by William McKeen
The career of the Beatles, England's and probably the world's most famous rock'n'roll musical group of the 1960s, has interested a wide variety of people from journalists to rock historians, from popular writers to the American public. In this one-volume reference book, McKeen traces The Beatles' career from the first American appearance in a film clip on the Jack Paar show in 1964 to their breakup in 1970.
The first part of the book contains a biographical essay, and chapters on the group's work--albums, films, performances--their influence on popular culture, and a summary of what happened to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr after the dissolution of the group in 1970. Part II continues with reference material, a discography, a bibliography and a list of concerts, television appearances, and film performances. The final chapter is a chronology of events from 1940-1970.
This book is an invaluable resource for courses in Rock Music, Popular Music, and Introduction to Music. It is also a priceless reference book for rock historians and will certainly interest Beatle fans.
"McKeen intends to provide a "one-volume reference that attempts to cover a lot of ground" (p. ix), and he does that, although this is not an exhaustive volume. The 52-page biographical essay that begins the work does a nice job of summarizing more than 30 Beatles' biographical sources. Separate, shorter essays briefly discuss their work, the influence they had on the times, and the end of the group and the individuals' subsequent careers. The second half of the book contains a discography, a bibliography, and a listing of performances. The discography covers official releases (no bootlegs), but provides only brief information on each work (the single or album title, the record number, the release date, and the song titles and songwriters from the album cuts). J. Castleman and W.J. Podrazik's All Together Now, The Beatles Again, and The End of the Beatles (1985) supply fuller coverage and much more detailed information about each recording (including illustrations of jackets). The bibliography relies heavily on C.D. Terry's Here, There, & Everywhere, the most complete list of citations currently available. McKeen divides the works by format, covering about 150 books, more than 300 magazine articles, selected newspaper articles, fan magazines, major interviews, and collections. Concluding sections include films (with summaries), TV appearances, concert dates (with city listings but not venue), and a chronology. The index provides access to personal names and titles of works (but not individual songs). This is a good beginning source for anyone interested in the Beatles."
—Choice
"A reference tracing the Beatles' career: The first part contains a biographical essay, chapters on the group's work and their influence on pop culture, and a summary of what happened to each after dissolution of the group in 1970. The second part includes a discography, bibliography, and a list of concerts, television appearances and film performances. The final chapter is a chronology of events from 1940-1970."
—Reference & Research Book News
"In The Beatles: A Bio-Bibliography, William McKeen traces the fabulous foursome's career from their first American appearance in 1964 on the Jack Paar show to their breakup in 1970. In part one, McKeen summarizes the singers' lives through the early 1980s, the group's work and impact, and their breakup. Part two contains a discography, bibliography, chronology from 1940 to 1970, and lists of the Beatles' films, television appearances, and concerts."
—American Libraries
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Postcards from the Boys
by Ringo Starr
A sensational collection of 51 postcards from John, Paul and George to Ringo Starr offering a unique and revealing insight into the real life of the most famous band in the world.
This fabulous book is an essential addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in the story of The Beatles phenomenon.
Each card, eccentric or banal, is accompanied by Ringo's memories of his private life and the trials and joys of the band, triggered by the in-jokes, fond wishes and doodlings on the back of each image. Touching evidence that throughout all and everything they remained friends, even if they couldn't go on being The Beatles.
Introduction
'A lot of other people know more about my life than I do' writes Ringo Starr here.
He may well be right. Many others' lifetimes have gone into chronicling those of The Beatles. Countless hours of research, analysis and debate have consumed amateur myth-makers and professional pedants alike. Such has been the Fab Four's impact on western society, the facts of their lives have become public property.
We know, for instance, that they meditated with the Maharishi, and that they played their last concert on the roof of the Apple building. And we know that in the final years, recording sessions could be tense, fractious affairs.
But lives are more than a series of facts cemented together into a proper order. For all the factual breeze-blocks of the Beatles' lives we piece together, we only ever see the outside of the building. We rarely get to peek inside the rooms where John, Paul, George and Ringo played together, laughed, bickered and forged relationships stronger then mere friendships. In this book, Ringo opens 51 small windows into those rooms.
On the following pages are a selection of postcards sent to him by 'the boys.' Accompanying them are Ringo's comments; whatever thoughts and memories came to him as he thumbed through this collection. The well-known stories do not need to be re-told; as Ringo observes, 'it's in all the books.' Instead these little windows throw light in unexpected places.
There are the three sent by Paul between 27-31 January, 1969, while the band were finishing the trouble recording of Let It Be; one is a cryptic apology from 'Mr B Lumpy' while another, sent the day after the band's performance on the roof of Apple Studios states simply: 'You are the greatest drummer in the world. Really.' There's news from the band's retreat in Rishikesh -- Ringo had returned home early -- that John and George had managed seven hours of meditation; Paul and his girlfriend of the time, Jane Asher, two and a half. And that the Maharishi was planning to build a new swimming pool.
Less than a month after the initiation of court proceedings to bring about a legal dissolution of The Beatles, on a card dated January 21, 1971, John has written simply and despondently, 'Who'd have thought it would come to this?' By the late Seventies, when Ringo's solo career was -- in his words -- 'turning to hell,' John is suggesting Blondie's 'Heart Of Glass' is 'the type of stuff y'all should do.'
One card, bearing just a cartoon and the legend, 'Hiya Toots', stirs Ringo's memories of a fireworks party he and John gave for their kids. Another reminds him of quitting The Beatles in 1968. As the rest of the band got on with mixing The White Album he flew to Sardinia where he spent an afternoon on Peter Sellers' yacht and wrote 'Octopus's Garden'. When he returned ten days later, it was partly as a result -- Ringo has since revealed -- of several telegrams and postcards from the boys he received in that time.
The postcards themselves range from the bizarre to the banal; from naked Hawaiian beauties to cats playing with balls and a photo of Scotland's Campbeltown high street. On them the correspondents have scribbled haikus, drawings, odd references to long-forgotten private jokes and wishes of love and happiness for a good friend.
In fact, this is the most revealing aspect of these cards: that no matter what we might have read, no matter what we've been told and no matter how it sometimes might have appeared to the world at large, John, Paul, George and Ringo retained a familial bond throughout all and everything. They stayed friends, even if they couldn't stay as The Beatles.
As Ringo writes: 'It didn't matter what people's perceptions of us were, you can see from these cards that there's still a lot of contact, a lot of thought. The relationship never went away.'
R B Elson
A sensational collection of 51 postcards from John, Paul and George to Ringo Starr offering a unique and revealing insight into the real life of the most famous band in the world.
This fabulous book is an essential addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in the story of The Beatles phenomenon.
Each card, eccentric or banal, is accompanied by Ringo's memories of his private life and the trials and joys of the band, triggered by the in-jokes, fond wishes and doodlings on the back of each image. Touching evidence that throughout all and everything they remained friends, even if they couldn't go on being The Beatles.
Introduction
'A lot of other people know more about my life than I do' writes Ringo Starr here.
He may well be right. Many others' lifetimes have gone into chronicling those of The Beatles. Countless hours of research, analysis and debate have consumed amateur myth-makers and professional pedants alike. Such has been the Fab Four's impact on western society, the facts of their lives have become public property.
We know, for instance, that they meditated with the Maharishi, and that they played their last concert on the roof of the Apple building. And we know that in the final years, recording sessions could be tense, fractious affairs.
But lives are more than a series of facts cemented together into a proper order. For all the factual breeze-blocks of the Beatles' lives we piece together, we only ever see the outside of the building. We rarely get to peek inside the rooms where John, Paul, George and Ringo played together, laughed, bickered and forged relationships stronger then mere friendships. In this book, Ringo opens 51 small windows into those rooms.
On the following pages are a selection of postcards sent to him by 'the boys.' Accompanying them are Ringo's comments; whatever thoughts and memories came to him as he thumbed through this collection. The well-known stories do not need to be re-told; as Ringo observes, 'it's in all the books.' Instead these little windows throw light in unexpected places.
There are the three sent by Paul between 27-31 January, 1969, while the band were finishing the trouble recording of Let It Be; one is a cryptic apology from 'Mr B Lumpy' while another, sent the day after the band's performance on the roof of Apple Studios states simply: 'You are the greatest drummer in the world. Really.' There's news from the band's retreat in Rishikesh -- Ringo had returned home early -- that John and George had managed seven hours of meditation; Paul and his girlfriend of the time, Jane Asher, two and a half. And that the Maharishi was planning to build a new swimming pool.
Less than a month after the initiation of court proceedings to bring about a legal dissolution of The Beatles, on a card dated January 21, 1971, John has written simply and despondently, 'Who'd have thought it would come to this?' By the late Seventies, when Ringo's solo career was -- in his words -- 'turning to hell,' John is suggesting Blondie's 'Heart Of Glass' is 'the type of stuff y'all should do.'
One card, bearing just a cartoon and the legend, 'Hiya Toots', stirs Ringo's memories of a fireworks party he and John gave for their kids. Another reminds him of quitting The Beatles in 1968. As the rest of the band got on with mixing The White Album he flew to Sardinia where he spent an afternoon on Peter Sellers' yacht and wrote 'Octopus's Garden'. When he returned ten days later, it was partly as a result -- Ringo has since revealed -- of several telegrams and postcards from the boys he received in that time.
The postcards themselves range from the bizarre to the banal; from naked Hawaiian beauties to cats playing with balls and a photo of Scotland's Campbeltown high street. On them the correspondents have scribbled haikus, drawings, odd references to long-forgotten private jokes and wishes of love and happiness for a good friend.
In fact, this is the most revealing aspect of these cards: that no matter what we might have read, no matter what we've been told and no matter how it sometimes might have appeared to the world at large, John, Paul, George and Ringo retained a familial bond throughout all and everything. They stayed friends, even if they couldn't stay as The Beatles.
As Ringo writes: 'It didn't matter what people's perceptions of us were, you can see from these cards that there's still a lot of contact, a lot of thought. The relationship never went away.'
R B Elson
Monday, November 03, 2008
Queen Says "No" To Pot-Smoking FBI Members
4/23/70airtel
To: SACs, New York, Los Angeles
From: Director, FBI
JOHN LENNON
GEORGE HARRISON
PATRICIA HARRISON
INFORMATION CONCERNING
On 4/22/70 a representative of the Department of State advised that the American Embassy in London had submitted information showing the captioned individuals planned to depart from London, England, on 4/23/70 via TWA Flight 761 which will arrive in Los Angeles at 7:15 local time. These individuals are affiliated with the Beatles musical group and Lennon will be traveling under the name Chambers while the Harrisons are using the name Masters.
Lennon and the Harrisons will remain in Los Angeles until 5/6/70 for business discussions with Capitol Records and other enterprises. They will travel to New York City on 5/7/70 for further business discussions and will return to London on or about 5/16/70.
Waivers were granted by the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Embassy was to issue visas on 4/22/70. In this case waivers were necessary in view of the ineligbility of these three individuals to enter the U.S. due to their reputations in England as narcotic users.
While Lennon and the Harrisons have shown no propensity to become involved in violent antiwar demonstrations, each recipient remain alert for any information of such activity on their part or for information indicating they are using narcotics. Submit any pertinent information obtained in form suitable for dissemination.
August 19, 1966 - Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis
Taped: Friday 19 August 1966
An already tense atmosphere in the Deep South was heightened when a spokesman for the Memphis city authorities announced that "The Beatles are not welcome in Memphis." A local preacher, the Reverend Jimmy Stroad, organized a mass rally outside the stadium, to protest against the presence of the "blasphemous" John Lennon within a municipal arena. Six Ku Klux Klansmen also picketed the stadium in their costumes. A small number of fanatics threw rubbish on stage and exploded a firecracker. Outside, decoy cars were used to fool protesters, but The Beatles' coach was still surrounded by hordes of Christian demonstrators screaming abuse. Paul: "They were zealots. It was horrible to see the hatred on their faces."
An already tense atmosphere in the Deep South was heightened when a spokesman for the Memphis city authorities announced that "The Beatles are not welcome in Memphis." A local preacher, the Reverend Jimmy Stroad, organized a mass rally outside the stadium, to protest against the presence of the "blasphemous" John Lennon within a municipal arena. Six Ku Klux Klansmen also picketed the stadium in their costumes. A small number of fanatics threw rubbish on stage and exploded a firecracker. Outside, decoy cars were used to fool protesters, but The Beatles' coach was still surrounded by hordes of Christian demonstrators screaming abuse. Paul: "They were zealots. It was horrible to see the hatred on their faces."
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Before They Were Beatles - The Early Years: 1956-1960
by Alan J. Porter
Liverpool, England, October 1956. Schoolboy John Lennon and his best friend, Peter Shotton, decide to start a skiffle group as “a bit of a lark.” Four years later John, now accompanied by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best, leaves Liverpool to start a series of near legendary gigs in Hamburg, Germany. His group now performing under their newly acquired name – THE BEATLES.
This is the story of those four years. The story of how one of thousands of amateur schoolboy skiffle bands evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity and exploring musical boundaries. It’s also a story of tragedy, coincidence and at times just sheer luck. This is a story of beginnings, the story of John, Paul, George and Ringo - Before They Were Beatles.
Liverpool, England, October 1956. Schoolboy John Lennon and his best friend, Peter Shotton, decide to start a skiffle group as “a bit of a lark.” Four years later John, now accompanied by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best, leaves Liverpool to start a series of near legendary gigs in Hamburg, Germany. His group now performing under their newly acquired name – THE BEATLES.
This is the story of those four years. The story of how one of thousands of amateur schoolboy skiffle bands evolved into the beginnings of the greatest band in popular history. It’s a story of hope, creativity and exploring musical boundaries. It’s also a story of tragedy, coincidence and at times just sheer luck. This is a story of beginnings, the story of John, Paul, George and Ringo - Before They Were Beatles.
Beatles News
Game to be based on Beatles catalog
Ventura County Star - Camarillo,CA,USA
By Antony Bruno MTV Networks and Harmonix, the game developer behind the popular "Rock Band" franchise, plus the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd., are developing a ...
You can miss school for The Beatles
Hattiesburg American - Hattiesburg,MS,USA
Two words: The Beatles. I have pulled my second-grader and sixth-grader out of school to travel to Las Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil's production "The ...
The Beatles in Scotland: George Harrison's story
Glasgow Sunday Mail - UK
But the tramp was none other than Beatle George Harrison heading for Skye with model wife Patti Boyd to visit folk legend Donovan. ...
The Beatles in Scotland: Ringo Starr's story
Glasgow Sunday Mail - UK
ON December 31, 1962, The Beatles said goodbye to Hamburg's famous Star Club. Three nights later - billed as the Love Me Do Boys - they were at the Two Red ...
Beatles music will be part of video game
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States
By Hiawatha Bray and Nicole C. Wong Nearly four decades after they disbanded for good, the Beatles are back, but on a digital stage. ...
The Beatles seem on cue to test the digital market
The Province - Vancouver,BC,Canada
The Beatles are taking a tentative step forward into the digital media market with a new video game that will include the group's music and will be ...
Beatles Game Officially Announced
antiMUSIC.com - CA,USA
Beatles Game Officially Announced was a top story for this week. Here it is again: (PR) The Beatles' extraordinary music and phenomenal legacy is set to ...
Yesterday-Beatles Tribute Show Band owns Atlantic City
PR-USA.net (press release) - Varna,Bulgaria
Currently running over a year and a half at the Tropicana Casino/Hotel in AC, Yesterday shows why it's the best Beatles Show in the land. ...
A piano gave uniqueness to the Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night’s Opening Chord
Newspost Online - Baroda,India
Washington, November 2 (ANI): A Dalhousie University mathematician has a mystery as to why the opening chord to The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’’s Night” is ...
Beatles tribute band coming to area
Muskogee Daily Phoenix - Muskogee,OK,USA
Beatlemania Live!, the critically acclaimed Beatles tribute band, shows off their authentic sound at 7 pm Thursday at the Osage Event Center. ...
Ventura County Star - Camarillo,CA,USA
By Antony Bruno MTV Networks and Harmonix, the game developer behind the popular "Rock Band" franchise, plus the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd., are developing a ...
You can miss school for The Beatles
Hattiesburg American - Hattiesburg,MS,USA
Two words: The Beatles. I have pulled my second-grader and sixth-grader out of school to travel to Las Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil's production "The ...
The Beatles in Scotland: George Harrison's story
Glasgow Sunday Mail - UK
But the tramp was none other than Beatle George Harrison heading for Skye with model wife Patti Boyd to visit folk legend Donovan. ...
The Beatles in Scotland: Ringo Starr's story
Glasgow Sunday Mail - UK
ON December 31, 1962, The Beatles said goodbye to Hamburg's famous Star Club. Three nights later - billed as the Love Me Do Boys - they were at the Two Red ...
Beatles music will be part of video game
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States
By Hiawatha Bray and Nicole C. Wong Nearly four decades after they disbanded for good, the Beatles are back, but on a digital stage. ...
The Beatles seem on cue to test the digital market
The Province - Vancouver,BC,Canada
The Beatles are taking a tentative step forward into the digital media market with a new video game that will include the group's music and will be ...
Beatles Game Officially Announced
antiMUSIC.com - CA,USA
Beatles Game Officially Announced was a top story for this week. Here it is again: (PR) The Beatles' extraordinary music and phenomenal legacy is set to ...
Yesterday-Beatles Tribute Show Band owns Atlantic City
PR-USA.net (press release) - Varna,Bulgaria
Currently running over a year and a half at the Tropicana Casino/Hotel in AC, Yesterday shows why it's the best Beatles Show in the land. ...
A piano gave uniqueness to the Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night’s Opening Chord
Newspost Online - Baroda,India
Washington, November 2 (ANI): A Dalhousie University mathematician has a mystery as to why the opening chord to The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’’s Night” is ...
Beatles tribute band coming to area
Muskogee Daily Phoenix - Muskogee,OK,USA
Beatlemania Live!, the critically acclaimed Beatles tribute band, shows off their authentic sound at 7 pm Thursday at the Osage Event Center. ...
Beatles News
DVD Review: Composing The Beatles Songbook
Blogger News Network - USA
Composing The Beatles Songbook takes a look at what likely are the most productive years for these two composers. It is clear though that while fellow band ...
Pricey Beatles deal hinted
Play.tm - UK
On Thursday it was announced that MTV, Harmonix and EA are conspiring to release a new Beatles music game, which will arrive at the end of 2009. ...
The Beatles Live on through Digital Video Game
eFluxMedia - USA
The Beatles’ two surviving members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, have hailed the initiative, stating they were thrilled to have their tunes live on ...
1967 The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Liverpool Echo - UK
From that point on the Beatles became an entirely studio-based band. As EMI's premier act and Britain's most successful pop group they had almost unlimited ...
See all stories on this topic
THE BEATLES – MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR MEMORIES (DVD)
Film Threat - Los Angeles,CA,USA
by Phil Hall When the Beatles decided to roll up for their “Magical Mystery Tour” back in 1967, they assumed they would be able to make their own movie ...
New Beatles rhythm game in development
GamesAreFun.com - USA
Yesterday, Thursday, the 30th of October, executives from MTV Games, Harmonix, and Apple Corps – the conglomerate founded by the Beatles and the holder of ...
MTV first to land Beatles
VNUNet.com - UK
The Beatles will make their 21st-century debut in a new version of the popular Rock Band franchise. The band's Apple Corps label has inked a deal with MTV ...
Beatles Save Penny Lane
Altsounds.com - Cardiff,UK
Liverpool's world famous Penny Lane is to escape a name change - because of the famous Beatles song in its honour. Liverpool council have undertaken plans ...
Electronic Arts Set to Distribute Harmonix' Beatles Game [UPDATE]
Kotaku.com - New York,NY,USA
Yesterday's surprise announcement that the deal inked between MTV and The Apple Corps. wouldn’t result in a Beatles Rock Band title, but rather an entirely ...
Beatles Help Coming to DVD...
Altsounds.com - Cardiff,UK
The Beatles' classic 1965 film Help! will finally get the deluxe-DVD treatment on October 29th. The digitally restored film will come complete with a second ...
Blogger News Network - USA
Composing The Beatles Songbook takes a look at what likely are the most productive years for these two composers. It is clear though that while fellow band ...
Pricey Beatles deal hinted
Play.tm - UK
On Thursday it was announced that MTV, Harmonix and EA are conspiring to release a new Beatles music game, which will arrive at the end of 2009. ...
The Beatles Live on through Digital Video Game
eFluxMedia - USA
The Beatles’ two surviving members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, have hailed the initiative, stating they were thrilled to have their tunes live on ...
1967 The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Liverpool Echo - UK
From that point on the Beatles became an entirely studio-based band. As EMI's premier act and Britain's most successful pop group they had almost unlimited ...
See all stories on this topic
THE BEATLES – MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR MEMORIES (DVD)
Film Threat - Los Angeles,CA,USA
by Phil Hall When the Beatles decided to roll up for their “Magical Mystery Tour” back in 1967, they assumed they would be able to make their own movie ...
New Beatles rhythm game in development
GamesAreFun.com - USA
Yesterday, Thursday, the 30th of October, executives from MTV Games, Harmonix, and Apple Corps – the conglomerate founded by the Beatles and the holder of ...
MTV first to land Beatles
VNUNet.com - UK
The Beatles will make their 21st-century debut in a new version of the popular Rock Band franchise. The band's Apple Corps label has inked a deal with MTV ...
Beatles Save Penny Lane
Altsounds.com - Cardiff,UK
Liverpool's world famous Penny Lane is to escape a name change - because of the famous Beatles song in its honour. Liverpool council have undertaken plans ...
Electronic Arts Set to Distribute Harmonix' Beatles Game [UPDATE]
Kotaku.com - New York,NY,USA
Yesterday's surprise announcement that the deal inked between MTV and The Apple Corps. wouldn’t result in a Beatles Rock Band title, but rather an entirely ...
Beatles Help Coming to DVD...
Altsounds.com - Cardiff,UK
The Beatles' classic 1965 film Help! will finally get the deluxe-DVD treatment on October 29th. The digitally restored film will come complete with a second ...
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