THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND
I have posted this book before and it always attracts a lot of intense interest from viewers. It is by Carole M. Hopkin who is a painter and an artist who also happens to be the sister of Mary Hopkin, who we as Beatle fans are very aware of because of her association with Apple records, Paul McCartney, and the Beatles. This book entitled: Beatles & Beyond by Carole M. Hopkin was published in 2013 by Merton Press.
As a collector, it was one of the most difficult books for me to find and locate for my Beatles-related book collection. It must be noted that the book’s primary connection does not have the Beatles as its main focus. It is about the fascinating experiences of the life of Carole M. Hopkin. A friend in the UK wrote to me when I ran my old Beatles in Print Facebook page and was looking for a copy of this book. The Facebook friend told me he had an additional copy in his collection and that I could purchase it from him if I was interested.
I was delighted to say that I certainly was and quickly moved to add the wonderful book to my library. This is the book I acquired from him (shown below). As you may or may not know I try to collect many of the books that even haphazardly have something to do with or provide additional information that have a connection to the Beatles or the people that made contact with them over the years.
Sometimes you learn more about the true nature of the individuals that comprised that great band from these more obscure books than from an official biographer! That is usually due to the primary celebrity being more at ease in those situations. However, being in contact with the Beatles and their menagerie can also be a curse because those people often lose their own personal identity because they ONLY become defined based on their contact or association with the band. Relatives of any celebrity face the same dilemma. They are often unfairly compared or measured against the accomplishments of a brother or sister, or mother or father.
Mary Hopkin
Witness the trials and tribulations of Julian and Sean Lennon and James McCartney who are constantly compared with the accomplishments of their respective fathers. After acquriing this book I wonder if Carole Hopkin experienced the same pressures of being compared with Mary due to her initial success at Apple with the worldwide hit of Those Were The Days.
Carole is an accomplished artist and painter and even though I know she has deep respect for her sister, the recognition she may receive can often be presented in public news forums as being under the shadow of her sister’s musical accomplishments.
The cover of the book:
Some biographical information from Carole’s book:
The back cover of the book:
A George Harrison Friar Park Garden sketch by Carole M. Hopkin. These few page excerpts from the book are presented under fair use.
Carole’s sketch of the mansion at Friar Park done at the request of George’s brother. Carole mentions that Friar Park was a Convent at one time. There have been reports since, that dispute the Convent descriptor as a group of nuns did reside there in an educational function but it was not officially known as a convent. Scott Cardinal, an authority on Friar Park could set us straight on that matter, for sure!
Photographs apparently taken by Carole Hopkin that appear in her book of several prominent people in the Beatles story, great Beatles friend and confidante, Mal Evans, and the notorious individual often described as the villain who led to the breakup of the Beatles, Allen Klein. It is my personal belief that their breakup was due to far deeper problems than the easy way out of blaming a single individual. It may simply may have been due to the natural progression of their lives.
A beautiful sketch by Carole M Hopkin of the Casino at Monte Carlo that appears in her wonderful book:
Advice for Collectors
I highly recommend this book to you if you are fortunate enough to locate a copy. It took me close to 3 years before I could find someone that had a copy in their collection in the UK. You will see many wonderful sketches, read many wonderful stories, and you will get a distinct flavor for the time.
As a collector, I love this rare unique book and you will too!!!
Keep your eyes open on such sources such as eBay, Abe Books or other international book search services if you are trying to track down a copy to purchase for your collections!!!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
Another Great Book at the Beatles Bookstore to Check Out
To find out more about Mary Hopkin and Apple Records, you need this book by Nigel Pearce
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
For prices and dates please contact Nigel again via the website
