I have very strong opinions about this. Mary Hopkin & Badfinger.   Pete Ham was such a tragic figure in the Beatles saga..such a talented composer/singer (along w/Tom Evans --also r.i.p) But of  the people in the Beatles Apple "stable" i'd have to say Mary H. is my all-time fave. I loved her voice dearly. When Twiggy brought her to Paul's attention in '69, I feel she became his greatest protoge. I WISH her career had lasted longer than her two hits and now obscure LPs...she was a vocal gem. Most beautiful female voice I ever heard next to Patsy Cline's. Props to macca !!  ^5  I miss Mary making hit records. I know she's alive and well in Wales...but I WISH Paul would work w/ her like in the old days--and WRITE for her again !..but alas, it probably wont happen  ..but one can only wish.

Quoted from 829

I have very strong opinions about this. Mary Hopkin & Badfinger.   Pete Ham was such a tragic figure in the Beatles saga..such a talented composer/singer (along w/Tom Evans --also r.i.p) But of  the people in the Beatles Apple "stable" i'd have to say Mary H. is my all-time fave. I loved her voice dearly. When Twiggy brought her to Paul's attention in '69, I feel she became his greatest protoge. I WISH her career had lasted longer than her two hits and now obscure LPs...she was a vocal gem. Most beautiful female voice I ever heard next to Patsy Cline's. Props to macca !!  ^5  I miss Mary making hit records. I know she's alive and well in Wales...but I WISH Paul would work w/ her like in the old days--and WRITE for her again !..but alas, it probably wont happen  ..but one can only wish.

Did she do "Those were the days"? Great tune. Melody is an old Russian drinking song, IIRC. Haunting words and voice, for sure.

yes..but Paul always said it was derived from a similar Russian folk tune--but he re-worked it, then claimed it as his own. Great song, either way. And I know for certain her follow-up song "Goodbye" was written entirely by Macca. I have Paul's demo of the song where he's just singing it w/ an acoustic guitar as a "guide" for Mary. Beautiful melody. He always wrote great stuff for other ppl (like ALL his Peter & Gordon and Billy J Kramer material)