Album This song officially appears on the Post Card (UK version - Stereo) LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 2012
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Early October 1968 to early December 1968
Recording "Kisses On The Bottom"
April - May 2011 ?
“The Inch Worm” (also named “Inchworm“) is a song written by Frank Loesser and originally performed by Danny Kaye in the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen. Mary Hopkins covered it on her 1969 album “Post Card“, produced by Paul McCartney. And McCartney covered it on his 2012 album “Kisses On The Bottom“.
Over the years, the song has been recorded by many singers, including David Bowie – who said the song was the inspiration behind his 1980 hit “Ashes To Ashes“:
Ashes To Ashes wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t have been for Inchworm. There’s a nursery rhyme element in it, and there’s something so sad and mournful and poignant about it. It kept bringing me back to the feelings of those pure thoughts of sadness that you have as a child, and how they’re so identifiable even when you’re an adult.
David Bowie
This is the oldie. I suppose it’s one of those songs you either love or you hate.
Mary Hopkin – From New Musical Express, February 22, 1969
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far
Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Could it be, you'll stop and see
How beautiful they are
(Chorus:)
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far
Solo
(Chorus:)
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Seems to me, you'll stop and see
How beautiful they are
Inchworm, inchworm
Measuring the marigolds
You and your arithmetic
You'll probably go far
(Chorus:)
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
Two and two are four
Four and four are eight
Eight and eight are sixteen
Sixteen and sixteen are thirty-two
LP • Released in 1969
2:33 • Studio version • A1 • Mono
Paul McCartney : Producer Ken Scott : Engineering, Mixing engineer Mary Hopkin : Vocals
Session Recording: Early October 1968 to early December 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
Post Card (UK version - Stereo)
LP • Released in 1969
2:33 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Producer Ken Scott : Engineering, Mixing engineer Mary Hopkin : Vocals
Session Recording: Early October 1968 to early December 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
LP • Released in 1969
2:33 • Studio version • A • Stereo
Paul McCartney : Producer Ken Scott : Engineering, Mixing engineer Mary Hopkin : Vocals
Session Recording: Early October 1968 to early December 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
Official album • Released in 2010
2:33 • Studio version • A2010 • Stereo • 2010 remaster
Paul McCartney : Producer Ken Scott : Engineering, Mixing engineer Mary Hopkin : Vocals Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Alex Wharton : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator
Session Recording: Early October 1968 to early December 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road ; Trident Studios ; Morgan Studios, London, UK
Official album • Released in 2012
3:43 • Studio version • B
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Acoustic guitar Eddie Karam : Orchestra conductor Assa Drori : Concertmaster Johnny Mandel : Orchestra arrangement Chloe Arzy : Children's choir Evyn Johnson : Children's choir Makiah Johnson : Children's choir Michael Johnson : Children's choir Delany Meyer : Children's choir Ilsey Moon : Children's choir Sabrina Walden : Children's choir Sasha Walden : Children's choir Scottie Haskell : Children's choir conductor Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering
Session Recording: April - May 2011 ? • Studio Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On the Bottom (Deluxe version)
Official album • Released in 2012
3:43 • Studio version • B
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Acoustic guitar Eddie Karam : Orchestra conductor Assa Drori : Concertmaster Johnny Mandel : Orchestra arrangement Chloe Arzy : Children's choir Evyn Johnson : Children's choir Makiah Johnson : Children's choir Michael Johnson : Children's choir Delany Meyer : Children's choir Ilsey Moon : Children's choir Sabrina Walden : Children's choir Sasha Walden : Children's choir Scottie Haskell : Children's choir conductor Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering
Session Recording: April - May 2011 ? • Studio Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses On The Bottom - Complete Kisses
Official album • Released in 2012
3:43 • Studio version • B
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Acoustic guitar Eddie Karam : Orchestra conductor Assa Drori : Concertmaster Johnny Mandel : Orchestra arrangement Chloe Arzy : Children's choir Evyn Johnson : Children's choir Makiah Johnson : Children's choir Michael Johnson : Children's choir Delany Meyer : Children's choir Ilsey Moon : Children's choir Sabrina Walden : Children's choir Sasha Walden : Children's choir Scottie Haskell : Children's choir conductor Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering
Session Recording: April - May 2011 ? • Studio Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Kisses on the bottom - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:42 • Studio version • B
Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Vocals Tommy LiPuma : Producer Diana Krall : Piano, Rhythm arrangement Karriem Riggins : Drums Robert Hurst : Bass John Pizzarelli : Acoustic guitar Eddie Karam : Orchestra conductor Assa Drori : Concertmaster Johnny Mandel : Orchestra arrangement Chloe Arzy : Children's choir Evyn Johnson : Children's choir Makiah Johnson : Children's choir Michael Johnson : Children's choir Delany Meyer : Children's choir Ilsey Moon : Children's choir Sabrina Walden : Children's choir Sasha Walden : Children's choir Scottie Haskell : Children's choir conductor Al Schmitt : Mixing engineer, Recording engineer Steve Genewick : Additional engineering Elliot Scheiner : Additional engineering Brian Montgomery : Additional engineering
Session Recording: April - May 2011 ? • Studio Capitol Records Building, Los Angeles, USA
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012
This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.
The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.
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