December 12, 1968 - Rood Wit Blauw

Taped: Thursday 12 December 1968
Aired: Wednesday 15 January 1969

The Beatles: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song, 1962-66

by Steve Turner

There was rich praise for the original edition of "The Beatles Stories Behind The Songs Book", including Steve Matteo in "The Music Paper" describing it as 'One of the most readable and illuminating books ever written about The Beatles'. In his autobiography, "Many Years From Now", even Paul McCartney acknowledged Steve Turner's work. Who was 'just seventeen' and made Paul's heart go 'boom'? Was there really an Eleanor Rigby? Steve Turner shatters many well-worn myths and adds a new dimension to the Fab Four's rich legacy by investigating the events immortalised in The Beatles' music and now occupying a special niche in popular culture's collective imagination.

Making Sense of Dylan's 1963 Newport Folk Festival Appearances

Recently released on DVD, The Other Side of the Mirror is an important visual record of Bob Dylan's 1963 appearances at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, the DVD's booklet contains errors when it comes to identifying dates for the performances and the official Dylan site is of no help, listing only two songs from the opening night (July 26). Luckily, the audio for the festival still survives, allowing for the complete reconstruction of Dylan's sets. It turns out he performed on all three days of the festival that year and on two of those days, he played songs that failed to make the final cut of The Other Side of the Mirror. The full Dylan set lists for Newport 1963 are assembled on the Live Show Archive Bob Dylan page.

That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966-1970

From Revolver to Let It Be, That Magic Feeling: The Beatles Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966—1970, continues the chronicle of the group’s spectacular career from its creative zenith to its irrevocable split

As the Beatles moved into the mid and late 1960s, their collective and individual musical talent and innovations evolved at an unparalleled pace. Like its companion volume, Way Beyond Compare: The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy, Volume One, 1957—1965, this unique work thoroughly chronicles all known and available Beatles recordings during this period of incredible creative growth.

Have you ever watched a Beatles film clip and wondered:
• Where was that filmed?
• Is any more of that footage available?

Have you ever heard a Beatles interview and asked:
• When was that taped?
• Where’s the best place to find the complete recording?

That Magic Feeling answers these and thousands of similar questions. With more than 500 entries, it includes recording sessions, concerts, newsreel footage, press clips, TV and film performances, home movies, radio interviews, documentaries, studio outtakes, home demos, and alternative mixes–all of which are given complete coverage for the first time.

Author John C. Winn has spent two decades poring over, scrutinizing, organizing, and analyzing hundreds of hours of audio and video recordings and compiling them into a digestible chronological framework, creating the ultimate reference guide to the Beatles’ legendary musical and cultural evolution.

“[An] impressive tome . . . marvelous.”
—Mark Lewisohn, author of The Complete Beatles Chronicle

“[A] beautifully written study of every Beatle sound ever to reach the public . . . highly recommended for anyone wishing to learn more about what the Beatles played, sang and said.”
—Walter Everett, author of The Beatles as Musicians

“Not only extraordinarily useful, but a joy to read.”
—Allan Kozinn, author of The Beatles

The FBI: Watching The Mike Douglas Show

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

New York, New York
February 25, 1972

Jerry Clyde Rubin

On February 22, 1972, Jerry Rubin appeared on the Mike Douglas Television Show which was aired on Channel II, Columbia Broadcasting System, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. John Lennon, formerly with the Beatles musical group, and his wife were co-hosts on this show. This program was tape recorded and pertinent statements made by Rubin are included in this memorandum.

Mike Douglas introduced Jerry Rubin stating his feelings were quite negative concerning Rubin but that John Lennon wanted him on the show.

John Lennon stated that Rubin was not at all like his image as he and his wife were not like their image. He stated he found something in Rubin that was artistic.

Mike Douglas asked, "What is Jerry Rubin thinking about these days?"

Rubin stated, "Glad you asked that! We're going to support Nixon for President, because by going to China he is furthering communist revolution throughout the world, and also encouraging communism at home. Anything to get elected! Even though it's not appreciated by the right wing, it's appreciated by the left. I'm just kidding! What he has really done is automate the war in Vietnam so that its machines killing people create a situation where 43 people can be murdered at Attica, create a situation where four kids can be killed at Kent State and people are afraid. The atmosphere of the country is one of his debts. I think the administration did this, and he is the symbol of it. And so I'm working very hard with people all over the country to defeat Nixon."

When questioned about the "Movement," Rubin stated that "the way the movement has changed is the pressure is so heavy that if anybody does anything, gets arrested, jailed, killed, that people are very pessimistic."

Douglas stated he had heard that Rubin was against drugs and this was the reason he was in favor of having him on the program. Rubin stated he was not against drugs but against heroin. Rubin stated, "the police are the protectors of the heroin trade, and heroin is used against Black people and against some white people right now, as a killer drug. Too many young kids are taking downers and heroin, because they see no future for themselves in this country, they see no hope in changing the country, they see no decent life in which they can be creative and express themselves, so they shoot into their veins and take a pill. And that's the society's fault, as it offers no alternative. As a revolutionary movement, we've got to give an alternative."

When questioned about voting, Rubin stated that all young people should vote as a block, just like women should vote as a block. "We've got to get Nixon out of the White House because we've got to stop the automated war in Vietnam. It's power if we vote together. We shouldn't vote for any candidate that doesn't automatically withdraw everything from Vietnam. And we ought to go to both Conventions in Miami and San Diego and non-violently make our presence felt and stand on the issues. If we do anything any other way, we'll be killed."

When questioned as to what he thinks is right in this country, Rubin stated that what's right is the fact that there are people in the country who want to change it. He stated that what he thought was beautiful about it, is that the children of America want to change the country and are going to.

Election Year Strategy Information Center (EYSIC)

FBI Current Intelligence Analysis

Volume II, Number 3

February 11, 1972

New "New Left" Group Formed

Operating under the cumbersome title of Election Year Strategy Information Center is a new organization which has been formed to direct New Left protest activities during the 1972 election year, with these efforts geared to culminate in massive demonstrations at the Republic National Convention in San Diego in August. Before finally settling on this name, EYSIC was known both as the Allamuchy Tribe and the International News Service, names which some members of the group still occasionally use. Organizers of this band of activists are seasoned veterans of protest: Rennie Davis, Jerry Rubin, Stewart Albert, and Jay Craven. (CONFIDENTIAL)

Finances do not seem to be an immediate problem for EYSIC since John Lennon, formerly with The Beatles musical group, has reportedly contributed $75,000 to this embryonic organization. Lennon's money and name have placed him in a position of considerable influence in EYSIC--no key planning sessions are being held without Lennon (pictured at left). Lennon, a British subject, has also taken steps to acquire American citizenship. (CONFIDENTIAL)

EYSIC is headquartered in New York City in space rented in a warehouse on Hudson Street. Plans are being generated there to get EYSIC members to appear at major primary elections in 1972 to confront the candidates with the "New Left message" and to additionally encourage individuals to travel to San Diego to demonstrate in August against the Republican Party. (CONFIDENTIAL)

December 2, 1969 - Man of the Decade

Taped: Tuesday 2 December 1969
Aired: Tuesday 30 December 1969

John was interviewed by anthropologist Desmond Morris, best known for his BBC Children's Television programme Zoo Time, for a programme called Man Of The Decade. ATV had asked Alistair Cooke, Mary McCarthy and Morris to choose the Man of the Decade. Cooke chose JFK, McCarthy chose Ho Chi Minh and Morris went for John. The 20-minute section devoted to John also used archive footage, chosen by John.

Concert For George

Edited by Olivia Harrison & Brian Roylance
Introduction by Paul Theroux

The Concert For George brought together some of the world's finest performers for one unprecedented night of celebration. Rock stars, comedians and classical musicians in both the Indian and European tradition all checked their egos at the door and took to the stage of The Albert Hall in perfect harmony, united by one thing: a love for their friend George Harrison whose earthly life had come to an end exactly one year before.

Rehearsals for the show had begun three weeks before, under the musical direction of Eric Clapton. With Olivia and Dhani in attendance from day one, a decision was made to split the show roughly in two. The first half - under the direction of his friend and mentor Ravi Shankar - would consist of the classical Indian music George so loved. The second would be dominated by George's own work. A 'house band' consisting of the likes of Eric, Jeff Lynne, Billy Preston, Gary Brooker, Andy Fairweather Low and Dhani Harrison were gradually joined by more of George's friends including Joe Brown, Jools Holland, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. As they familiarised themselves with George's often complex songs, so they found a kind of healing, even a closeness to their departed friend. In an adjacent room, Ravi Shankar composed as his orchestra rehearsed, fine-tuning his eulogy with his daughter Anoushka at his side, conducting. Gradually, East and West were brought together and memory sparked memory. Each had a story to tell and each story was like a different little piece of the George they knew. By the time everyone took the stage on November 29th, 2002, George Harrison was manifest in all their hearts.

This remarkable book follows that story from the rehearsals, the soundchecks, to the stage and beyond. It's told in 34,000 words from the mouths of those who were there, and who knew George. Most of the 450 photographs have never before been seen and include images of George throughout his life.

Concert for George is more than the story of one concert however. Eric Clapton talks about George's contrariness while Eric Idle, Michael Palin and Ringo Starr reveal a quiet, social recluse who loved company and couldn't shut up. Sam Brown remembers his ruthless honesty and compassion, Klaus Voorman his desperate anger at the state of the planet and Ravi Shankar his dedication to meditation and the sitar. Tom Petty recalls the time he spent as a Traveling Wilbury, along with Jeff Lynne who is just one of many to comment on George's unusual songwriting. Tom Hanks and Andy Fairweather Low tell of high-speed rides in 'The Rocket' and Jim Capaldi and Terry Gilliam remember George's love of laughter. Most poignantly, Olivia and Dhani Harrison recall a husband and a father.

Concert for George is an intimate blend of laughter and tears; a personal insight into one of the Twentieth century's best-loved songwriters.

Text written by: TANMOY BOSE, GARY BROOKER, JOE BROWN, SAM BROWN, MIKE CAMPBELL, JIM CAPALDI, ERIC CLAPTON, RAY COOPER, LEE DICKSON, CLAIRE FERGUSON, TERRY GILLIAM, TOM HANKS, DHANI HARRISON, OLIVIA HARRISON, JOOLS HOLLAND, ERIC IDLE, JON KAMEN, JIM KELTNER, KATIE KISSOON, ALBERT LEE, DAVID LELAND, ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW, JEFF LYNNE, GEORGE MARTIN, TESSA NILES, MICHAEL PALIN, TOM PETTY, BILLY PRESTON, EMIL RICHARDS, ALAN ROGAN, BRIAN ROYLANCE, ANOUSHKA SHANKAR, RAVI SHANKAR, RINGO STARR, PAUL THEROUX, KLAUS VOORMANN

'George once said to me, "If we'd known we were going to be The Beatles, we'd have tried harder."' Eric Idle