Mary Had a Little Lamb, Wings, TOTP 1972....solved
Sept 10, 2015 11:26:44 GMT
Jeff Leach, Alan Turrell, and 3 more like this
Post by Ray Langstone (was saintsray) on Sept 10, 2015 11:26:44 GMT
Ok, a non-find find!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After thinking about this on and off for many years, I have come to the conclusion that the Wings TOTP performance is the 'farmyard' insert.
Here's the evidence to me:- Keith Badman, in his excellent book 'the Beatles After the Break-Up' wrote:-
""Tuesday June 6:- To aid with the promotions for 'Mary Had A Little Lamb'; Wings appear in two further video clips. The first features the group miming the song in a barnyard setting. Paul is seen playing the song on the piano while a hen perches on top of it. Linda is seen cuddling a lamb and then singing the song while playing bongos. The second performance, affectionately called the "psychedelic version", features Wings performing the song in matching orange T-shirts and dungarees, with strikingly bright blue, yellow, black and red colours appearing in the background. ""
""Thursday June 29:- In England, the "barnyard" version of the MPL promotional film-clip of Wings performing 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' is broadcast on BBCl's Top Of The Pops between 7:25 and 7:59pm, and introduced by Jimmy Savile."".
Now then, it also says:-""Thursday May 25:- At the BBC Television Studios in Wood Lane, London, Wings take a break from rehearsals to record their first studio appearance on Top Of The Pops where they mime a live performance of 'Mary Had A Little Lamb'. The show, which is transmitted later this night on BBC1 between 7:25 and 7:59pm, is hosted by Ed "Stewpot" Stewart and also features studio performances by The Move, John (formerly Long John) Baldry and Friends, T. Rex and Elton John. The BBC reach a separate agreement with Paul to use, on future radio broadcasts, the live performance used on this broadcast. Unfortunately the Wings' videotape clip is wiped during the year.""
HANG ON! The appearance - whatever it was - was a one-off, repeated twice, according to Popscene, information taken from the PasBs.
And then this:- (ME Forum) ""Aug 7, 2003 at 9:41am @asm said:- Dear Steve, ASM here. I posted titles of both clips more than once on other parts of the forum, but I don't mind repeating. The Wings is "Mary had A little Lamb" TOTP with mock farmyard set....And who pray do you think Mr Badman received the list of DISCO/TOTP clips from? That's the honest truth, I swear to it! ASM""
We know ZDF have the TOTP 'appearance' on tape, but they won't part with it to the likes of me....and that's a farmyard set....
So, to conclude, you have the 'appearance' established as being a farmyard set, and it being the one ZDF have, which is from TOTP, and it also being confirmed as the only 'appearance'. The discrepancy is on 'shooting' dates, but as there is the unseen solo 'red nose' promo for 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', it's quite possible this is where the confusion lies.
No photos have ever surfaced of Wings performing MHALL on the TOTP set, per se, and I think that is why it's the 'farmyard' set promo that was an insert.
And, here it is:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjtnD4RZtn4
Interestingly, the ""Flip Wilson Show"" promo seems not to have been broadcast on that show until the Autumn.
The US issue was, effectively, the beginning of June 1972.
After thinking about this on and off for many years, I have come to the conclusion that the Wings TOTP performance is the 'farmyard' insert.
Here's the evidence to me:- Keith Badman, in his excellent book 'the Beatles After the Break-Up' wrote:-
""Tuesday June 6:- To aid with the promotions for 'Mary Had A Little Lamb'; Wings appear in two further video clips. The first features the group miming the song in a barnyard setting. Paul is seen playing the song on the piano while a hen perches on top of it. Linda is seen cuddling a lamb and then singing the song while playing bongos. The second performance, affectionately called the "psychedelic version", features Wings performing the song in matching orange T-shirts and dungarees, with strikingly bright blue, yellow, black and red colours appearing in the background. ""
""Thursday June 29:- In England, the "barnyard" version of the MPL promotional film-clip of Wings performing 'Mary Had A Little Lamb' is broadcast on BBCl's Top Of The Pops between 7:25 and 7:59pm, and introduced by Jimmy Savile."".
Now then, it also says:-""Thursday May 25:- At the BBC Television Studios in Wood Lane, London, Wings take a break from rehearsals to record their first studio appearance on Top Of The Pops where they mime a live performance of 'Mary Had A Little Lamb'. The show, which is transmitted later this night on BBC1 between 7:25 and 7:59pm, is hosted by Ed "Stewpot" Stewart and also features studio performances by The Move, John (formerly Long John) Baldry and Friends, T. Rex and Elton John. The BBC reach a separate agreement with Paul to use, on future radio broadcasts, the live performance used on this broadcast. Unfortunately the Wings' videotape clip is wiped during the year.""
HANG ON! The appearance - whatever it was - was a one-off, repeated twice, according to Popscene, information taken from the PasBs.
And then this:- (ME Forum) ""Aug 7, 2003 at 9:41am @asm said:- Dear Steve, ASM here. I posted titles of both clips more than once on other parts of the forum, but I don't mind repeating. The Wings is "Mary had A little Lamb" TOTP with mock farmyard set....And who pray do you think Mr Badman received the list of DISCO/TOTP clips from? That's the honest truth, I swear to it! ASM""
We know ZDF have the TOTP 'appearance' on tape, but they won't part with it to the likes of me....and that's a farmyard set....
So, to conclude, you have the 'appearance' established as being a farmyard set, and it being the one ZDF have, which is from TOTP, and it also being confirmed as the only 'appearance'. The discrepancy is on 'shooting' dates, but as there is the unseen solo 'red nose' promo for 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', it's quite possible this is where the confusion lies.
No photos have ever surfaced of Wings performing MHALL on the TOTP set, per se, and I think that is why it's the 'farmyard' set promo that was an insert.
And, here it is:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjtnD4RZtn4
Interestingly, the ""Flip Wilson Show"" promo seems not to have been broadcast on that show until the Autumn.
The US issue was, effectively, the beginning of June 1972.