10 Incredible Paul McCartney Songs You’ve Never Heard
6. Frozen Jap
Sick of the responsibility of a decade as Wings' bandleader and boss, fed up of constantly having to replace drummers, Paul decided to try something different. He locked himself away in the studio and created the McCartney II album entirely on his own, experimenting with synthesisers to create tracks unlike anything else he’d done before.
Coming Up was the hit and Temporary Secretary the track reclaimed years later by club DJs and hipsters. Meanwhile Frozen Jap languishes in relative obscurity.
It’s a shame because, putting the problematic name aside, it’s a bit of a gem. An icy instrumental that wouldn’t sound out of place alongside the work of electronic pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Released after Paul’s Japanese drugs bust and brief spell in prison, many assumed Frozen Jap was inspired by the experience but he actually recorded the track months earlier, after hitting upon an “oriental” sounding synth riff.
Just let that insistent synth melody take up permanent residence in your head and whatever you do try not to notice its subtle similarity to the melody of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Honestly, don’t even think about it. It could ruin a great song you’ve only just discovered...