On the Tube with Paul

 

June 16, 1986

I love the video for "Press" because it shows Paul riding the Tube at St. John's Wood, mingling with people   There must have been some fans that knew about this because look at the girl in the last picture in her Paul McCartney t-shirt.  

Some important impresario has a message for the band

 June 23, 1982 -  Take it Away Video shoot

Take It Away is one of those songs that I didn't like when I originally heard it, but over the years it has really grown on me and has become a song that I really enjoy.    

The video is really good.   You have Paul, Linda, Ringo, and George Martin, and a guy that I always thought was John Ritter when I was young (I know, it isn't NOT John Ritter and it is Eric Stewart).       I also think it is great that the 700 extras in the concert scene were actually Paul fans that were members of the Fun Club that lives in the London area and received special invites to participate in this video shoot.  What an amazing opportunity for those fans.  They could have gotten 700 random people, but to actually get Paul's hard-core fan base, was really great. 

Here is a story from one of those fans

http://www.meetthebeatlesforreal.com/2013/03/filming-take-it-away.html

There is also a great video on Youtube about the making of the video

Weight of the World

 

May 8, 1992

My Sweet Cameos

 

The brand new music video for "My Sweet Lord" has dropped and it is interesting.   I honestly don't get how the video fits with the song.   However, it is pretty fun to watch because there are all sorts of great cameos and Easter eggs.  

Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh are in the movie theater, having popcorn and Ringo then throws popcorn on the guy that is looking for clues.   A few moments later, Weird Al is serving up some popcorn and Ringo comes by and shows how to drum with a flashlight until Joe drags Ringo back into the theater.   

I also spotted Jeff Lynne, Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison and a few other people.   

There were posters for "All Things Must Pass" in the movie theater and the items listed for sale behind Weird Al are actually the title of some of the songs on "All Things Must Pass."  You also see some of George's gnomes sitting in a few places.   I will have to watch again and see what other George Easter Eggs I spy.   The movie everyone is watching is something that we've seen in the "Living in the Material World" documentary, with George peeking out from behind the tulips.   I think it is longer than what we have previously seen.   

I tried to take a few screen grabs to share, but go on Youtube and check it out for yourself.   I liked the video, but I don't like it for "My Sweet Lord."  

Stranglehold

 November 4, 1986 -  Making the often forgotten video for "Stranglehold" in Arizona

Take it Away

 I love this video -- so it is awesome to see a photo from "behind the scenes"

Find my Way

 

Is it just me or is this video for "Find My Way" (re-imagined by Beck) a little creepy?  They used something known as "deepfake" technology to make an actor, Jordan Johnson look like 1964 era Paul.   I think it looks more like a Beatles-look a-like from a tribute band.   

Interested (as seen in this screenshot), is that the REAL Paul McCartney pops up in the video for a quick moment. 

Making of a classic music video

 

This photo messes with my brain

 

At first glance I think to myself, "Paul--- 1963"  and then I look again and go, "Oh wait -- it's the Coming Up video."    Paul did a very nice job of making himself look like he was 21.   

Version two of "I got my Mind Set on You."

When I was a kid in the 1980's, the video of "I've Got My Mind Set on You" by George Harrison was on heavy rotation on MTV.    I didn't even make the connection that the guy that sang this song was the same George from the Beatles at that time, but I loved this video. 

Maybe it was because I was just 9 years old when it was popular, but I thought the things moving in the house and the mouse playing a pipe like a saxaphone was so funny.    But the funniest part to me was when he sang "It's gonna take money...." and a bunch of bills flew onto the floor.   

Come to find out, the guy that directed this video also did the Rutles!  No wonder I like it so much!

After I got to know who George was, I thought the video was shot at Friar Park.   No -- sound studio in L.A.


To hear the Director talk about this and a funny story about the guy that does the backflip in the film, take a listen to the "Something about the Beatles" podcast (episode 133).

Sgt. Pepper suits

The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper suits have become some of the most iconic symbols and beloved symbols of the Beatles.    At every Beatles convention and fan gathering, there are people dressed in green, blue, orange and pink "Pepper" suits.  

But whenever you really think about it, the Sgt. Pepper suits weren't worn by the Beatles very often.   The Sgt. Pepper suits were originally designed by M. Berman Ltd.     They suits themselves are really unique.   They aren't just carbon copies in different colors.    Each suit has different patterns and designs.   George and Paul are wearing their MBE and John purposely isn't---instead he is wearing medals borrowed from Mona Best.     Great information about the ins and out of these suits can be found at this site (which even gives me a shout out!)


The first time the Beatles put the suits on was on March 30, 1967 during the Sgt. Pepper album photo shoot.

The only other time all four Beatles are seen wearing the Sgt. Pepper suits are in November 1967 when the did the promo film for "Hello Goodbye."

I have heard a story about John walking around London wearing his suit while tripping on LSD, but that is just a story and has never been confirmed.


All four suits are currently in possession of Paul, Ringo, Olivia and Yoko.    Yoko has loaned John's suit to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland right now.   Ringo and George's have been on display at museums in the past, but as far as I know they aren't right now.


George is the one Beatle that kept bringing his suit out after the Beatle years.

He wore it in the video for his song "Ding Dong"

And for the video for "When we was fab" in 1987--although it has been said that this is a copy and not the original 

The When we was Fab single even shows him wearing a Sgt. Pepper suit

Paul's suit is seen in the video for "My Brave Face," although the one the Japanese collector guy holds up is a copy.    Apparently Paul didn't want it being handled.

Ringo's suit was rumored to have been destroyed in a house fire in 1979.   Thankfully that was just a rumor and Ringo still has his pink suit.    Just a few days ago Ringo was pictured wearing one (is it the original?  I am not sure) to celebrate the Beatles 50th Anniversary.

The Sgt. Pepper suit has almost became bigger than the album.   I get it---I really do.   However, I would never wear one to a Beatles gathering.

The marriage of the year

It was 50 years ago today-- on February 11, 1965 that Richard Starkey married Maureen Cox.   This was a time of mixed feelings for many Beatle fans.    Quite a few Ringo fans were heartbroken over the news of Ringo and Mo's marriage.    Girls were seen crying, wearing black arm bands for weeks afterwards and one fan I spoke to said that she had bought a wedding band to give to Ringo, and wore it every day.  Once he got married, she took it off and put it on her keyring...in case Ringo and Maureen didn't work out.     And she still had it on her key chain to show me!   

But I believe that most fans were accepting of Ringo's marriage.   They were sad but Maureen was living their dream.....a Beatles fan who married one of the Beatles!    And Maureen  came across as very likable and a good match for Ringo.    One thing was obvious:   fans might have not been happy that one less Beatle was available to marry, but it did not hinder the Beatles popularity one bit. 

I would think that most fans felt the way things are depicted in this song, "Treat him Tender, Maureen."

Here is an article written by Cheryl Hillman for The Beatles Charlton Publication in 1965.



The marriage of the year
By Cheryl Hillman

One night in 1962, a girl called Mary Cox was in the Cavern Club.  She was an apprentice hairdresser in a local salon and a Cavern "regular."   A boy asked her to dance and she found out that his name was Richard Starkey -- "Ringo" to his friends and that he lived in Dingle.   He had been with the Beatles for just a week and was finding a lot of opposition from Pete Best fans who were up in arms against his dismissal from the group.  He asked Maureen (as she was known to her friends) for a date, and she accepted.   That was the start of a serious but short romance.   Short because within weeks The Beatles had hit number one position in the charts and England had gone Beatle crazy.

When the Beatles left Liverpool to go on a mad whirl of one-night stands and television shows, Maureen thought that she had seen the last of the boy she loved.  Ringo had had other girlfriends, and now that millions of girls were screaming over him she didn't expect him to do anything but forget her.  She realized that the only thing to do was to carry on as if she had never met him.  But, of course, she didn't forget him.

Maureen lived with her parents in a tiny terrace house in Boundary street, in the poor dockside area of Liverpool.   Probably nobody was more surprised than her when at the first opportunity Ringo sought her out and dated her again.   He saw her as often as he could after that, ringing up the hairdressing salon where they soon found out who her mysterious boyfriend was, but they kept her secret for her.  the cloak and dagger romance must have been a hard, but exciting secret for the girls in the salon to keep.

At one point news of the romance did leak out, but both Ringo and Maureen denied it so emphatically and seem so hurt by the "rumor" that most people soon dismissed it as being another piece of slanderous Beatle gossip.  When Maureen joined Ringo (she has always called him Richie) on a Caribbean cruise with Paul and Jane Asher, the talk started again.  Would Ringo and Maureen marry?

One morning Ringo and Maureen were at London's famous Ad Lib Club.  It was 2a.m. and in the romantic atmosphere Ringo asked her to marry him.   Maureen's a petite, shy, dark-haired beauty, accepted.  Ringo wanted a quiet wedding.  not because he had wedding nerves (he had made too many entrances on stage to worry about walking down the aisle),  but because he knew that if his marriage was given a great deal of publicity he, being a Beatle, would get nearly all the limelight on their wedding day.   Ringo, being the person he is, was determined that it was going to Maureen's day.  so their wedding, like their romance, was carried out under the heading Top Secret.

At 8:15 on the morning of Thursday 11th February a small group of people filed into a London Register office.  24 year old Ringo and 18 year old Maureen became Mr. & Mrs. Richard Starkey.  The ceremony was performed by the Registrar Mr. Barry Digweed in a large room with red curtains and pale grey, red-patterned wallpaper, at Caxton Hall, Westminster.   the couple exchanged rings.  Ringo gave Maureen a heavily ornamented ring.  Maureen, a sky, quiet person slipped onto Ringo's finger a simple plain gold band.  as might have been expected, Brian Epstein, whom the Beatles look upon as a real friend and advisor was best man.   John Lennon and George Harrison witnessed the marriage certificate.  Cynthia Lennon, Maureen's parents and Ringo's mother and step-father made up the rest of the wedding party.   And so, while most of England was having breakfast, Ringo married the girl he had met back home in Liverpool's cellar club in Mathew Street.

*Many of these photos were found on the Maureen Starr Tribute yahoo group. 

Cardiff

Tickets for the Beatles show in Cardiff on November 7, 1964 sold out rather quickly and thousands of fans who sent in for tickets were unable to go to the concert that day.  

On the day of the show, the first fan in line was Jean tTidcombe, who was 15 years old and excited to be there.  The line of fans waiting to see the Beatles arrive and start the show went all around the building and nearby workmen felt sorry for the them and made them tea to drink.   One fan told the press, "If I don't see the Beatles, I wont' commit suicide, but I will probably go mad."   And just like what I experienced while waiting for Paul McCartney's arrival in Kansas City this past summer, those standing near the stage doors were gossiping about what time the lads would make their appearance.    Some fans said that they always arrived at 3pm, while others pointed out that they wee late for some of the other shows and didn't arrive until just before curtain time.    In the end it was around 5pm when they finally departed from the police van and into the venue.   There is a youtube video of the arrival

Fab fans seemed to enjoy the opening acts, especially Sounds Inc. and Mary Well.   And Tommy Quickly, who was often ignored and screamed through, was also well received in Cardiff.  However, when the curtain went up and the Beatles began to Twist and Shout, the polite audience turned in to hysterics.    The got up on their chairs and were jumping up and down, much to the dismay of the security there who thought the fans were going to get hurt.   50 security  men were standing at the front of the stage, ready to take action if any of the screaming fans decided to rush the stage.  

Reporter Philip Walker, who was located right by the stage and had plenty of jelly babies thrown on him said that "The Beatles are a fine act.  What could be heard of their singing sounded just like their records, which isn't always the case with pop groups."

A fan named Mike posted on the Beatles Bible this past January, " I remember going to see this concert with my sister ( from Newport by train),,it was the 6 .30 pm show, I remember Mary Wells singing ‘My Guy” The Beatles opened with ‘twist and shout’,,they were were dressed in light grey ‘beatle jackets’ near the end of the song, John Lennon took his tie off and threw it into the front row !,,,,It was a loud, crazy night. I still have the ticket stub, and one from the Bob Dylan 1966 show !"

The Beatles at the Four Seasons Hotel

During the 1964 tour, while in Scotland, the Beatles stayed at the Four Seasons hotel.   Here is what the newspaper said about their stay.    And some photos from the tour just for fun.

Also here is a bit of an interesting video clip from when they were at the Four Seasons

Late on Monday night [19 October, 1964], with rain dripping off floodlit trees, inverted in a plurality of puddles, four travel weary tourists from Liverpool arrive at the Four Seasons Hotel, St. Fillans.
They were staying for only two nights, but a reception committee waited to usher them and their retinue straight into the dining-room to partake of early morning nourishment.

The Beatles enjoyed four juicy steaks after a hard day's night at their show in Edinburgh [19 October, 1964: ABC Cinema, Edinburgh].

They went to bed early - on Tuesday morning - and slept long after sunrise. John and Paul, who shared a chalet, were out and about first.

They took a short walk on the shores of Loch Earn, whetting their appetite for lunch.

They found the invigorating fresh air a bit chilly, but waited to try to entice a dog into the loch by throwing sticks for it to retrieve. The dog was not playing, however, and refused to do more than paddle.

While John and Paul enjoyed lunch in the hotel dining-room, George and Ringo had breakfast in bed.
John and Paul later tried their hand at boating and went out on Loch Earn. After some confusion at the start, until everyone had learned how to drive their boats, they went off and beat up the loch for half-an-hour or so.

Ringo and George did not appear until it was almost time to leave for the Dundee concert. They were slow to appear in the morning, but were the last to go to bed on their return from Dundee.
Police had to be called to disperse several car loads of teenagers and students who had followed the group back from Dundee on Tuesday night.

Later on Tuesday a party was held for the four Liverpool tourists by the manager of the hotel and his friends.

Paul retired first and John followed. Ringo and George decided to take a boat out early on Wednesday morning and spent some time messing around on the pier.

On Wednesday morning the only Beatle to appear in public was Paul McCartney. The other three preferred the peaceful seclusion of their chalets to the quite bustle of the dining-room.

The handful of fans who had gathered hoping to have autograph books signed were disappointed when the Beatles' limousine collected the famous four from their chalet and drove straight off to Glasgow.

The Beatles like this part of the countryside and found the peace and quiet of St. Fillans a pleasant change. Paul wistfully wished he had a cottage there but realised it was out of the question.

The Beatles need a lot of sleep on their tours and the quiet of St. Fillans is the place to get it.