Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles
Foreground

May 15 - June 17, 1969

Paul and Linda McCartney on holiday in Provence and Corfu

Last updated on August 1, 2023


Location

  • Location: Corfu Island, Greece

Timeline

Related master release

Related album

Related song

Related articles

We’ve got nothing on for the next month and we’ve had a lot on for the past couple of months, as you might have heard from a couple of newspapers, it’s been high finance. But it seems to be going OK now, so I’m just taking a break to get away from it all.

Paul McCartney – Interview for BBC Radio Merseyside, May 15, 1969

From May 15 to June 17, 1969, Paul McCartney, his wife Linda, and her daughter Heather spent a month of holidays, first travelling to Provence (in the south of France) then to the Greek island of Corfu, staying in the village of Benitses.

While in Corfu, Paul completed the song “Every Night“, an early version of which he had performed in January 1969 during the “Get Back” sessions. It would be released on his debut solo album, “McCartney“, released in April 1970.

Some of the photos taken by Linda during those holidays appeared on the inner sleeve of the “McCartney” album.


On May 15, 1969, Paul and family were photographed driving away from Nice airport. From Obadiah Jones on Twitter: “@mccartneyproj On 15 May 1969, Paul and family were photographed driving away from Nice airport. Their holiday started in the south of France and then moved on to Benitses, Corfu, ending back in London on 17 June: https://t.co/WzZqODXpfy” / Twitter
From “Postcards from the boys” by Ringo Starr, 2004
From Linda McCartney (@lindamccartney) • Instagram photos and videos – Linda. Les Baux-de-Provence, France, 1969.⁣
Photo by Linda McCartney – used in the inner sleeve of the “McCartney” album and on the video for “Maybe I’m Amazed”
From Linda McCartney (@lindamccartney) • Instagram photos and videos – Schoolchildren. France, 1968

Paul and Linda McCartney, with little six-year-old Heather, returned from their holiday at Corfu in the Greek islands on Tuesday, June 17, the day before Paul’s birthday.

During their vacation, they rented a £125-a-week villa, a mini car to drive around the island and a luxury speedboat for pleasure trips around the bays.

Observers report from Greece that Paul seemed thoroughly at home in his dual role of husband and father, while Linda spent many of her mornings preparing fairly authentic Greek-style lunch dishes for the family between the sunbathing sessions.

From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°72, July 1969
From the Beatles Monthly Book, N°72, July 1969

This photo was used on the inner sleeve of the “McCartney” album – From Paul McCartney on Twitter: “Paul enjoying the sun, Corfu, 1969. Photo by Linda McCartney #ThrowbackThursday #TBT http://t.co/IXWzgKPAOw” / Twitter – Paul enjoying the sun, Corfu, 1969. Photo by Linda McCartney #ThrowbackThursday #TBT
From Paul and Linda McCartney in Benitses in 1969 – Corfu is my Island (wordpress.com)
From Benitses Of 60s to 80s – Spiros On The Beach – AtCorfu
From Benitses Of 60s to 80s – Spiros On The Beach – AtCorfu
From Family Photography – LindaMcCartney.com
From The Lovely Linda: Photo (tumblr.com)
From Rainy Days & Mondays — Paul on holiday in Corfu, March 1969 (tumblr.com)

From PaulMcCartney.com – The inside of the original gatefold LP sleeve, photos by Linda and Paul taken in Scotland, Portugal, Antigua, France and Greece, 1969

Going further

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

"With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group."

We owe a lot to Barry Miles for the creation of those pages, but you really have to buy this book to get all the details - a day to day chronology of what happened to the four Beatles during the Beatles years!

Shop on Amazon

If we modestly consider the Paul McCartney Project to be the premier online resource for all things Paul McCartney, it is undeniable that The Beatles Bible stands as the definitive online site dedicated to the Beatles. While there is some overlap in content between the two sites, they differ significantly in their approach.

Read more on The Beatles Bible

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.