Spring Break
'Miss O'Dell' reflects on run-ins with rock royalty
Lauren KawamIssue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
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How did she land this job? "It was luck, most of the time," she says.
As the personal assistant to the Rolling Stones and the tour manager for the Beatles, the Stones, Dylan, John Denver, Linda Ronstadt and others, O'Dell had many unimaginable experiences. She also inspired many songs like George Harrison's "Miss O'Dell" and Leon Russell's "Pisces Apple Lady" and she was the "mystery woman" pictured on the back of the Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street.
Her new book, "Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved," is a first-hand account of her ascent as an aspiring employee at Apple Records (the official Beatles record label) to a full blown manager, friend and even lover to many major music players from the late '60s on through the '80s.
College Times recently spoke with O'Dell, who's back in her hometown of Tucson after a brief book tour, to find out how she made it.
The tagline for the book is "Chris O'Dell wasn't famous. She wasn't even almost famous. But she was there." How did you make it "there"?
In 1968, I just happened to be working in the music business, but I was at a very low level. Through friends, I met this man who was the Beatles' press agent [Derek Taylor]. He was going back to work at Apple Records in London. That, I would have to say, really didn't have anything to do with me. That was just a lucky break. And I followed through with his invitation for me to follow and come to work for Apple. Working at Apple Records, and wanting to stand out, meant that I had to be really there. It was a little easier, because Americans were a little bit more ambitious. And then, working for the Stones was a 24-hour job. Moving into the touring meant that I really had to be on all the time.
How did you get over the start-struck aspect of being so close with these bands, and actually work to build some trust with them?
I definitely had that with the Beatles. But, it very quickly … I mean, if you're around somebody a lot, and you get to know them on a more personal level, you tend to connect. I also did something, not particularly on purpose, but I became really good friends with the women. And I've had Astrid, who was with the Rolling Stones, say to me that what made me different was that I was friends with them. I think the women validated me. I wasn't just another chick.
What was it that made you want to write a book about all these crazy experiences you had?
I remember thinking, "Oh, I should write about it, people would love it." But there was an unspoken rule in that group that you didn't talk. So I waited until now, mostly because I feel like I've got the insight that I didn't have back then. And I never just wanted to do a book, I wanted to do something with depth and quality.
What do you think inspired so many musicians to write songs about you?
It was the trust. They trusted me. I wasn't sitting there asking them for anything more than just the opportunity to get to know them. And I think they really trusted me, because I saw them as people.
Was there ever any pressure from your family to move back to Tucson and get a steady, "real" job?
They were so supportive. When I moved to LA when I was 19, my dad drove me. They didn't want me to go, but my dad said, "Well if you're going to go, I'd rather drive you then have you take a bus."
What's the coolest thing you've ever done for or with a band or musician?
Being on the roof when the Beatles played their last concert was definitely a high point. There were people who came out from other buildings, but in terms of people who actually got to sit there and be a part of it, I was one of the five! That was pretty special.
When you tell stories to people whom you've only just met, do they think you're lying about your jobs in your early adulthood?
Yes. [Laughs] They think I'm bragging too. And they never really got it, because they never really saw it.
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