My Rock Moment - Chris O'Dell, Author and Tour Manager

Chris O'Dell, Author and Tour Manager

01/02/25 • 76 min

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Chris O'Dell has led a fascinating life; one that planted her firmly in rock royalty's inner circle in the 60s and 70s. Befriending Derek Taylor in LA, she soon found herself working for the Beatles' Apple Corps in London. While there she was present for the recording of The White Album, Abbey Road, Let it Be, and sang in the Hey Jude chorus. She sat on the rooftop while the Beatles played their last live performance in January of 1969 and even lived with George Harrison and Pattie Boyd at Friar Park.

She went on to be one of the first - if not, THE first - female tour managers, working with the likes of George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan on his 'Rolling Thunder Revue' tour. She inspired George Harrison to pen the song, "Miss O’Dell,” she's the subject of Leon Russell’s “Pisces Apple Lady” and “Hummingbird," she is the “woman down the hall,” in the Joni Mitchell song, “Coyote,” and her picture can be seen on the back cover of The Stones's 1972 masterpiece, Exile on Main Street.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, but to get the full story, check out her book and website with the links below:

https://www.missodell.com

Miss O'Dell: Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Women They Loved

Playlist:

Pisces Apple Lady - Leon Russell

Hey Jude - The Beatles

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

Miss O'Dell - George Harrison

Torn and Frayed - The Rolling Stones

Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan

Follow My Rock Moment on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, but to get the full story, check out her book and website with the links below:

https://www.missodell.com

Miss O'Dell: Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Women They Loved

Playlist:

Pisces Apple Lady - Leon Russell

Hey Jude - The Beatles

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

Miss O'Dell - George Harrison

Torn and Frayed - The Rolling Stones

Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan

Follow My Rock Moment on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

Jenny Boyd, '60s Muse and Author of 'Icons of Rock: In Their Own Words'

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Jenny Boyd, though not a musician, is well-known in the music industry. Formerly married to Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, she's also Pattie Boyd's sister and sister-in-law to George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Jenny was surrounded by rock royalty from a young age and experienced many legendary moments in rock history as a result.

Drawing on her deep connections in the rock world, Jenny wrote 'Icons of Rock: In Their Own Words' - a compilation of candid interviews with some of the greatest musicians of the '60s, 70s, 80s and today. Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Don Henley, Eric Clapton and other rock giants draw back the curtain on their creative process, their thoughts on spirituality and the effect that drugs and alcohol may have had on their art.

Infused with personal stories of her time in San Francisco during the Summer of Love, meeting George Harrison for the first time and her stay in India with The Beatles, Jenny and I discuss some of the most poignant interviews in the book.

Get more details on the book with the links below:

https://thejennyboyd.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Icons-Rock-Their-Behind-Famous/dp/1684815444

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Topanga Canyon Playlist with Emmeline Summerton of Instagram's Lost Canyons LA

The Canyons have long called to the bohemians and artists of Los Angeles. While Laurel Canyon is renowned for its role as a hub of rock history in the 1960s and '70s, Topanga Canyon has its own rich tapestry of stories. In this episode of My Rock Moment, we welcome Emmeline Summerton from the Instagram account Lost Canyons LA, a historian of the LA Canyons and former writer for the New Topanga Times. Together, we explore Topanga's iconic rock legends and the songs inspired by this enchanting area.

Was there truly a roadhouse that sparked Jim Morrison’s lyrics in “Roadhouse Blues”? Did a fateful house party in Topanga Canyon contribute to the breakup of one of the most successful bands of the late '60s? Which famous Topanga musician got his start with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention before forming his own band? And did Ronald Reagan’s daughter really co-write a classic Eagles song?

In light of the recent devastating fires, this episode pays tribute to the unique beauty of Topanga Canyon, nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains. Despite the challenges, this iconic area endures, and My Rock Moment is proud to celebrate its lasting rock ’n’ roll legacy.

Playlist: