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Beatles and London
28 June 2019
4.03pm
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AppleScruffJunior
Sitting here doing nothing but procrastinating...
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I can add to this, I was in Soho all day yesterday paying my respects to Les Mis’ revolving stage, RIP Gone Too Soon, bloody cost cutting etc. I was talking to some of the cast afterwards and they were all unenthused about the change. It was a double show day for me Phantom as a matinee and Les Mis in the evening- perfect day.

Anyhoo, I had like 1.5hrs in between me going to the V&A and Phantom starting and I remembered @Ron Nasty ‘s sage advice from last year where he said “go to MPL”, so I did. As I walked past the building (which is very brown and blends in incredibly, you wouldn’t think it’s Paul McCartney ‘s company from the outside, also I’m pretty sure the woman at the desk inside knew what I was doing cause she laughed at me), I crept to the side of the doors and took a photo. They were getting a delivery from a guy in a fancy van which had an automatic closing side door, ooh la la. I don’t know what the delivery was, it was in an unmarked van, in a large, brown box. Now I’m not going to jump to conclusions or anything but it was totally a remastered copy of Carnival Of Light . The little voice inside my head was telling me to go inside but I would have just gone “oh don’t mind me, just looking around”, and I’d get kicked out. If I could have asked a question though to the receptionist it would have been “do you know if Paul’s angry that potentially Buddy Holly’s entire master tapes were destroyed in the Universal Studios’ Fire?” It’s an MPL-related question :/ .

I also went to 3 Savile Row, laughed that it was an Abercrombie and Kids, and wished that I had a friend who worked there, who could get me access to the roof. Also, the blue plaque is so high up, you can’t read what it says. I know they don’t want people stealing or vandalising them but surely legibility is the most important thing there.

Finally, I went to 9 Kingly St, expecting to see The Bag O’Nails club (where Paul met Linda), although I know it’s been renamed. The place is completely different, I can’t remember what it was but I couldn’t even see the blue plaques whether they were taken away or I’m just blind I don’t know. Looking online, it’s for rent for office space, so if anyone wants to pay about £170,000 in rent- then it’s all yours.

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INTROVERTS UNITE! Separately....in your own homes!

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Make Love, Not Wardrobes!

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"Stop throwing jelly beans at me"- George Harrison

28 June 2019
9.40pm
Tangerine
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Wow this sounds really cool, but what is MPL?

28 June 2019
9.43pm
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Ahhh Girl
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28 June 2019
9.49pm
Tangerine
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Thank you!

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29 June 2019
10.25am
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Ahhh Girl
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@Ron Nasty took my picture in front of MPL.

1 July 2019
1.34pm
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AppleScruffJunior
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Lil MPL story, some homeless-looking guy came up to me while I was outside it (I always have my earphones in but I’m not actually listening to anything- it’s normally successful at keeping hagglers away and I can listen to Google Maps™ for directions if I need it). Anyhoo, I’m just about to walk away from the building and I hear “hello, Honey*something*” (I think it could be ‘lumps’ or ‘drops’) in a sweet, cutesy voice. I always ignore people coming up to me in cities because 99.8% of the time they’re looking for money and I don’t give money to people, you want food, you want drink- sure, but I’m not giving you money. I can see him walking up to me and I just shake my head in a “no, mate” kind of way. 

He quickly turns at me and yells “AHHH YOU’RE SCUM!”, as I walked away. I almost laughed, it was that ridiculous sounding.

 

Didn’t get stabbed though, so London success!

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INTROVERTS UNITE! Separately....in your own homes!

                 ***

Make Love, Not Wardrobes!

                ***

"Stop throwing jelly beans at me"- George Harrison

1 July 2019
2.23pm
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Ron Nasty
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@AppleScruffJunior said
Didn’t get stabbed though, so London success!

Much less likely to get stabbed in London than you might think. I’ve been in and around London for 50 years and only been stabbed once. My own stupid fault, it was a silly way to try and open a tin of beans…

ahdn_john_08_gifa-hard-days-night-george-10

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The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966

29 June 2022
7.36pm
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meanmistermustard
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I’m going to be in London for two random spread out days with the plan being to spend one of those seeing Beatle places – might as well.

Is there anywhere folk would recommend having been there and not just because George once stood at the street corner and pressed the button to cross the road? Abbey Road is obviously a must as every Beatles fan has to go. 

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

1 July 2022
4.58pm
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I would recommend going to the MPL Communications office in Soho Square, The London Palladium, Sutherland House where Brian Epstein’s offices were from 1964-1967, the building in Savile Row where they played the rooftop concert, The Scotch Of St James nightclub where The Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones would hang out. 

I would also recommend going to The Playhouse Theatre where they recorded a session for the BBC Radio Show, Saturday Club on 31st March 1964, the London Pavilion where they had their movie premieres and the Prince Of Wales Theatre where they performed for The Royal Variety Show. 

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2 July 2022
1.14pm
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meanmistermustard
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Thank you @Rube for the suggestions, much helpful. I’m going up Monday for the day and will go where I step. 

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2 July 2022
2.26pm
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Rube
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You are welcome @meanmistermustard. I hope the trip goes well on Monday! apple01a-hard-days-night-john-6a-hard-days-night-paul-8ahdn_george_08ahdn_ringo_09brian-epstein

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6 July 2022
9.59pm
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Saw a few places but it was intermingled with the touristy sites considering I stumbled onto locations such as Buckingham Palace and Leister Square by complete accident. Was great seeing Abbey Road (the traffic getting held up every minute by people copying four men walking across a road almost 53 years ago – I found that mad and hilarious) but was more enamoured by 3 Saville Row and looking up to see where the band played – possibly due to the recent ‘Get Back ‘ documentary but I have the image of Paul walking up and in along with George driving up and locking his car burned into my brain. The thought of being in the same place as a Beatle was incredible and I’m not one of those people. 

The Beatles Shop was fantastic, could of stayed for hours looking at the merchandise and listening to the music, tho my policy of not leaving a shop playing Beatles music caused a few problems. Quickly left after ‘Hello, Goodbye ‘. Bought a Yellow Submarine mug (apparently it’s a soup mug but who cares) and a spinning ‘Let It Be ‘ keyring.

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9 May 2023
9.50pm
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I went on a solo walking Beatles tour in London today with the help of my ‘Guide To The Beatles’ London’ book by Richard Porter and Google Maps for some of the directions.

First, I walked to the Radha Krishna Temple which is the London headquarters of the Hari Krishna movement. As you all know, George was a huge supporter of the movement. It is located on 10 Soho Street.

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Secondly, I walked to Trident Studios (now Trident Sound Studio) in St Anne’s Court. This is where The Beatles recorded Hey Jude , Dear Prudence , Savoy Truffle , Honey Pie , Martha My Dear and I Want You (She’s So Heavy). George recorded some of his songs for the All Things Must Pass album there. Ringo also worked there for the It Don’t Come Easy single.

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I also took a photo of the plaque dedicated to David Bowie.

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Afterwards, I went outside of the toilets in Broadwick Street. This is where John appeared as a doorman for a comedy sketch with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in ‘Not Only…….But Also….’, which was broadcast on 27th November 1966. It was the first time John was seen wearing his iconic round glasses on screen. As you all know, ‘How I Won The War’ wasn’t released until 1967. I stood on the spot where John was in the sketch and did a salute.

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Next, I went to Carnaby Street. It was the heart of ‘Swinging London’ in the 60s. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Jimi Hendrix used to shop there.

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Then, I walked to 9 Kingly Street where Bag O’ Nails was located. It was a night club that opened in 1966 and swiftly became popular with famous musicians. All 4 of The Beatles came there at least once, but it was Paul who went more than the others. He has admitted he used to go to the club to ‘pick up girls’!

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Afterwards, I walked to Lower Regent Street where The BBC Paris Studios used to be. The Beatles came there many times to record BBC sessions from 1962 to 1964. They were regular guests on BBC radio shows and recorded ‘Pop Go The Beatles’ in the studios.

Next, I walked to Simpsons, which is now the Waterstones bookshop in Piccadilly. The Beatles bought clothes there on many occasions. After the building became Waterstones, Paul visited there for book signings.

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I then walked to Fortnum and Mason, an expensive store where The Beatles bought groceries for Apple.

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Next, I walked to The Scotch Of St James’s in Masons Yard. The Beatles visited there regularly and they even had their own table with a brass template on the side; if anyone else sat at that table they were told to move! It’s also where Paul met Stevie Wonder and they became life long friends.

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Afterwards, I walked to 165-69 New Bond Street, where Asprey used to be. It was a famous jewellery shop that was featured in ‘Help !’

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As I was walking down the street, I took a photo of the Stella McCartney store.

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Next, I walked to 363 Oxford Street where HMV used to be. In February 1962, Brian Epstein came there to try and secure a recording contract for The Beatles. I took a photo of the plaque. The building is now House Of Candy.

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Afterwards, I walked to 95 Wigmore Street where the Apple offices used to be from January to April 1968.

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Next, I walked to the Devonshire Arms Pub where The Beatles visited a few times. It was also where they first met their NEMS press officer, Tony Barrow.

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Afterwards, I walked to Manchester Square, where the headquarters of EMI Records were located. The Beatles were regular visitors to the building and photographed there on many occasions. The most famous photo sessions were the ones Angus McBean took for the Please, Please Me and Get Back album covers. As you all know, the 1963 and 1969 photos were used for the Red and Blue albums.

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I walked to 52 Manchester Street, where Victor Spinetti used to live in the 1960s. He co-wrote a play with John, called ‘In His Own Write’ based on John’s two books, ‘In His Own Write’ and ‘A Spaniard In The Works’. He and Victor wrote some of the play at Victor’s house.

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I went to the London Beatles Store afterwards and bought a print of a 1963 photograph and an Anthology photo release plate from 1995.

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 I had a great time in London. 

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9 May 2023
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Richard
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What a wonderful tour, Rube! apple01

I was curious to see that Not Only… But Also comedy sketch again, and I found it on YouTube:

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The love you take is equal to the love you make

 

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11 May 2023
5.02pm
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Ahhh Girl
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What an awesome time you had, @Rube! Post like that get me to looking a Google maps. I found this…I wonder who tagged the spot.

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11 May 2023
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Ron Nasty
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On the former HMV on Oxford Street, it will not be a House of Candy for much longer, as the building is still owned by HMV, and they recently announced that they are reopening their former flagship store there towards the end of this year.

So, hopefully, @Rube, the next time you’re in London, you’ll be able to visit the HMV store rather than the House of Candy.

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11 May 2023
6.14pm
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Ahhh Girl
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I heard a news story about Oxford Street and some other shopping streets having SO MANY candy stores. I’m glad HMV is retaking one of those stores.

@Rube, it’s nice that your pictures have all the flags and store windows decorated for the coronation.

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12 May 2023
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sigh butterfly
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a-hard-days-night-ringo-8 Thanks for adding the images to your tour post @Rube. They are really fun to look at. You would be an awesome guide. a-hard-days-night-john-3

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You and I have memories
Longer than the road that stretches out ahead

12 May 2023
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Ron Nasty said
On the former HMV on Oxford Street, it will not be a House of Candy for much longer, as the building is still owned by HMV, and they recently announced that they are reopening their former flagship store there towards the end of this year.  

That’s great news. I remember going to the HMV store once with my Dad 14 years ago and bought the 2005 CD reissues of Kite and Electric Landlady by Kirsty MacColl there. I will definitely visit again when it reopens.

sigh butterfly said
a-hard-days-night-ringo-8 Thanks for adding the images to your tour post @Rube. They are really fun to look at. You would be an awesome guide. a-hard-days-night-john-3

  

You are welcome. I’m glad you enjoy looking at the photos. 

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28 November 2023
6.29pm
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The HMV Oxford Street flagship store has been re-opened! I will be visiting there on Friday. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-…..n-67509574

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