100 Great Songs From The British Invasion: 1963-1966. ‘Woman’- Peter and Gordon. ‘Woman’ was written by Bernard Webb- well actually Bernard Webb was a pseudonym for one- James Paul McCartney. McCartney wrote the song for Peter and Gordon but in Paul’s words -“People come up to them and say, ‘Ah, we see you’re just getting in on the Lennon–McCartney bandwagon’. That’s why they did that one with our names not on it…because everyone sort of thinks that’s the [only] reason they get hits. It’s not true, really.” The first review of ‘Woman’- before it was revealed who really wrote it said -“This Bernard Webb has an amazing talent. Could even be Paul McCartney!” This was the 4th hit that Paul McCartney wrote for Peter and Gordon- the others- ‘World Without Love’ a #1 in the US and UK, ‘Nobody I Know’ #12 in the US #10 in UK, ‘I Don’t Want To See You Again” #16 in US. Did Paul ever do a recording of ‘Woman’ you ask?- Yes- a version of Paul playing ‘Woman’ on the piano during the Get Back sessions in January 1969- can be found on bootlegs. Of course Paul is not the only Beatle to write a song called ‘Woman’- John Lennon’s ‘Woman’ was a hit single from his final album Double Fantasy in 1980.

Single: ‘Woman’/ Written by Bernard Webb- aka Paul McCartney/ Record Company- Capitol/Time: 2:25/Recorded December 1965/ Released January 10, 1966 in US- February 11, 1966 in UK/ Peaked at #14 in US Billboard Hot 100, #28 in UK Singles Chart. It was a #1 hit in Canada.