Junk (song)

"Junk" is a song written by Paul McCartney in 1968 while the Beatles were in India.^[1] "Singalong Junk" is an instrumental version of "Junk" that also appears on McCartney.

History

It was originally under consideration for The Beatles (also known as the White Album). It was passed over for that LP, as it was for Abbey Road. It was eventually released on McCartney's debut solo album McCartney in 1970. The version McCartney played for the rest of the Beatles, in May 1968, was among other songs demoed at George Harrison's Kinfauns home^[1] before the recording of The Beatles, and was released on Anthology 3 on 22 October 1996. The song's working title was "Jubilee", and also known as "Junk in the Yard".^[1] Take one appeared on the McCartney album as "Singalong Junk" and whereas take two was issued as "Junk".^[1]

Besides the exclusion of vocals, "Singalong Junk" features mellotron strings and the melody is played on a piano. The song also features more prominent drums. This version of the song is said to have been the original instrumental backing to which McCartney was planning on singing, but he opted for a simpler arrangement for the vocal version instead.

"Junk" was included on an EP (along with "Another Day", "Oh Woman, Oh Why" and "Valentine Day") released only in Mexico.^[2] This song has been dropped from his live setlist, but was included on McCartney's and Wings 2001 compilation Wingspan: Hits and History.^[3]

Lyrics

McCartney wonders about why we leave things that were a part of our lives and replace them with others, because at the same time we leave memories attached with those objects, in a metaphysical way.^[4]

Personnel

"Junk"

• Paul McCartney - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, xylophone, drums
• Linda McCartney - backing vocals

"Singalong Junk"

• Paul McCartney - acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, mellotron, drums

Live versions

• McCartney first performed "Junk" live, in the Ghost Suite at the Royal Albert Hall, on 3 November 2006.^[5]
• The song called "Junk" on McCartney's later album Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) is played without vocals, thereby making it "Singalong Junk", but it is not listed as such on the album.

Cover versions

• Sandie Shaw recorded a version of the song which appeared as a bonus track on the 2004 re-issue of her 1969 album Reviewing the Situation.
• John Denver covered the song on his 1971 album Poems, Prayers & Promises.
• Cilla Black covered the song on her 1971 album Images which was produced by George Martin.
• After leaving The Inbreds, vocalist Mike O'Neill released a cover version of the song via his website in 2003. His version was never officially released on any of his solo albums.
• Jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek covered the song on her second album, Return to You in 2007.
• Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra covered the song on the 2014 covers album The Art of McCartney.
• Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau covered the song on his 2015 collection album 10 Years Solo Live.

Media appearances

• "Singalong Junk" was included in the soundtrack of the movie Hanging Up (2000).
• An instrumental version was included in the French film My Wife Is an Actress (2001).
• "Singalong Junk" was also included in the Jerry Maguire soundtrack.
• It also appears in the opening episode for Season 3 of Parenthood.

References