by Ken Mansfield
Through exclusive photos and personal stories, former US manager of Apple Records and Grammy Award winning producer Ken Mansfield offers a compelling memoir that delves into his life in the 1960s and '70s and his unique partnership with the Beatles and other musicians who orbited their world. As observer, friend, and colleague, Mansfield sat in their recording sessions, partied in their swimming pools, took their irate calls, and publicized their successes. Entertaining, historically accurate, and illuminating a side of the Fab Four known only to a few like Mansfield, The White Book shines fresh light on the true characters behind the cultural phenomena that revolutionized a generation. As the former Head of Apple Records International, Jack Oliver, has said of Ken, "He is one of the few insiders left that bore witness to the highs and lows of those insane days when we ruled the world."
"Ken has a unique gift. He can take you in the room and have you sit with the folk he knows and make you one of the gang, part of the plan. and considering these folk include the Beatles, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, the Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, David Cassidy and a whole host more that is some doing. I really enjoyed sitting in on his world and I respect the affection he has for our game, and what he brought to it, will get you."
ANDREW LOOG OLDHAM
Rolling Stones Manager and Producer
"Ken Mansfield brings us a new and closely personal perspective not only on the Beatles, but on a whole cast of musical characters from Brian Wilson to Don Ho. An observant and perceptive man in the centre of the storm; a contradictory man, both ambitious and spiritual, but at the heart of the record industry during its most exciting years and enjoying every minute of it. I lived through those years with Ken and we became friends. It is a pleasure to experience so much of it all again through the accuracy of his story telling and the clarity of his memory."
PETER ASHER
Peter and Gordon/A&R Chief Apple Records/Producer-Manager (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King et al)
"Journalism is normally a very inexact science. Many of the countless books about the Beatles have been written by researchers-not by people who were actually there. Everyone has experienced reading a book or article where one's own inside knowledge about a particular person or event shows up inaccuracies on the part of the writer that totally distort the truth. This book is an exception-I know because I was there for some of it myself. Ken Mansfield and I unknowingly shared the experience of the famous Apple rooftop session where I was nervously adjusting mikes and cables for the sound recording of that unforgettable day. Ken was not only working for the Beatles through their heyday, he was also their trusted friend. There is no one better equipped to tell the Beatles' story-truthfully-and more importantly-factually, from the inside."
ALAN PARSONS
Engineer to the Beatles/Pink Floyd, Multi Platinum Producer, Alan Parsons Project
"Unlike many people claiming a Beatles connection, Ken Mansfield doesn't have an agenda or try to elevate his role or importance. Ken comes across as a man who knows how lucky he was to be where he was and enjoys sharing his stories with us. Ken was there and that is why The White Book is informative, fresh and entertaining without being ego-driven."
BRUCE SPIZER
Author, Beatle Historian
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry
by Clinton Heylin
"Densely and with the passion of a world-class collector--the roots of boots run deep."
--Rolling Stone
"Bootleg is the thoroughly researched and highly entertaining tale of those colorful brigands, hapless amateurs and true believers who have done wonders for my record collection. Rock & roll doesn't get more underground than this."
--David Fricke, music editor, Rolling Stone
"The copy of 'GWW' that I bought on Telegraph Avenue in 1969 still sits proudly by my desk. Fascinating now to read this history of rock's demimondes."
--Chet Flippo
"With its unholy mix of consumerism, conspiracy, fetishism, and felony, Clinton Heylin's secret history of bootlegging is enough to restore one's faith in the subversive spirit of rock 'n' roll."
"I think that bootlegs keep the flame of music alive by keeping it out of not only the industry's conception of the artist, but also the artist's conception of the artist."
--Lenny Kaye, musician and critic
"Bootleg fans may ultimately consider this book nearly as crucial as Hot Wacks, a directory of underground titles . . ."
--Billboard
"A well-researched and wide-ranging look . . ."
--Chicago Tribune
"Full of arcane information and firsthand testimony, as well as a stream of anecdotal nuggets from the underground. . . ."
--Los Angeles Weekly
"Heylin methodically punctures each and every record industry argument against bootlegging, while acknowledging that bootleggers themselves are often without the purest motives."
--Los Angeles Reader
"Clinton Heylin's weighty, well-researched, entertaining and ostensibly authoritative tome is long overdue."
--CMJ New Music Monthly
Clinton Heylin is the cofounder of Wanted Man, the British information office dedicated to studying Dylan's life and work. He is the author of Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades, From the Velvets to the Voidoids, and Bob Dylan: The Recording Sessions 1960-1964 (SMP, 1995).
"Densely and with the passion of a world-class collector--the roots of boots run deep."
--Rolling Stone
"Bootleg is the thoroughly researched and highly entertaining tale of those colorful brigands, hapless amateurs and true believers who have done wonders for my record collection. Rock & roll doesn't get more underground than this."
--David Fricke, music editor, Rolling Stone
"The copy of 'GWW' that I bought on Telegraph Avenue in 1969 still sits proudly by my desk. Fascinating now to read this history of rock's demimondes."
--Chet Flippo
"With its unholy mix of consumerism, conspiracy, fetishism, and felony, Clinton Heylin's secret history of bootlegging is enough to restore one's faith in the subversive spirit of rock 'n' roll."
"I think that bootlegs keep the flame of music alive by keeping it out of not only the industry's conception of the artist, but also the artist's conception of the artist."
--Lenny Kaye, musician and critic
"Bootleg fans may ultimately consider this book nearly as crucial as Hot Wacks, a directory of underground titles . . ."
--Billboard
"A well-researched and wide-ranging look . . ."
--Chicago Tribune
"Full of arcane information and firsthand testimony, as well as a stream of anecdotal nuggets from the underground. . . ."
--Los Angeles Weekly
"Heylin methodically punctures each and every record industry argument against bootlegging, while acknowledging that bootleggers themselves are often without the purest motives."
--Los Angeles Reader
"Clinton Heylin's weighty, well-researched, entertaining and ostensibly authoritative tome is long overdue."
--CMJ New Music Monthly
Clinton Heylin is the cofounder of Wanted Man, the British information office dedicated to studying Dylan's life and work. He is the author of Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades, From the Velvets to the Voidoids, and Bob Dylan: The Recording Sessions 1960-1964 (SMP, 1995).
Labels:
books
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Beatles - The Beatles In Italy (Italian Mono LP - Parlophone)
Label: Dr. Ebbetts, PMCQ 31506
1. Long Tall Sally (Johnson/Penniman/Blackwell) 2:04
2. She's A Woman (Lennon/McCartney) 3:05
3. Matchbox (Perkins) 2:01
4. From Me To You (Lennon/McCartney) 1:59
5. I Want To Hold Your Hand (Lennon/McCartney) 2:28
6. Ticket To Ride (Lennon/McCartney) 3:08
7. This Boy (Lennon/McCartney) 2:16
8. Slow Down (Williams) 2:58
9. I Call Your Name (Lennon/McCartney) 2:12
10. Thank You Girl (Lennon/McCartney) 2:06
11. Yes It Is (Lennon/McCartney) 2:43
12. I Feel Fine (Lennon/McCartney) 2:24
Notes
Maybe the title and/or the artwork of the original first release suggest a live album, but this are only the regular studio versions in mono.
Two different cover artworks are available:
The original as above and the reissue "champagne"-version.
1. Long Tall Sally (Johnson/Penniman/Blackwell) 2:04
2. She's A Woman (Lennon/McCartney) 3:05
3. Matchbox (Perkins) 2:01
4. From Me To You (Lennon/McCartney) 1:59
5. I Want To Hold Your Hand (Lennon/McCartney) 2:28
6. Ticket To Ride (Lennon/McCartney) 3:08
7. This Boy (Lennon/McCartney) 2:16
8. Slow Down (Williams) 2:58
9. I Call Your Name (Lennon/McCartney) 2:12
10. Thank You Girl (Lennon/McCartney) 2:06
11. Yes It Is (Lennon/McCartney) 2:43
12. I Feel Fine (Lennon/McCartney) 2:24
Notes
Maybe the title and/or the artwork of the original first release suggest a live album, but this are only the regular studio versions in mono.
Two different cover artworks are available:
The original as above and the reissue "champagne"-version.
Labels:
audio,
bootlegs,
dr. ebbetts
The Act You've Known for All These Years
by Clinton Heylin
"A decisive moment in the history of Western civilization."
--Kenneth Tynan, The Times (London) on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
It has been forty years since the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, an LP that changed the face of popular culture, from its Peter Blake-designed gatefold cover to the extravagant music contained within its grooves--"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "With a Little Help from My Friends," "A Day in the Life," et al. Arguably the apex of the Beatles' achievements in the recording studio, the album continues to top public and critical polls as one of the greatest albums ever made.
The Act You've Known for All These Years reconstructs the life and times of Sgt. Pepper, the cultural backstory of the band, and Rock's turbulent early adulthood. Weaving the activities of the Beatles in with those of their contemporaries and rivals--notably Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, and Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd--Clinton Heylin reveals the inspirations and explodes the myths behind this talismanic, iconic album--and the summer of love itself. In addition, the book surveys what happened next, telling the history of the LP's afterlife from 1967 to the present day. Featuring interviews with both those who were there at the time and those who followed in the Beatles' wake, The Act You've Known for All These Years is the definitive book on the most influential LP of the Rock era.
Clinton Heylin is the author of Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades and Babylon's Burning: From Punk to Grunge, among other renowned music books. He lives in Somerset, England, and Florida.
Praise for Clinton Heylin
"Clinton Heylin is the greatest living writer about rock music. Heylin stands alone because he combines the tireless reporting of a Peter Guralnick with the intellectually acute critical insights of Christgau, Marcus, and Bangs."
--San Antonio Current on Babylon's Burning
"Heylin goes for the gusto. . . . Utterly essential . . . Might just set the standard for punk histories."
--Library Journal on Babylon's Burning
"Babylon's Burning is an essential document for pop archaeologists."
--The Times (London)
"[A] meticulously researched account of Van Morrison's life and work . . . loaded with stories of the man's misdeeds, not to mention plenty of dish about the singer's cantankerous dislike of record companies and biographers . . . Definitive."
--Rolling Stone on Can You Feel the Silence?
"Raise a cheer for [Bootleg], a rock history book that genuinely unveils a fresh perspective. Raise another for its sterling research. And a third for the fact that it's a damn good read."
--Record Collector on Bootleg
"A decisive moment in the history of Western civilization."
--Kenneth Tynan, The Times (London) on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club
It has been forty years since the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles, an LP that changed the face of popular culture, from its Peter Blake-designed gatefold cover to the extravagant music contained within its grooves--"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "With a Little Help from My Friends," "A Day in the Life," et al. Arguably the apex of the Beatles' achievements in the recording studio, the album continues to top public and critical polls as one of the greatest albums ever made.
The Act You've Known for All These Years reconstructs the life and times of Sgt. Pepper, the cultural backstory of the band, and Rock's turbulent early adulthood. Weaving the activities of the Beatles in with those of their contemporaries and rivals--notably Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, and Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd--Clinton Heylin reveals the inspirations and explodes the myths behind this talismanic, iconic album--and the summer of love itself. In addition, the book surveys what happened next, telling the history of the LP's afterlife from 1967 to the present day. Featuring interviews with both those who were there at the time and those who followed in the Beatles' wake, The Act You've Known for All These Years is the definitive book on the most influential LP of the Rock era.
Clinton Heylin is the author of Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades and Babylon's Burning: From Punk to Grunge, among other renowned music books. He lives in Somerset, England, and Florida.
Praise for Clinton Heylin
"Clinton Heylin is the greatest living writer about rock music. Heylin stands alone because he combines the tireless reporting of a Peter Guralnick with the intellectually acute critical insights of Christgau, Marcus, and Bangs."
--San Antonio Current on Babylon's Burning
"Heylin goes for the gusto. . . . Utterly essential . . . Might just set the standard for punk histories."
--Library Journal on Babylon's Burning
"Babylon's Burning is an essential document for pop archaeologists."
--The Times (London)
"[A] meticulously researched account of Van Morrison's life and work . . . loaded with stories of the man's misdeeds, not to mention plenty of dish about the singer's cantankerous dislike of record companies and biographers . . . Definitive."
--Rolling Stone on Can You Feel the Silence?
"Raise a cheer for [Bootleg], a rock history book that genuinely unveils a fresh perspective. Raise another for its sterling research. And a third for the fact that it's a damn good read."
--Record Collector on Bootleg
Labels:
books
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Beatles - Rarities (UK Mono/Stereo LP - Parlophone)
Label: Dr. Ebbetts, PCM 1001
1. Across The Universe
2. Yes It Is
3. This Boy
4. The Inner Light
5. I'll Get You
6. Thank You Girl
7. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand
8. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
9. Sie Liebt Dich
10. Rain
11. She's A Woman
12. Matchbox
13. I Call Your Name
14. Bad Boy
15. Slow Down
16. I'm Down
17. Long Tall Sally
Liner Notes
Beatles rarities? There's no such thing, surely? Nothing the Beatles released could be rare; not with the sales they've chalked up around the world. You could probably wallpaper the entire Abbey Road Studios with gold and silver albums they've all sold over a million copies around the world. Unless you mean unreleased demos and stuff . . .
No. There's nothing here that hasn't been released before, although a couple of tracks have never been released in Britain before. What's meant by rarities are the B-sides of various singles and tracks from EPs which have never been put on an album. Some of them have got "lost" over the years. Everybody who bought a copy of "She Loves You" (and one and a half million people did in Britain alone) must have played the flip side, "I'll Get You" a handful of times at least, but how many people have played it in the last decade?
If you're old enough to remember (even if you'll only admit it to yourself), most of the songs here will come at you with the same mixture of surprise and pleasure that you get from meeting somebody by chance in the street who you used to know years ago but had forgotten about. And if you're young enough then it's quite likely that you won't have heard several of the songs before. Whatever, you'll find this fun.
So let's check out the goodies. "Across The Universe" is not the Phil Spector-produced version that's on the "Let It Be" album. It dates from earlier than that and was originally donated to the World Wide Life Fund compilation album "Nothing's Gonna Change Our World" which was released in January 1970. It features John and Paul on vocals with back-up vocals done by a couple of girls they roped in from the street during the session! Lennon has always rated this as one of his favourite Beatle songs.
"Yes It Is" backed "Ticket To Ride" and came out in April 1965. Nobody would claim it as one of the Beatles' more distinguished compositions but like so many of their B-sides, it gave them a chance to try out some new instrumental and vocal ideas away from the commercial "glare" of an A-side or an album. In case you're wondering, the sensitive "whine" that's an integral part of the arrangements is George Harrison playing with a volume tone pedal, a device that's pretty old hat now but was something new in those days.
"This Boy" is in a similar vein although it's some eighteen months earlier. In fact, it could claim to be the biggest selling rarity in the world as it was the flip side of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" which sold over five million copies worldwide. The cleverly arranged and tightly performed harmonies were something of a revelation at the time. "You mean these boys can actually sing?" (!) That's Paul on the top line vocals by the way, but listen to the way John subtly alters the harmonic shades underneath.
"The Inner Light" is a George Harrison effort that found its way onto the back of "Lady Madonna" in March 1968. It bears the strong Indian influence that pervaded all his work at that time and is his first impression of the Maharishi Yogi's trascendental meditation; simple, yet joyful. McCartney says of it: "Forget the Indian music and listen to the melody. Don't you think it's a beautiful melody? It's really lovely."
"I'll Get You," as we've mentioned before, had the honour to share the same vinyl as the immortal "She Loves You" and even has the audacity to start with "Oh yeah" as the opening line. It has all the hallmarks of an early Lennon McCartney Sixties beat group composition; straight forward but delivered with that unique Beatles style. John and Paul were turning out sogns like this in their sleep at one time but there's many a Liverpool band who would have given their adenoids to have this as their A-side.
"Thank You Girl" is even earlier, from the B-side of their third single, "From Me To You," released in April 1963. The wailing harmonica and basic instrumental backing gives the song a real Cavern Club flavour, right down to the primitive echo on the vocals at the end.
"Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" and "Sie Liebt Dich" are respectively "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" sung in German! They were released together as a single in Germany in January 1964 as an acknowledgement of the Beatles' Hamburg apprenticeship. This is the first time they've been released in Britain although they did come out in America at the height of Beatlemania there when a record of the Fab Four scratching themselves would have got in the charts! German is not the world's easiest or most evocative language to sing in but the Beatles' own character sees them through. Knowing John's sense of humour at the time, I just hope somebody checked the translation!
"You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" qualifies as the curio of the album, not to mention the Beatles' entire recorded output. It originally came out as the B-side of "Let It Be" in March 1970, but would you believe it was once considered as an A-side? (!) It's a prime example of Lennon's scrambled consciousness that had previously been aired on some tracks of the double White album. It's a cheerful piece of self-mockery that debunks everything in sight.
"Rain" could fairly claim to be one of the strongest Beatles B-sides ever recorded. Supporting "Paperback Writer" when it was released in June 1966, it is an early excursion into the realms of expanded consciousness at a time when most of us thought grass was something you sat on! At the end John can be heard singing backwards, a trick he stumbled across when he took a demo of the song home with him one night and in his stoned reverie inadvertently played it backwards on his tape recorder. So now you know.
"She's A Woman" was the flip side of "I Feel Fine" which came out in November 1964 in wake of the "Hard Day's Night" triumph. It's clear evidence of McCartney's burgeoning confidence as a singer and composer. The song is sharply syncopated and demands (and gets) an alert instrumental approach. Over the top Paul sings with firm conviction. It's just one of those tracks that couldn't have been written by any other group in the world.
"I Call Your Name," "Matchbox," "Long Tall Sally" and "Slow Down" were collectively issued as the "Long Tall Sally" EP in June 1964. Only "I Call Your Name" was a Beatles composition and even that had been given to Billy J. Kramer earlier as the B-side of "Bad To Me" (a Lennon-McCartney composition the group never recorded themselves).
The other three tracks are standard rockers that the Beatles had been playing for years, and just in case you thought they couldn't play real rock and roll here's the proof to the contrary. Higher energy than this you could not get in 1964.
"Bad Boy" is a genuine evergreen Beatles rarity. A Larry Williams song (he wrote "Slow Down" as well) it first cropped up on the American album "Beatles VI" (the American Beatles albums bear little relation to the English albums up until "Revolver") in the summer of 1965, but it didn't appear in Britain until November 1966 when it turned up as part of the "A Collection of Oldies . . . But Goldies" compilation. It was rather swamped by a mess of million-selling chartbusters there but in the context of this album, it holds its head up with a good deal more confidence.
"I'm Down" is the Beatles having the audacity to take on Chuck Berry at his own game. Originally to be found on the flip-side of "Help!" released in July 1965 it rattles along at breakneck speed with John pummelling what passed for an organ in those days fit to bust. The song was also one of the highlights of the Beatles' legendary Shea Stadium gig a month later.
Only true Beatles followers could claim to have more than half the tracks on this album. And only die-hard fanatics could boast over 80 percent. So on any level this album represents a collectors item . . . and some fine rock and roll to boot.
1. Across The Universe
2. Yes It Is
3. This Boy
4. The Inner Light
5. I'll Get You
6. Thank You Girl
7. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand
8. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
9. Sie Liebt Dich
10. Rain
11. She's A Woman
12. Matchbox
13. I Call Your Name
14. Bad Boy
15. Slow Down
16. I'm Down
17. Long Tall Sally
Liner Notes
Beatles rarities? There's no such thing, surely? Nothing the Beatles released could be rare; not with the sales they've chalked up around the world. You could probably wallpaper the entire Abbey Road Studios with gold and silver albums they've all sold over a million copies around the world. Unless you mean unreleased demos and stuff . . .
No. There's nothing here that hasn't been released before, although a couple of tracks have never been released in Britain before. What's meant by rarities are the B-sides of various singles and tracks from EPs which have never been put on an album. Some of them have got "lost" over the years. Everybody who bought a copy of "She Loves You" (and one and a half million people did in Britain alone) must have played the flip side, "I'll Get You" a handful of times at least, but how many people have played it in the last decade?
If you're old enough to remember (even if you'll only admit it to yourself), most of the songs here will come at you with the same mixture of surprise and pleasure that you get from meeting somebody by chance in the street who you used to know years ago but had forgotten about. And if you're young enough then it's quite likely that you won't have heard several of the songs before. Whatever, you'll find this fun.
So let's check out the goodies. "Across The Universe" is not the Phil Spector-produced version that's on the "Let It Be" album. It dates from earlier than that and was originally donated to the World Wide Life Fund compilation album "Nothing's Gonna Change Our World" which was released in January 1970. It features John and Paul on vocals with back-up vocals done by a couple of girls they roped in from the street during the session! Lennon has always rated this as one of his favourite Beatle songs.
"Yes It Is" backed "Ticket To Ride" and came out in April 1965. Nobody would claim it as one of the Beatles' more distinguished compositions but like so many of their B-sides, it gave them a chance to try out some new instrumental and vocal ideas away from the commercial "glare" of an A-side or an album. In case you're wondering, the sensitive "whine" that's an integral part of the arrangements is George Harrison playing with a volume tone pedal, a device that's pretty old hat now but was something new in those days.
"This Boy" is in a similar vein although it's some eighteen months earlier. In fact, it could claim to be the biggest selling rarity in the world as it was the flip side of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" which sold over five million copies worldwide. The cleverly arranged and tightly performed harmonies were something of a revelation at the time. "You mean these boys can actually sing?" (!) That's Paul on the top line vocals by the way, but listen to the way John subtly alters the harmonic shades underneath.
"The Inner Light" is a George Harrison effort that found its way onto the back of "Lady Madonna" in March 1968. It bears the strong Indian influence that pervaded all his work at that time and is his first impression of the Maharishi Yogi's trascendental meditation; simple, yet joyful. McCartney says of it: "Forget the Indian music and listen to the melody. Don't you think it's a beautiful melody? It's really lovely."
"I'll Get You," as we've mentioned before, had the honour to share the same vinyl as the immortal "She Loves You" and even has the audacity to start with "Oh yeah" as the opening line. It has all the hallmarks of an early Lennon McCartney Sixties beat group composition; straight forward but delivered with that unique Beatles style. John and Paul were turning out sogns like this in their sleep at one time but there's many a Liverpool band who would have given their adenoids to have this as their A-side.
"Thank You Girl" is even earlier, from the B-side of their third single, "From Me To You," released in April 1963. The wailing harmonica and basic instrumental backing gives the song a real Cavern Club flavour, right down to the primitive echo on the vocals at the end.
"Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" and "Sie Liebt Dich" are respectively "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" sung in German! They were released together as a single in Germany in January 1964 as an acknowledgement of the Beatles' Hamburg apprenticeship. This is the first time they've been released in Britain although they did come out in America at the height of Beatlemania there when a record of the Fab Four scratching themselves would have got in the charts! German is not the world's easiest or most evocative language to sing in but the Beatles' own character sees them through. Knowing John's sense of humour at the time, I just hope somebody checked the translation!
"You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" qualifies as the curio of the album, not to mention the Beatles' entire recorded output. It originally came out as the B-side of "Let It Be" in March 1970, but would you believe it was once considered as an A-side? (!) It's a prime example of Lennon's scrambled consciousness that had previously been aired on some tracks of the double White album. It's a cheerful piece of self-mockery that debunks everything in sight.
"Rain" could fairly claim to be one of the strongest Beatles B-sides ever recorded. Supporting "Paperback Writer" when it was released in June 1966, it is an early excursion into the realms of expanded consciousness at a time when most of us thought grass was something you sat on! At the end John can be heard singing backwards, a trick he stumbled across when he took a demo of the song home with him one night and in his stoned reverie inadvertently played it backwards on his tape recorder. So now you know.
"She's A Woman" was the flip side of "I Feel Fine" which came out in November 1964 in wake of the "Hard Day's Night" triumph. It's clear evidence of McCartney's burgeoning confidence as a singer and composer. The song is sharply syncopated and demands (and gets) an alert instrumental approach. Over the top Paul sings with firm conviction. It's just one of those tracks that couldn't have been written by any other group in the world.
"I Call Your Name," "Matchbox," "Long Tall Sally" and "Slow Down" were collectively issued as the "Long Tall Sally" EP in June 1964. Only "I Call Your Name" was a Beatles composition and even that had been given to Billy J. Kramer earlier as the B-side of "Bad To Me" (a Lennon-McCartney composition the group never recorded themselves).
The other three tracks are standard rockers that the Beatles had been playing for years, and just in case you thought they couldn't play real rock and roll here's the proof to the contrary. Higher energy than this you could not get in 1964.
"Bad Boy" is a genuine evergreen Beatles rarity. A Larry Williams song (he wrote "Slow Down" as well) it first cropped up on the American album "Beatles VI" (the American Beatles albums bear little relation to the English albums up until "Revolver") in the summer of 1965, but it didn't appear in Britain until November 1966 when it turned up as part of the "A Collection of Oldies . . . But Goldies" compilation. It was rather swamped by a mess of million-selling chartbusters there but in the context of this album, it holds its head up with a good deal more confidence.
"I'm Down" is the Beatles having the audacity to take on Chuck Berry at his own game. Originally to be found on the flip-side of "Help!" released in July 1965 it rattles along at breakneck speed with John pummelling what passed for an organ in those days fit to bust. The song was also one of the highlights of the Beatles' legendary Shea Stadium gig a month later.
Only true Beatles followers could claim to have more than half the tracks on this album. And only die-hard fanatics could boast over 80 percent. So on any level this album represents a collectors item . . . and some fine rock and roll to boot.
Labels:
audio,
bootlegs,
dr. ebbetts
My Unforgettable Meeting with Mike McCartney
by Jennifer Game
My friend and I collected our tickets for the show we were going to see one evening in London, then as we had a good bit of time to spare, we decided to go and take a look at Paul's house in St. John's Wood. Although my friend had seen his house before, I hadn't and felt very excited as we stepped on to the tube at Victoria.
We arrived at St. John's Wood station twenty five minutes later and by this time a thousand thoughts had stirred up inside our heads as to what we would say to him if we met him. But, secretly, we knew it was very unlikely. My friend, not remembering exactly how to get there decided we should ask someone. After following a kind lady's directions we came to our destination, and there standing bold and proud against the dark sky stood Paul's house.
I rang the doorbell, which was fixed to the letterbox on the big black gate, examining the eight milk bottles which stood in a blue crate by our sides, at the same time. A voice spoke to us through a tiny microphone which was also sitting in the letterbox, and might I add it wasn't a very inviting voice and sounded something like this:--"Who are you, what do you want? Do you always go around ringing people's doorbells? Do you mind going, I am on the telephone?" We knew it couldn't possibly be Paul's voice after reading how friendly and welcoming he is at the worst of times. But we were not discouraged, for we knew there was someone in as there were three lights on in the front of the house.
A policeman came up to us and as we walked down the road listening to his stories of Paul with him, we didn't notice the events taking place up the road behind us. The policeman decided he had talked to us long enough and departed to carry on his beat.
We turned around to walk back and noticed a white mini had driven up and parked itself outside Paul's house. My heart, I am sure, missed a beat, for the dark shadow that emerged from the car had to be Paul's. Another figure appeared from the car, but we couldn't see the face. We raced up to the car and then it was clear who the shadow was. Not Paul, but his brother Mike.
After receiving their autographs we talked to them for a while and I noticed that Mike had the same sense of humour as his brother . . . It was obvious that they hadn't much time. Mike took a key from his pocket and unlocked the big black gate, and taking his word that Paul wasn't in, we said goodbye and turned to begin our journey back to Victoria.
They had been thoroughly nice and perhaps if we hadn't met Mike we would have been disappointed in not meeting Paul. But we had met his brother and that was good enough for both of us. Now we can walk with our heads that much higher.
Many fans have met Paul, perhaps all of the boys, but for us this joy, I feel, is sure to come. When we are sixty we can look back on October 26, 1967 and remember that unforgettable meeting with Mike McCartney.
Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Game (18),
208 Western Road,
Leigh-on-Sea,
Essex.
My friend and I collected our tickets for the show we were going to see one evening in London, then as we had a good bit of time to spare, we decided to go and take a look at Paul's house in St. John's Wood. Although my friend had seen his house before, I hadn't and felt very excited as we stepped on to the tube at Victoria.
We arrived at St. John's Wood station twenty five minutes later and by this time a thousand thoughts had stirred up inside our heads as to what we would say to him if we met him. But, secretly, we knew it was very unlikely. My friend, not remembering exactly how to get there decided we should ask someone. After following a kind lady's directions we came to our destination, and there standing bold and proud against the dark sky stood Paul's house.
I rang the doorbell, which was fixed to the letterbox on the big black gate, examining the eight milk bottles which stood in a blue crate by our sides, at the same time. A voice spoke to us through a tiny microphone which was also sitting in the letterbox, and might I add it wasn't a very inviting voice and sounded something like this:--"Who are you, what do you want? Do you always go around ringing people's doorbells? Do you mind going, I am on the telephone?" We knew it couldn't possibly be Paul's voice after reading how friendly and welcoming he is at the worst of times. But we were not discouraged, for we knew there was someone in as there were three lights on in the front of the house.
A policeman came up to us and as we walked down the road listening to his stories of Paul with him, we didn't notice the events taking place up the road behind us. The policeman decided he had talked to us long enough and departed to carry on his beat.
We turned around to walk back and noticed a white mini had driven up and parked itself outside Paul's house. My heart, I am sure, missed a beat, for the dark shadow that emerged from the car had to be Paul's. Another figure appeared from the car, but we couldn't see the face. We raced up to the car and then it was clear who the shadow was. Not Paul, but his brother Mike.
After receiving their autographs we talked to them for a while and I noticed that Mike had the same sense of humour as his brother . . . It was obvious that they hadn't much time. Mike took a key from his pocket and unlocked the big black gate, and taking his word that Paul wasn't in, we said goodbye and turned to begin our journey back to Victoria.
They had been thoroughly nice and perhaps if we hadn't met Mike we would have been disappointed in not meeting Paul. But we had met his brother and that was good enough for both of us. Now we can walk with our heads that much higher.
Many fans have met Paul, perhaps all of the boys, but for us this joy, I feel, is sure to come. When we are sixty we can look back on October 26, 1967 and remember that unforgettable meeting with Mike McCartney.
Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Game (18),
208 Western Road,
Leigh-on-Sea,
Essex.
Labels:
1967
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
John, Paul, Tom & Ringo: The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder
On April 25, 1975, John Lennon gave what was to be his last televised interview on "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder." No one knew then that Lennon would be taking an extended hiatus from public life, taking time to raise his son and live a less public life. Speaking openly on the subjects of drug use, the breakup of the Beatles, and his immigration problems while seeking permanent residency in the U.S., the interview Lennon gave Tom Snyder in 1975 revealed he had tremendous humility and an affecting sense of humor.
Five years after that interview, Lennon was fatally shot while coming home from a recording session. The day after the shooting and Lennon's tragic death, "The Tomorrow Show" re-aired that last interview in tribute to him. Shout! Factory's "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom And Ringo" contains the complete interview with Lennon as rebroadcast on December 9, 1980, along with interviews from that day with journalist Lisa Robinson and Lennon friend and producer Jack Douglas. The show is a poignant remembrance of the aftermath of his murder and the huge void his passing had on music, and indeed, the world.
The 2-DVD set "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo" also includes a 1981 interview with Ringo Starr, who discusses his film and music career, as well as remembrances of his band mate and friend John Lennon, and a 1979 interview with Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine & Laurence Juber, from a stage in London, who were then enjoying huge success with Wings.
"The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder" premiered in October 1973 in the late-night time slot following Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and continued in one form or another until January 1982. Also available on DVD from Shout! Factory are "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave," featuring Elvis Costello, John Lydon, Iggy Pop, The Jam, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Joan Jett, and The Plasmatics, and "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: Tom Snyder's Electric Kool-Aid Talk Show," featuring interviews with Timothy Leary, Tom Wolfe, Ken Kesey, and performances by The Grateful Dead.
Disc 1:
Five years after that interview, Lennon was fatally shot while coming home from a recording session. The day after the shooting and Lennon's tragic death, "The Tomorrow Show" re-aired that last interview in tribute to him. Shout! Factory's "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom And Ringo" contains the complete interview with Lennon as rebroadcast on December 9, 1980, along with interviews from that day with journalist Lisa Robinson and Lennon friend and producer Jack Douglas. The show is a poignant remembrance of the aftermath of his murder and the huge void his passing had on music, and indeed, the world.
The 2-DVD set "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: John, Paul, Tom & Ringo" also includes a 1981 interview with Ringo Starr, who discusses his film and music career, as well as remembrances of his band mate and friend John Lennon, and a 1979 interview with Paul and Linda McCartney, Denny Laine & Laurence Juber, from a stage in London, who were then enjoying huge success with Wings.
"The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder" premiered in October 1973 in the late-night time slot following Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and continued in one form or another until January 1982. Also available on DVD from Shout! Factory are "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: Punk & New Wave," featuring Elvis Costello, John Lydon, Iggy Pop, The Jam, Patti Smith, The Ramones, Joan Jett, and The Plasmatics, and "The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder: Tom Snyder's Electric Kool-Aid Talk Show," featuring interviews with Timothy Leary, Tom Wolfe, Ken Kesey, and performances by The Grateful Dead.
- John Lennon Tribute Original Air Date 12/9/80
- Additional Guests: Lennon Immigration Attorney Leon Wildes, Journalist Lisa Robinson & Music Producer Jack Douglas
- It was December 9, 1980, and John Lennon had been shot and killed just one day earlier outside his New York apartment. Not since April 25, 1975, on The Tomorrow Show With Tom Snyder had Lennon sat with anyone for a television interview. Snyder re-aired his conversation with the former Beatle while new guests Lisa Robinson and Jack Douglas provided additional commentary in light of the previous day's tragic event.
- Paul McCartney Interview Original Air Date 12/20/79
- Features Wings Music Video "Spin It On"
- Additional Guests: Fellow Wings members Linda McCartney, Denny Laine & Laurence Juber
- Live via satellite from London, it's Paul McCartney! By 1979 Wings was already a great band with a solid following, but that didn't stop Tom Snyder from asking Paul about a Beatles reunion. This conversation took place via satellite from London just prior to Wings going onstage for a holiday concert.
- Features Wings Music Video "Spin It On"
- Ringo Starr Interview Original Air Date 11/25/81
- Features Ringo Starr's Music Video "Wrack My Brain"
- Additional Guest: Actress (and Ringo's wife) Barbra Bach, Actress Angie Dickinson
- Interviewed in Los Angeles, Ringo talks about his then-current album Stop And Smell The Roses-a title that reflects what Ringo was in effect doing at that time after years of "turmoil, ecstasy, frenzy and confusion," as Tom notes. Ringo also speaks out about his dear friend John Lennon.
- Features Ringo Starr's Music Video "Wrack My Brain"
Labels:
timothy leary,
video
The Beatles - Die Beatles (German Stereo LP - Hör Zu)
Label: Dr. Ebbetts, SHZE 117
1. I Saw Her Standing There
2. Misery
3. Anna (Go To Him)
4. Chains
5. Boys
6. Ask Me Why
7. Please Please Me
8. Love Me Do
9. P.S. I Love You
10. Baby It's You
11. Do You Want To Know A Secret
12. A Taste Of Honey
13. There's A Place
14. Twist And Shout
Notes
It is much heralded amongst Beatle people for being a version of that first LP that has not been subjected to any processing or equalization. In effect, it is advertised as the "truest" and "purest" vinyl representation of the initial 14 Beatle songs ever offered in long play form. It has been sourced from a beautiful copy of the original LP.
1. I Saw Her Standing There
2. Misery
3. Anna (Go To Him)
4. Chains
5. Boys
6. Ask Me Why
7. Please Please Me
8. Love Me Do
9. P.S. I Love You
10. Baby It's You
11. Do You Want To Know A Secret
12. A Taste Of Honey
13. There's A Place
14. Twist And Shout
Notes
It is much heralded amongst Beatle people for being a version of that first LP that has not been subjected to any processing or equalization. In effect, it is advertised as the "truest" and "purest" vinyl representation of the initial 14 Beatle songs ever offered in long play form. It has been sourced from a beautiful copy of the original LP.
Labels:
audio,
bootlegs,
dr. ebbetts
Monday, August 25, 2008
The Beatles - Casualties
Label: Dr. Ebbetts, SPRO-9469
1 Please Please Me
There are two versions of this song with a different vocal track. Capitol has previously released only the version on which John mistakenly sings the lyric "I Know I never even try girl" in the last verse of the song. Presented here is the version containing the correct lyrics 1:57
2 I Want To Hold Your Hand
The Beatles first mega-hit in the United States has not been previously issued in stereo in U.S. 2:21
3 Money
Here is the original "true mono" mix of the song. Not previously issued in the U.S. 2:45
4 A Hard Day's Night
Another huge hit - not previously issued in stereo in the U.S. 2:28
5 I'll Cry Instead
Presented here for the first time anywhere, is the true stereo version of the unedited song 2:03
6 Ticket To Ride
Another smash hit, not previously released in stereo in the U.S. 3:03
7 Yes It Is
Here is the version as it appears on the single 2:38
8 Day Tripper
Two different stereo mixes were made of this song. The version issued in most countries is the same one used on the "Yesterday and Today" LP (ST-2553). This is the alternate mix which was issued in England and Japan 2:45
9 I'm Only Sleeping
Presented her is an alternate mono mix of the song, available previously only on an EP issued in France. The backwards guitar sounds on this version appear in different portions of the song. 2:57
10 Strawberry Fields Forever
An alternate stereo mix. issued in several foreign countries 4:02
11 I Am The Walrus
This version features only the four Beatles playing together, prior to overdubbing studio musicians and sound effects. Not available to the public before now. 4:30
12 Only A Northern Song
Previously available in the U.S. (on the "Yellow Submarine" album, SW-153) 3:20
13 Revolution
mono mix, previously issued on Capitol single 2276 3:21
14 Her Majesty
Here is the previously unreleased complete recording with the ending intact 0:24
15 Let It Be
Rare mono mix 3:47
1 Please Please Me
There are two versions of this song with a different vocal track. Capitol has previously released only the version on which John mistakenly sings the lyric "I Know I never even try girl" in the last verse of the song. Presented here is the version containing the correct lyrics 1:57
2 I Want To Hold Your Hand
The Beatles first mega-hit in the United States has not been previously issued in stereo in U.S. 2:21
3 Money
Here is the original "true mono" mix of the song. Not previously issued in the U.S. 2:45
4 A Hard Day's Night
Another huge hit - not previously issued in stereo in the U.S. 2:28
5 I'll Cry Instead
Presented here for the first time anywhere, is the true stereo version of the unedited song 2:03
6 Ticket To Ride
Another smash hit, not previously released in stereo in the U.S. 3:03
7 Yes It Is
Here is the version as it appears on the single 2:38
8 Day Tripper
Two different stereo mixes were made of this song. The version issued in most countries is the same one used on the "Yesterday and Today" LP (ST-2553). This is the alternate mix which was issued in England and Japan 2:45
9 I'm Only Sleeping
Presented her is an alternate mono mix of the song, available previously only on an EP issued in France. The backwards guitar sounds on this version appear in different portions of the song. 2:57
10 Strawberry Fields Forever
An alternate stereo mix. issued in several foreign countries 4:02
11 I Am The Walrus
This version features only the four Beatles playing together, prior to overdubbing studio musicians and sound effects. Not available to the public before now. 4:30
12 Only A Northern Song
Previously available in the U.S. (on the "Yellow Submarine" album, SW-153) 3:20
13 Revolution
mono mix, previously issued on Capitol single 2276 3:21
14 Her Majesty
Here is the previously unreleased complete recording with the ending intact 0:24
15 Let It Be
Rare mono mix 3:47
Labels:
audio,
bootlegs,
dr. ebbetts
We're Going to See The Beatles!: An Oral History of Beatlemania as Told by the Fans Who Were There
by Garry Berman
Foreword by Sid Bernstein
Legendary Concert Promoter
Introduction by Mark Lapidos
Founder and Producer of The Fest for Beatles Fans
Comprised of fans’ anecdotes, photographs, personal stories, and mementos, the contributors’ stories reconstruct the entire history of Beatlemania in America, dating from the earliest whispers about the group to The Beatles’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and from the breakup to the present day. The stories range from hilarious to compelling and poignant—one group of friends stole maid uniforms in an attempt to sneak into the Plaza Hotel during The Beatles’ first visit to New York, one fan camped out overnight in front of a movie theater in order to be the first to buy tickets for the premiere of A Hard Day’s Night, and another attended a strict Catholic school but was so devoted to the group that she declared out loud to her class that she would rather see The Beatles than the Pope. What emerges from these stories is a richly detailed and entertaining history of the profound impact that The Beatles and their music had on their fans' personal lives—an effect that continues to be meaningful to this day.
Garry Berman is a regular contributor to Beatlefan magazine and the author of Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous. He lives in Westampton, New Jersey. Sid Bernstein is the legendary agent, promoter, and manager who brought The Beatles to America as part of the British Invasion. He has worked with many musicians, including Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, the Moody Blues, and the Rolling Stones. He lives in New York City. Mark Lapidos is the producer of The Fest for Beatles Fans (formerly known as Beatlefest). He lives in Westwood, New Jersey.
Foreword by Sid Bernstein
Legendary Concert Promoter
Introduction by Mark Lapidos
Founder and Producer of The Fest for Beatles Fans
Comprised of fans’ anecdotes, photographs, personal stories, and mementos, the contributors’ stories reconstruct the entire history of Beatlemania in America, dating from the earliest whispers about the group to The Beatles’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and from the breakup to the present day. The stories range from hilarious to compelling and poignant—one group of friends stole maid uniforms in an attempt to sneak into the Plaza Hotel during The Beatles’ first visit to New York, one fan camped out overnight in front of a movie theater in order to be the first to buy tickets for the premiere of A Hard Day’s Night, and another attended a strict Catholic school but was so devoted to the group that she declared out loud to her class that she would rather see The Beatles than the Pope. What emerges from these stories is a richly detailed and entertaining history of the profound impact that The Beatles and their music had on their fans' personal lives—an effect that continues to be meaningful to this day.
Garry Berman is a regular contributor to Beatlefan magazine and the author of Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to Absolutely Fabulous. He lives in Westampton, New Jersey. Sid Bernstein is the legendary agent, promoter, and manager who brought The Beatles to America as part of the British Invasion. He has worked with many musicians, including Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, the Moody Blues, and the Rolling Stones. He lives in New York City. Mark Lapidos is the producer of The Fest for Beatles Fans (formerly known as Beatlefest). He lives in Westwood, New Jersey.
Labels:
books
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Beatles on Television
by Ray Tedman
The whole of the Beatles' amazing TV career is covered here, from their earliest appearances on Thank Your Lucky Stars! and Ready Steady Go! up to their live performance of "All You Need Is Love" in front of the biggest ever audience in television history—and beyond. The book is a telling record of the way in which the Fab Four swept away the media attitudes of an earlier era and replaced them with their own brand of humor, as well as their own brand of seriousness. It will be a must-have addition to the library of all Beatles enthusiasts.
The whole of the Beatles' amazing TV career is covered here, from their earliest appearances on Thank Your Lucky Stars! and Ready Steady Go! up to their live performance of "All You Need Is Love" in front of the biggest ever audience in television history—and beyond. The book is a telling record of the way in which the Fab Four swept away the media attitudes of an earlier era and replaced them with their own brand of humor, as well as their own brand of seriousness. It will be a must-have addition to the library of all Beatles enthusiasts.
Labels:
books
The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (German Stereo LP - HörZu) (2005 Upgrade)
Label: Dr. Ebbetts, SHZE 327
1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. The Fool On The Hill
3. Flying
4. Blue Jay Way
5. Your Mother Should Know
6. I Am The Walrus
7. Hello Goodbye
8. Strawberry Fields Forever
9. Penny Lane
10. Baby You're A Rich Man
11. All You Need Is Love
Notes
Upgrade of the audio and artwork.
This release is meant to replace the original release from 2001.
1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. The Fool On The Hill
3. Flying
4. Blue Jay Way
5. Your Mother Should Know
6. I Am The Walrus
7. Hello Goodbye
8. Strawberry Fields Forever
9. Penny Lane
10. Baby You're A Rich Man
11. All You Need Is Love
Notes
Upgrade of the audio and artwork.
This release is meant to replace the original release from 2001.
Labels:
audio,
bootlegs,
dr. ebbetts
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