The upcoming McCartney/McCartney II reissues and Buddy Holly tribute CD are not the only Paul-related items making it to your favorite music store this summer. The original soundtrack to the film The Family Way was composed by McCartney in 1966, and recorded by Paul, with a few studio musicians and the George Martin Orchestra, for release in 1967. On July 26th, 2011 it will be re-issued. It received an earlier re-issue in 2003 but this is a sonically improved upgrade reproduced from the original mono remaster and will also will include a bonus track in the form of a previously unreleased stereo mix of A Theme From The Family Way, which appeared as the b-side of a 1966 UK/US 7-inch single by the Tudor Minstrels.

The Family Way LP holds the distinction of being the first non-Beatles release that was actually by one of The Beatles. It really doesn’t count as a solo-Beatles effort because it was accredited to the George Martin Orchestra. In the US it was released on June 12, 1967, less than two weeks after the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album made it’s first appearance. US first pressings of the record have since become quite rare.

The Family Way score shows a very interesting side of McCartney’s songwriting style at the time. The original album has no track titles for any of its 13 tracks, as all are variations on either the film’s theme or the song Love in the Open Air.

Happy Nat's copy of the original vinyl (promo) jacket for The Family Way, 1967

Amazon links for your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

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