Peter, Paul and Mary

If things are according to plan, I should be seeing Peter Asher in concert the night this photo is posted while I am in Ohio.   

It makes me laugh to see this photo and realize that it is "Peter, Paul, and Mary." 

Ain't She Sweet

April Showers....

Let it Be premiere

When Let it Be Premiere on May 20, 1970, the Beatles were officially broken up as a band.    However, fans still weren't sure if at least some of the band members would make an appearance.   Of course none of the Beatles came to see Let it Be on the big screen, but let's take a look back at who WAS at the premiere.  

How The Buddy Holly Story showing ended up being the Keith Moon story

On September 6, 1978 Paul and Linda attended a showing of the film "The Buddy Holly Story," something that Paul supported until he decided  to finance "The Real Buddy Holly Story" in 1984.  But in 1978, the couple attended the film as part of the annual "Buddy Holly Week" followed by a party at Peppermint Park.      Keith Moon was at the film and the party and even was sporting a Wings t-shirt to the events.      Sadly, this was the last time Keith was seen alive and the photographs from that night are the last ones taken of him as he was found dead in the apartment where he was staying the next morning.

Take a sad song and make it better

Interesting that the Beatles For Sale album is above Mary's head and isn't that a photo of Jane and Paul at Mike's wedding over there on the nightstand?

Promoting Miss Hopkin

The Longest Cocktail Party-- a book review

I have been reading a lot of comments about the book The Longest Cocktail Party by Richard DiLello as being one of the best Beatles books out there.  I had read the book twice before:  once in the 1980s and once 10-15 years ago.   So I wondered if the famous book about what was going on at Apple Offices written by the "House Hippie"  was still a good book after all of these years?    


Richard DiLello worked for Apple from 1968-1970 as the "House Hippie," which was a real job at Apple Records.  He wasn't just a guy who hung around the offices and smoked pot all day long, but he worked for Apple.  His main job was one that I would do just about anything to have--he worked for Derek Taylor in the press office.  His responsibility was to go through the newspapers and clip all of the articles about the Beatles and file them.  He also worked with Apple recording artists, White Trash, and was a photographer.  

Richard's book was one of the first from a Beatles "insider" who told the truth about what went on at Apple and didn't really hold back.  Written in 1972,  Richard's memories were still fresh.   He told of a place that had a party atmosphere every day.  People were drinking alcohol and smoking pot while working in the offices. 3 Savile Row was filled with a cast of characters such as members of the Hell's Angels and their group of cronies, a family known as "Emily's family" that walked around naked and hoped to get John Lennon to go to Fiji with them, a guy that would sit cross-legged on top of the file cabinets,  a guy that thought he was Hitler and a guy who came in every day with poetry he had written among others.  The phone rang off the hook and people were constantly coming in and out, which was why many, many things were stolen out of the offices.  Everything from typewriters to aluminum on the roof to alcohol and anything else.  The folks who actually worked for Apple loved the Beatles so much.   They would do just about anything for the Fab 4 and worshiped them and everything they did.

I found this book to be more enjoyable while I read it this time around than I had in the past.  I think the reason why I liked it more was because some of the "minor" characters in the book have since written their stories.  People like Chris O'Dell, Kevin Harrington, and Denis O'Dell were mentioned in the book, but having now read their books, it helps bring a complete picture of Apple Offices in the late 1960s.  I liked that the book was fun and light-hearted.  The chapters are short and easy to read.   The stories were told with humor and admiration for the Beatles.

Do you know what annoys me about this book?  The same thing that has annoyed me about it the other times I read it.  I HATE how Richard DiLello refers to himself in the 3rd person throughout the entire book.  "The House Hippie" said such and such, or "The House Hippie" did this and that.  What is that about?  Does he always speak about himself in 3rd person?  Is he Elmo from Sesame Street?   I mean, this is his story about his experience.  Likewise, he talks of Derek Taylor as "the Press Officer" as if he didn't have a name.  I also didn't like that there is a lot of dialog and you aren't always sure who is saying what.  

But yes, this book is a must-have on every Beatle fans' bookshelf. If you have never read it, you need to get a copy and read it today. And if it has been a while, it is well worth taking a second look.

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/48J2HfB

Mary Mary

I hope no one minds if I post a few more photos of the lovely Mary Hopkin.

Mary Apple

I just think this an adorable photo of Mary Hopkin in front of a large Apple decoration to show the world what label she is on.    I would guess that if that big Apple was still around today, it would fetch a lot of money at an auction.

Apple workers

Sweet Apple Trax

These photos of Mary Hopkin during the Apple era are interesting.   The "Paul" (that IS supposed to be Paul, right?) poster hanging over her head in the 2nd photo is strange. Is that supposed to be a Ringo poster on the top?   I like the bottom one has her walking through an apple shaped doorway.   They really tried to market Mary as the sweetheart of the Apple label.   

Those were the days my friend

Paul and Mary Hopkin at the party for the Buddy Holly story on September 6, 1978.  

Heather, Mary, Paul and Linda (but not THAT Mary)

Beautiful photo!  Thanks to the always lovely and charming Miss Tammy from the Beatles photo blog for posting this one! 

Those were the days my friend

By now I am sure that all of the visitors of this blog are familiar with the fact that our friend, Lizzie and her pal, Gayleen sang the background vocals on the song "Across the Universe." They were in the recording studio with the guys and made the record. And while that has to be the top coolest thing any fan has done, I think these young girls come in at a close second place.

In July 1968, Paul McCartney produced Mary Hopkin's single "those were the days" at Trident studios in London. A girl's choir was needed to sing on the song, and so some girls from a nearby school were chosen to sing the background vocals. Can you even imagine how exciting it must have been for those girls to not just be in a recording studio, but to have Paul McCartney there! I love the publicity photo that was taken with the girls along with Mary and Paul. You see that Paul has taken one of the girl's hat and she is just looking at him in amazement. Several others girls seem to care less that they are being photographed and are just gazing at Paul McCartney.

Paul with Mary Hopkins Sept 1968

I once again have to thank Bruno for sending me these photos. He has such amazing photos in his collection. So we all need to send a big THANK YOU to Bruno for sharing his photos. Here is Paul with Mary Hopkins. The black and white photo was from my files. And there is a fan photo included that was taken on the same September 1968 day because you can see Paul is wearing the exact same clothes. Great stuff!

More about Ringo pic

Remember that great photo of Cathy Sarver with Ringo that I posted a few days ago? (If not just scoll down...it is still there so no need to post it again)

Fellow Beatle photo collector and fan, Bruno, sent me the photo of Ringo and the guys and he believes the picture was taken on the same day as this session with Mary Hopkin. I think it is a very strong possiblity. Ringo is wearing the same 1966 tour jacket with a red shirt underneath and has sort of messy hair.

I also have this bottom left photo of Ringo that I believe it could have been from the same day. Only it looks like Ringo is wearing a red button downed shirt and not the ruffled one. . Anyone out there have this photo of Ringo larger to share???

Thanks!! Sara s.