The Beatles song “Hey Jude” was almost never a hit because the apple label on the vinyl was considered “pornographic”. (indipendent.co.uk)
A newly discovered letter reveals that the quartet’s 1968 song, their first release under Apple Records, was almost scrapped because record executives thought the logo looked like a vagina.
The letter, dated 28 August 1968, written by Captol Records president Stan Gortikov, reveals distributors thought stores wouldn’t want to stock the single.
Hey Jude” – with B-side “Revolution” – went on to sell 8 milion copies worldwide. The logo remained.
The letter, addressed to Apple boss Ron Kass, reads: “Here’s a wild and unanticipated problem to brighten up your day I just received a call from a very large and influential rack jobber in the western United States. He opened the conversation by saying, ‘Are you guys serious? Do you know what you’re doing? Do you really intend to sell products bearing the new Apple label?’
“He then stated that he felt the new Apple label was completely pornographic and actually depicted a vagina.”
The letter adds that the “graphic similarity” was “noticed by all of his key employees”.
“[He] doubted that many of his chain store customers would even be willing to stock and display products containing the label.”
The new document was released ahead of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ final public performance on the roof of Apple’s headquarters in London, which took place in January 1969.
One of the first business ventures by The Beatles’ Apple Corps was the Apple Boutique, which opened on 7 December 1967. It was located at 94 Baker Street, London.
The Beatles Apple boutique on 94 Baker Street, London, opened its doors. The store closed seven months later when it fell foul of council objections over the psychedelic mural painted on the outside. All the goods from the shop were given away free to passers by and to people who had queued throughout the night for a chance of getting a free item.
