Patti Boyd

A 6-page letter written by Pattie Boyd to her mother on the 7th of November, 1970, while she was staying with George Harrison at Frenchman’s Cove, Jamacia, West Indies.

• Patti Boyd (English).
• Written on embossed Frenchman’s cove letterhead.
• The contents illustrate the fractious relationship between Paul and George during this period, the former Beatles ongoing solo work, George’s friendship with Bob Dylan, the Charles Manson murder case and more.
• Accompanied by the original mailing envelope which is postmarked Jamacia November 11 1970.

The Letter Reads: 

‘Dearest Mums, 

Hope you are well and not too cold on your bike! We were in New York for just over a week while George made sure his record was cut properly for America before its put into production. After a bit of trouble its perfect now. Paul McCartney and Linda are in N.Y. while he is making a record so we went to see them because Paul wanted to see George about leaving the Beatles completely. It was strange to see them there as we haven’t seen them for so long. We also saw Bob Dylan and his 5 children – we went to their country house and stayed the night. It was lovely, the countryside was so beautiful – full of trees mostly silver beech and the colours were indiscribly beautiful so many reds, golds oranges and yellows. That’s not spelt right sorry! 

We went to a couple of big dinner parties much to Georges horror and my delight! Anyway after 5 hours flight and 2 hours drive we are staying at a beautiful place. There is a main hotel and about 12 bungalows of which we have one, this includes a butler and maid – very nice. We arrived yesterday, the place stopped in Montego Bay where the customs check woman was horrified to see that my smallpox vaccination ran out about 3 months ago. She immediately gave me one, but couldn’t understand how I got into America without it. I managed it because Allen Kleins heavy man met us at New York airport and rushed us through immigration and customs without them checking anything – he must be very influencial! (sic) 

It rained heavily last night and was very grey today but smells very sweet and fresh although its very horrid. When we arrived the customs asked George how much money he had then said we would have to drive back 70 miles two days later to see someone from their tourist board. The reason is either that George has long hair too much money or too little or that we are English – he wouldn’t say – all he said was “that’s what I say”. I understand their feeling towards the English people is not good. 

Everyone has a little battery powered golf cart to drive around the estate in – there is about 40 acres of pools, rocks, gold course and tennis court. We went to the beach which is in a cove like this:- 

Please give my love to David + Boo when you write or see them. Oh yes we didn’t go to Australia because we decided it was too far. We were going to go to Los Angeles for a few days to break up the long journey to Australia but when we arrived in N.Y. the press that met us said if we go to L.A. George could be called up by the lawyers in the Charles Manson case to answer questions about Beatle songs influencing Charles Manson. It’s so absurd but we didn’t want to take the risk – so we’re here instead. I’ll send a pretty postcard when I find them. Take care – love to Jenny when you talk to her. 

Lots of love from George + Pattie’. 

Pattie opens the letter stating that they were in New York while George was putting the finishing touches to his album, All Things Must Pass, which would be released on the 30th November 1970. She also mentions that Paul and Linda were there as well recording an album, RAM, released on the 21st of May, 1971. 

Pattie also mentions a meeting that Paul and George had to split up The Beatles for good. On page 570 of Barry Miles’ book Many Years From Now Paul is quoted as saying ‘I remember having one classic conversation with George Harrison. I said, ‘Look, George, I want to get off the label,’ and as I say it now I almost feel like I’m lying with the devil’s tongue, but I swear George said to me, ‘You’ll stay on the fucking label. Hare Krishna.’ That’s how it was, that’s how the times were.’. 

She goes on to tell her mother about visiting Bob Dylan’s home in Woodstock and how beautiful it was. 

Pattie opens the second paragraph saying that they had been to a couple of dinner parties, in her book Wonderful Tonight she references the dinner parties stating: 

‘While we were in New York we went to a couple of big dinner parties, to George’s horror and my delight. One was given by Ahmet Ertegun, the cofounder of Atlantic Records, the other was given by Robert Stigwood. George hated parties unless they were exclusively for his friends. Put me into a room full of people and I come to life. Sometimes George and I, both Pisceans, were like the symbolic fish swimming in opposite directions. George seemed torn between the deep beneath us and the glitter on the surface, and I was so dazzled by what sparkled above that I couldn’t look down for fear of what might be lurking there.’. 

She then goes on to describe the couple’s trip to Jamaica, which she again covered in her book Wonderful Tonight: 

‘We went to Jamaica and it was a disaster from the start, beginning with the smallpox problem. Immigration then said, probably because we were white, British, long haired, and had money, that we had to report back to Montego Bay two days later, a journey of seventy miles, to see someone from the Tourist Board. There was no explanation. The man just said, “That’s what I say.” As I told my diary, There were such bad vibes everywhere. We stayed in a hugely expensive hotel at Frenchman’s Cove. It rained every day except one. Our room, which came with a butler and a maid, was in one of about a dozen bungalows in the grounds and we were given a little golf cart to get to and from the main building. After dinner we would go back to our bungalow and George would play his guitar. One night when it was raining I walked outside and recorded it all - the sound of him playing, and the sound of the rain and the jungle and the noises of the night. It was an amazing combination.’. 

On page five of the letter, Pattie draws a map of the area that they are staying in. 

Interestingly, towards the end of the letter Pattie states that they could not travel to Los Angeles as they did not want to be drawn in to the then on going court case of Charles Manson who claimed that various lyrics from the Beatles White album had caused him to commit murder.