Musical memoirs of the British music scene in the '60s & '70s

Paul McCartney interview at Abbey Road 1980

 

Now I see the 'point' of Paul McCartney!

 

In May 1980, towards the end of my "journalist" days, I got an invite to the EMI press reception for Paul McCartney's solo album, "McCartney II", at Abbey Road studios. I was one of about 80 scribes from all parts of the globe and the set up was very efficient...a dozen or so oblong tables, each with 8 chairs and the plan was that Paul would move from table to table, spending exactly 20 minutes at each.  I managed to get one of the end chairs,  so that I would be facing the star when he sat down...yes, I was that pushy!  

 

When our turn came, I opened the session with what I hoped was some humorous banter, thus getting Paul's attention for when the real questions started.  It seems to have worked. (Hey, all's fair in love, war and journalism!). He must have found the whole experience pretty onerous, but needs must etc. He was a rock star and had an album to promote! So he was good-humoured and casual,  giving the impression that he was actually enjoying the occasion. Afterwards, I asked him (tongue in cheek) whether he thought he'd still be playing when he reached 64. His answer was... "Like the football player said, when asked that question: 'I'll play till me legs give out'!" A nice 'note' to end on.

 

N.B. There was quite a lot of background noise from the other tables, but you can still hear Paul's voice with a fair degree of clarity. Listening with headphones might help, if you have them.

 

So, take a listen...but please don't judge too harshly! I was just 'doing my job' as best I could, bearing in mind that my journalistic experience at that time was minimal.  

 

Paul McCartney Interview at Abbey Road Studios

 

 

 

 

Duffy Power RIP

 

                                                          

For those of you that haven't heard of Duffy Power, he was one of Larry Parnes' 'proteges' in the early '60s along with Billy Fury, Marty Wilde etc. (Parnes 'christened' all his boys with similar 'impact' names). Duffy, however, was a little different to the other 'pop' singers, in that he had a much jazzier delivery (when allowed!), one example of this is his very competent and bluesy version of "It ain't necessarily so", which I heard on the BBC recently.  He never did have much popular success, maybe for that reason, but later worked (and recorded with) with quite a few jazz/blues heavyweights of the time, like Graham Bond (with Dick Heckstall-Smith), Alexis Korner, Bert Jansch/Danny Thompson. He also sang, on just one occasion, with the New Jazz Orchestra. Quite how this came about, I can't recall, but it was at a concert in Bromley, Kent in March 1964. It was only the second live appearance of the NJO...a fund-raising concert for the local branch of the "Freedom from Hunger Campaign". Duffy sang just one number..."Summertime", I seem to recall.    After that...well, nothing.  He didn't sing with them again, which is not any reflection on his ability, or suitability...more likely that he went back to making his own music.

                                                                                   

                                       Duffy with Vince Eager, Larry Parnes, Billy Fury etc.

He had a great voice and was good-looking enough to make it, but, it seems he just didn't get the breaks that his stable-mates did. So, after recording two albums "Innovations" for Transatlantic in 1969 and the eponymous "Duffy Power" in 1973, he 'retired', somewhat embittered and disillusioned.

He did, however, make more attempts to record his music on and off, though real success continued to elude him. 

He passed away in February 2014. This is a link to an excellent obit in the Guardian: Duffy Power obituary | Pop and rock | The Guardian