The Britt Awards

 

February 10, 1983

Broadstreet Bound

 

No glasses and no guns

 

Making of a classic music video

 

Tea Break

Air Studio Interviews

Here are two interviews with Paul when he was working at AIR Studio in 1983


Interview from Musician & Recording World with Paul Ashford (September 1983)

"I'm like all people," declares Paul McCartney in our 50-minute conversation in AIR Studios.  Meanwhile, the cassette recorder is faithfully pirating tracks from the new album which is being mixed down in the next room.  "And the kind of music I like is actually accessible, commercial music.  Often if a song is number one I'll like it, because people got it to number one and I can see why..."

Advance warning had been given that Paul singled out MARW exclusively because he wanted to talk not about sociology, metaphysics, personalities or past history, but about his Green Alpico Amp.

"The thing is, " Paul explains, "in truth, it ends up that most interviews don't mean anything.  You just talk to everyone on earth about anything -- toothpaste, you name it, just blabbing off about anything they want to hear about.  With this magazine I know the musos read it -- it's a bit more satisfying than talking about what soap you use all the time."

"I want to talk about what I'm interested in, which is music.  That's how we started, picking our way from guitars through pianos and basses and various other instruments.  Actually playing the instruments is the important thing and the personality ting is just what happens to come with it if you do your job well.  You never get to like that better than the musician bit."

"This week I've been using (on the new album) the Elpico, which is the first amp I ever bought.  It's a valve amp and I like valve amps.  A little green Alpico and it's brilliant -- really good.   We've just been using it on one of the tracks and it pokes like mad because it's an old valve amp.  Great - it's like an automatic fuzz.  And of course, it's fun using the first one you ever had again.  "

"I will have one of the old Beatles basses, although I'm not sure whether it's the first.  An old violin bass and the great thing about it is that it's still got the running order list taped on with sellotape - it starts off with "Rock n Roll Music" and goes on to "Baby's in Black."  You always have it on the guitar to tell you what's coming next.  I don't' play it now; the Rickenbacker gives a better recording sound and I also use a Yamaha.

Arrangements and embellishments are, by and large, an important facet of the way McCartney thinks about a song.  He's not the only one who has an ear for good interpretation either.

"People notice the arrangement even as something apart from what instruments are playing.  It's funny.  A little while ago we were invited to a Lennon-McCartney tribute concert at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Birds when they took a lot of our songs and did them with the London Symphony Orchestra.  In the interval, we met the Queen and there was an old fella with her -- not the Duke, an older gentleman -- and he said, the arrangements are the same.  These are basically the same arrangements off the records."

"And I was amazed to hear her say that because it's true, they were taking all the arrangements and putting them on cellos instead of guitars, just giving all the lines to different elements of the orchestra, and she actually realised that."

Paul has little inclination to change an arrangement of his once it's been defined.  "I've thought about it once or twice -- maybe because of Dylan's new versions.  But I'm never very happy doing it.  I did a funky up-tempo version of "Silly Love Songs" with Porcaro and Steve Luthaker and Louis Johnson of the Johnson Brothers, but normally I'll stick close to the original.


BBC World Service Interview recorded at AIR Studios June 16, 1983

Q:  Is it helpful using a mixture of musicians for the new album?

P:  I think so.  It's a change really because for ten or so years I worked with the Beatles and then I worked with Wings for another 10 years and now I'm without a group.  I suppose I got to the stage where I thought, 'Well, what I really want to do is make music,'.  I'm not interested in living with fellers in a van -- I've got kids and I want to spend my time with them.  So it doesn't suit me to be in a group at the moment and we'd virtually finished Wings.

Q:  Do you have any time for a domestic life?

P:  I have as much time as most people have really.  Most people work five days a week and take weekends off and mornings or nights off and that's the same as what I do -- and I can even take the odd day off as well.  What happens is I get a project on like this album and you can't leave it.

Q:  So what are the things you would warn you, children, about of your lie and times and experience?

P:  Everything.

Q:  Would you want them to follow you into entertainment?

P:  Not particularly.  It's a tough business.  You've got to be very good or you die real quick.  Somebody like David Bowie if he fails to have hits for one year he's in trouble -- or me.  No matter how big you get you are still loving yourself all the time.  I happen to have been very lucky and happen to have learnt over the years how to do it.  But kids coming into it -- it's very difficult.  The way we're playing it as if one of the kids, when they're 15 or 16, is really keen to get into something like music or stage then we'll help them.  I don't think their heads can handle it before that age.

Q:  Do you think you were all the right age as The Beatles?

P:  I think it was roughly right when we started.  We started about 16 or 17 and so we were looking for something to do.  We wanted out of Liverpool and to see the big world and do something great and earn a lot of money and become famous.

Q:  Thing did happen extremely fast...

P:  We'd been playing in Liverpool for years with a small degree of success.  The first places we played we'd get the normal crowd that any group got, then we started to play at places where we were a little bit more special and they knew us and we'd get a bit more.  Then we'd play another place and get maybe 200 more.  Then to Hamburg where we were back to n nothing again -- we had to build it all up again.  By the time you'd heard of us we'd actually been going about four years.

Q:  do you ever get fed up with the stage "Former Beatle"?

P:  No, not really.  That's what I am.  There was a point when The Beatles had broken up when we thought 'we want to be individuals now, we'll just have our names..' but you realize it's impossible really.  It's like George Martin; until the day he died is going to be "ex-Beatles producer."

Q:  today somewhere in the world someone is going out and buying their first Beatles album.

P:  Yes, it's funny.  You find a lot of young kids hearing it for the first time and seeing connections with today's music.  and they see all the connections and buy it as if it's fresh again.  You get young kids who know more about it than I do.

Q:  Is there a Beatles track which you particularly love?

P:  All of them.  I h ave those rather strong feelings about.  I'll pick out "Love me Do" as the very first one we recorded and I'll remember how I was scared stiff.  We were standing down in the studio and there was George Martin up on the floor at a big glass window at Abbey Road.  We were in a different world. Nowadays we can go in that  big glass control room, but we couldn't then.  It was like it was Them and Us.  If you happen to play "Love me do" listen for the shakes in  the voice -- that's all pure nerves.  Then I can remember "Hey Jude" because that was great fun; "Strawberry Fields" because that was crazy and amazing.  I can remember so many of them.  Some of the tracks I like are the little off beat tracks that nobody has ever heard of.

Q:  Give us an example.

P: Well, not nobody, but a lot of you won't have heard of a song like "She said She Said

Q:  Back to "Tug of War", "Here Today" is an exceptionally beautiful song, were you 'world's apart' as you suggest in it?

P: Oh no, not really.  It's funny with fellers -- unless there's some kind of gay relationship if you just are two fellers and there wasn't, by the way, although some recent books have tried to suggest it.  As far as any of us knew there wasn't any hint of any of that, and pretty much we should have known because we spent nights in hotels and vans and everything.  It's a very funny thing because there is sort of competition going on no matter how friendly you are.  You're telling jokes and each is trying to be funnier than the other,.  You're writing songs and he's trying to get his song better than mine.  So there's always this huge competitive thing going on which we lived with and it was good actually for us because I'd write a song then he'd say, 'I'm going to better that.'  Which would be great and he'd better it and I'd think 'Oh God! He's bettered it' and 'I'd try and better them both.  So it really gave us a lot of incentive.  But because there was the competitive thing, once the Beatles broke up it all got a bit nasty and all the sort of feelings we hadn't told each other, that we'd submerge just because we were mates, started to come out a bit.  We drifted apart a bit.  Then we had business troubles on top of that.  I would say it was more his fault than mine, but it's not very clever because he's not here to answer it, but ... he got suspicious of me.  He didn't believe what Iw as doing and I don't' really think I got too suspicious of him.  Ah, I suppose I did.  It cute both ways.  So we did have arguments, particularly when the business thing broke up.  We had some horrendous things. I'd  be kind of ringing him and we'd be hanging up on each other and swearing at each other.  Al that wonderful friendship doesn't necessarily last.  Even within a family brothers and sisters can get really vicious with each other over an inheritance.  I'm entering that as the 'world's apart' thing.  Then the last phone conversation I had with him was great and we were back to being just talking about our family, talking about friends and enjoying ourselves.  So we didn't' end up on a bad note.  That's something to be thankful for.

Q:  Looking back over the years, is there one hero that's remained consistent for you?

P:  I suppose John would have been one of the heroes.  Although I never would have told him that, but when somebody dies like that -- it's final enough and you can talk it all then, but that's what I was saying about two fellers.  I would never have said, "I think you're great! " You just don't.   But he would have to be one of my idols.

Q:  People were quite surprised that John turned out to be quite mellow in songs.

P:  That was only because his image was tough and like all tough images.  It was because he was frightened behind it; he was insecure.   He was as sappy as the next man, but you'd have to get him drunk for him to be sappy.  He was tough as nails except when you started talking to him,  then he was an old sappy. 

Look at my face....

The Late Late Breakfast Show

On October 29, 1983, Paul and Linda appeared on a British show called "The Late Late Breakfast Show."    The program was originally supposed to show the new video for Paul and Michael Jackson's song "Say Say Say."    Let's face it -- it was 1983 and "Say Say Say" was an awesome video and everyone should see it.    However, programs in England had some rule that they didn't show promotional clips for things that are slipping down the charts.   The video for  "Say Say Say" took longer to produce or something happened and it was out after the song had been on the charts. 

Paul was unhappy about this and there was some back and forth and eventually a compromise was made that the program would show the video only if Paul came to the studio and did an interview.   This was the first interview like this that Paul had done in 10 years.   When you watch the interview, you can sort of get the feeling that Paul was ticked off.   He came across as his normal chipper self, but with a little edge to him. 

What makes me laugh is that Paul is wearing that strange green tie that he wore to his brother's wedding and the guy doing the interview is wearing the same shirt Paul would wear a year later when he was promoting "Broadstreet"

John, Paul, George, Ringo .... and Bert

1974 was a big year for Beatles things.   It was the 10th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America and they were back in the spotlight.    All four the guys had great solo albums out, Beatlefest and the Magical Mystery Tour Conventions happened,  George Harrison had toured North America,  Paul and John even jammed together.     And the more and more Beatle-themed musicals began to pop up.    New York had Sgt. Pepper on the Road and the U.K. had John Paul George Ringo.... & Bert.    



The story follows a fictional character named Bert, who was once a member of the Quarry Men.   He was kicked out for playing the wrong chord and became the Beatles #1 fan.    He walks the audience through the Beatles' story from the Cavern to the rooftop.    Beatles songs are performed throughout the play, by a woman singing them in folk music style.

The cast members playing the Beatles 

The musical opened in May of 1974 appropriately enough at the Everyman Theater in Liverpool, England.     It got great reviews during it's eight week run in Liverpool.     In August it moved to the Lyric Theater in London, where again it got rave reviews and even won an award for the Best Musical of 1974 but some critics award.  

But there was one person that disliked the play:  George Harrison.   There is conflicting information as to when he saw the musical.   Some things I read say that he saw it on opening night in Liverpool and Melody Maker says that he saw it in October of 1974 in London.


Regardless where and when he saw it, we know that George and Derek Taylor saw the play together at Derek's request and George disliked it so much, he left at the intermission and did not see the second act.      Supposedly he "could not stand the pain of seeing himself and the Beatles' years being re-enacted so uncannily and he questioned the fundamental need for the show."    Derek Taylor goes on to say, "George found it hard to watch and I found it hard work sitting with him.   It was a genuine form of suffering for him.   It was hardly surprising that George didn't enjoy it, after all, he was hardly in love with the Beatles' story while it was happening."     George had his song "Here comes the sun" pulled from the musical and it had to be replaced with a Lennon-McCartney song instead.   The choice was "Good Day Sunshine."


John and Ringo did not report seeing the play and did not make any comments, however Paul McCartney had something to say about it:

I never saw it, but I did see clips on the telly and I thought it had me down as the one who broke the group up.   I just saw one little scene out of context and the character that was playing me was saying "I got to leave" and John's line was "all right Paulie, for the good of the group, stay."   And that got me really angry!   And I thought "Bloody hell!  If there ever was any way,  it wasn't that way.  It certainly didn't happen like that .  But I've since seen the fellow who wrote it, Willy Russel;, and he said, "no, it's out of context."   He's since given me the thing to read so I can really understand it.

The play has been shown various time by various professional and ameteur groups and schools.   In 1983, while Paul was making "Broadstreet" he went backstage and met the cast members.   There isn't any indication that he actually saw the play, but he did interact with the cast.    As one cast member recalls, "Paul was really kind and very jokey.   When I turned up with the other three boys in our costumes, he loved that.    He turned to us and said 'Oh it's the Beatles!'   and had a guess at which member of the band we each were.  

They're gonna put me in the movies

Ringo and Barb on May 31, 1983 at LAX. 

Happy times in the studio

Check out Linda's Tug of War t-shirt!  

Don't be Daft

On December 1, 1983 an event that many Beatle fans never thought would happen occurred.  The three remaining Beatles and Yoko got together at the Dorchester Hotel in London and for 8 hours the four of them discuss Apple.  Oh to have been a fly on the wall of that hotel suite!    Those 3 guys hadn't been in a room together since 1979, correct?   So the things they must have said during those 8  hours....it couldn't have been just business.    And to think John had just died 3 years earlier makes it very sad also. 

I love this.   Ringo and Barb were leaving and a reporter asked Ringo the question, "Are the Beatles getting back together."  And Ringo answers, "Don't be daft!"      Surely that reporter wasn't being serious?  

Linda and Paul didn't say anything to anyone as they left, but they were all smiles and looking happy in their match winter coats.  

Paul McCartney soprano!

Paul McCartney Soprano!
By Sharon Collins

Schoolboy James Albentosa stood in amazement as superstar Paul McCartney sang for him when they met on a riverside film set.

Ex-Beatle Paul's sudden burst of song came after James, 8, told him he was to sing the famous  boy soprano's aria, "Oh for the Wings of a Dove," at his school concert.

"He wished me good luck in the concert and then started singng the song himself," said James, of Old Road, Wateringbury, Kent.

"He had a super voice.  I wish I could sing like that.  We exchaned addresses and he asked me to let him know how the concert goes."

James was on his way home from school with his mother, Mrs. Susan Albentosa, and sister Melissa when they saw the film crew shooting at Teston Locks on the River Medway. 

Paul posed for photographs, signed autographs, and talked about the new film he has written called "Give my Regards to Broadstreet."

The scene filmed beside the river last Monday, involves a dream of Victorican times and Paul was dressed in Dickensian-style clothing.

The film revolves around the dreams of a character played by Paul and it also stars another ex-Beatle, Ringo Starr, and the two-men's wives.

One afternoon on Oxford Street

Here is a nice story to show how truly kind Paul McCartney can be to his fans.  Paul really went out of his way to pose for photos and sign autographs for these girls and they really appreciated it.   This story of meeting Paul in late August 1983 appeared in the October 1983 issue of "With a little help from my friends."    I am excited to read their story all these years later.   It was written by Terry Klemmer and Pam Pritchard. 

It happened on August 26, 1983 at 1:15 and again at 1:30pm.  Pam and I had been in front of MPL when we ran into Barb and Bonnie, two girls form Chicago that we had met previously at Cavendish Avenue.  They told us they had seen Paul earlier as he was going in to AIR Studios  So, bright girls that we are, we deducted, “What goes in, must come out,” so we planted ourselves at a sidewalk table at the café next door to AIR, prepared for an all-day wait.   After only an hour or so, as we were sitting, talking to a woman from Kenya, we caught just a quick glimpse of him as he very quickly came out the door and walked down Oxford Street.  With that, Pam said, “Is that him?”  Catching sight of that familiar bounce from behind, I realized it WAS him and took off down the street.  Pam caught up to me and we caught up to him on one of those little islands halfway across Oxford Street.   Paul was with someone, but don’t even ask what the guy looked like as I haven’t the slightest idea.  Pam said, “Paul, may we have a picture?”  He turned around and said, “Not now—could you hang out a bit longer?  We’ll be right back,” and with that, he touched my arm.  I nearly fell over!  He started to cross the rest of Oxford, turned and said, “About ten minutes.”  What a decent guy!  He certainly didn’t have to give us a time span.  We returned casually, to our table, and the woman from Kenya, and sat down as if nothing had happened (she probably was wondering about us), but we babbled on like fools.  Pam started having trouble with her camera and was getting into a small panic trying to prepare it for his return.  We wondered if he would return as he certainly didn’t have to, and he sure could have gone home or entered another doorway.

But just as she got the camera functioning again, from behind us, we heard this familiar voice saying, “all right girls, let’s make it a quick one.”  I still am not over the fact that he returned from a different direction.  We didn’t see him since we were watching down the street and he approached us!  He was so nice, standing there so patiently while I fumbled with the focus.  He started to laugh and said something like, “Here we are posing on Oxford Street!”  I can’t begin to describe how it felt looking through the lens and seeing THAT face looking back at me.

Pam then asked for an autograph and he said ok, but to hurry as he didn’t want a crowd to gather.  We each had postcards handy that the girl at MPL had given us earlier.  As he signed, Pam asked about the Rupert project.  Pam: “Is your Rupert project still forthcoming?”  Paul:  “Yes” Pam:  “when?”  Paul (laughing) “That is a good question!”  We should’ve said “do you have a good answer?”  But he then added, “When it’s done.”

I didn’t know the title of the new album yet, so I asked him and he told us “Pipes of Peace.”  That when some of his friends arrived, and he went back inside.  Pam and I had retained our composure remarkably well for the circumstances, but after he left, we found ourselves wandering around London mumbling like a couple of mad fools.  

We also ran into some girls from Italy who said that had briefly seen George.  They were not able to speak to him or take photos because they only saw him drive out of his gate, but they said he was all smiles and waved to them.  They think he went to pick up a dinner guest because it was that time of day, and he returned shortly with another man.  Again, he waved and smiled.

From Pam:

The man is certainly handsome, thin, and has quite a bit of gray.  His hair is gorgeous and cut in a nice fluffy, layer “do.”  He couldn’t have been nicer; he was all I expected and more.   I still am touched at how he came up from behind and called us.  He didn’t have to do that and he did return in 10 minutes like he said he would.   What decent, honest, kind man!  Another thought was that he must be very observant of people in order to be able to recognize us as we’d only spoke briefly on the street (in the center traffic island).  There are so many people he meets and we saw him so briefly in that initial time that he must be very keen on his surroundings to be able to pick us out after such a brief first encounter.  We weren’t standing out in front of the studio, either; we were seated at our table at the café.  This is comforting to know – the fact that he is alert and on the watch for and cares about us fans.

Astroid meets Paul

Tonight's story comes from a very gutsy girl from Brazil named Astrid Leon.  I personally don't' think that I would have called after Paul two times or rang the intercom at Ringo's house.   But I guess being a bit gutsy gets you one step closer to meeting a Beatle.   This story is from the July 1983 issue of "with a little help from my friends."

photos taken by Astrid

My Meeting with Paul

By Astrid Leao

I arrived in England on June 12^th (1983) I went through an International Friendship Program of the UNESCO.   I stayed with a nice English family in Chatham, a city an hour and a half away by bus from London.

I was hoping I could see one of the Fab Four while I was there, especially Ringo, ‘cause he’s my favorite.  I didn’t know where they were at the time.  Then my English Grandma told me she had read in a paper that Paul was in London recording his new album!  I had sent him a birthday card in which I told him I was from Brazil and would love to meet him in person. 

On my second visit to London, I went to Air Studios hoping and praying that I could see Paul.  I had to take a bus at 7pm so I waited for him until 6.  I left my autograph book with a nice fellow who worked in the building.  He said he’d get Paul to sign it.

On July 4^th, I went to Oxford Street again.  At 11:20 a.m., Paul appeared, walking down the street like anyone else.  He had his hands in his pockets and was chewing gum.  I noticed he’s a bit thin with some grey hair, but is still very, very handsome.  I tried to convince myself I wasn’t dreaming and thanked God for that moment. 

Paul was extremely nice.  He stopped to say hello to me and to other fans.  He said some German words to two German girls.  I presented myself by saying, “Hi Paul I’m the Aseroid from Brazil!” because that’s what he called me when he signed his autograph (He had written “To Asteroid!! Lots of love from Paul McCartney,” and even drew a little boy’s face, on June 30^th when I’d left my book there).  He shook my hand and I kissed both his cheeks as Brazilians always do.  He talked to us for four minutes and then said he had to go.  I shouted, “Wait Paul!  I brought you some cashew nuts from Brazil!”  He waited while I desperately tried to find the nuts in my bag.  When I gave them to him he said, “Thank you very much.  That’s very nice.”  As he was entering the building, I shouted “Wait Paul!” again ‘cause I wanted to photograph him.  He smiled at me and I took his picture.  I don’t have to say how happy I was!

After that, I went shopping.  At four in the afternoon, I returned to 214 Oxford Street hoping someone could take a picture of Paul and me together.  There were more fans at the time.  I asked them “please” to photograph us when Paul came down.  The German girls said they would.  I really hope they did!  I took six more pictures of him.  I said, “Sorry, Paul, but I’m back because I don’t have any photo of the two of us together.”  He said he couldn’t stay long because Oxford Street gets a bit “tough” in the end of the afternoon.  It was 5:00 already.  Then I followed him to his car.  Other people did too.  When he rolled the window down I told him, “Paul, you’re still gorgeous and beautiful at 41!”  He gave me a big and unforgettable smile.  Then I said, “If you send us to hell, Paul, I will understand because we fans are always bothering you!”  And he smiled and replied, “No, I won’t do that!” He left then and all of us who had that lovely chance of seeing him were so happy.  I still can’t believe that it happened.  I saw Paul twice!

On July 6^th I went to Ascot trying to find out about Ringo.  A man who worked for him told me he was in London.  Of course he didn’t tell me exactly where.  That was a frustrating moment.  I had cashew nuts for him too and a birthday card. I also talked to a woman through the intercom.  She had a very unfriendly voice and was very rude to me.  I returned to Chatham mad and sad.  But maybe in the near future I’ll be able to see that Starr in person.  I’ve seen George four times and I’ve now seen Paul twice.  Ringo is more difficult to find but someday I will meet him too.

I only know that meeting beautiful Paul was the greatest joy of my trip!  Thank you Lord!

Speak to the Man on the Street

If you have been wondering what Paul McCartney was doing 30 years ago around this time of year, then look no further!   Paul was recording at Air Studios in late August and September of 1983.   He was easily accessible to the fans who waited on the corner.    He was friendly, stopped for photos and autographs and would have a smile and a wave for the groups of fans who waited for him.   It was a great time to be a Paul fan!

Here is a story written by Barb Beden about the times she met Paul in 1983.   We have heard a few of these stories on this blog before, only from the point of view of her friend, Bonnie.   Now we read Barb's side of the story.   This appeared in the Fall 1983 issue of the McCartney Observer.   Some of the photos are from Barb Beden.

Look at the average person.  Speak to the man in the street

By Barb Beden

It is 11:45a.m. on 25 August 1983, and our lives have become complete, for at this time in the city of London we met James Paul McCartney.  My friend Bonnie and I had arrived at the studio about an hour earlier and settled in to wait for Paul.  Finally, at 11:45, he arrived in his green Mercedes and was dropped off on the corner about 30 feet from where we were standing, by the entrance to the studio.  He stopped to talk to a girl and sign an album for guy, then turned and came walking toward us.  He looked absolutely beautiful, slim, healthy and happy.  When he reached us I said, “Hi Paul,” then “Would you do me a favour?”   “What?” he asked.  “Would you sign the back of my shirt?”  I handed him a black magic marker.  He grinned and said, “Oh, that’ a bit public, isn’t it?”   Bonnie said, “Yeah, but look at the shirt.  It’s worth it!”  (I was wearing my “McCartney’s Back” shirt).  I turned around and he signed the transfer on the back of my shirt.  I could feel the pen moving and the feel of his hand rubbing across my back as he wrote.  Another girl walked up and held out her checkbook for him to sign and he said, “You’re not going to cash this, are you?”  Bonnie gave him a 45 record and asked, “Can you please sign my record?”  He did so saying, “Can’t hang around too long cause it causes a crowd.”  He said it was okay to take pics so I raised my camera to take a close-up and as I clicked the shutter he leaned toward me, smiling and said, “Here’s you pen back, luv.”  Paul McCartney called me luv!  I about died on the spot.  He was looking right at me and his eyes are beautiful.  After a few more second he said bye and went inside, leaving Bonnie and I to collect our wits, which was no easy task.

26 August:  we arrived at the studio and found some fans already waiting.  At 10:55 Paul was dropped off on the corner.  Bonnie had gone to stand by the street and I was standing by the studio entrance, which is where Paul headed.  He stopped to sign for the other fans and then continued to the door.  When he reached me I put my hand on his arm and asked, “Paul, can I take a couple photos?”  “Sure, luv,” he answered with a big smile, so I went ahead.  Bonnie had come over from where she had been standing and was also taking photos.  Paul was kind of looking down so I knelt on the sidewalk in front of him and aimed the camera up towards his face.  By this time people seemed to be dropping from the sky, there was suddenly a big crowd.  Paul finally said, “Bye, gotta go,” and made his way in the door.  Bonnie and I clutched our precious film in our hot little hands and beat a path to the nearest one hour Foto Inn.

31 August:  We had spent the last few days in Liverpool and upon our return to London we headed straight for the studio.  At 4:45pm we were standing on the corner wondering if Paul would show up when who should walk by us but…wait for it…Paul!  He was a few feet beyond us when we realized itw as him so I called, “Paul, wait!!” Bonnie said, “Paul!”  And I am thinking “Oh God here we are yelling for Paul McCartney to wait up.”  He stopped and turned around and we caught up and walked the rest of the way to the studio with him.  It was just the three of us, nobody else was there.  I gestured to Bonnie and said, “Paul can I take a picture of you two together?”  “Sure” he answered.  Bonnie was wearing a Liverpool t-shirt and Paul looked at it and said, “Oh, Merseyside.”  “Yeah Paul, your home town,” I said and he grinned.  Bonnie said, “We just got back from the M.B.E.”  “Mersey…Beatles…” said Paul, hesitating.  Bonnie finished for him, saying “convention” instead of extravaganza.  “Oh, M.B.C.” Paul grinned.  He smiles a lot.  I was looking at him through my camera viewfinder and again those eyes were looking right back at me.  I took the pic and he headed for the door, saying, “Sorry, gotta go, I’m in a hurry,” and went inside.  We decided to go eat and got back to the studio at 6:45.  At 7:30 Linda appeared on the corner so we went over.  She looked great and was so nice, very friendly and more than willing to stop and chat.  I asked when she and Paul would be coming out of the studio and she said in a little while and went inside.   A bit later George Martin came out in a hurry and jumped in a taxi.  He returned about 15 minutes later and stopped to talk.  He’s such a nice man, very friendly and quite distinguished looking.  By this time it was 8:30 and quite a few more people had gathered.  At 9:00 Paul’s call pulled up and parked at the corner so we knew it would be long.  At 9:05 Paul and Linda came out, smiling and looking happy.  They really seemed to be enjoying themselves, signing autographs for everyone and posing for photos.  After a few minutes they began making moves to leave, heading for the corner and saying “Goodnight, goodnight.”  Everyone walked tem to the car and they drove off with all of us saying bye.

1 September:  We arrived at the studio and joined a couple other fans.  At 11:45 I spotted Paul’s car stopped at a red light.  Yes, the man does have to stop for red lights!  The car turned the corner and Paul got out and began walking towards us, bouncing along with a coat slung over his shoulder.  As he reached us Bonnie said, “Hi Paul, can we take a photo?”  He smiled and said, “I’m in a hurry today, girls,” and headed for the door, briefly stopped to sign an autograph.  After he went in we went to celebrate because it was my birthday and seeing Paul was a great present!

5 September:  We got to the studio and found lots of people waiting for Paul, some by the door and a group on the corner.  Paul arrived at 11:50 and was immediately rushed and engulfed by the aggressive bunch on the corner.  He finally broke away and by the time he finally reached us by the door he was almost running.  I really felt sorry for him; all he wanted to do was get inside.   What a sweetheart, after all that aggravation he still had a smile for us.  That group of “fans “had been very pushy and hanging all over him and still he smiled.

6 September:  We were standing near the studio at 10am when Bonnie spotted Paul and Linda approaching form the opposite direction, not from the corner.  We began walking towards them and it was a case of them watching us watching them.  We all met up by the door and everybody stopped.  It was just the four of us, no one else was around.  Bonnie said, “Hi Paul, hi Linda.”  And they both said “hi.”  I put my hand on Paul’s arm and said, “Paul, last week was my birthday and I wanted to get a pic of us together, could I get one now?”  Linda grinned and put her arm around my shoulder, going “Awww!”  Paul flashed a big grin and said, “What do you mean, you’ve got a million pictures, you’ve been taking them every day!”  Well that knocked us out because it meant that he actually remembered us!  Bonnie said, “But we don’t have one of you and her!”  Paul laughed and said, “Can we get one, then?”  I grinned and said, “Yeah!” then moved to his left side and stood closerthanthis to him.  Linda was on his right, arm in arm with him.  I put my right arm around his back and hugged and Bonnie recorded on film an event I’ll remember the rest of my life.  I said, “Thank you both very much!”  And they headed for the door.  Bonnie said, “Bye” and they went inside.  That was the last time we saw Paul.  It was all just so fantastic and I still find it hard to believe that I actually met him.  Both Bonnie and I are first generation fans and meeting Paul after all these years is just absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to us.  He is truly a beautiful person, sensitive, friendly, and so caring.  Paul, if you ever happen to read this I just want to say again, “thank you.”