Remembering When One of The Beatles’ Associates Failed Them When They Needed Him Most in 1969
In 1969, The Beatles moved their Let It Be recording sessions to the basement of Apple Records, expecting a state-of-the-art studio promised by Alexis Mardas, known as “Magic Alex”. The equipment failed when tested, leaving the band without a usable recording set-up at a tense point in the sessions.
The mixing console was not connected to the studio, and playback produced pops and hisses. Producer George Martin arranged for a portable recording unit from EMI, which the group used to record the album. Mardas later left the band’s inner circle after Allan Klein became manager.
In short
- Magic Alex’s promised studio failed the Beatles in 1969.
- George Martin arranged a portable EMI recording unit.
- Mardas later left the group’s inner circle.
Explained simply
The Beatles were a British rock band whose members in 1969 were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were recording songs for Let It Be at Apple Records, the company they had set up to manage their work.
Alexis Mardas, nicknamed “Magic Alex”, was an associate of the band who said he could build advanced recording equipment for Apple’s basement studio. George Martin, their producer, helped arrange a portable recording unit from EMI, the record company that had worked with the Beatles, so the sessions could continue.
The episode took place during a period of strain within the band, as its members disagreed over their work and business. Allan Klein later became the Beatles’ manager, and Mardas left their inner circle.
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