Merle Frimark was already a huge fan of the Fab Four when she started working for them. Here she recalls being in the room as they put the finishing touches on Come Together – and reveals her unseen snaps of her encounter
On the afternoon of 23 July 1969, I was a nervous 18-year-old American on my way to EMI Recording Studios on Abbey Road in St John’s Wood. Inside, the Beatles were putting the finishing touches on the song Come Together, which would end up on Abbey Road. An endless stream of pilgrims would soon arrive at the pedestrian crossing on the cover, and the studios would be renamed to match.
As I entered, I heard voices and wailing guitars. Their assistant Mal Evans greeted me and put me at ease. John, Paul, George and Ringo were scattered around the studio. The place was bustling, with crew setting up, moving equipment and microphones, placing towels over the drum heads. Then came the introduction. The boys – as everyone seemed to refer to them – were reminded that I was from the New York office. They all smiled; I felt warmly welcomed. Then they got down to business. Not wanting to be intrusive, I took some candid photos; I was by no means a professional photographer, and this is the first time they’ve been published.
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