Peak
1
Weeks
18
Score
4,289
Chart Year
1973
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Paul McCartney wrote this love song for his wife Linda. This was recorded live with an orchestra. McCartney allowed guitarist Henry McCullough to improvise his solo in the final take. McCartney recalled to Mojo magazine October 2010: "I'd sort of written the solo, as I often did with our solos. And Henry walked up to me before the take and just sort of said (adopts Celtic brogue), Hey, would it be all right if I try something else?' And I said, (uncertainly) 'Er…yeah.' It was like, 'Do I believe in this guy?' And he played the solo on 'My Love,' which came right out of the blue." As for McCullough, it was a career-defining moment for the young guitarist, as overruling Paul McCartney is rarely prudent in the studio. In our interview with Henry McCullough, he explained: "I can't remember what it was I was asked to play, but whatever it was I refused and said that I was going to change the solo. So Paul says, 'Well, what are you going to play?' I said, 'I don't know.' Well, that put the fear of God in him, I think. Because there I am, just me and a 50-piece orchestra in the studio and there's George Martin in the control room and Paul. I knew it was going to be a turning point in some shape or form regardless of what I came up with. I don't use pedals or anything, so I just plugged into the amp and that was it - it was all over and done with very quickly. I went in and they ran the track and I did it once and went back into the control room and there was silence. And I thought I was going to have to do it again or something. But it was not the case. This was a turning point for me, because I was able to, in later life, look back on it and say, 'That's what I did for Paul McCartney. I gave him that solo.' But it came from somewhere else and through me to Paul, and this is what flabbergasted him. And not having worked like that before, it was a little new to him. I came out of the studio that day and I was a very happy man, because I had confronted this thing I knew was there, that hadn't quite shown its head. And that was where I left me mark, you know." This is one of three songs of the same title to top the American singles chart. Petula Clark's "My Love," was # 1 in 1966 whilst Justin Timberlake's song of the same title reached the peak position in 2006. In the sleeve notes for Red Rose Speedway, the message "We love you, baby" was written in Braille specifically for Stevie Wonder. A violin rendition was used on the season 7 finale of Friends during Chandler and Monica's wedding ceremony.
And when I go away I know my heart can stay with my love It's understood It's in the hands of my love And my love does it good Whoa oh-oh, whoa oh-oh My love does it good And when the cupboards bare I'll still find something there with my love It's understood It's everywhere with my love And my love does it good Whoa oh-oh, whoa oh-oh My love does it good Oh, I love, oh, my love Only my love holds the other key to me Oh, my love, oh, my love Only my love does it good to me Whoa oh-oh, whoa oh-oh My love does it good Don't ever ask me why I never say goodbye to my love It's understood It's everywhere with my love My love does it good, oh Whoa oh-oh, whoa oh-oh My love does it good Oh, I love, oh, my love Only my love does it good to me Whoa oh-oh, whoa oh oh
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 14, 1973 | 73 | 53 |
| 2 | Apr 21, 1973 | 62 | 64 |
| 3 | Apr 28, 1973 | 36 | 90 |
| 4 | May 5, 1973 | 26 | 100 |
| 5 | May 12, 1973 | 13 | 113 |
| 6 | May 19, 1973 | 6 | 120 |
| 7 | May 26, 1973 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | Jun 2, 1973 | 1 | 125 |
| 9 | Jun 9, 1973 | 1 | 125 |
| 10 | Jun 16, 1973 | 1 | 125 |
| 11 | Jun 23, 1973 | 1 | 125 |
| 12 | Jun 30, 1973 | 2 | 124 |
| 13 | Jul 7, 1973 | 3 | 123 |
| 14 | Jul 14, 1973 | 9 | 117 |
| 15 | Jul 21, 1973 | 21 | 105 |
| 16 | Jul 28, 1973 | 31 | 95 |
| 17 | Aug 4, 1973 | 40 | 86 |
| 18 | Aug 11, 1973 | 59 | 67 |