Pipes of Peace

"Pipes of Peace"
Single by Paul McCartney
from the album Pipes of Peace
B-side	"So Bad"
Released	5 December 1983
Format	7"
Recorded	September/October 1982
Genre	Pop
Length	3:56
Label	Parlophone
Writer(s)	Paul McCartney
Producer	George Martin
Paul McCartney singles chronology
"Say Say Say" (1983) "Pipes of Peace" (1984) "No More Lonely Nights" (1984)

"Pipes of Peace" is a song written by Paul McCartney, which was first released on his album of the same name on 31 October 1983. It was also released as a single on 5 December 1983 and reached number one on many singles charts for two weeks.^[1]

Charts

In the United States, "Pipes of Peace" was issued as the B-side, and its British B-side, "So Bad", was issued as the A-side.^[2] "So Bad" climbed the US charts and became another hit on the Billboard Hot 100.^[3]

McCartney had previously had seventeen UK number one singles as a member of The Beatles, one as a member of Wings ("Mull of Kintyre"), and one with Stevie Wonder ("Ebony and Ivory"), but this was his first and only UK number one as a solo artist. He later appeared on three charity singles that reached number one: Ferry Aid (1987), Ferry Cross the Mersey (1989) and Band Aid 20 (2004).

Video

At Chobham Common, Surrey, a video was shot for "Pipes of Peace", depicting the famous 1914 Christmas truce between British, French and German troops. It portrays a British and a German soldier, both played by McCartney, who meet up in No Man's Land and exchange photos of their loved ones while other soldiers fraternise and play football. When a shell blast forces the two armies to retreat to their own trenches both men realise that they still have each-other's pictures.^[4] The video was produced by Hugh Symonds, featured more than 100 extras, and for added realism McCartney had his hair cut short especially for the shoot.

Other

Argentine singer-songwriter Sergio Denis recorded a Spanish version of the song re-titled Pipas de la paz on his album La Humanidad (1984).

The McCartney recording appeared again on his 1987 compilation, All the Best!.

Notes