McCartney's Weird Sequence

I thought it would be fun to look at one of my favourite uses of the ARP Sequencer, which is in Paul McCartney's "Temporary Secretary" released in 1980.

I also thought it would be interesting to see what the song would sound like if everything was done on synths, rather than guitars, bass and drums.

0:00 Temporary Secretary
2:00 Let's do our own version
6:01 The Result

Huge thanks to my Patrons.

[synthnerd]

@4:20 shouldn't that be 'cistern 100'? 👀

[FrankJames]

I noticed recently that "Temporary Secretary" has many similarities to "Paperback Writer."
- Both titles are a job.
- Both lyrics are written in the form of a letter.
- The chorus in both is "I [verb] a [job title]".
- Both are (mostly) 2 chord songs. (Temporary Secretary has more on the bridges, but the verse and chorus are basically just 2).
- Both have a central riff

[Tranquillado]

As soon as I read “McCartney’s Weird Sequence” I immediately knew which classic Macca tune it was. 😁

[agheoane]

I saw Paul around five years ago and was so thrilled/shocked that he played this one.

[Ardamax_]

This sequence belongs on a sick-ass '90s industrial techno track. Definitely Paul's weirdest composition, puts a smile on my face every time I think about it, let alone hear it

[ToyKeeper]

This song has some really interesting compositional techniques. It turns "the most annoying sound you've ever heard", as you put it, into kind of a banger.

[FatNorthernBigot]

🎶"Simply, adding, a wonderful sequence line" 🎶😊

[Fred_pimpstone-II]

My mom one day showed me temporary secretary in the car didn’t tell me what it was and went “guess who this is you never will” and she was right i had no clue, been hooked on this song and its strange neurotic sound ever since because ive still never heard anything quite like it.

[deralfenderson]

Not even two seconds in and I got a HUGE smile on my face. McCartney II is one of my all time favorite albums!!

[alloriginalpirates]

One of the best songs of all time. My band was called 'Secretaire' after this song.

[davidryle]

This is why I'm a Patreon contributor. You have no reservations about going with the eclectic, odd - BALL artifacts from the musical past that some cherish but might never own up to. And you do it with your own inimitable style and with a gracious, modest nod to the history. Thank you Alex.

[sndes-xx]

OMG that was an AMAZING version!! Macca would be so proud of you. You are a genius.

[cds]

Alex, this is an absolute banger. That "basic" bass line actually makes the track for me. Killer.

[dirkmarkham]

when I moved to Berlin in 2004 I was working at Gigolo Records and at the time DJ Hell had Temporary Secretary in his top 10. as a massive Macca fan, I was impressed! :)

[JoshMaxPower]

Thank you for this! "Temporary Secretary" is, for me, the best solo Macca. That and "Coming Up, " "Bogey Music, " "Waterfalls" and really, the rest of the album. And my favorite moments from "Temporary Secretary" are the words "BOW!" and the bird sounds at the end. Been listening to "McCartney II" since it came out. The guy is baked throughout, and it shows. "Rubber Soul" was the cannibis Beatles album, "McCartney II" is the solo weed Macca album.

[JayKaufman]

It's a shame that it's not 2005, because I have a feeling your cover would have been absolutely huge on the electroclash scene!

[alanmatthews]

An excellent video and version. TS was a song I didn't like at all when it came out but since the EDM explosion of the nineties and noughties I've grown to love it. It's as if Macca casually decided to compose a track that wouldn't really be fit for release for another twenty years - a hint of genius in my book.

[RRT]

I actually like the song
"Wonderful Christmas Time"

That Synth part has somehow a cosy feel to it and overall its a cosy simple song.
Maybe an episode for upcoming Xmas 🤔

Thanks for great content, as always.
Cheers

[daev]

A fantastic new interpretation of a fantastic song.

[daev]

When I read the title I knew exactly which song it was referring to.