2007 Magazine of the Week #1

Its time to kick off the 2007 edition of "Magazine of the Week". The May 1970 issue of HIT PARADER featured "The Apple Story", giving us 14 pages on THE BEATLES' Apple Records, including a discography.

Click on images to enlarge.



Except for the covers, Hit Parader at the time was strictly black & white on pretty cheap paper, so the photo reproductions just weren't very good, but still this is one of the coolest single issues of the era.












With a cover date of May 1970. it would have gone to press before the official announcement of the Beatle break-up. There's a basic rundown of the history of Apple, and some of the original press releases. We read that "New Label and Recording Concept" Zapple ("a division of Apple Records") will "emphasize a series of 'spoken word' albums and some music releases of a more wide-ranging and esoteric nature". We learn that, at the time of the February 3, 1969 Zapple press release, "a spoken word album recorded by poet-writer RICHARD BRAUTIGAN" was "now being pressed". It goes on to say this:

"Other well-known poet-writers already committed to Zapple releases include: LAURENCE FERLINGHETTI - America's best-selling 'serious' poet; poet-playwrite MICHAEL MCCLURE; veteran literary figures KENNETH PATCHEN and CHARLES OLSON and poet-essayist ALLEN GINSBERG. Additionally, Zapple will release one of the late LENNY BRUCE's last concerts as an album."












There's a feature on the "Apple Artists", including JAMES TAYLOR, MARY HOPKIN, JACKIE LOMAX (pictured above, with GEORGE HARRISON), THE IVEYS (no mention that they had already changed their name to BADFINGER and had a big hit with PAUL MCCARTNEY's "Come And Get It"), BILLY PRESTON, WHITE TRASH, and others.












With this photo of Harrison with RITCHIE HAVENS (not an Apple artist), we're told that "all of the Beatles maintain a constant awareness of the rest of the rock scene".

There's a couple of pages on THE ROLLING STONES, with some brief quotes, seemingly from KEITH RICHARD. On plans for another live album: "Not after the last one!". Another quote is "we're not trying to make money.....we're just trying to make records".



















Then there are articles on KING CRIMSON, BB KING, ROBERT PLANT, JOHN MAYALL, and "Pop's Pied Piper" IAN ANDERSON.

And of course there's "Words To Your Favorite Hits", including "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Whole Lotta Love", "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" ("as recorded by TRASH"), and lots more.

Not bad for 35 cents!