Women and Wives
"Women and Wives" is a song by Paul McCartney, released as the fourth track from McCartney's 2020 album McCartney III. It was released exclusively as a Record Store Day single.
Background
McCartney wrote "Women and Wives" after reading a biography of American blues guitarist Huddy William Ledbetter, known as Lead Belly, as McCartney stated: "I wrote this when I was in Los Angeles and I had just been reading a book on the blues artist Lead Belly, so I was trying to get in this bluesy mood so I played on the piano, played some simple chords and started singing in what I imagined was like bluesy, so that was that and then I recorded it at the studio in England."Recording
"Women and Wives" was recorded primarily on piano, and also includes the exact double bass Bill Black used when recording with Elvis Presley, as revealed in a Spotify Storyline, a feature on Spotify that would give the listener information about a song if available.Reception
Writing for the A.V. Club, Gwen Ihnat believed McCartney is "admonishing the rest of us while the song ultimately has a hopeful tinge as McCartney urges each generation to teach compassion to the next, the song’s piano-led nostalgic melancholy is undeniable. Mark Beaumont wrote the song is a "wise and austere piano shuffle worthy of Nick Cave or Johnny Cash". Rob Sheffield called it in a Rolling Stone review a "London Town-style yacht-rock ballad". It is the most played track from McCartney III live. McCartney named it as his favourite track on the album.Personnel
According to the McCartney III booklet:- Paul McCartney – piano, Bill Black's double bass, drums, vocals