An afternoon in Memphis

Someone on BZ posted this awful photo of the Beatles during the afternoon show in Memphis during the 1966 tour.   I love the fan with her hands up.   That really makes the photo for me.  

I also posted some rare photos of the Beatles from the 1965 winter tour on BZ if anyone is interested.

Getting a little bit tipsy

I think Paul has had too much of the bottle of champagne that is sitting in front of him during the after party that happened after he went with Jane Asher to the movie premiere of Alfie in 1966.   I don't know about you, but I would think that Paul would have been funny when he was a bit drunk.  

Ringo Starr: the lady's man

I don't wanna pickle, I just want to ride on my moter cycle....

I know that at one time I read a story about a fan meeting Paul on his motorcycle in Nashville when Wings was there.  Now I can't find that story to save my life.   I would guess these photos were taken from that time?   Anyone know what I am thinking of or did I dream this whole thing?

Why so serious, George?

Thanks goes out again to Luzia for posting this one on facebook this week.   :)  

A lot of sitars

If you ever sat around and played the sitar in George Harrison AND Ravi Shankar's presence, then you are beyond cool!

Richard Starkey M.B.E.

You've got to be kidding me

Not fan related at all, but this photo made me laugh.   I wonder what that guy is saying/singing into the microphone to make John give him that look. 

Be careful there George

photo by John Howard

This young guy looks a little concerned about letting George use his fancy camera.   I am sure he had a conversation with himself that went something like, "no one touches my camera!   Oh but it is George Harrison of the Beatles.   I will kick myself later and regret it.  He asked me so nicely.  Okay...he can see it.  But I swear I will go mad if he breaks it!"

Teach your children well....

I think this is so adorable!   How many of you saw the Beatles live in the Ed Sullivan show in 1964?  Were you mesmerized by them like this young lady?   My mom recalls seeing them on Sullivan.  She was 12 (almost 13) years old and was very excited.   It was after this show that she officially declared her eternal love for Ringo Starr.  Her older sister, who was always an Elvis fan, claimed Paul.  However, I do not consider my aunt to be a Beatles fan today because one time she went with us to a Beatlefest for one day and was bored!   Anyhow.....back to my mom.    Her Dad complained the whole time about watching the "long hairs" on television that night.    Anyone else have memories of the Sullivan show with the Beatles?

The Talisman

Hidden Beatles

Jacket and Sweater

Where have I seen that jacket John is wearing before?   Did he wear it during a Beatles tour?   the sweater also looks very unlike something Yoko would wear.   Nice photo of the couple.

Early photo collectors

278 different Beatles photos....I wonder how many she has now.    I have never bothered to count all of my photos.  

Feeling better?

From the "posing with people" files

Briefcase buddy

Mal at the Fest in '75

I love Mal Evans.  I think anyone who is familiar with this blog knows that this is a fact.    I have a few interviews that Mal gave in the mid-1970's, but the one thing I have been trying to locate is a recording of Mal at the Beatlefest in 1975.    I came to realize that most likely no one made a recording of Mal's talk (although I still find that hard to believe), and just started to look for photos or any information from that discussion.   And I have came up with a few little things over the years, but I have found a wonderful trove of information written by a first hand account shortly after the convention from someone who took notes!   This information came issue #21 of The Harrison Alliance (Nov/Dec 1975) and was written by Patti Murawski.

Some people have asked me to write a bit more about Mal's talk at Beatlefest.  Thanks to Jennie's detailed notes, we're able to do just that right now...and throw in a photo I took as well.  One of the first things Mal talked about was how he got involved with The Beatles; he said he used to hang around the Cavern a lot and they got to know him; then, one day George said to Mal, "You're big and ugly enough, why don't you get a job as a bouncer at the Cavern?"  And that's how it all started for him.  Mal also said he used to sit in the front rows at the Cavern when th eBealtes played, and they'd look at him and announce a song dedicated to "Mal-Content" or "Mal Formed."

Mal spoke how, despite what the press had written, The Beatles enjoyed touring.  It had gotten too crazy though, and they had to stop.  Mal also said he always set up their equipment for each show.

Someone asked Mal if there were any unreleased Beatle tracks hidden away somewhere.    The only unreleased tracks, Mal said, were some from Magical Mystery Tour that George did with Shirley Evans the accordionist.  He also mentioned something about jams from Let it Be.  According to Mal they still have their stage suits as well as their Sgt. Pepper uniforms. As for the film "The Long and Winding Road," it has yet to be completed.  However, Mal and Neil (Aspinall) hope to finish it and release it someday.

Mal had always tried to play guitar, but he always got embarrassed with George around.  He and George were staying at the Plaza once and Mal had just finished meditating when he picked up the guitar and for the first time in his life he put words and music together.  Then, while in L.A. he asked George to help him with some chords and eventually it worked itself into "You and Me Babe"!

Mal termed Paul's wedding as "exciting"; he was, of course, a witness at the wedding.  He spoke of how he and Paul were the closest of friends at that time and that the day before the wedding Paul said to him, "I'm scared."  He also told us a humorous story about how he once jumped on top of Paul while Paul was sleeping.  He and Paul decided to drive down to Spain to see John filming "How I won the War" but when they arrived, John had already gone home.  So, to salvage the trip, they decided to go on safari in Nairobi.  He and Paul shared rooms while they were there.  Mal is terrified of snakes, so one night a little while after turning out the lights, Mal felt something strange moving in his bed; he immediately leaped out of bed and fell right on top of Paul who was in the next bed and had already fallen asleep.  Needless to say, Paul was jolted out of his sleep quite surprised to find Mal had fallen on top of him!  Mal also contributed some lines to "Here There and Everywhere"; he and Paul had been clubbing and in the morning Paul needed two lines to quickly finish the song; the line?  "Watching her eyes and hoping I'm always there."

Mal mentioned that when Julian was visiting in L.A. with John, he had John take him to Disneyland eight times ... in a span of five days.

He spoke a bit about people claiming to have seen ghosts at Friar Park.  He also told us how the mini-Matterhorn on the estate was a scale model of the actual Matterhorn in Switzerland; Sir Frank had the real one surveyed sot hat his replica would be precise!  Sir Frank was a benevolent person, always keeping the local folk employed; he died poor, but happy!

The audience and spirit of the fest made Mal feel, he told us, as if we were all one big happy family.  He said he was very moved by Beatlefest and understood what we felt, not only because The Beatles were his friends, but because he is a big Elvis fan!  He remembers how thrilled he was when he met Elvis at a party during the touring days.  Mal said he had always carried plectrums with him for the guys because they were always losing them, but the night Elvis invited them to a party, and they wanted to play, Mal didn't have any picks for them and he ended up out in the kitchen breaking up plastic spoons for them!

Mal was dressed, for his speech on Saturday, in a blue western shirt with colored embroidery on it that Ringo and Maureen bought for him as a surprised (he had admired it in a shop) during the recording of "Ringo" and white jeans.  Around his neck on a chain he wore a little Bangla Desh medal that George had given him for helping out with the Bangla Desh concert, and a necklace from Ringo.  He also had a tiny yellow submarine on his pocket.

Mal's general comments on the Beatles were also very nice.  He thinks they're all very beautiful people , and very non-violent.  (They were quite frightened by Manson and Manson's saying the Beatles were sending him messages).  He never felt he was working for the Beatles.  He also spoke about how all four of them always make a fuss over saying hello, but never goodbye  Mal felt that each one of them feel a lot toward their fans and said, "If they could meet you all, they'd love you too."  One of his last comments was, "If the Beatles ever get back together, I want to be there." ...so do we, Mal, so do we!

 

Private Gripweed's fans

I love this photo!   Although I think the girls could look a tad bit more excited about meeting John during the making of "How I won the War,"  I won't complain because it is just too cute of a photo.  

Heartbreaker

Attack!

I am not sure if that older woman is trying to protect Paul from the screaming girls or if she is joining in on the Beatlemania!

Awards and autographs

Yes...that is the life of Paul McCartney.   Sing a few songs, win a few awards, sign a few autographs and basically just be the awesome man that he is. 

Traveling with the Wilbury's

It isn't every day that you locate a photo of the Traveling Wilbury's together.  Here are three of the Wilbury's along with a reporter named Ronna Elliot.   My favorite song ever is "Handle with Care."  So something about these guys just makes me overly  happy.

Abbey Road

I spotted this on BZ in a really old post.   I didn't think I have ever posted it before.   Notice what John is holding in the photo.

Dorchester Meeting

Anyone know anything about this meeting George apparently had in December of 1983 at a hotel in Dorchester?

Two fans almost made it

So close girls...so close!   The Beatles just stare at them.  At least it wasn't raining that time.

Backstage clutter

I spot a "Please Please Me" album on that counter....lots of stuff laying around backstage!

Hands across the water....

A Life in Parts: A book review

Heather Mills, Loretta Goebel and her daughter, Alyssa

Paul and Loretta Goebel after Paul's concert in Chicago in 2002.

For the past month or so, there has been a bit of a buzz around my town about this book called A Life in Parts and the local girl who is featured in the book.  Everyone here in the St. Louis metro area on the "east side" seems to have read the book, heard of the book, or has been talking about it. When I found out that this book was about a woman who met Paul McCartney, I was interested.  But the book isn't really about a Beatles meeting.

A Life in Parts by Vicki Bennington and Daniel Brannon is the story of Loretta Goebel, who one day hit her hand on the banister in her home.  As a result, she got something called strep toxic shock syndrome, and after almost losing her life, she had to have both of her legs, one full hand, and part of another hand amputated.  During her recovery and while she was trying to make sense of everything that happened, Heather Mills contacted her.  Loretta and Heather formed a bond, and Heather was very helpful to Loretta in dealing with the emotional handling she was going through, as well as telling her about getting a prosthetic leg that looked more natural and would fit her better than the big clunky one she had.  

When Paul's 2002 tour came to Chicago, Heather invited Loretta to go backstage and meet her famous husband.  Loretta kept in touch with Heather and Paul, and when she went to England to receive her nice, new prosthetic leg, she even went over to their London home (which I assumed was Cavendish) and tells in the book how the hand-written lyrics to "Yesterday" are framed and hanging over Paul's piano in the house.  How cool!!!  

Paul has given this quote used to promote the book:

"Loretta has such a positive attitude.  I'm proud of how she handled all the obstacles she had to overcome and the way she reaches out to help others."

 One thing I gained from reading this book is a new understanding and respect for Heather Mills (who wrote the forward for this book). It seems like because of the things that went on during their divorce, it is the popular thing for a Beatles fan to hate Heather Mills.  But this book really showed her compassion and her big heart.  These must have been the things that Paul saw in Heather in the first place. Paul and Heather currently seem to have a good relationship as parents of Beatrice, and I think it is time for us as fans to move on.  The jokes and unkind words towards her aren't putting us fans of the Beatles in a good light.  Heather has done more good for people than she has done harm.

Anyhow, as well as having a very nice Paul McCartney connection, A Life in Parts is a very good book that really shows that you can do anything in spite of your disability or circumstances. Loretta is a woman who has so much courage and strength and is truly admirable. It is a quick read and is well worth reading.

I emailed Loretta yesterday asking for her permission to post her photos and write a little about her story, and she was very kind to give me permission. So, a big thank you goes out to her!


The link below is the affiliate link to Amazon, where you can purchase this book.  I get a small percentage of anything purchased through this link.  Money made from the Amazon Afflication is used to pay the annual fee to keep this site online.  Thank you for your support.  Sara

https://amzn.to/3wKD2pT

Flirting with Ringo Starr

I didn't encourage that wink

Paul gets all the attention

I know Paul is the "cute one" and all, but come on!  Pay SOME attention to John.  He is just standing there all alone! 

We love you Beatles oh yes we do

If the Meet the Beatles ... for Real! blog was a "real" fan club and we met together every week, (and I naturally was the fan club president),  I would make us sing this song at the start of every meeting.  I think it is cute that they have the words written out on posterboard.   Maybe this was for that Ready Steady Go TV program where the fans marched around and sang "We love you Beatles" (I had that on VHS in the 1980's).

Magical Mystery Mixing

These photo and other like them have always been a mystery to me.  I know that the Beatles are at an office in Soho watching the rushes from the Magical Mystery tour.   Or they are mixing something that has to do with the Magical Mystery tour film.    But then that leads to a ton more questions:

--Why does Paul have a guitar?
--What are they singing?
--Is there a recording of this?
---Why are there so many people in that room?
---Who are all those people anyhow.  the only ones I really recognize is Tony B. and Mal Evans
---What is the deal with that old man?  He is everywhere and no one really know who he was.  All I ever hear is that he was a street musician.   Why did the Beatles hang out with him?  What was his name?  And lastly....why does he always have flowery looking thing sticking out behind his ears?


See....I have a lot of questions.   And so when you have Beatle questions the only place to truly look is in your Mark Lewisohn book collection.  In reading his amazing research ( yes I bow at your feet Mr. Lewisohn....you are what makes us amateur Beatle historians strive)I read that on November 21, 1967 the Beatles were filmed while working with Roy Benson in the MMT cutting room.  There was this big stink about the Beatles lip syncing during the "Hello Goodbye" promo and how the Top of the Pops could not show it that night because of a law passed by the Musicians' Union in Britain.  So they were filmed here and that was supposed to "cover up" the mimicking parts of the promo, only it was never used for that purpose.

OK.  So maybe that explains the guitar, but it doesn't answer many more of my questions.   Oh well.   Nice photographs. 

Not insane

Anyone have any information about these photos?   What year was it?   What was the event? 

Close up on George

Taken by a fan (or maybe the press?) when the Beatles returned to England from their first major tour of North American in 1964.

Pushed around

BBC

Here is another photograph of Paul taken before the All You Need is Love shoot.