Released in 1966
Written by Paul McCartney • George Martin • Instrumental
Last updated on December 27, 2022
Album This song officially appears on the The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (Mono - UK) Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1966
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Early December 1966
“The Family Way” is a soundtrack album composed by Paul McCartney, produced and arranged by George Martin, and credited to the George Martin Orchestra. Released in January 1967 in the UK, it is considered the first solo effort by Paul McCartney, as it was the first time Paul didn’t share the songwriting credits with John Lennon.
No titles are given for any of the tracks on the LP, as they are basically variations on two themes – “Love In The Open Air” and “Theme From The Family Way“. But, over the years, those tracks were given titles, as explained in Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium by Chip Madinger and Mark Easter:
Thirty-one musical cues are featured in the film, six of which are unrelated to the McCartney/Martin material. All twenty-four of the McCartney/Martin musical cues appearing in the film were bundled into thirteen tracks on both the UK and US soundtrack album LPs, with six of the tracks banding together a number of shorter musical cues. There is reason behind the cryptic cue IDs, as they roughly correlate to the film reel on which each cue appears, and the sequence of the cue on that reel. (For those keeping track, there are a few gaps in the sequencing: there is no Cue 2M2 or 2M3, film reels 3 and 9 contained no musical cues, and Cue 6M1 is the brief appearance of the theme music from the television drama Coronation Street). However, there is one variation in the film; Cue 7M1 (Tr. 9) fades out on the LP, but in the film it remains at full volume and cuts cold as the scene ends.
The LP label reads: The Family Way – Original Sound Track From The Film; no titles are given for any of the tracks, as they are all basically variations on the two themes – ‘Love In The Open Air’ and ‘Theme From The Family Way’. Six are featured on side one, with seven appearing on side two. The entire album runs just over a generous twenty-four minutes!
From Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium by Chip Madinger and Mark Easter
“Cue 7M1” is the 9th track of the soundtrack album.
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (Mono - UK)
Official album • Released in 1967
1:06 • Studio version • A • Mono
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (Stereo - UK)
Official album • Released in 1967
1:06 • Studio version • B • Stereo
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (Mono - US)
Official album • Released in 1967
1:06 • Studio version • A • Mono
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (Stereo - US)
Official album • Released in 1967
1:06 • Studio version • B • Stereo
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (2003)
Official album • Released in 2003
1:06 • Studio version • B • Stereo
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (2011)
Official album • Released in 2011
1:06 • Studio version • B2011 • Stereo • 2011 remaster
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Original Soundtrack Recording (2015)
12" Single • Released in 2015
1:06 • Studio version • B2011 • Stereo • 2011 remaster
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: Early December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
1:06 • Studio version • B • Stereo
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: c. November-December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
The Family Way - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
1:06 • Studio version • A • Mono
George Martin : Producer John Underwood : Viola Joy Hall : Cello Raymond Keenlyside : ViolinPerformed by : George Martin Orchestra Neville Marriner : Violin
Session Recording: c. November-December 1966 • Studio CTS Studios, London, UK
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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