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Heart of the Country
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Heart of the Country
| cover = Heart of the Country label.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Paul and Linda McCartney
| album = Ram
| A-side = The Back Seat of My Car
| released = 13 August 1971
| recorded = 16 November 1970
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Folk rock, country folk
| length = 2:21
| label = Apple
| writer = Paul and Linda McCartney
| producer = Paul and Linda McCartney
| prev_title = Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = Eat at Home
| next_year = 1971
| misc =
}}
"'Heart of the Country'" is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney from their album 'Ram' released in 1971.
Origins
The song has simple acoustic tune with a heavy bass chorus, and an unusually mellow sound to the acoustic guitar that was achieved by tuning all of the strings a full step lower than standard pitch. The song is about a man searching for a farm in the middle of nowhere.
The song reflects Paul's heading for the Scottish countryside to escape the headaches associated with the Beatles' break-up at the time.
Composition
The song is played in the key of D Minor at a tempo of 172.
Personnel
*Paul McCartney lead vocals, bass guitar, guitar
*Linda McCartney backing vocals
*Hugh McCracken guitar
*Denny Seiwell drums (with brushes)
Reception
In a contemporary review for 'Ram', Jon Landau of 'Rolling Stone' gave "Heart of the Country" a negative review, calling it the album's "lowest point", and the song that "most clearly indicates ['Ram's] failures". Landau described the song as "an evenly paced, finger-picking styled tune, with very light jazz overtones, obviously intended as Paul's idea of "mellow."". However, Landau believed McCartney's lyrics about the country "ring false".
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described the song as "an effortless folk-pop tune that ranks among [McCartney's] very best songs". Erlewine also praises its "imaginative and gorgeous arrangement". In 2013, 'Rolling Stone' rated "Heart of the Country" at number 26 in its list of Paul McCartney's best post-Beatles songs.
Aftermath
McCartney and Elvis Costello re-recorded the song, with Mark Ronson producing, in 2013 for a commercial featuring his late wife Linda's vegetarian recipe book.
References
Category:Paul McCartney songs
Category:Songs written by Paul McCartney
Category:1970 songs
Category:Songs written by Linda McCartney
Category:Song recordings produced by Paul McCartney
Category:Music published by MPL Music Publishing
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