The Beatles – Detta händer den 13 februari 1969

Omslaget till Mary Hopkins debutalbum ’Post Card’.

Den här torsdagen hölls ett releaseparty för Mary Hopkins debutalbum Post Card. Skivan släpptes den 21 februari 1969. Partyt hade arrangerats av Apple Records och ägde rum på restaurangen som låg högst upp i Post Office Tower – 157 meter ovanför marken i centrala London. Gästerna inkluderade Paul McCartney, hans nya flickvän Linda Eastman, Donovan, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Eric Clapton och ett antal övriga musikstjärnor liksom medlemmar av Mary Hopkins familj och Mary Hopkins blivande make Tony Visconti.

Linda Eastman och Paul McCartney under releasepartyt.

Tony Bramwell:
Billy Butlin, owner of the Butlin’s holiday camps our little gang had gone to with our families as kids and where Ringo Starr played with Rory Storm, ran the restaurant at the top of the Post Office Tower. It revolved, and as you ate you could watch London unfold in a magnificent panorama. The first time Paul had gone, shortly after the restaurant first opened, he was still living at the Ashers’ house in Wimpole Street. Dr Asher decided he wanted the full guided tour and arranged for the entire family to go, including Paul.

Sometime later I was sitting in the restaurant, having dinner with a girlfriend, when Bobby Butlin, Sir Billy’s son, came over to my table and told me all about Paul’s earlier visit. He said, ‘If there’s anything I can ever do for you, or Paul, or Apple, let me know.’ When we launched Postcard the question of a location for the launch party arose. Paul said, ‘Hey Tone? Do you think by any chance they would let us have the Post Office Tower restaurant?

I acted nonchalant and said, ‘Oh, I dunno. Hang on and I’ll have a word with then.’ I picked up the phone, quickly made the arrangements. Paul looked at his watch and said, ‘Great. Tell you what. Why don’t we do some location scouting?’ So we all went off to lunch at the Tower. We had a smashing time, and suitably oiled, Paul and I decided to have a race down the stairs to the door. It was a very stupid idea, especially after a big lunch. There are some photos somewhere of us lying at the bottom gasping for breath and probably trying to light a cigarette.

The launch party for Postcard was marvellous, with a really good turnout of rock stars. Jimi Hendrix came and Brian Jones and Donovan, as well as Mary’s future husband, Tony Visconti. I was going out with Mary at the time but he fancied her too, and eventually they got married.

Mary Hopkins föräldrar och systrar hade rest till London från Wales, liksom hennes gamla mormor.

Mary Hopkin:
My family came down from Wales and in the throng of people we lost my 80-year-old grandmother, Blodwyn. When the crowd parted we saw her in the corner talking to Jimi Hendrix. Afterwards she said she had been talking to ‘a nice little boy’ who had been asking about milking the cows and feeding the chickens. I think he was fascinated by this funny little Welsh lady.

Mary Hopkin och Paul McCartney. Paul hade producerat
albumet och spelade akustisk gitarr på två av numren
och elbas på två andra låtar.