The White Album Set Design
London: Apple Records, 1968. 3 hand drawn and annotated set designs (concept drawings) by Mal Evans, for 2 Beatles songs, aimed at proposed music videos or record covers.
1. Helter Skelter (one image, 13 words, all in blue ink).
2–3. Cry Baby Cry (2 images, 12 words, one deleted, all in black ink).
All 3 are on the verso side of a recycled 18 1/2” X 12 1/2” lead sheet left behind at the Apple Boutique after filming a scene in the movie Hot Millions. Very good. Nice relics. Scarce. Ex–Julien’s Auctions, April 10, 2020, lot 145. Very good. Item #826
Mal Evans was first hired by The Beatles in Aug. 1963 and stayed with them until their 1969 breakup (last studio session Jan. 3, 1970). Early in 1968 Evans preceded The Beatles to India for an inspection of Maharishi Yoga’s Ashram. Once The Beatles arrived, the 5 of them were taught meditation and The Beatles wrote many of the album’s songs. Lennon, McCartney, and Starr then returned to London and finished the formation of Apple Records giving Evans the title of personal assistant, while Harrison and Evans first flew to New York City then drove to West Saugerties and stayed with Bob Dylan and The Band while they rehearsed at Big Pink (The Band’s house). In May, The Beatles began recording The White Album at EMI (released in November). In July, Evans persuaded Apple to sign The Iveys (the first band Apple signed). He produced their first Apple sessions and changed The Iveys name to Badfinger. Our drawings seem to be from October with Evans rendering McCartney’s vision for Helter Skelter (British slang for a spiral playground slide), and Lennon’s vision for Cry Baby Cry (provoked by the nursery rhyme, Sing a Song of Sixpence.
Price:
$1,000.00