Today for the first time I am featuring the “friends” aspect of Friends & Family Friday.
The story starts on May 4, 1968, on the British television talent show “Opportunity Knocks,” where a talented 17-year-old Mary Hopkin began performing, going on to win six episodes in a row. Mary had no way of knowing that the iconic British model Twiggy was watching one of those performances on her television at home. That weekend Twiggy was talking to a friend about Mary’s performance on the program, a friend who was soon to establish a record label with his band. That friend was Paul McCartney. Just two days later, Mary received a telegram asking her to call Apple Corps. Hesitant at first, she was persuaded by her mother to call the number on the telegram.
“So I rang up and was put through to this guy with a Liverpool accent” Mary later recalled. It was, of course, Paul McCartney and the next day Mary was on her way to London to sign a contract. The young Welsh singer was one of the first to sign with the Beatles’ Apple label. Mary’s stint with Apple resulted in two albums – Post Card and Earth Song/Ocean Song, a slew of well-crafted singles and an EP released in Indonesia. Mary later admitted her association with Apple ended mainly because of Paul McCartney’s micro-management of her career.
One of Mary Hopkin’s songs on the Apple label is the exquisite “Martha” written by Harvey Andrews – a song about a lonely woman who sits by her phone waiting for someone to call. Martha listens in on her neighbors’ conversations, feeding on their despair. She appears to be a nosy, manipulative and unhappy person who is consumed with the lives of others while neglecting her own. Her behavior is likely the result of a broken heart and a shattered life. The song paints a sad and eerie picture of a woman who has lost her way and is happy only in the misery of others.
This is Mary Hopkin with the hauntingly stunning “Martha”.
Thanks for stopping by and catching some tunes with me.
See you on the flip side. 😎
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