Album This song officially appears on the Wings Over America Official live.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1976
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Recording "One Hand Clapping" - Day 2
Aug 27, 1974
Early 2024
May 2003 • From MOJO
Ex-Wings guitarist, Laurence Juber, talks about attending "Paul McCartney University"
Aug 09, 2010 • From Daytrippin' Beatles Magazine
2014 • From Calico Skies Radio
From Wikipedia:
“Go Now” is a song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett and first recorded by Bessie Banks, released as a single in January 1964. The best-known version was recorded by the Moody Blues and released the same year. […]
The Moody Blues version
“Go Now!” (adding an exclamation mark) was made popular internationally later in 1964 when the Moody Blues, an English beat group from Birmingham, recorded it, with Denny Laine on guitar and lead vocals. When Laine first heard Bessie Banks’s version, he immediately told the rest of the band that they needed to record the song.
The Moody Blues version – Promotion and chart success
At the time the single was released, it was being promoted on television with one of the first purpose-made promotional films in the pop era, produced and directed by their co-manager Alex Wharton (the father of DJ Sonny Wharton). The song reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in late January 1965. In the US, “Go Now!” did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 until mid-February 1965; it peaked at No. 10 and No. 2 in Canada. Billboard described the song as having a “rare beat” and “interesting gospel-like piano support.” The next chart successes for The Moody Blues were “Nights in White Satin” and “Tuesday Afternoon” in 1968.
In a 2018 interview with author Robert Rodriguez on the podcast “Something About the Beatles”, White Album engineer Chris Thomas recalled that George Harrison asked him to add a piano part to the Beatles song “Long Long Long” in the style of the Moody Blues’ version of “Go Now”.
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso rated it as the Moody Blues’ greatest song, saying that “Laine’s scorching take on this old Bessie Banks track is as emotionally gripping as it is career-makingly important.” Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it as the Moody Blues’ 10th greatest song, saying that it’s “catchy yet also calmly intricate.”
The Moody Blues version – Later performances and popular culture
The Moody Blues had little success with singles after “Go Now!” in the mid-1960s, which led to Laine’s departure from the band, later being replaced by Justin Hayward. Bassist Clint Warwick had already departed the band by this time. Rodney Clark had replaced him for a while before they recruited John Lodge. With the new lineup, the Moody Blues continued to perform “Go Now!” for a short time, until they began writing their own material. Hayward sang the song during his first year with the band, and Ray Thomas attempted to sing it a couple of times.
Laine continued to perform the song in concert during his years in Wings. On June 21–23, 1976, at The Forum in Inglewood, California, Laine performed “Go Now!” with the rest of the group, accompanying himself on piano; Paul McCartney was on bass and vocals, Linda McCartney on vocals, Jimmy McCulloch on lead guitar, and Joe English on drums. This version of “Go Now” appears on the Wings Over America live album. […]
We've already said goodbye.
And since you gotta go,
Oh, you better go now.
Go now, go now, go now,
Before you see me cry.
I don't want you to tell me
What you intend to do now.
How many times do I have to tell you darlin',
I'm still in love with you, dear.
We've already said so long.
I don't want to see you go.
Oh you better go now,
Go now, go now, go now,
Don't you ever try to tell,
Tellin' me that you really don't want to end this way.
How many times do I have to tell you, darlin'
I want you to stay.?I don't want to see you go,
But darlin, you better go now.
Since you've got to go
Oh you had better go now.
Go now, go now, go now,
Before you see me cry.
I don't want you to tell me
What you intend to do now.
How many times do I have to tell you
Darling, I'm still in love with you now.
I don't want to see you go
But, darling,
You'd better go now.
Official live • Released in 1976
3:47 • Live • L1
Paul McCartney : Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Tambourine, Vocals Denny Laine : Piano, Vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar, Vocals Howie Casey : Saxophone Joe English : Drums, Vocals Thaddeus Richard : Saxophone Mark Vigars : Assistant mixing engineer Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording Steve Howard : Trumpet Tony Dorsey : Trombone Jack Maxson : Recording engineer Tom Walsh : Assistant recording engineer
Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976
Wings Over America - Archive Collection
Official live • Released in 2013
3:47 • Live • L1.2013 • 2013 remaster
Paul McCartney : Bass, Producer, Vocals Linda Eastman / McCartney : Tambourine, Vocals Denny Laine : Piano, Vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar, Vocals Howie Casey : Saxophone Joe English : Drums, Vocals Thaddeus Richard : Saxophone Mark Vigars : Assistant mixing engineer Phil McDonald : Mixing engineer, Overdubs recording Steve Howard : Trumpet Tony Dorsey : Trombone Jack Maxson : Recording engineer Tom Walsh : Assistant recording engineer Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Simon Gibson : Remastering
Concert From the concert in Los Angeles, USA on Jun 23, 1976
One Hand Clapping (2 LP and 7”)
LP • Released in 2024
3:35 • Studio version • A • Another track that was on the original One Hand Clapping acetates and has been available unofficially for years, but is presented here in glorious sound quality on an official set for the first time.
Paul McCartney : Bass, Piano, Producer Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Geoff Britton : Drums John Barrett : Assistant recording engineer Steve Orchard : Mixing engineer
Session Recording: Aug 27, 1974 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Early 2024 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
One Hand Clapping (Dolby Atmos)
Streaming • Released in 2024
3:35 • Studio version • B • 2024 Dolby Atmos mix
Paul McCartney : Bass, Piano, Producer Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Geoff Britton : Drums Giles Martin : Mixing engineer John Barrett : Assistant recording engineer Steve Orchard : Mixing engineer
Session Recording: Aug 27, 1974 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Early 2024 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
One Hand Clapping (2 LP edition)
LP • Released in 2024
3:35 • Studio version • A • Another track that was on the original One Hand Clapping acetates and has been available unofficially for years, but is presented here in glorious sound quality on an official set for the first time.
Paul McCartney : Bass, Piano, Producer Linda Eastman / McCartney : Backing vocals Denny Laine : Vocals Jimmy McCulloch : Electric guitar Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Geoff Britton : Drums John Barrett : Assistant recording engineer Steve Orchard : Mixing engineer
Session Recording: Aug 27, 1974 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Session Mixing: Early 2024 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Unofficial live
4:13 • Live
Concert From the concert in Sheffield, United Kingdom on Jul 04, 1973
Unofficial live
1:57 • Live
Concert From the concert in Cardiff, United Kingdom on May 13, 1973
Live in Leeds University 73/5/19
Unofficial live
4:02 • Live
Concert From the concert in Leeds, United Kingdom on May 19, 1973
Green's Playhouse - Glasgow Scotland - May 24, 1973
Unofficial live
4:14 • Live
Concert From the concert in Glasgow, United Kingdom on May 24, 1973
“Go Now” has been played in 58 concerts.
Concert For The People of Kampuchea
Dec 29, 1979 • United Kingdom • London • Hammersmith Odeon
Glasgow • Apollo Centre • United Kingdom
Dec 17, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Glasgow • Apollo Centre • United Kingdom
Dec 16, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Newcastle upon Tyne • City Hall • United Kingdom
Dec 14, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Birmingham • Odeon Cinema • United Kingdom
Dec 12, 1979 • Part of Wings 1979 UK Tour
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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