by Jerry Levitan
In 1969, a determined 14-year-old Beatles fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto during his famous Vietnam protest bed-in with Yoko Ono, and convinced John to do an interview about peace. Four minutes of this exclusive 40-minute interview, in which John speaks candidly on war, politics, what it means to be a peacenik, the scandalous “Two Virgins” album, and the supposed subliminal messages in his music, is the basis for the recent 2008 Academy Award nominated short film, I Met The Walrus. Here for the first time in book form is Jerry’s fully contextualized and illustrated account of his experience with John, with all new illustrations from the film’s acclaimed illustrator, James Braithwaite, never-before-seen candid photographs of John and Yoko, and a DVD keepsake featuring exclusive video footage and the complete 40-minute soundtrack of the interview with John. A complete annotated typescript of the interview is also included plus Jerry’s memorabilia from that day – notes from John and Yoko, drawings and doodles from John and more. The result is a spell-binding, up-close one-on-one moment with John, a tribute to his extraordinary voice, boundless wit and timeless message. Jerry Levitan is a musician, actor, filmmaker, writer and lawyer. He produced and starred in the 2007 Academy Award nominated film I Met The Walrus, winning acclaim and festival awards from around the world
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Beatles: The Illustrated Biography
by Tim Hill, Gareth Thomas, Jane Benn, Alison Gauntlet
The Beatles: The Illustrated Biography tells the history of the Beatles through photographs. From the moment John, Paul, George, and Ringo began playing together in the summer of 1962, a pop legend was well and truly born. From their Liverpool roots the Beatles crafted their musical talents and took the world of popular music by storm. Driven by the sheer genius of Lennon and McCartney, their compositions caught the imagination of young and old and their presence on stage frequently reduced teenage audiences to tears. The Beatles were not only talented, they also had the drive and determination to reach their goals. See these legends at work.
The Beatles: The Illustrated Biography tells the history of the Beatles through photographs. From the moment John, Paul, George, and Ringo began playing together in the summer of 1962, a pop legend was well and truly born. From their Liverpool roots the Beatles crafted their musical talents and took the world of popular music by storm. Driven by the sheer genius of Lennon and McCartney, their compositions caught the imagination of young and old and their presence on stage frequently reduced teenage audiences to tears. The Beatles were not only talented, they also had the drive and determination to reach their goals. See these legends at work.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
February 27, 1964 - Abbey Road Studios, London
Taped: Thursday 27 February 1964
Aired: Monday 3 August 1964
At Abbey Road Studios on this day, 'And I Love Her' was finished, plus complete recordings made of John's 'Tell Me Why' and 'If I Fell'.
Aired: Monday 3 August 1964
At Abbey Road Studios on this day, 'And I Love Her' was finished, plus complete recordings made of John's 'Tell Me Why' and 'If I Fell'.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Beatles Phenomenon: A Celebration in Words, Pictures and Music
by Barry Miles
This title is printed in colour throughout and contains 240 photographs. The world's most celebrated band has been the subject of countless books and articles over the years. But "The Beatles Phenomenon" is a unique new Beatles chronicle that brings their astonishing legend to vivid life using sheet music, rare photographs and a detailed chronology of their gigs, venues, public quotes and most memorable moments. Based on the exhaustive research of the legendary Miles, intimate member of the Beatles' Sixties circle, "The Beatles Phenomenon" weaves together the whole spectacular Beatles' story, the full sheet music of their most important songs in chronological order, and 240 rarely-seen colour and black-and-white photographs. The result is a truly amazing personal history of The Beatles, a collectible book that will become a treasured and evocative keepsake for those who grew up with their music, and an essential reference tool for anyone seriously interested in rock's must influential phenomenon. With insights from colleagues and band members themselves, "The Beatles Phenomenon" stands apart from all other Beatles books., Each of the 100 songs featured in this prestigious collection is printed with topline, guitar chord boxes and full lyrics. The result is a magnificent musical, visual and textual commentary on the life, times and music of the most phenomenal rock 'n' roll band the world has ever seen.
This title is printed in colour throughout and contains 240 photographs. The world's most celebrated band has been the subject of countless books and articles over the years. But "The Beatles Phenomenon" is a unique new Beatles chronicle that brings their astonishing legend to vivid life using sheet music, rare photographs and a detailed chronology of their gigs, venues, public quotes and most memorable moments. Based on the exhaustive research of the legendary Miles, intimate member of the Beatles' Sixties circle, "The Beatles Phenomenon" weaves together the whole spectacular Beatles' story, the full sheet music of their most important songs in chronological order, and 240 rarely-seen colour and black-and-white photographs. The result is a truly amazing personal history of The Beatles, a collectible book that will become a treasured and evocative keepsake for those who grew up with their music, and an essential reference tool for anyone seriously interested in rock's must influential phenomenon. With insights from colleagues and band members themselves, "The Beatles Phenomenon" stands apart from all other Beatles books., Each of the 100 songs featured in this prestigious collection is printed with topline, guitar chord boxes and full lyrics. The result is a magnificent musical, visual and textual commentary on the life, times and music of the most phenomenal rock 'n' roll band the world has ever seen.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
How Capitol Got the Beatles: And Then What Happened
by Charles Tillinghast
How was the seemingly ridiculous decision by Capitol made to reject the Beatles? Which of three possible Capitol executives successfully managed to reverse that decision, bringing the fame and fortune of these artists to the Capitol label?
Many were the bumps in the ride taken by Capitol and the Beatles during the years of their greatest productivity, none totally lacking in humorous aspects as related by the author, a Capitol "insider."
Tillinghast, a lawyer, spent almost twenty years in the record business, mostly at Capitol Records where he headed the Law Department and was point man for day-to-day relations with the Beatles.
How was the seemingly ridiculous decision by Capitol made to reject the Beatles? Which of three possible Capitol executives successfully managed to reverse that decision, bringing the fame and fortune of these artists to the Capitol label?
Many were the bumps in the ride taken by Capitol and the Beatles during the years of their greatest productivity, none totally lacking in humorous aspects as related by the author, a Capitol "insider."
Tillinghast, a lawyer, spent almost twenty years in the record business, mostly at Capitol Records where he headed the Law Department and was point man for day-to-day relations with the Beatles.
Monday, January 19, 2009
March 19, 1964 - Beatles Get Show Biz Top Award
Taped: Thursday 19 March 1964
Released: Monday 23 March 1964
The Variety Club of Great Britain 12th Annual Show Business Awards were presented at a luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel. Harold Wilson, Leader of the Opposition, presented The Beatles with the award for "Show Business Personalities of 1963" and, somewhat shrewdly, had his picture taken with them. John referred to his award, a heart shaped shield, as his "purple heart."
Released: Monday 23 March 1964
The Variety Club of Great Britain 12th Annual Show Business Awards were presented at a luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel. Harold Wilson, Leader of the Opposition, presented The Beatles with the award for "Show Business Personalities of 1963" and, somewhat shrewdly, had his picture taken with them. John referred to his award, a heart shaped shield, as his "purple heart."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Artificial Paradise: The Dark Side of the Beatles' Utopian Dream
by Kevin Courrier
There is an epigram in this book from the Phil Ochs song "Crucifixion," about the Kennedy assassination, that states: "I fear to contemplate that beneath the greatest love, lies a hurricane of hate." On February 11th 1963, the Beatles recorded "There's a Place," a dazzling, unheralded tune which was included on their electrifying debut album, Please Please Me. This song firmly laid the foundation on which a huge utopian dream of the sixties would be built. Within that dream, however, also lay the seeds of a darker vision that would emerge out of the very counterculture that the Beatles and their music helped create. Thus, even as their music attracted adoring fans, it also enticed the murderous ambitions of Charles Manson; and though the Beatles may have inspired others to form bands, their own failed hopes ultimately led to their breakup. The disillusionment with the sixties, and the hopes associated with the group, would many years later culminate in the assassination of John Lennon and the attempted slaying of George Harrison by deranged and obsessive fans. In this incisive examination, author Kevin Courrier (Dangerous Kitchen: the Subversive World of Zappa, Randy Newman's American Dreams) examines how the Fab Four, through their astonishing music and comically rebellious personalities, created the promise of an inclusive culture built on the principles of pleasure and fulfillment. By taking us through their richly inventive catalogue, Courrier illustrates how the Beatles' startling impact on popular culture built a bond with audiences that was so strong, people today continue to either cling nostalgically to it, or struggle -- and often struggle violently -- to escape its influence.
There is an epigram in this book from the Phil Ochs song "Crucifixion," about the Kennedy assassination, that states: "I fear to contemplate that beneath the greatest love, lies a hurricane of hate." On February 11th 1963, the Beatles recorded "There's a Place," a dazzling, unheralded tune which was included on their electrifying debut album, Please Please Me. This song firmly laid the foundation on which a huge utopian dream of the sixties would be built. Within that dream, however, also lay the seeds of a darker vision that would emerge out of the very counterculture that the Beatles and their music helped create. Thus, even as their music attracted adoring fans, it also enticed the murderous ambitions of Charles Manson; and though the Beatles may have inspired others to form bands, their own failed hopes ultimately led to their breakup. The disillusionment with the sixties, and the hopes associated with the group, would many years later culminate in the assassination of John Lennon and the attempted slaying of George Harrison by deranged and obsessive fans. In this incisive examination, author Kevin Courrier (Dangerous Kitchen: the Subversive World of Zappa, Randy Newman's American Dreams) examines how the Fab Four, through their astonishing music and comically rebellious personalities, created the promise of an inclusive culture built on the principles of pleasure and fulfillment. By taking us through their richly inventive catalogue, Courrier illustrates how the Beatles' startling impact on popular culture built a bond with audiences that was so strong, people today continue to either cling nostalgically to it, or struggle -- and often struggle violently -- to escape its influence.
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