PAUL McCARTNEY
In which Manfred meets a Beatle and learns a lesson about money. The antique harmonium stands in the corner of the room, it is very attractive looking, made of old wood and some red velvet. It makes a lovely church-y sound, but one has to pump two small pedals to get a sound from it. I like the look of it, I like the sound of it, but I keep forgetting to pedal the thing....
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Thoughts and Reminiscences: 1963 – Recording
We record “5-4-3-2-1” at Abbey Road Studio 2. Francis, one of the producers of “Ready Steady Go”¹ is in the studio observing, perhaps checking to see if we can deliver what is required. The record is built around a harmonica part, played by Paul Jones, which goes ‘chukka chukka chukka chukka’, after which he sings “5-4-3-2-1”: at this point the harmonica is temporarily out of his mouth to allow him to sing. Francis asks whether...
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1965 – Crash
Paul Jones¹ is bleeding, with a broken arm and a damaged lip. I regain consciousness, find that I cannot breathe; I struggle for what seems a terribly long time to get a breath. I bang my chest repeatedly and desperately. I feel I am dying, but finally I am able to take that life-giving first breath – air has never been as precious or delicious. I have damaged ribs, spend several days in hospital, we...
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The 1960s – The trappings of stardom
Often at gigs young girls faint with the heat and the crush, and have to be carried out by security people. Their skirts ride up over their hips as they are carried out and at first my instinctive reaction is to look at the girls’ legs and underwear. However after some time and against my natural instinct I decide to watch the audience, and I notice how instantly the attention of every single male and...
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The 1960s – My Little Red Book
We are asked to perform one of Burt Bacharach’s songs “My Little Red Book” for the upcoming film “What’s New Pussycat?” Recording is taking place in Abbey Road Studio 2. I am a bit nervous because Burt, one of the great songwriters, will be arriving at some point during the recording to be sure we do it right. We start before Burt arrives, and after one a short time I see that the great...
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