All You Need is Luck – the Story of Focal Point

Photo courtesy of Decca Records
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This true story is one all dreamers will relate to. It vibrates with the innocence of the summer of love, the energy of the swinging ’60s, and the magic of the Beatles, a phenomenon that continues to captivate the world to this day. 

In 1967, Paul Tennant and his friend, David Rhodes, a couple of young singer/songwriters decided to stop off in London on their way home from a brief holiday before driving back to their hometown, Liverpool, England. Stuck in dead-end jobs, the boys have long dreamed of a music career but realize that their dream is just that. By 1967 all the Liverpool bands with star potential had already moved to London to follow in the Beatles’ footsteps, and to two young Scousers, all the doors leading to stardom seemed to have been slammed in their faces. After a couple of days of sightseeing in London the lads decide to find Paul McCartney’s house, not knowing that their lives are about to change forever.

Top row: Tim Wells, Ted Hesketh, Dave Rhodes. Bottom row: Paul Tennant, David Slater – Photo Courtesy of Decca Records

Arriving just as the Beatle is pulling out of his driveway with his girlfriend, Jane Asher, and his famous sheepdog, Martha. In a split second, they decide to chase McCartney through the winding streets of London and watch as he jumps out of the car to walk his dog in Hyde Park.   Abandoning their van, Paul and Dave gather the nerve to approach the Beatle and initiate a conversation, telling McCartney they are Liverpool songwriters and asking if he would listen to their music. At first annoyed but then feeling a bond with these motivated Liverpudlians, McCartney gives them a name and a phone number and sends them on their way.

The boys run to a phone booth and call the number. A voice answers and says, “you guys know Paul? Come on over.” They arrive at a virtually empty office with just a piece of paper stuck to the door. It reads “Apple. The only one there is Terry Doran, newly appointed manager of Apple Publishing, the Beatles new music company.  Doran asks the boys to play something. Paul and Dave pull out their guitars and launch into a song. The young executive is impressed. He takes the lads to a small demo studio where they record a couple of tracks. That very afternoon, Doran plays the songs to John Lennon who likes what he hears. Lennon calls Beatles manager, Brian Epstein and plays the demos over the phone. Epstein talks to Paul and Dave, telling them over the phone to form a band that he suggests calling “Focal Point. ” He invites them to return to London in a couple of weeks to meet with him in person.

Focal Point album cover – Courtesy of Paul Tennant

Paul and Dave are ecstatic. They can’t believe their luck. Rushing back to Liverpool they quickly audition other musicians to form Focal Point. They begin rehearsing for the upcoming meeting with the Beatles’ manager but two weeks later they wake up to devastating news. Brian Epstein is dead.

As the weeks pass the boys are back working at their mundane jobs. Paul Tennant is a waiter. David Slater a clerk at a shipping office while Dave Slater works at a flour mill. Hardly anyone believes their story about meeting a Beatle and talking to Brian Epstein. It’s as if their magical weekend in London never happened. But as the name of this article implies – all you need is luck

In early 1968 Terry Doran reaches out and invites Focal Point to London. He offers to manage them and find them a record deal. He also offers a music publishing contract with Apple and they become the first act, outside of the Beatles, to be signed to Apple. True to his word, Terry Doran gets Focal Point a record contract with Decca, the label that had turned down the Beatles years earlier. The boys move into one of John Lennon’s houses and soon become a part of Swinging London. Their names are on the VIP list of every trendy nightclub and all their expenses, clothes and haircuts are paid for by Apple. Focal Point are even allowed to borrow the Beatles’ guitars for their recording sessions. It’s a dream come true.

With the 1968 release of their first single, “Sycamore Sid/Love You Forever,” they see a promising future ahead. Things however begin to turn sour at Apple and after a year the magic carpet ride comes to an abrupt end. Focal Point are let go and are forced to return to Liverpool. Back in their home town, they try to keep the dream alive by playing gigs but in time the band members get married, start families and eventually go their separate ways.

Paul Tennant in Los Angeles, 2010 – Photo: Peter Foldy

In 2008 Paul Tennant writes a book called “All You Need is Luck… or How I Got a Record Deal by Meeting Paul McCartney.” He tracks down the Beatle and asks him to provide a quote. McCartney states: “Paul Tennant’s story about Liverpool and his year with Apple is fascinating. I am happy to have played a small part in it.”

The book is published and a screenplay based on this amazing story is written. Focal Point, now well into their 60s reunite, record a new album called “First Bite of the Apple” and once again begin to play gigs around Liverpool.

Though they never achieve major stardom, Focal Point come to understand that being around the Beatles and the London music scene in 1968 made them a part of and a witness to rock and roll history. They were handed a once-in-a-lifetime chance that very few get to experience.

Paul Tennant’s book. Beatles photo – John Rowlands

With time, their early recordings take on a new dynamic. In his book, Those Were the Days: An Unofficial History of the Beatles Apple Organization 1967-2001, Stefan Granados, a recognized authority on all things Beatles and Apple, calls Focal Point’s music “classic psychedelic recordings of the era.” Chris Carter interviews Paul Tennant on his long-running radio program, “Breakfast with the Beatles and Seth Swirsky includes Tennant in his 2011 documentary feature film, “Beatles Stories.”

Paul Tennant sadly passed away in 2011.

Though Focal Point may only be remembered as a minor footnote in the history of Apple, their story provides a new perspective on The Beatles and the 1960s music scene. 

Watch this brief video clip as Paul Tennant shares his story: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poWAllTFOyo
 

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