MAY PANG book signing for "Instamatic Karma"
Laurie Frank hosted a book signing event for May Pang's "Instamatic Karma" a collection of photos she took of John Lennon during their 18 month "lost weekend" relationship, with accompanying stories.
I found myself waiting on line to get a signed copy behind Al Coury, who worked with John Lennon and May on John's solo work at Capitol Records. Coury who is retired and lives in Ventura (coincidentally he lives in the same development as Steve Binder, subject of my recent "Elvis" column.
While we were waiting Coury told me the story of how he rescued Lennon's "Rock 'N Roll album" from Phil Spector. Spector had kept the tapes. John had gone back to NY. Then Spector was in a bad car accident and disappeared -- he was east of Palm Springs, but completely incommiunicado.
Coury called up Spector's attorney and asked what it would take to get the tapes back.
It turned ou that Specitor had spent a good of his Warner's money that perhaps he shouldn't have. If Coury could come up with $159,000, he could get the tapes, the lawyer promised. Coury agreed.
On the appointed day a truck pulled into the Capital Records parking lot. Coury had someone double check each tape to make sure all the masters were there --- and then handed over a check.
Coury then called Lennon in NY and told him he had the tapes. Lennon asked him to bring them to NY.
Coury then got on a commercial airliner with the tapes in several large containers in the hold.
When he arrived in New York -- Lennon had six limousines waiting on the tarmack (this was in the days before 9/11 security) -- and that's how Lennon got back the Phil Spector produced Rock "N Roll tapes.
I found myself waiting on line to get a signed copy behind Al Coury, who worked with John Lennon and May on John's solo work at Capitol Records. Coury who is retired and lives in Ventura (coincidentally he lives in the same development as Steve Binder, subject of my recent "Elvis" column.
While we were waiting Coury told me the story of how he rescued Lennon's "Rock 'N Roll album" from Phil Spector. Spector had kept the tapes. John had gone back to NY. Then Spector was in a bad car accident and disappeared -- he was east of Palm Springs, but completely incommiunicado.
Coury called up Spector's attorney and asked what it would take to get the tapes back.
It turned ou that Specitor had spent a good of his Warner's money that perhaps he shouldn't have. If Coury could come up with $159,000, he could get the tapes, the lawyer promised. Coury agreed.
On the appointed day a truck pulled into the Capital Records parking lot. Coury had someone double check each tape to make sure all the masters were there --- and then handed over a check.
Coury then called Lennon in NY and told him he had the tapes. Lennon asked him to bring them to NY.
Coury then got on a commercial airliner with the tapes in several large containers in the hold.
When he arrived in New York -- Lennon had six limousines waiting on the tarmack (this was in the days before 9/11 security) -- and that's how Lennon got back the Phil Spector produced Rock "N Roll tapes.
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