UK: PAUL MCCARTNEY ATTENDS HIS FIRST ALBUM SIGNING IN 34 YEARS, AND BRIT-POPPERS PULP MAKE AN APPEARANCE AT THE RELAUNCH OF RECORD STORE HMV

Record ID: 387585

  • Title: UK: PAUL MCCARTNEY ATTENDS HIS FIRST ALBUM SIGNING IN 34 YEARS, AND BRIT-POPPERS PULP MAKE AN APPEARANCE AT THE RELAUNCH OF RECORD STORE HMV
  • Date: 16th October 1997
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 16, 1997) (RTV -ACCESS ALL) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) CROWDS AND JOURNALISTS LINING OXFORD STREET AWAITING ARRIVAL OF SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY MCCARTNEY ARRIVING AT HMV STORE (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) DJ DR FOX ASKING MCCARTNEY, "DO YOU FIND MAKING ALBUMS AS EXCITING AS EVER BECAUSE I HEARD IT'S 35 YEARS SINCE YOU DID YOUR LAST SI
  • Embargoed: 31st October 1997 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAA606ATHYR02CCZYZGPV53I2U8
  • Story Text: Beatlemania returned to London on Thursday (October 16) when fans of Sir Paul McCartney besieged a record store for McCartney's first album signing in 35 years.

    Reminiscent of early Beatles days, police linked hands to hold back the crowds outside the HMV music complex in Oxford Street, as McCartney unveiled a model of HMV's trademark dog "Nipper".

    Before the official re-opening of the store following its five million pound refurbishment, McCartney was presented with an award for "Popular Music Composer of the 20th Century" by HMV's worldwide Chief Executive Stuart McCallister.

    Mccartney came to sign autographs at HMV to pay back a favour from 1962. Then, the Beatles' manager Brian Epstein asked for help from an old friend, Bob Boast, manager of the record store at that time.

    Boast went on to arrange a meeting with George Martin, who was then a staff producer for Parlophone records. This led to a contract with Parlophone and the rest, as they say,is history.

    Some 2,000 people were allowed access into the cavernous store though only 250 could line up in special queues to buy McCartney's latest albums to be signed by McCartney.

    "Flaming Pie" was released earlier this year and his symphonic work, "Standing Stone", came out this month.

    "Standing Stone" had its world premiere at London's Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday (October 14). It was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and received a standing ovation.

    Many fans had been waiting overnight to catch a glimpse of their idol. Dedicated fans wearing white T-shirts with "LIPA" printed on them were from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts which is sponsored by McCartney.

    They came to London for the "Standing Stone" launch at the Albert Hall and waited overnight on Oxford Street in the hope of meeting him. Some succeeded.

    A compac disc recording of the work went straight to Number 1 in the U.S. classic charts and reached Number 2 in the UK equivalent within a week of being released.

    McCartney admitted his week, which included a trip to Paris to see younger daughter Stella's first showing for fashion house Chloe, had been busy: "It's good to come back and give them something back and also to meet the kids, meet the people....very busy week, very hectic, very emotional but a really great one", he said.

    The store invited several stars to help celebrate its re-launch, including the Sheffield-based group Pulp. It was only their second live appearance this year and the group spent a couple of hours in the store playing their favourite hits. Fans could also queue up for autographs.

    Pulp's first single for a year and a half "Help The Aged" is due to be released by Island records on November 10.

    The band is currently working on their third album (with Island Records) which is set to be in record shops by March next year.

    Pulp have also recorded "Like A Friend" for the forthcoming soundtrack to the film "Great Expectations" which is due to be released in the United States on November 25. The film will be screened in the U.S. on December 31.

    The group achieved huge success with their last album "Different Class" featuring "Common People" and "Something Changed".

    Lead singer, Jarvis Cocker, is renowned for attempting to upstage Michael Jackson at the Brit Awards last year.
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