Telstar: The Joe Meek Story Page #3

John, you're over here.

- Yeah, cool. Oh, Joe.

- Yeah?

Not my business, but those instruments I passed downstairs,

the cello and the violins,

I don't think you're going to be able to hear them up here.

- There's microphones down there, John. That's what they do.

- Really?

- Great.

- Thank you.

- One, two.

- Charles, I want to go straight for the level.

- OK!

- Count them in. We'll see what it sounds like.

- OK.

Oh, oh

Oh

When the mist's a-rising And the rain is falling

And the wind is blowing cold across the moor

I hear the voice...

I hear the voice of my darlin'...

- (ECHO)

- Ready?

Will Johnny Remember Me be a hit?

O.

N.

E. Number one.

Johnny, remember me

Yes, I'll always remember

Till the day I die

I'll hear her cry

Johnny, remember me

Ah-ah

Ah-ah-ah

Ah ah ah-ah

Ah ah-ah

Well, some day, I guess

I'll find myself another little girl

To take the place of my true love

But as long as I live I know

I'll hear her singing in the sighing of the wind

Blowin' in the tree tops way above me

Johnny, remember me...

You come back here again, I'll cut your bollocks off!

And don't forget your amp!

You avaricious pig!

All I did was ask for my money. He's f***ing mad.

You're f***ing mad!

Move, move.

Sorry about that.

Now, where were we?

Well, I was thinking something like this.

Piano's sounding a bit odd, a bit strange.

I put some drawing pins in on the hammers. It adds a bit of sparkle.

Hm. Sparkle? Yes. Wonderfully clever.

See, what I want

is a...a sort of Tornados' theme tune

so they can have their own solo slot before Billy Fury comes on.

So, like the...

The Shadows have Apache before Cliff.

Does it have to sound Red Indian?

PLAYS A FEW NOTES

No, not really.

Have a go on that.

It's a...

clavioline.

It only plays one note at a time

but it might be good for the main theme.

Ooh, I like it.

Sounds odd. Aloof.

I like that word, "aloof."

PHONE RINGS:

Don't worry, it will come to us.

Hello, RGM. Oh yeah, it's me, put him on.

Joe? Larry. Joe.

I know how much you would love to record Billy Fury

and we've considered your offer

but, unfortunately, we won't be recording with you.

- Why's that?

- Nothing personal, trust me.

Listen, your boys, The Tornados, they're doing a great job

backing Billy on the tour. They are ace.

It's just that we have our own recording arrangements.

- Not good enough for him?

- Joe, Joe.

Please, let's keep this professional.

We have had a number one.

(MOCKINGLY) Yes, Joe. You did.

And I look after a dozen boys,

any one of which can do what your boy does.

Oh, really? Well, good luck to them.

Upstairs. It's on the latch.

Listen, Joe. Let me tell you something.

You may manage the tour, you may manage The Tornados, but you do not

manage Billy Fury and I don't see Billy Fury recording in your toilet.

God...

Can I help you?

- Who are you?

- I'm Heinz.

I met Cliff Bennett backstage at the Palace Ballroom in Southampton,

said I should come and see you, like, you know, and audition.

Said he'd have a word, like, you know,

said he'd put in a word for me.

Said if I used his name, it'd be all right, I could just turn up.

You know, no appointment.

Did he? That's nice of him.

Yeah?

So, where did you say you were from?

Near Southampton.

- And what is it that you do?

- Bacon slicer.

- Really? How useful.

Oh, sorry. You meant... Yeah.

I sing. And I play a bit of bass.

Tell you what.

Why don't you pop to the shops and get me a jar of coffee.

- Instant all right?

- Joe, I really think I found a nice little melody.

- Here's ten bob. Get me a couple of packs of Preludin.

- Right.

- What's that?

- Preludin, you get it in the chemists.

It's slimming tablets.

You're on a diet?

No. I'm just going to be very busy, that's all.

Pop back in an hour, I'll see if I can fit you in.

Right, ta. Great.

Hour.

- Lady cream.

- Preludin!

- Yeah.

He's eager, isn't he?

- Can't say I noticed.

- Right, back to work.

'From a ground station...'

- Did you put sugar in it?

- Um...yeah.

'An historic feat that could reshape man's future.

'That satellite, of course, is the Telstar,

'170 pounds of complex electronic equipment that receives signals

'beamed from Earth, magnifies them ten billion times

'and rebroadcasts them...'

'..Telstar, if you were with us earlier this evening,

'you'll know what this is.

'It is the near miracle satellite now in orbit in space,

'which we hope in just one hour from now on this very programme

'is going to transmit to us

'the first ever live public television pictures

'from the United States...

'I can see from where I'm sitting,

'let's go over live to Goonhilly in Cornwall.

'Thank you, Richard. There is an unmistakable image. That is a man's face.

'That's the first live television picture across the Atlantic...'

'What does the future hold? Scientists visualise

'a belt of Telstars encircling the globe

'in such a manner that transmissions will be continuous around the world.

- ECHOING:

- 'Photographic communication... miracle... Telstar...'

HE HUMS TO HIMSELF

ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC

HE SINGS A TUNE BADLY

HE SINGS A TUNE BADLY WITH ECHO SOUND EFFEC I can't possibly play guitar to this.

I've never heard the like.

Well, he can't play any instruments, so he has to hum those f***ing tapes.

Clem, I don't want it on the ride. I want it on the hi-hat.

I'm on the hi-hat!

- Then play it closed.

- I played it closed!

Then play it better!

- Oh, OK, then(!)

- Right, well, then f***ing get on with it, then.

You.

Twang, twang, twang

Twang, twang-twang twang, twang...

Pardon?

..Twang, twang-twang...

Look, we've got to be at Great Yarmouth by six. By rights, we should be off inside an hour.

Twang-twang-twang...

Right, that's it, that's it, you play that.

You play what you always f***ing play.

Dum, dum, dum. Tighter, tighter.

Right, that's not bad. Stop, stop!

I want eight bars of that. Twice.

- We never had this trouble with Johnny Kidd.

- I'll bet.

- Never recorded over a handbag shop.

- Yeah, it's unusual, isn't it?

Always used to have to wear a suit to the studio.

Riveting.

GET ON WITH IT!

Sorry, mate. No cue lights.

CRACKLING We present...Navy Lark...

BANGING:

What are you doing?

- Drumming.

- Bum titty bum titty bum titty bum!

- BANGING

- Look, no hands!

Joe, can I have a word?

I'm recording!

You'd better look at me!

- Carry on, then.

- JOE!!!

- Oh, f***ing come on...

JOE!!!

Keep practising. I'll be back in a minute.

Joe, we ain't got the time. I don't want to piss Larry off.

Well, f*** Larry Parnes! And f*** Billy Fury! This is my tour.

You are my band. And you will stay sat there till I say.

He only started the Tornados so he could try and lure Billy Fury into his khazi.

Never had any of this with the Pirates.

You should always have more than one string to your bow, Patrick. Duck?

Keep it.

- Thank you, sir.

- These ducks are cheap. Not like these tapes.

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