B-side "Check My Machine" Format 7" Genre Soft rock | Released 13 June 1980 Recorded July–August 1979 | |
Length 4:43 (Album Version)
3:20 (DJ Edit) | ||
"Waterfalls" is a Paul McCartney ballad from his first solo album after Wings, McCartney II. The song has a stripped-down sound, with McCartney only playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano and a synthesizer and singing, and a short solo most likely played on an acoustic guitar. It was released as a single with "Check My Machine" as its B-Side and reached chart position #9 in the UK. In the US, however, it was his first single ever to miss the Billboard Hot 100 chart, only reaching number 106 despite being the follow-up to the number one hit "Coming Up". In 2013, Rolling Stone rated it the #25 all-time Paul McCartney post-Beatles song, describing how it contrasted with Wings' prior single.
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When questioned on singles he wished were more successful, McCartney stated, "There's quite a few, actually. ... 'Waterfalls', I think is nice." He also commented that TLC's single "Waterfalls" carries elements of his song.
Personnel
Other versions
Sloan recorded a more uptempo version of the song on the McCartney tribute album Listen To What The Man Said.