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

Riding With The Beatles

 

Outside in Miami

Photographed by Paul McCartney

Massive Crowd

 

Getting Off

 

England to Austria

 

On Their Way In

 

Wild Birthday Night

Stephanie La Motta

Stephanie La Motta was born in July of 1959 to Jake and Dimitria La Motta; Jake was a professional champion boxer. Stephanie was an actress, musician, model, boxing and fitness instructor until she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1979. Stephanie started to date Ringo in October of 1979 after meeting at Tramps nightclub. They traveled to Vienna, Austria and Greece but after returning to London, they saw little of each other.

Ringo and Stephanie in Vienna, October of 1979

"You know, I'd never noticed that until today. I just used to be in Tramps and that's where you would meet people. I was sitting at a table when the manager came over to say that Ringo wanted me to go and join him at his table. He didn't know who I was and he was curious. I told the manager that I was a lady and if Ringo wanted to meet me, he had to act like a gentleman and come over to my table. He came over apologised and introduced himself. He was so funny. We dated regularly for about six months. It was a wonderful time for me. Ringo is a beautiful person - he really is. He makes you laugh all the time. I cried my eyes out when we parted."

Stephanie La Motta, 1982 

"Our affair was crazily happy, yet tinged with sadness. I think I left a little of my heart with Ringo and that I am still a bit in love with him...I loved Ringo for his mind, his cute ways, his funniness, his great warmth. On our third day together we felt we had known each other all our lives. We were so comfy together. Like my favourite movie star Humphrey Bogart - I've seen Casablanca 23 times - Ringo is the sexiest unsexy man I've ever met." 

Stephanie La Motta, 1981

Julian and Stephanie went to see Billy Connolly in concert at Cambridge Theatre in London and went to a nightclub with Pamela Stephenson, December of 1981.

 In 1981, she was romantically linked to Julian Lennon. They met through mutual friends at Tramps (she sure liked going there and meeting romantic flings).

"I met Julian through a mutual friend of ours. We sat talking in Tramps, the London club, for about three hours and I had no idea who this kid was."

Stephanie La Motta, 1982 

It was pretty much around the exact anniversary of John's death and Julian was still very much grieving. Stephanie at first didn't realize Julian was John's son and questioned why Julian looked so sad, full of sorrow. Julian told her who he was.

"I said I was really sorry, that I didn't know - and I started to cry."

Stephanie La Motta, 1982 

Julian ended up comforting Stephanie. 

"He said he felt we were going to be friends for a very long time."

Stephanie La Motta, 1982 

At the time, Stephanie was going through a music phase - she was in the recording studio for her one and only single I'm Here At Last (with B side So Forget The Past). Julian often accompany her to the recording studio. He was originally going to sing on the B side but it didn't happen. Since childhood, Stephanie played music as a child piano at 5, guitar in teens. had a group The Feathers until multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 

"I'd do anything for him. He was in the studio every single day, rooting for me. He kept running in the door, kissing me on the cheek and telling me I could do it, then running back again behind the glass!"

Stephanie La Motta, 1982

However, their brief romance pretty much ended when it started as Julian already was in between two serious relationships with Sally Hodson and Debbie Boyland.

"Julian — well he's just a good friend. He's someone else with a lot of problems, though. I guess I understand people like that. Julian gets followed around by loads of hangers-on. London is like that. It's such a false place. If you have money or a name then everyone wants to know you. Julian's wise, though, he knows that. I saw him only a few weeks ago. He was going on holiday. The thing was I couldn't stand the way he looked like a clone of his father. I told him to cut his hair off and throw away those glasses, because the only way you're going to make it in life is to be yourself. And do you know what - he cut off his hair and threw away his glasses. I told him: Go on vacation and get away from it all, take off your father. And he did it!"

Stephanie La Motta, 1982

Cynthia, Zak, and Maureen 

Peter Stringfellow and Maureen celebrating Julian’s 19th birthday 

On April 8, 1982, Julian celebrated his 19th birthday at Stringfellows in London. with a singing telegram girl, champagne flowing, custard pies were thrown, and a white horse came with Stephanie riding it. Cynthia, Maureen, Zak, Lulu, John Entwistle, and Sian Adey Jones were among the guests.

"At his 19th birthday party he was presented with a white horse at my club. I'll always remember because it did its business on the edge of the bar. Julian was like a son to me and I named a drink after him – the Blue Julian." 

Peter Stringfellow, 1995

In 1984, Stephanie founded Death Row Dogs Rescue, saving animals from dire situations. She married Jacques Dreyfus in 1991. Lives in New York City. 

Bring the Wives

What If: Another Baby?

 I've always been curious what if John and Cynthia had another child? What would they have named it? There was always an intention of having another child - which I will get to that momentarily. What if John and Cynthia had a daughter? Cynthia did say if Julian had been a girl then he would've been named Julia. Julian has middle names: Charles John. All three names were after family members. Would Julia have a middle name? Probably not. Cynthia didn't have a middle name (yet according to the internet, her middle name "is" Lillian. However I haven't seen any official documents that says so. Her marriage certificate to John Winston Lennon doesn't have a middle name for Cynthia Powell. Her art school documents like attendance records, reports, etc. doesn't provide Cynthia a middle name as it did for John Winston Lennon. So, until I see definite proof like a birth certificate that her middle name is Lillian, I won't believe it.) Although her mother Lillian did have a middle name (John's mother Julia did not) as did a number of other relatives on both sides of the family, I wound say 50/50%. If so, I'd think Lillian, Mary (Mimi), Elizabeth (John's Aunt Mater), Dorothy (Jarlett and Rhone), and Astrid (Kirchherr) would be top contenders. 

What if another boy? Possibly George (after Mimi's husband), Stuart (after Sutcliffe), Brian (Epstein), and Anthony (Cynthia's brother).

Or maybe it would have its own independent name .... those ideas died with John and Cynthia. 

Well, anyway, back to reality: both John and Cynthia were willing to have more children, but it didn't happen. John was away a lot and when touring was over, he immersed into drugs. Because of that, their sex life went down the toilet. 

Question: With that much experiences behind you now, would you like to have more children? (Interview, 1965)

"Yeah, as many as they come. Let them roll out. I like large families, the idea of it."

"I now take notice of other kids, and compare them to Julian. I think to myself,'That's clever, I don't think mine can do that' or vice versa. A lot of people like having children for their old age. I just want them because I like them."

John

I have heard one of the drugs John was taking slowed down his sperm count but I don't know if that's accurate as Yoko quickly got pregnant when they first slept together. There were rumors of Cynthia having another baby though, probably around the time when their home was being renovated and there was a room set aside for another addition to the family. Whenever John heard about this, he went nuts! John did say it wasn't a lousy rumor, but he was annoyed that it was getting out of hand. He had spent a good year trying the shoot down that rumor. Fans usually sent gifts for Julian, and would give gifts for the next child (that wasn't to be).

"I'm even getting them for a new baby I haven't even got. But I'm keeping it anyway because I'm bound to have one one day."

John, 1964

Question: What do you think of the rumors that got spread about you in gossip magazines? (Interview, 1964)

"I don't give it much thought other than the one about my wife having more children than I can account for."

"Me leaving the group... and my wife being pregnant."

John, 1964

"Luella Parsons writes a whole article about all the rumors, spreading them all again ... I'm getting another baby, which I'm not. Which isn't even a lousy rumor."

John, 1964

"It's just ridiculous, you know, if anything does happen, we'll tell people, you know? We're not going to hide it. John's not ashamed if he has another baby, now why should he sort of keep it secret?"

Ringo Starr, 1964

"Oh, well, you see, you seem to have no libel laws over here, seeing as magazines write anything. One magazine called Truth - I won't name it but it's called Truth, T-R-U-T-H, wrote a big pack of lies about how my wife broke the news to me about me baby and how she cried, and I went off, and Ringo said, 'John, you must share your wife.' It was a pack of lies, she's not having a baby!"

John, 1964

"I know it's in a magazine called Truth about us having another baby. It's a lie! Dirty lie! I don't know what the slander laws are over here, but I'm certainly going to investigate them."

John, 1964

"My wife having a baby, and the tagline to the page was, 'Ringo asks John to share wife,' you know."

John, 1964

"I have only one child and none on the way."

John, 1965

"Well, I just think it's potty, you know. Sort of mental - the people who write them. Unless they get it off somebody who convinced them that these things are true, otherwise they must be a bit mental, you know."

John

By 1966, the pregnancy rumor died down. However, the desire to have another child didn't. Around 1967, early 1968, John spent the weekend with The Beatles press officer Derek Taylor, his wife Joan, and their 6 children, Timothy, Dominic, Gerard, Abigail, Vanessa and Annabel (at the time, they had five). Derek had just returned back from living in California for a few years. John stayed at their Ascot home, taking LSD, putting a few tokes of marijuana, and Derek stroking John's ego. Cynthia, for some reason other than her dislike for LSD, didn't go. When John came home, he was happy, telling Cynthia they should have more children. Cynthia knew John had tripped out - his previously idea was to buy an island to live on. 

"Impossible hopes. John said to me just before we went to India that he wanted us to have more children. Well that came out of the blue, I can tell you. I was really surprised, as he'd never said a word about that before. Then again, why not? I wasn't averse to the idea. It wasn't as if we were too old to have any more. I was not yet 29, after all, while John would turn 28 that October. We still had more than enough time. I suppose what concerned me was Julian. A 5 or 6 year gap between siblings is quite wide, isn't it?"

Cynthia, 1989

I am sorry, I have to interrupt here. While the gap was wide, sure, but did Cynthia forget the age gap between her and her brothers? They were almost 10 by the time Cynthia arrived! Anyway, let's proceed....

"I would have loved to have 3 or 4 children, actually and to have had them all close together. It just hadn't happened. But maybe I was apparently distracting his meditation. It was all my fault, and John was a bear about it. He started grumping all over the place, snapping at me, insisting that we sort our useless accommodation out and that we were going to have to sleep in separate rooms from now on, before he went round the bend. It was humiliating and hurtful. I'm sure the others all knew what was going on, not that anyone even said anything to me. Even then I was convinced that I could bring him back to me, if you know what I mean. How stupid and blinkered I was. I know now that this was John up to his old tricks again, saying one thing but meaning another. Just like when he was on the road and he'd write to me all the time, telling me how deeply he loved me and how desperately he missed me. Just the way he used to when we were at art school. But when he was at home and actually with me, under the same roof, he was either asleep, ignoring me or picking pointless fights. He'd much rather read a book than talk to me. He always wanted what he couldn't have, did John. Never what was under his nose. When he had me, he didn't want me. God help me, I was clutching at straws. It got me wondering whether I been enough for him. I searched my soul in the ashram and it was the only conclusion I could come to. "

Cynthia, 1989

Obviously, wanting to have another child desire was short lived. Meanwhile Pete Shotgun proceeded to stay in the guest bedroom that was intended to be another child's room.

I don't know why Cynthia didn't have any more children, including her two other marriages (by the time Cynthia got to her fourth marriage, she was already long dried up, menopausal). Maybe there was a miscarriage, or, simply, it just never happened. 

"I think I'm past it now."

Cynthia, 1980

"55 and menopausal."

Cynthia, 1995

Island Hopping

January 12 - 23, 1966

Maureen and Ringo leading the way with John and Cynthia behind through Heathrow Airport to board the plan to Trinidad & Tobago on January 12, 1966.

The Lennon and the Starkeys were neighbors and hung out just about everyday. Naturally they decided to take a vacation abroad. There's been talk that this trip was a distraction for George and Pattie's wedding to be private. It didn't really work... But, anyway, I don't think anybody complained about the idea to take a vacation! Someone told John about Trinidad and Tobago near South America as John was thinking of going somewhere warm, sunny, and quiet place to relax. On January 12, 1966, they departed from London Airport to Piarco International Airport, which took 12 hours arriving on January 13th.John, Cynthia, Ringo, and Maureen stayed at the Arnos Vale Hotel in Scarborough, Tobago. The following day, they went shopping where they bought steelpans, textiles, and knick-knacks. They also listened to local music.

An orange and yellow Italian glass vase bought while John and Cynthia were in Trinidad & Tobago, January 1966.

"This ornament was bought by John and myself (along with another in the shape of a fish which has since been broken). We bought it on the holiday island of St. Vincent with Maureen & Ringo. It took pride of place in our bedroom at Kenwood."

Cynthia, 1996

John, Cynthia, Maureen, and Ringo on the beach near their hotel in Arnos Vale Bay, Tobago, January of 1966

For almost two weeks, John, Cynthia, Ringo, and Maureen hiked the trails, visited other islands like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, went fishing, swimming, sight see - John even stepped on an urchin and had to get medical help to remove the spikes! At one point, while on the beach, they obliged the press with photos, hoping they'd be left alone during the remainder of their vacation. John, who apologized to the press for being late, and Ringo engaged with local fishermen, even pulling their boats to shore. After the press were satisfied with their photos, they took their leave; one journalist turned around for the final time to witness Ringo lifting his sunglasses to kiss Maureen while John was ducking Cynthia in the water by grabbing her ankles. While lounging at their hotel, they played Monopoly.

"We went fishing. John, Cynthia, Maureen, and I were on holiday in Tobago. We went fishing. That’s just what we did when we went on holiday."

Ringo Starr, 2013

John and Ringo with products from Monopoly while in Trinidad and Tobago, January of 1966.

"We were on holiday here. And we were having a good time. The four of us always went on holiday together. One time we went to the Spanish Islands. George and I went to Canada once. We were playing Monopoly here, and it looks like I won! I often won."

Ringo Starr, 2013

“On holiday, we always went with another Beatle.” 

Ringo Starr, 2013

"On one holiday- Maureen, John, Cyn, and I went to Tobago and John had just got contact lenses and he dropped one; it came out in the swimming pool. We spent about three house in the pool looking for this damn contact! We didn't find it obviously."

Ringo Starr, 2004

"We'd been already with Paul and Jane to Greece [in 1963], we buddied up for a while [the Virgin Islands in 1964]. And Maureen and I went with John and Cynthia to Trinidad and Tobago in 1966. I never really went on holiday with George."

Ringo Starr

Cynthia, Maureen, Ringo, and John sightseeing in Young Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines on January 22, 1966 

Photographed by Geoffrey B. Nanton

Near the end of their stay at Trinidad and Tobago, John, Cynthia, Ringo, and Maureen met up with Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams and his daughter Erica at the Crowne Point Hotel. They had lunch and went on a hike, including visiting Bloody Bay and the North Coast. When hearing that George Harrison and Pattie Boyd got married on January 21st, they sent a congratulatory telegram. On January 23, 1966, they left the islands to return home in England.