Where Was John?

 celebrating Cynthia and Julian's birthdays

1957 (when John and Cynthia met)

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Cynthia didn't meet yet as John didn't start attending Liverpool Art College until October. Cynthia was already enrolled the previous year.

1958

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Cynthia started dating around this time in Liverpool

1959

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was in Liverpool in between gigs at the Cavern Club

1960

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was in Hamburg, Germany performing at the Indra Club 

1961

SEPTEMBER 10 - John perform at the Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool

1962 (married)

SEPTEMBER 10 - John performed at the Cavern Club during the day and Queen's Hall in Cheshire at night 

1963 (Julian was born)

APRIL 8 - John was in Leyton with the Beatles and didn't get to meet his newborn son until the 12th.

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was in London with Paul at the Variety Club luncheon at the Savoy Hotel. They later caught up with Andrew Loog Oldham and watched The Rolling Stones rehearse; they offered (and finished) I Wanna Be Your Man.

1964

APRIL 8 - John was in London filming A Hard Day's Night until halted finished as fans break into Twickenham Film Studios. John was home to celebrate his son's first birthday!

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was on tour in North America; in Key West, Florida to avoid a hurricane (Dora).

1965

APRIL 8 - John was in London filming Help! and he was home! That night John went to the opening night of Downstairs at the Pickwick nightclub with Paul, George, and Ringo; unknown if Cynthia went.

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was home! 

1966

APRIL 8 - John was in London recording Revolver and went out to the clubs; unknown Cynthia went. 

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was in Germany (before going to Spain where Cynthia later joined him) filming How I Won the War. 

1967

APRIL 8 - John went to J. P. Fallon Ltd. to see about getting his Rolls Royce painted in psychedelic colors in Surrey. Julian had a birthday party when John, Terry Doran, and Pete Shotton had a LSD trip (it was Pete's first time).

SEPTEMBER 10 - John was home, preparing to leave the next day to start filming Magical Mystery Tour.

1968 (divorce)

APRIL 8 - John and Cynthia were in Rishikesh, India for transcendental meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Lillian and housekeeper Dot hosted a birthday party for Julian back home in Weybridge.

SEPTEMBER 10 - Divorce was being processed; John was recording the White album at Abbey Road accompanied by Yoko.

1969

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in England

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were at the Institute of Contemporary Arts screening of their short films in London.

1970

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in England

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York

1971

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in England

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York; John never returned to England.

1972

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York

1973

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York; they moved from Greenwich Village to the Dakota 

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York and put their Tittenhurst Park home in Ascot for sale; Ringo and Maureen bought it a week later. On the 18th, John and Yoko separated and John soon went to Los Angeles with May.

1974

APRIL 8 - John and May were in Los Angeles

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and May were in New York

1975

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York; Yoko was now pregnant with Sean

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York

1976

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York

1977

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in Japan

1978

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in Japan

1979

APRIL 8 - John, Yoko, Sean, and Julian were in Palm Beach, Florida. Julian flew back to England at the end of the month, it'll be the last time he saw his father.

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York

1980

APRIL 8 - John and Yoko were in New York

SEPTEMBER 10 - John and Yoko were in New York

Loved Every Second

Over the weekend on August 29th and 30th, Julian went to England to take a blood test to check on his latest health issues he have been having. After having a delayed flight, Julian arrived safely to get a successful check up with his doctor and decided to make most of his limited time in London: Julian visited Belouis Some, he walked by his old home in Kensington where he once lived with Cynthia and Roberto Bassanini, and spent lunch with Zoe Grace, Simon Aboud, and Mary McCartney.

Abbey Road Visitor

It's very well known that once John and Yoko got together and became inseparable, Yoko was a constant presence in the studio while The Beatles were making music. Paul, George, and Ringo weren't exactly thrilled with this new thing John was doing - the recording studio was their sanctuary. It was one thing with George Martin, Geoff Emerick, Brian Epstein, Neil Aspinall, and Mal Evans were looming around (after all, they were working!) but having someone sit there, day after day, barely doing anything (to her credit, Yoko did bring along an "activity bag" to keep herself occupied when boredom comes). Prior to Yoko's presence, the wives and girlfriends have visited the studio. Maybe the whole day happened rarely. I would say both Linda and Pattie came the most, followed by Maureen, then Cynthia, and finally Jane when no working commitments. If there by chance, they would sing backing vocals. I mentioned in my previous post The Hidden Singer of the Lennons that Cynthia sang backup on Yellow Submarine; unfortunately at the time I didn't find this particular quote I had wanted to use. The great news is I have recently found the quote from the article I was looking for... 7 years later since I last wrote about Cynthia singing. As well as some more additional quotes and information while I am on the subject. Better late than never.

In May of 1972, Cynthia apparently was willing to have a singing career while married to Roberto Bassanini at the time. In media reports then, it was rumored that John was willing to produce her album.... obviously not. I'm sure Cynthia was willing to put herself out there as a singer, but that dream went nowhere for a little over 20 years. However, while married to John Twist and running Oliver's Twist, Cynthia dabbled in songwriting with Angie McCartney playing the piano. I believe that was more of a lark than serious business. Fast forward to the 1990s when Cynthia was soon approached to record a single:

"It was a German record company trying to poach my son Julian for their label.  I was just telling them I couldn't help when Jim told them I would be willing to make a record.  At first it all seemed a bit of a joke.  I had only sung once before, and that was just in the backing vocals for Yellow Submarine."

Cynthia, 1995

"I was a good friend of Mary and was present when the song was recorded. I always thought the song was for an older woman and I hope I do it justice."

Cynthia, 1995

Hmm, that sounded puzzling - the song was recorded by Mary on July 28, 1968 and was produced by Paul McCartney. By then John and Cynthia had already broken up and John was running around with Yoko. Unless Paul invited Cynthia to Abbey Road Studios to watch the sessions, I don't think so. Yet, then again, I wasn't there, Cynthia was. Anyway, let's continue on:

"I was a little surprised when I heard that Cynthia had recorded the song. But I wish her all the best."

Mary Hopkin, 1995

"It was so exciting to be doing what I had watched others do for years.  I spent so much time in the studio in the early Beatles days and even sang in the chorus of Yellow Submarine.  Now singing is something for me.  I know there will be all kinds of criticism, but at this stage in my life I don't care.  I don't seriously imagine I will be a pop star, but its not bad for someone who hasn't sung properly since she was in a church choir aged 13."

Cynthia, 1995

Ringo Starr, Neil Aspinall, and Cynthia arriving at EMI/Abbey Road Studios on August 11, 1964.

I don't know exactly when Cynthia first visited EMI/Abbey Road Studios - it certainly wasn't before February of 1964 because Cynthia didn't meet George Martin until they were both in Miami, so it's safe to know that after the first US visit, Cynthia started visiting her husband working on new songs in a recording studio. I don't know if she visited during A Hard Day's Night, but definitely Beatles For Sale.

Cynthia was present when The Beatles worked on Baby's In Black on August 11, 1964. The following year, Cynthia took John's sisters, Julia and Jacqui, to watch The Beatles record Day Tripper (on October 16, 1965) and We Can Work It Out (recorded on October 20, 1965) during their visit from Liverpool.

"While John and the boys got to work in the studio, Jacqui, Cynthia, and I  were shown into the control room. We were joined by producer George Martin and his chief engineer Normal Smith who had been out on the floor making last-minute adjustments to the amps and microphones."

Julia Baird (John Lennon My Brother, 1985)

On June 1, 1966, Cynthia, along with Mal Evans, Neil Aspinall, George Martin, Geoff Emerick, Pattie Harrison, Brian Jones, Marianne Faithfull, and Alf Bicknell, sang backup vocals on Yellow Submarine. Unfortunately, Cynthia is often overlooked on credit while everyone else got named but according to both herself and Pattie, Cynthia did indeed sang backup (and I believe them) as I posted earlier. 

In December of 1966, Pete Shotton came to Weybridge to surprise John, but he wasn't home. Cynthia told Pete John was still at the recording studio, recording Sgt. Pepper. Pete decided to surprise John there and, despite his unfamiliarity getting around London, Cynthia provided him with excellent directions. During the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Cynthia accompanied Mike and Phyllis Nesmith to EMI/Abbey Road Studios to watch The Beatles and an orchestra worked on A Day in the Life (already posted on Hey, Hey, With The Monkees on February 10, 1967.

Cynthia and John leaving the recording studio on March 3, 1967

Photographed by Denise Werneck

On March 3, 1967, The Beatles started work at 7 PM on the brass section of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the basic track of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. The session ended at 2:15 AM. Cynthia was there and was seen wearing John's black cape when leaving.

Tony Barrow, Judith Sims (editor of Teen Set magazine), Terry Doran, and Cynthia sitting on the sidelines while The Beatles worked on March 29, 1967

Photographed by Leslie Bryce

John and Cynthia leaving EMI/Abbey Road Studios in the early hours of March 30, 1967

On March 29, 1967, The Beatles worked on Good Morning Good Morning, Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!, and With A Little Help From My Friends. Judith Sims reported that Cynthia had recently dyed her hair as ash blonde. Session end times varied: some say 2:45 AM and others say 5:45 AM.

"Yoko being in the studio a lot was a new thing. It was all new. We're very Northern: the wives stayed at home and we went to work - we dug coal and they cooked dinner. It was one of those flat-cap attitudes which we were losing by then. I think if Maureen came to the studio 5 or 6 times that would be about it, and in all the years Pattie came several times at the most. I don't remember Cynthia coming much when she was married to John. It was just something that didn't happen. And suddenly we had Yoko in bed in the studio."

Ringo Starr

Walking Stick

 

Anniversary Wishes

 

Arrival Home

 

Restaurant Invite

An invitation to Cynthia's restaurant Lennon's private party opening. From Terry Doran's private collection.