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Mick always had a flair for the dramatic, so there were high expectations when it came to birthdays. After all, you only turned twenty-five once and that birthday rarely ever coincided with the release of your new album.
That’s right, Beggars Banquet, fresh from the recording studio would debut at Mick’s birthday party tonight, August 8th, 1968. The entire future of the Rolling Stones stood on the success of this very album.
In a risky move (the Tottenham Court Road police were just around the corner and on this very night, were they to enter this specific club with the intent to raid, they would have been able to bust some of the biggest names in Britain), Mick decided to hold his combination birthday party and record release at the brand new Vesuvio Club. The Vesuvio Club, to Tony, the owner, was “one of the best clubs London has ever seen.” From its Moroccan style, to Turkish hookahs whose smoke filled the room, to the black lights on the ceiling, the Vesuvio Club was the perfect place to launch the record of the century. A pretty ace place to be. One that would surely keep the British invasion kicking and make sure that the Rolling Stones continued to live on long after their time in the spotlight was up.
But my friends, you are not here for a measly rendition of the birthday party of Mick Jagger. You could care less about the intricate tapestries that adorned the walls of the Vesuvio Club. Or the drugs that others were doing in the shadows (or in the open if you were bold enough to bring out the hash). You know the album Beggars Banquet, even listen to it on occasion as you’re driving down the road to work. You’re well aware of what was playing over their speakers in that dark club that night many years ago. You came here for one thing, and one thing only: Paul McCartney and “Hey Jude.”
Entering the party with an unmatched swagger was the superstar, Mick Jagger. The star of the evening. The birthday boy and oh was he going to get a special gift tonight. As I mentioned earlier, he loved to be dramatic, so he took a plane from LA to get to his exclusive birthday party. Rolling up to the joint as if he was the self-proclaimed king of the Vesuvio. Then, Charlie Watts entered. Somehow, John Lennon found his way in. As everyone is enjoying their time, “Sympathy for the Devil” plays over the loudspeakers. You could feel the humidity of the club in the air as the patrons danced and ground. The air reeked of cigarette smoke and whiskey. In walked Paul McCartney and it was as if every eye in the room was focused on him, or rather, what was in his hand. In his hand carried the weight of his newest phonograph record. All the clubbers gossiped in awe as to what it could contain. Was this the next Beatles album? Was Paul going solo? How brave must he be to bring it to a rival’s birthday party. Or stupid. When Paul entered, it was as if the air grew tense. Mick turned away towards his girlfriend at the time, Marianne Faithfull, a stunning singer with a melodic voice.
“Pleased to meet you. Hope you guess my name.”
Now, this is where some things get tricky because Mick reacted in twenty seven different ways. It all depended on who you were talking with about his reaction to Paul McCartney entering.
If you were on the side that said he had a negative reaction, then he really isn’t going to like what happened later on in the night. The owner, Tony, we mentioned him before, he played a role in this night’s upstaging that we will see later. He is on the side that tells us about Mick’s frustration with his combination birthday/launch party.
Marianne, who may have been heavily under the influence, calls it a meeting between the minds. She tells people that everyone was doing drugs and drinking and having a good time because goddamn aren’t they some of the best creators in the industry?
Paul strolled confidently over to Tony and handed him the record.
“See what you think of it, Tony. It’s our new one.” Paul drawled, his lips quirking into a smirk.
Just what was Paul planning?
And who was Tony to deny a request from THE Paul McCartney. Not to mention his growing curiosity over what was on this record. As if he were a child on Christmas staring down the shiny, wrapped presents under the tree, he was filled with adrenaline when it was time to place the record on the track.
Tony squeezed himself through the tight crowd, bumping into women dancing along to the future hits from Beggars Banquet and men jeering as they admired the way the women’s hips moved. Tony was on a mission, he had valuable cargo. Treasure perhaps. It all depends as to the contents of the record. If only the dancers knew what was in store for them, they would mark this day down as a night to never forget. Maybe one of the top moments of their lives.
Approaching the DJ, Tony was sweaty and slightly out of breath. The haze and heat of the club began to overwhelm his senses, but he couldn’t abandon his task when he was so close.
“It’s an acetate. Do you want to slip it on some time during the evening?” He wheezed, handing over the acetate. The sleeve was green, the shape of an ivory apple in the center. In the darkness, he could vaguely make out the words ‘Apple Records’ on the top of the disc.
The DJ carefully took the disc, handling it as if it were a fragile piece of glass. He looked up at Tony with wide eyes. “You really want me to-- now? How will Mick react?”
“I’ll do it then. This could be the next big hit. If it happens here. They’ll come to the Vesuvio for years to come because we will make history.”
Tony nudged the DJ aside and placed the record down on the track. Once it was all set up, he turned up the sound system and let the music play.
“Hey Jude, don’t make it bad,” McCartney’s voice echoed throughout the club, causing patrons to stop and turn their ears towards the new song playing.
As the song continued, some of the clubbers directed their eyes towards Mick. Or rather, a pissed off Mick, sulking in the corner of the club.
“Take a sad song and make it better”
“Tony, you hearing this?” The DJ excitedly turned to the club owner.
“Just wait,” Tony smirked, “remember there’s more on the other side.”
The song began to end on a bunch of ‘na na na’s and the club was quiet. The DJ took that as his cue to flip to the other side.
“Aah!”
Women exchanged glances with each other before a new voice hit their ears.
“You say you want a revolution. Well, you know. We all want to change the world”
John Lennon took the stage this time, his raw and emotional voice keeping everyone’s attention.
“I think they’re gonna start a revolution. Look at ‘em!”
“Kid, they already have.”
--
The song finished and the music returned back to the Rolling Stones’ best hits so far. The clubbers began dancing again, stopping every so often to whisper to their friends “we just heard a Beatles song before anyone else!”
Mick Jagger strode towards McCartney, who was unsure of how this interaction was going to go. On one hand, he looked peeved. On the other, he looked impressed. He didn’t have time to flip a coin to see his chances, but what did he care, he was Paul McCartney and he was confident enough in his musical ability to defend it.
“Fuckin’ ‘ell! Fuckin’ ‘ell! That’s something else, innit? It’s like two songs?” Mick spoke, emotions still unsure.
“That it is, Mick. Happy birthday.” Paul said, raising his glass to the strobe lights.
--
“Hey Jude/Revolution” released later that month. On the A-side played “Hey Jude” and the B side sang “Revolution.” It was number one on the Billboard top 100 for nine weeks. Beggars Banquet didn’t release until December later that year and it also saw a large amount of success and went platinum.
Maybe it was really fate that two of the best songs and albums of 1968 came to a head that night. The night they were both ready to be released into the world. We cannot pretend that both McCartney and Jagger are not prolific names in both the British invasion and in the music industry overall.
At the end of this all, Vesuvio closed a few weeks later. It left this night to be only a memory that those there talked about. One they remember fondly. Or with frustration, depending on who you talk to.