Beatle Week 2008 - Convention Day

The BBFC team were at the Adelphi bright and early -- and what a day! There were bands playing in the nooks and crannies of the Adelphi, all kinds of merchandise available in the main convention room, and the day's speakers included Yellow Submarine illustrator Ron Campbell, photographer Robert Whitaker, author Philip Norman and actor Victor Spinetti.

Of course, we spent most of the day working hard behind our stall in the main convention room, where it was lovely to meet so many of you! We did manage to nip away to see a little of what else was going on though, and here's Ernie Sutton's review of one of his personal favourites.

Joey Molland talks about Apple, Badfinger and the Beatles

Here is a recollection of Joey's interview with Spencer Leigh at the Adelphi hotel on 24.8.08.

Joey, from Liverpool, saw The Beatles just once at The Cavern in his youth. He was impressed more by a band called The Nomads.

The Fabs played songs like If you gotta make a fool of somebody in those days when Pete Best was still the drummer.

He was into music, his first band being called "The Masterminds", and saw The Iveys appear on the Lulu show in the late 60s. The Iveys would eventually become Badfinger.

He joined Badfinger AFTER they had recorded Come and Get it written by Paul McCartney for the film The Magic Christian. The Magic Christian album was recorded and just before its release the band changed their name to Badfinger, and Joey received a credit on the album, despite only joining after the album was completed.

The Beatles got them into Abbey Road where they could just rehearse and play all day rather than have a set time.

He was then asked to play on All Things Must Pass with George Harrison by Mal Evans. His favourites from this album are Wah-Wah, Beware of Darkness, and Isn't It A Pity. The amazing thing was that George would drive himself to the studio at Abbey Road, get his own equipment from the car and set up himself.

The following year received a phone call from John Lennon's driver, saying that John wanted Joey on the Imagine album. He played on the tracks Jealous Guy and I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier.

He recalls John thinking he (John) had a crap voice, and Phil Spector being drunk, laying under the recording console for long periods. However, Phil always seemed to know what was a great take (mostly just on a 2 track machine in those days) and knew what he was looking for despite this.

He never noticed the chaos going on at Apple, and remembers being at Apple watching concert footage, but later heard someone had stolen mortgage papers and subsequently a house from Apple.

In August 1971 Badfinger were asked to play the Concert for Bangla Desh, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Because of George's involvement in this, the production of Badfinger's Straight Up album was part George and part Todd Rundgren.

Joey only remembers one concert that day, not two. Bob Dylan did turn up at rehearsal, and now the DVD has gone 4x Platinum with $240million going to Unicef.

Back to recording and Apple said no initially to Day After Day, but changed their mind. The song was to be one of the band's best with George Harrison on guitar.

Regarding other Apple artists, he feels James Taylor was a great artist, but suffered depression, and that Jackie Lomax had a wonderful voice.

The song Without You was originally two songs. Pete Ham had written two verses and Tom Evans a Chorus. The two were put together and Badfinger recorded the song. Some time later Nilsson came to the studio and played his version to Badfinger. The rest is history. Without You was Nilsson's biggest ever hit.

Pete Ham was a very mild mannered man and the money issues really affected him, while Tom Evans, Joey feels, lost his mind. Both committed suicide.

Joey realised the money problems after a tour with Badfinger and asked for £1000 to buy a new 4 track machine. Badfinger's business manager had received a cheque from Apple for $75,000 and Badfinger saw none of it.

Joey now lives in Minnesota and plays with a band called "Shakespeare Pipe"

Joey Molland at the Mathew Street Festival, 25th August 2008
Photo by Ernie Sutton

© 2010 British Beatles Fan Club