Blakeview: Paul McCartney recorded at Sea-Saint and partied at Mardi Gras 50 yeas ago

50 years ago this month, music superstar Paul McCartney, his wife Linda and his band Wings flew into New Orleans to record songs for the album “Venus and Mars” at Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn’s Sea-Saint Recording Studio in Gentilly.

News of the former Beatle’s visit made the front page of the Jan. 8, 1975, States-Item, with reporter Jack Davis writing that McCartney had received a temporary visa to stay in the city until March 1. Davis explained that the visa “will not allow McCartney to do any work other than the recording, meaning that performances by the 31-year-old rock star and songwriter are not permitted.” But fans did get glimpses of him coming and going from the studio on Clematis Street in Gentilly, where the couple’s three children also joined them.

About a month later, during a press conference aboard the excursion boat Voyageur, Paul McCartney said New Orleans was selected as a recording site because “it’s warm and it’s a musical city,” according to Millie Ball’s Feb. 14, 1975, story in The Times-Picayune. Music legends Lloyd Price, Earl King, Dr. John and Professor Longhair dropped by the sessions which also featured Toussaint on piano.

The McCartneys spent Fat Tuesday costumed as clowns and watching Mardi Gras parades from an apartment above Kolb’s Restaurant on St. Charles Avenue. McCartney wrote the song “My Carnival” the next day and recorded it at Sea-Saint. Joining the session were Meters band members Leo Nocentelli and George Porter Jr. as well as singer Benny Spellman on backup. McCartney also wrote “Going to New Orleans,” influenced by Professor Longhair and featuring McCartney whistling like the music icon. Neither song was released on “Venus and Mars,” although “My Carnival” was issued in 1985.

Source: Blake Pontchartrain/nola.com