Thanks for that, I actually had no idea about the existence of this particular single, nor of the "Mary Had a Little Baby" Apple release in the Philippines. You learn something new every day, don't you? Tell you what, I remember seeing an interview she did with Australian Women's Weekly magazine. I'll see if I can find it somewhere online. It was quite interesting.
Having a peek at the Tumblr blog I got the above images from and I saw this: I wonder where the studio was located? Apple Studios? Trident?
@Arnold Grove yeah, definitely looks like Trident, thanks for that photo btw. Pretty cool. This is the German sleeve for 'Those Were the Days'. I haven't actually seen this photo too many times. I have no idea what photo session this was for, but it's cool nonetheless.
I've wondered the same thing over the years. I just found this: Songwriter Liz Thorsen - Alias? Recluse?
Love Mary's Apple material, I'll name Post Card as a favorite along with Goodbye. George Martin penned "The Game" on the Post Card album which is also a great song.
Another vote here for Earth Song/Ocean Song as one of the great albums! I think her earliest recordings were in Welsh, probably pre-Apple. Some of the ones I heard are very nice even though I have no idea what the words mean, but I like Meic Stevens and Clannad as much while likewise being none the wiser.
Written by George Martin. Produced by Paul McCartney. Reversed roles... Fantastic album, that Apple had once again no idea as to how it should have been promoted. The b-side "Jefferson" should really have been on it, though. Mary sang that lovely song on radio and TV at the time. Mary Hopkin - "Jefferson" (1971)
Can't find the picture right now, but the complete text on the blackboard reads "My name is Mary Hopkin, not Hopkins"......
Mini skirts were all the rage back then and Mary wore them loads. I don't recall that she ever wore hot pants though, maybe they came in fashion a little later?
Interestingly, during a fall 1971 BBC radio show (Top Of The Pops) promoting the album in which Mary performs a few songs live, the announncer (Brian Matthews I think) announces "Earth Song" has being written by Carole King!
They may have been on to something with Mary & James Taylor as the soft rock boon of the early 70s was right around the corner. Think of Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, Carole King, early Elton. Of course James did succeed in a big way, but Mary could've fit right in. A missed opportunity, but you gotta give them credit for identifying some big talent.
I like this one as well. What a palaver trying to find a non Sgt Pepper thread these days, the first two pages of the forum are clogged up with them. There is even a dedicated thread to discuss the cardboard box that the box set is housed in....
I was hoping that cardboard box thread was a joke, but it's hard to tell on here. I meant to say that for some reason I remember Mary singing If You Love Me on TOTP in 1976. That song stayed with me, even though it wasn't a big hit. I gave Post Card a spin on Spotify and thought it was a bit twee. It made Olivia sound like Patti Smith. It wasn't unpleasant, but I don't think I'd want a full album of that kind of stuff. Mary's voice is unique, but it's not one that really adapted itself well to 'pop' music. You couldn't imagine her going disco for example. Not that she'd want to, I'm sure.
I agree, I do love some of Mary's songs and like her voice, but only in small doses. I find her voice just a little shrill, not sure if that's the best description.. Actually the Beatles cardboard box might have been a joke thread, like Paul's innovative handclaps and the Ringo is comforting threads. Whatever, even a discussion about a cardboard box can easily stretch to 100 pages if it is a Beatles cardboard box