On this day, 1 March 1969, Welsh Songstress Mary Hopkin was interviewed to publicise her debut LP titled Postcard, produced by Beatle Paul McCartney.
It was also on this day that Mary Hopkin went into the studio to record her follow up single Goodbye, again with McCartney producing.
Mary Hopkin hasn’t changed much since she came up from the valleys for Opportunity Knocks.
She’s very quiet to the point of shyness - even after a number 1 hit.
Sitting in a room at Apple’s office whilst her new album “Postcard” Mary brushes her blonde hair out of her eyes and when she speaks you have to listen very closely because her Welsh voice is very soft.
“I don’t like singing without my guitar because I hide behind it,” she says, “it gives me self confidence, I’m a bit more use to it than I use to be, but I won’t stop using it on stage.”
The telephone rings with an invitation for Mary to go to the opening night of the Merry Widow. “ it’ll be nice Mary “ says publicist Derek Taylor.
“But I don’t have anyone to go with.” Derek promises to ring back and tells Mary he knows someone nice to take her.
Mary really is a shy girl and you think she would have changed with Beatle Paul producing “Postcard” , Paul’s girlfriend taking the photographs and with Donovan writing three of the album tracks.
“It’s great to sing his songs. I’ve been an admirer of his for a long time. They’re a very different kind of song to others on the album but they match in quality.
“He accompanies me on ‘Lord Of The Reedy River’ and ‘Voyage To The Moon’ “
The album consists of many songs from past decades. Why had she chosen songs from the Twenties, Thirties and Fourties’ ?
“Paul had the idea and I like the thought of trying them. My favourites are ‘Show Business’ and ‘ Love Is The Sweetest Thing’
“ I think I had the most trouble with George Martin’s song ‘The Game’. I thought ‘Show Business’ would be very difficult but it turned out the easiest. It is a very well constructed song.
“I didn’t have anything in mind, the album turned out like it. The songs are what I want to sing.. I don’t know who the bulk of my fans are - I get letters from all ages but it’s probably the mums and dads mainly.”
The album will have immense appeal to mums and dads. Has Mary thought about concentrating on the older market by having a show of her own or going cabaret?
“Oohh no,” she says, pulling a face, I don’t think so, I’ll carry on what I’m doing, just singing the songs I like.”
What about a new single, a follow up to “Those Were The Days,” ? “ We’ve a few songs in mind for a new single but nothing definite .”
As we leave Mary warns of the loose carpet on the stairs. “Someone’s going to fall down there, I expect it’ll be me. Goodbye.”
As Apple say, “she’s only eighteen and her accent and attitudes intact”.
