed at #31 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Author Tim Riley suggests that in the song, McCartney is inviting "his audience to have a laugh on him," as Elvis Presley had sometimes done.

Recorded versions

• In 1976, the Wings live recorded it for their live album Wings Over America.
• In 1977, Welsh singer Shirley Bassey covered the song on her album You Take My Heart Away.
• In 1978, British pop singer Greg Bonham performed it on his Moscow concert, that was recorded live and released on LP (Melodiya С60–11121-2)
• In 1984, Paul McCartney re-recorded "Silly Love Songs" for the soundtrack to the motion picture Give My Regards to Broad Street.
• In 1995, American rock band The Replicants covered the song on their self-titled album, with Maynard James Keenan on vocals.
• In 1996, rock group Red House Painters performed the song on their album Songs for a Blue Guitar.
• In 1998, American singer Stevie B recorded a version for his album Right Here, Right Now.
• In 1999, New Zealand music group Ardijah performed an R&B version of the song.
• Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor (2001) – Featured in the song "Elephant Love Medley" within the film Moulin Rouge!
• Wings band member Denny Laine covered "Silly Love Songs" in 2007 on his album Performs the Hits of Wings.
• In 2011, on television series Glee the song is featured in the show's Valentine's Day episode, which is also titled after the song. It was performed by Darren Criss (who plays Blaine Anderson), while all-male a cappella group Beelzebubs sang the background vocals.

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1976 (U.S.)
• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)

References

• "The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs (40-31)". Billboard. 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009. 
• McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. New York: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 0-87833-304-5. 

Preceded by "Boogie Fever" by The Sylvers "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross	Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 22, 1976 June 12, 1976 - July 3, 1976 (4 weeks)	Succeeded by "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band
Preceded by "Welcome Back" by John Sebastian	Billboard Adult Contemporary number one single May 29, 1976	Succeeded by "Shop Around" by Captain & Tennille
Preceded by "Shannon" by Henry Gross	Canadian "RPM" Singles Chart number-one single June 5, 1976 – June 12, 1976 (2 weeks)	Succeeded by "Get Up and Boogie" by Silver Convention