Apple of My Eye, Continued

As requested, here are the scans of the other photos that accompanied the Eye magazine article, "101 Hours with John Lennon & Paul McCartney." Lillian Roxon's article covering the Lennon-McCartney May '68 visit to NY to promote Apple is quite interesting, especially her observations of Derek Taylor (an "air of ever-so-slightly-agitated elegance") and Mal Evans ("big, cuddly, cheerful, and sexy"). She's a bit critical of Taylor, and McCartney especially, characterizing him as a ham who would have thrown a tantrum if he was not the center of attention.

The touching part of the article follows the exploits of two obsessed fans, Julia and Anne, who hatched a wonderful scheme to meet their idols. Roxon writes:

Here was the one single thing they wanted and though about, in person, living, breathing, skipping even, a few feet away, bright with color, just like his pictures off for a walk in the park with his three friends (John, Neil and Magic Alex) not at all displeased to see two admirers, glad enough for a little company, and all Julia and Anne could do was stand there. "Oh, Paul," said Julia, glad she had finally thought of a phrase to fit the occasion, "sock it to me." Walking along beside him, along 73rd Street, she confided she was going to England to talk to him. He frowned, shattering a million dreams. "That's not a wise move," he said. "I won't have time for you. If you want to talk, talk now." Julia remained silent. "Talk!" yelled Paul. John was much kinder to Anne. "I am going to live on your lawn," she told him. "You'll have to move when the gardener comes," said John with characteristic Lennon logic.

Apple of My Eye

A post of lovely John images for your viewing pleasure...

The first photo is a personal scan of the September 1968 issue of Eye magazine. I had wanted this magazine for a long time, and I finally obtained a copy, buried amongst a large lot of Beatles clippings. It isn't in the best shape, but it's better than nothing. There are some other good pictures of both John and Paul accompanying the article inside. I do believe that Linda McCartney took that cover photograph; it is very similar to the one of John in the Wingspan book.

The other photos of John in the basement flat he and Yoko were sharing appeared two months later in the November 23, 1968, issue of Rolling Stone. These shots were taken by Ethan Russell (who later photographed the Get Back sessions) to accompany a thoughtful interview conducted by Jonathan Cott. Cott gives Lennon the opportunity to discuss the creation of some of the Beatles' most revered songs, as well as his political views. He prefaces the interview with a summation of Lennon's mood:

Any suspicions that John would be ornery, mean, cruel, or brutish - feelings attributed to him and imagined by press reports and various paranoiac personalities - never arose even for the purpose of being pressed down.

When reflecting on his impression of Lennon, Cott quotes Gasset: "Were art to redeem man, it could do so only by saving him from the seriousness of life and restoring him to an unexpected boyishness."

"Guitar Groups Are On Their Way Out, Mr. Epstein"

Presented here are my own scans of the famous Albert Marion photographs, the first official ones of the Beatles, taken on December 17, 1961. (The Savage Young Beatles site also hosts these photos from their own scans--the link is on the right.) The last photo is a scan of an 8X10 signed by Pete Best when I met him in 2002.

Although Marion was already a respected photographer at the time, Brian Epstein had a connection with him because Marion was the photographer at his brother Clive's wedding. Against his business partner's wishes, Marion agreed to a session with this leather-clad, scruffy lot. As Marion reflected on the session, he remembered how John and Paul would often laugh and joke, messing up photos in the process. John got on his nerves the most by calling him "Curly," a reference to his male-pattern baldness! Unfortunately, Marion only preserved 16 negatives out of the 30 or so photos that were taken that day.

As I write this entry, I am listening to the Beatles' audition for Decca records, recorded January 1, 1962. I can imagine how excited the boys were, being afforded this remarkable opportunity by a major record label. Epstein was thrilled with the prospect--he had wined and dined Decca's head A&R man, Mike Smith, and had also taken him to a Beatles' gig at the Cavern. Smith was duly impressed and arranged the audition for 11 AM New Year's Day. The session did not get off to a good start, however. Eppy was furious because Smith was late, and when he arrived, Smith informed the group that they could not use their own amplifiers. When the recording began, the Beatles appeared to get nervous, as evidenced in their performance. Still, it is enjoyable, and after a few songs, they become more relaxed and confident. They persisted through 15 songs.

1. Like Dreamers Do
2. Money
3. 'Till There Was You
4. The Sheik of Araby
5. To Know Her is to Love Her
6. Take Good Care of My Baby
7. Memphis
8. Sure to Fall (In Love with You)
9. Hello Little Girl
10. Three Cool Cats
11. Crying, Waiting, Hoping
12. Love of the Loved
13. September in the Rain
14. Besame Mucho
15. Searchin'

Gareth Pawlowski, in his excellent How They Became The Beatles, reports that Eppy and John had a row when Eppy criticized his vocal performance, but soon patched things up. After hearing the playback, all parties were confident they would be signed to Decca. Even Mike Smith seemed assured. Thankfully, this was not to be. (The reason I say "thankfully" is because--could you imagine the Beatles without George Martin and EMI?) After some weeks, Epstein was famously told by Decca A&R manager Dick Rowe that "groups with guitars are on their way out," and the Beatles would not be signed to Decca.

Some controversy about this rejection persists. Apparently, the Beatles were not rejected on the basis of poor performance. Mike Smith had also auditioned Brian Poole and the Tremeloes on New Year's Day. Smith was told by Rowe that he could only sign one group, and since the Tremeloes were London-based, Decca would not have to be inconvenienced by the Beatles, a group located 200 miles away in Liverpool.

As fate would have it, George Harrison himself later recommended the Rolling Stones to Dick Rowe, and soon thereafter, Rowe offered a contract to them!

For more on the early days of the Beatles, please pick up Gareth Pawlowski's How They Became The Beatles: A Definitive History of the Early Years 1960 - 1964. The pictures within are priceless. Also, go to your nearest bookstore and request a copy of the new edition of John C. Winn's Way Beyond Compare, now published by Three Rivers Press!

A Wonderful Christmastime

Season's Greetings! In this post, I've included some of my personal photos along with some scans of Beatles pics. As one can see, my Christmas tree is loaded with Beatles ornaments! I also included a picture of me with May Pang (who was very personable and gracious) taken when I met her in October.

Also among the photos you'll find selections from my Beatles memorabilia collection, including a Worchester Ware metal tray from 1964, my collection of Hamilton figures from the early '90s, a large cardboard stand up promoting MPI's VHS release of The First U.S. Visit, and a tie-dye tapestry bearing silk-screened "White Album" photos.

Of course, I had to include some scans of John and Beatles photos. Hopefully you haven't seen a few of those before. I'd also like to direct you to my "Alison's Wonderland" blog, where you will find a post featuring the 1966 Beatles Christmas flexi-disc, Pantomime: Everywhere It's Christmas.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May 2009 bring you comfort, joy, peace and love.

Buddies and Pals

I came across this series of Terry O'Neill photographs in the Jan./Feb. 1981 John Lennon tribute issue of Songwriter magazine. I thought the first three photos of John and Paul together, playfully interacting with each other, were exceptionally adorable. The magazine also includes an excerpt from the David Sheff Playboy interview where John discusses songwriting with Paul.

Do any readers happen to know where those three photos were taken? Could they be from a rehearsal for their Feb. 1964 appearance on Big Night Out--I have deduced that the individual portraits presented were taken then. I also think they could have been taken during rehearsals for one of their Christmas shows, since O'Neill photographed them then as well. The last photo is from their Nov. 1964 Ready Steady Go! performance.