Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Beatles: A Long and Winding Road

Label: Black Hill

They shook the world. They changed the course of history. They are much more than just a rock group; they are a part of our lives. The Beatles: A Long and Winding Road is the incredible story of the world's enduring love affair with four lads from Liverpool who became the soundtrack for a generation.

This DVD features the story of The Beatles: from the birth of the band, to their break up and the deaths of John and George. Containing footage from the UK and abroad it details their leap to success and the bitter disagreements that led to their winding up in the courts by Paul McCartney.

The Beatles: A Long And Winding Road features various conversations and filmed events that follow the group's relentless sweep through the musical boundaries of the world.

DVD 1:
There Are Places I Remember (1940-1958)
One And One Is Three (1958-1960)

Scene Index:
Show Open: There are Places I Remember
You say it's your birthday
Johnny be good
The Rock Island Line
Oh, Teddy Boy
The King and I
July 6th, the turning point in the history of music
Cut the rock
One & One Is Three (1958-1960)
Painting testimonial pictures
So, may I introduce to you . . .
Out of college, money's spent
Ja, Ja, Ja
This way, Herr will challenge the world
Got to be good lookin', cuz' he's so hard to see
Why don't we do it in the Strasse

DVD 2:
Hamburg and Herr Epstein (1960-1962)
Beatlemania (1963-1966)

Scene Index:
Hamburg & Herr Epstein
Just let me hear some of that Rock 'n' Roll music
Baby's in black
Everybody had a good time
Turn me on, when I get lonely
If you're down, he'll pick you up
You don't realize how much I need you
Gonna mail it to my local DJ
Beatlemania
And have you travelled very far?
Gee, it's good to be back home
They're gonna put me in the movies
Eight arms to hold you
And I'm not what I appear to be
Don't let me down
All I gotta do is act naturally

DVD 3:
Love, Litigation and Let It Be (1967-present)
Bonus Material

Scene Index:
Love, Litigation and Let It Be
Love, Love, Love
The man with the foolish grin
In the land of submarines
Helter Skelter
In times of trouble
I read the news today, oh boy
Alistair Taylor Interview

BONUS DVD:
Scene Index:
Julia Baird Interview
Bill Harry Interview
Tony Sheridan Interview
Alf Bicknell Interview
Alistair Taylor Interview

Rent or purchase this DVD from BLOCKBUSTER Total Access - click to activate coupon for $10 off your first month.

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music that Changed the World

by Bob Spitz

It starts in the housing projects and school playgrounds of Liverpool, where four boys would discover themselves--and a new form of music called rock 'n roll. It takes us from the famous first meeting between John and Paul, to the clubs of Liverpool and Germany when George and Ringo join the band, down Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, to America and the height of the Beatles' success--when they were still teenagers.

In Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!, Spitz recreates the thrills, tears and magic of his New York Times bestselling adult biography, but in a style and format that's accessible for young readers. This book includes photos, sidebars and graphic elements. It's a book about teens who changed the world.

Bob Spitz has represented the careers of Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He is the author of The Beatles, The Making of the Superstars, Barefoot in Babylon, Dylan, and Shoot Out the Lights. His articles appear regularly in The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Conde Nast Traveler, Men's Journal, In Style, Esquire, Sky, and The Washington Post. He lives in Connecticut with his teenaged daughter.

Beatles News

Last Shadow Puppets cover The Beatles in Liverpool
NME.com - UK
Turner and Kane played four covers in the set, the first of which was The Beatles' 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' from the 1969 'Abbey Road' album, ...

If John Lennon Were a Painting. . .
Washington Post - United States
Any biographer who aspires to capture the Beatles' putative leader in all his brilliant and obscene glory has to wrestle with a few basic questions: How did ...

Beatles landmark up for sale at £800000
Liverpool Daily Post - Liverpool,England,UK
A FORMER Liverpool music hall that played host to The Beatles, and has since been transformed into a bar and eaterie, has gone on the market for £800000. ...

Cirque and the Beatles: 'All Together Now'
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA
How to film rehearsals, how to arrange interviews, how to edit the footage that showcases the music from "LOVE," the album of remixed Beatles songs, ...

Phil Spector in rare interview
Independent - London,England,UK
He produced the Beatles' final album, Let It Be, after being asked to make their January 1969 recordings into an album. "I knew they were breaking up, ...

Phil Spector rants about his relationship with The Beatles ahead ...
Mirror.co.uk - London,UK
Spector was brought to London in 1970 by the Beatles’ manager Allen Klein and was given the task of turning abandoned Get Back sessions into the Let It Be ...

Nokia's UK Music Benches Blare Beatles, Stones, More
Wired Blogs - USA
This is why Manchester will be getting benches blaring Queen's operatic classic "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Liverpool will be hearing not The Beatles' "Day in ...

Beatles News Roundup
KBS Radio - Trail,BC,Canada
British actor Peter Copley, who appeared as the Jeweler trying to remove Ringo Starr's "sacrificial ring" in the Beatles'1965 comedy Help! died on October ...

February 11, 1968 - Hey Bulldog

Taped: Sunday 11 February 1968

Abbey Road. The Beatles intended to shoot footage of the recording of "Lady Madonna," their next single, as a promotional film, but chose instead to record a new song, "Hey Bulldog." The filming was directed by Tony Bramwell, head of Apple Films.

Yoko Ono attended a Beatles session for the first time as John's guest, and embarrassed her host by demanding to know why all The Beatles' songs used exactly the same rhythm, and why they didn't attempt something more adventurous.

Beatles News

'Musical benches' to serenade public with Beatles, Stones and Dusty
NME.com - UK
The bizarre scheme has been to put in place as part of Nokia's new Comes With Music package, aiming to discover regional differences in musical tastes. ...

Pascal Will Sing Kander and Ebb, Larson, Joel, Beatles and More at ...
Playbill.com - New York,NY,USA
... This Time," Jonathan Larson's "One Song, Glory" and Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" as well as songs by Elton John, Pink Floyd and the Beatles. ...

More than just the Beatles
New Statesman - London,England,UK
All these successes fuel the argument that Liverpool has a lot more to say for itself in the way of culture than just The Beatles. One would think the toros ...

Bloomingdales Beatles iPod
AVreview.co.uk - London,England,UK
Not quite what you may have hoped for however, the set consists of a numbered 120GB iPod in black etched with the Beatles logo on the front and Abbey Road ...

Fab Four Festival awakens Beatlemania in Nashville
My Tennessean.com - Nashville,TN,USA
By Dave Paulson • THE TENNESSEAN • October 24, 2008 It was 1964 when Louise Harrison got her first Beatles-related job. After the band's historic visit to ...

Beatles tribute to benefit church’s meditation garden
Goshen Chronicle - USA
GOSHEN — Twist and Shout, a Beatles tribute ensemble, will perform a special benefit concert inside the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen ...

Beatles' George Harrison 'like Capability Brown', says top designer
Horticulture Week - London,England,UK
by Magda Ibrahim The Beatles' George Harrison was like Capability Brown in the way he perceived landscapes, according to leading designer Yvonne Innes. ...

Jury selected for Phil Spector murder retrial
Reuters India - Mumbai,India
Spector first found fame as the mastermind behind popular 1960s girl groups and later worked with The Beatles, Cher, The Ramones and Tina Turner.

Friday, October 24, 2008

They gave him ten for two

CONFIDENTIAL

Re: Freedom Rally, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 10, 1971
Sponsored by Committee to Free John Sinclair

Source six advised December 13, 1971, University of Michigan facilities for captioned rally were obtained by unknown persons on or about November 30, 1971, at a cost of $4,000.00, which was paid for in cash and in advance. Source advised approximately five well known rock bands and/or singers performed at the rally, including John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono. Lennon formerly with group known as the Beatles. Source advised Lennon prior to rally composed the following song entitled, "John Sinclair", which song Lennon sang at the rally. Source advised this song was composed by Lennon especially for this event:

It ain't fair, John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air
Won't you care, for John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air.
Let him be, let him free
Let him be like you and me

They gave him 10 for 2
What more can the judges do
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, set him free.

If he'd been a soldier man
Shooting gooks in Vietnam
If he was a flying man
Dropping dope in old Siam
He'd be free, they'd let him be,
Breathing air, like you and me.

They gave him 10 for 2
What more can Judge Colombo do
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, set him free.

Was he jailed for what he done
Representing everyone
Free John Now if we can
From the clutches of the man
Let him free, lift the lid
Bring him to his wife and kids

They gave him 10 for 2
What more can Colombo, Nixon, Rockefeller, Agnew do
Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, set him free.

On December 13, 1971, source six advised he learned from Lennie Sinclair, Officer WPP, that the Detroit Committee to Free John Sinclair netted a total of $26,000.00 from the rally.

Following are verbatim speeches of William Kunstler, Rennie Davis, Jerry Rubin and others as indicated:

BOB RUDNICK - MC

People have come from various parts of the planet to help get JOHN out. All right, BOBBY SEALE will be here, PHIL OCHS, JERRY RUBIN, SHEILA MURPHY, the UP, ED SANDERS, Commander CODY, RENNIE DAVIS, LENI SINCLAIR, ARCHIE SHEPP (phonetic), Father GROPI, a special guest and then DAVID PEEL with JOHN LENNON and YOKO ONO.

The lost and found and drug help is in the north west, I think that's over there if you need it. Right now we're gonna have a tape. OK, this is gonna be an all night long hassle, we gotta keep the aisles clear, the firemen are running around so if possible we're gonna have to keep announcing, just keep the lanes as clear as you can.

WILLIAM KUNSTLER is a little busy with a new case. He's trying to get someone else out of jail and couldn't be here, so to send a message he put it on tape and we're gonna have that in about ten seconds.

WILLIAM KUNSTLER
(taped message)

I have tried everything I could to be in Ann Arbor tonight but it is impossible. But I know that so many of JOHN SINCLAIR's friends will be with you that my absence will be more keenly felt by me than by anyone else. Yet I could not let the night go by without at least making this tape, unsatisfactory as it is, to give some concrete form to my devotion to JOHN and the cause which he symbolizes and represents.

JOHN is in jail for two essential reasons; first of all he is a political person who calls into question the validity of the super state which seeks to control all of us and destroys those it cannot readily dominate. Secondly, his harsh sentence dramatizes the absurdity of our marijuana laws which are irrational, unjust and indefensible. Recently, the National Institute of Mental Health submitted to the Congress its hundred and seventy six page report "Marijuana and Health" which comes to the conclusion that quote For the bulk of smokers, marijuana does not seem to be harmful, end quote. Yet it is made a crime in every state with penalties ranging in severity frmo life to six months in jail. On the other hand, conventional cigarettes can be legally sold as long as they bear a legend on the package that they can cause serious illness or death.

Bobby Seale

...We will have 20 in the next 8 months and we might have 30 in the next two years. At the same time we are going to have a quantitative increase in every major oppressed community in the country. Got to happen! It's the only way we are going to attack capitalism. To exappropriate from that capitalistic system the goods, the technology, etc. put it down in the poor oppressed communities all of us the people that are oppressed and us too and everybody processing it and giving it away free. It's the only way I know to start attacking the monster of capitalism. A monster of charging people money for everything they get, we're saying the music is free, the life is free, the world is free and if it ain't free, let's start getting out chains off now. The psychology chains and the chains of oppression. Let's get it off now. Let's have the chains off of us now, 'cause if we don't have the chains off of us they are going to annihilate us. They are going to anniliate us by polluting this earth, the capitalists and the fascists they are going to do this here. We saying the universe belongs to the people. Mars belongs to the people, and the people belong to the people, all power to the people. Thank you very much. Right on, power to the people.

JERRY RUBIN
(first part not recorded)

. . . . also, PUN PLAMONDON is in jail, he is also with the Rainbow Peoples Party, he was the first person to become a fugitive and go underground in this country, and then he was caught and now he's in jail and we ought to have this rally to free PUN PLAMONDON and to free the 2,000 people who are now in jail for smoking dope, most of whom are black, and you see what people are going to feel most across the country, when they hear about this rally. Think of all the prisoners behind bars, how they are going to feel, fed shit food, isolated, treated like animals and if they do anything courageous they lose their good time, and they have to stay in jail longer and longer this rally is going to be the first prison rally all across the country demanding that they lay down the bars and let all the prisoners out. And while letting all the prisoners out, they ought to jail the judges, 'cause every judge, every judge should spend six months in a jail to see what it's like. To see what the feeling is of being locked up, and see whether that makes you feel any more human. This is the first event of the Rock Liberation Front and it's really incredible that JOHN LENNON and YOKO ONO are going to be here, here tonight, and should really think of what the meaning of that is. 'Cause it's really a committed act by people who are very involved in music, who are identifying to the culture you and I are part of. The family that you and I are part of and for them to come on this stage, and for JOHN to sing his song it ain't far JOHN SINCLAIR and for JOHN and YOKO to sing a song about the IRA and Attica State. It's really incredible. It shows that right now we can really unite music and revolutionary politics and really build the movement all across the country. (applause). It's like a whole, it's like a whole cultural renaissance, is about to begin and if JOHN and YOKO can come here we really haev to go back to high school and colleges and communities and rebuild the movement to rebuild the revolution because all the people who say the movement and the revolution is over should see what's going on right here, because it doesn't look over to me. But there are, there are a lot of problems, for example the amount of heroin and dope that is smoked in the black and white youth communities is really serious. So many young, 15, 16, 17-year-old kids who are totally wiped out on downers, 'cause they have to find some way to get through the prison of high school and college and some way out of the prison of America, instead of building a revolutionary movement. The amount of heroin that is floating around our communities, we have to drive the heroin pushers out of our communities and build (applause). So heroin is poison and you know it gets its source from Southeast Asia, Laos, and then, it's shipped by the CIA back to the U.S. as a poison to poison us so we don't make a revolution, that's why they are pushing all this heroin into us. (applause). Also, there is like a very strange spirit among young people today, a spirit of tremendous mistrust, a spirit of which anybody who takes an action, calls a demonstration, comes forward with something is attacked by someone else, in the movement for being an ego-tripper or media freak or doing something wrong. It's a total anti-leadership spirit, so the people are afraid to take the initiative or afraid to take actions, not because of what the pig might do, but afraid to take, take action because of what their own brothers and sisters might say to them. It's a very strange thing that people are afraid to speak out and that's why there's such a quiet across the country, 'cause the moment somebody does something, someone else right next to him says, I didn't like what you did. We have to give each other a chance to make mistakes, we have to give each other a chance (inaudible) because if we are our own worst critics, no one is going to do anything, we are going to be paralyzed in fear, and all the violence and hostilities that we felt against [...]

And JOHN SINCLAIR is a key person in the liberation struggle, the struggle to liberate all the people from the overt and the covert prisons, from the prisons behind bars and outside bars, and we need JOHN SINCLAIR out of prison not only for his own sake but to help in that struggle. JOHN SINCLAIR has united rock and revolution. He has united a position to political repression and to economic exploitation. His united opposition from domestic oppression and foreign aggression and we want JOHN SINCLAIR out of prison, we want him out of prison to help us organize the music at San Diego. (applause). And we want him out of prison to organize the music in a lot of events like this one, that will take place up and down the country between now and San Diego to get those other prisoners out of jail, out of the jail of the factories that they are in, out of the jail of the money system, out of the jail of the factories that they are in, out of the jail of the money system, out of the jail of the foreign policy. Now I'm just going to say one sentence about the war and I think RENNIE indicated already that NIXON's program is not for winding down the war but for winding down the anti-war movement. It's the most cynical appeal to us, to say it doesn't matter that more people are being killed today than there were last month, it doesn't matter that there were more people killed last month, it doesn't matter that there were more people killed last month than there were under JOHNSON, as long as they are Asians, as long as they are not Americans. But you want a real clue to that kind of cynicism, I'll quote one of my political advisors, GEORGE WALLACE. GEORGE WALLACE came up with a shadow cabinet yesterday and who do you suppose was his secretary of state: Ambassador WILLIAM PORTER who is NIXON's Ambassador to the Vietnamese peace talks. That tells you what's happening to the Vietnamese peace talks. That tells you what's happening to the war under the Nixon program. Now one last point, I also came here tonight to hear JOHN and YOKO, and so did a lot of other people, but I came here to hear JOHN and YOKO sing a song to the Liberation of JOHN SINCLAIR and the other prisoners. We have the power, we have the strength if like the Vietnamese and the Cambodian and the Laotians, we do not allow the government, visible or invisible, to pacify us, if we do not allow them to convince them that we are weak and impotent and that nothing we do will matter. Ever since 1964, the press, the dove press, mind you, and the government has been saying that the war is ending and the anti-war movement is dead, but it has never been through, and it is not through today.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics

Edited by Alan Aldridge

The Beatles have been a part of our lives for almost three decades. They were heroes and poets of the sixties and seventies, expressing the spirit of the times. With an influence that crossed social barriers--in addition to the boundaries of art, fashion and music--the Beatles lifted pop music to a new level of artistic achievement, culminating in the classic masterpiece, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics is the only major collection of illustrated Beatles lyrics available. Originally published in 1969, this book has become a symbol of an era, a must-have for Beatles fans and a brilliant tribute to the band that changed a generation.

Quotes from John,Paul, George and Ringo provide candid, witty, insightful commentary on the songs and their origins. Clarification of controversial lyrics is offered by the only true authorities, the Beatles themselves. All of the famous songs are included--from Can't Buy Me Love and A Hard Day's Night to Rocky Raccoon, Revolver [sic] and Yellow Submarine.

Lavish full-color illustrations by internationally famous artists and specially commissioned photographs reflect the psychedelic world the Beatles lived in and the whole generation and pop culture they influenced.

As the editor comments in the introduction, "[this book is as] entertaining to the eye and the imagination as a Beatles album is to the ear." The magic remains.

Alan Aldridge is an award-winning graphic designer and artist. A colleague and friend of the Beatles, Aldridge originally put The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics together in 1969. He asked notable contemporary artists to illustrate the lyrics in any way they liked and advertised for fan art from the public--this extraordinary collection is the result.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Beatles: The Biography

by Bob Spitz

As soon as the Beatles became famous, the spin machines began to construct a myth, a myth that has continued to this day. Biographers have come and gone, each repeating the story precisely as they were meant to. But the truth is much more interesting, much more exciting, and much more moving. Now, after years of research around the world, hundreds of unprecedented interviews, and the mining of tens of thousands of documents (many never before seen), Bob Spitz has written the masterpiece biography that Beatles fans have been waiting for. Spitz restores the Beatles to what they were: a loud, angry, rock and roll bandkids who became gods, not gods who happened to look like kids. This is a biography of a band in full, not the story of John and Paul and their two mates from Liverpool. Here we see a vibrant Ringo, sharply portrayed for the first time, willing the Beatles to produce the classic White Album. And here we see in vivid focus Georges wild passion for innovative music.

Bob Spitz is the author of The Making of Superstars, Barefoot in Babylon, Dylan, and Shoot Out the Lights. His articles appear regularly in the New York Times Magazine, GQ, Conde Nast Traveler, Men's Journal, In Style, Premiere, and the Washington Post. He lives in Connecticut.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In My Life: The Brian Epstein Story

by Debbie Geller
Edited by Anthony Wall

"Absorbing...One of the most succinct and engrossing Beatles books ever written."
--Financial Times (U.K.)

Without the determination, magnetism, vision, good manners, respectable clothes, and financial security of Brian Epstein, no one would have ever heard of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. In Liverpool, in December 1961, Brian Epstein met the Beatles in his small office and signed a management deal. The rest may be history, but it's a history that Epstein created, along with a blueprint for all pop groups since.

Out of the public eye, Epstein was flamboyant and charismatic. He drank, gambled compulsively, and took drugs to excess. But people remember his wit, charm, and capacity to inspire affection and loyalty. That's when he wasn't depressed, even suicidal. Epstein was Jewish in a society filled with anti-Semitism. He was homosexual at a time when it was a crime to be gay, and from his teenage days to the end of his life, he suffered arrests, beatings, and blackmail--all of which had to be kept secret.

This book tells the story of Epstein's complicated life through the reminiscences of his friends and family. Based on dozens of interviews--with Paul McCartney, George Martin, and Marianne Faithfull, among others--plus many of Epstein's personal diaries, this book uncovers the truth behind the enigmatic young man who unintentionally caused a cultural revolution--and in the process destroyed himself.

Debbie Geller is a television journalist. She lives in New York City and London.

"In Geller's book you feel returned to life as it was lived."
--Interview (U.K.)

"Sweet."
--The Guardian (U.K.)

"The moving story of a damaged boy who yearned for success and its trappings and who, despite attaining it, felt lonely and left out until the end of his tragically short life."
--The Sunday Independent (U.K.)

"Evocative...Entertaining."
--The Times (U.K.)

"Fascinating."
--Daily Mail (U.K.)

"An extraordinary tale."
--Evening Standard (U.K.)

Headlines

The Beatles - “Please Please Me”
PopMatters - Chicago,IL,USA
As John Lennon was writing what would become the Beatles’ second single, he was working off a Bing Crosby tune from the early 1930s and imagining soulful ...

Beatles Documentary Film Plays on Big Screen Tonight
HNN Huntingtonnews.net - WV, USA
Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun) reinvented The Beatles music into a synthesis of circus styles from around the world with its own central theme and ...

Beatles bug bites BG grad
The Columbian - Vancouver,WA,USA
By BY ISOLDE RAFTERY On a layover in New York City, Caitlin Noble, Battle Ground native and Beatles enthusiast, stopped at the Dakota, home of Yoko Ono. ...

Beatles-Cirque doc is people's choice
The Gazette (Montreal) - Quebec,Canada
Adrian Wills' All Together Now - a documentary of the historic collaboration between the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil to produce the ongoing Vegas show Love ...

Widnes-owned Beatles single sells for thousands
Runcorn World - Warrington,Cheshire,UK
Several red label issues of The Beatles first single, Love Me Do, were brought to a free Beatles and pop memorabilia valuation day at Stobart Stadium. ...

Beatles autographs from Whitchurch fetch £2300

ic CheshireOnline - Crewe,UK
by Andrew Bowan, Whitchurch Herald A BEATLES fan literally had a `Ticket to Ride' when she put a set of autographs of the Fab Four up for auction on Friday. ...

Time running out for Ringo Starr autograph
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
Fans of Ringo Starr, the Beatles drummer, have less than 24 hours to get his autograph. By Urmee Khan Starr, regarded as the most down-to-earth member of ...

Grumpy old Beatles?
FayObserver.com - Fayetteville,NC,USA
First, McCartney flipped his Beatles wig when he learned pictures of him and his bandmates were on display at a Liverpool McDonald’s. ...

Nouveau lauds 'Tulpan'
Hollywood Reporter - United States
The audience award in Montreal went to Adrian Wills' "All Together Now," a Canadian documentary about the Cirque du Soleil/Beatles...More.

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Beatles Intimate Scrapbook

Label: Spiral Vision International Multi Media Arts

Hosted by internationally acclaimed Beatles historian Geoffrey Giuliano, The Beatles Intimate Scrapbook takes a rare look at the enduring phenomenon of Beatlemania. Granted rare access to the Beatles' historic Apple Building, Abbey Road Studios, and Strawberry Fields in Liverpool, Giuliano provides an in depth perspective on the band and its worldwide impact. Containing a wealth of rare video of the group, The Beatles speak out for themselves on their amazing journey from Liverpool obscurity to worldwide, unending super stardom. Featuring dozens of rare previously unpublished photographs and equally obscure, long unheard insightful interviews. This is one DVD that every true Beatle fan will treasure.

Special bonus track includes a riotous archival Beatles' press conference from the mid-sixties.

Purchase or rent this DVD from BLOCKBUSTER Total Access


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Beatletoons: The Real Story Behind The Cartoon Beatles

by Mitchell Axelrod

"I always kind of liked them. They were so bad or silly they were good, if you know what I mean. (Grinning). And I think the passage of time might make them more fun now..."
-George Harrison (June 1999 interview with Billboard Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Timothy White).

"You know, I still get a blast out of watching the Beatles cartoons on TV."
-John Lennon (as told to writer, Roy Carr)

"It's about time that the story of the Beatles cartoon series was told. Well written and long overdue."
-John Coates, Managing Director Of TVC Animation Studios

"A book of wonderful memories. Thank You Mitch!!"
-Norman D. Kauffman, Company Director, TVC Animation Studios

Sunday, October 19, 2008

It Ain't Fair, John Sinclair

TO: SAC, DETROIT
FROM: SA [...]
DATE: 12/23/71

Dates of Contact: 12/14/71

Informant advised that he attended the rally held in Ann Arbor on 12/10/71 to raise funds for the release of JOHN SINCLAIR from prison. Informant drove to Ann Arbor with [...] (name unknown). Upon arriving at Ann Arbor, they met three white males and two white females (names not recalled). The individuals whom they met seemed to know a lot of people and took informant behind the podium to meet BOBBY SEALE, as he was finishing his speech.

SEALE greeted them as "brothers in the movement". Informant advised that SEALE was wearing a very expensive diamond ring and a watch that he estimated as costing at least $1,000.00. When SEALE gave his public speech or met the public, he turned the diamond ring around so that the stones could not be seen. SEALE told the informant and others in the group with him that the BPP is opening three food clinics and that "If the pigs interfere with him in any way, he will open free gun clinics and distribute free guns." SEALE elaborated on this point and said "We have access to all the guns we want, and we'll kill any 'pig' that gives us trouble."

Informant noticed that SEALE had several body guards standing immediately behind him while SEALE was talking with informant and others in informant's group behind the podium. All of these body guards were carrying guns and their actions were disciplined such as that used in the military.

Informant was present for the last part of SEALE's public speech when he spoke of the Black Panter factory which produces food and clothing and the Black Panther farms. SEALE also made the following public statement: "You FBI m_____ f_____, we know you're here."

While behind the podium, informant also personally met JOHN LENNON (former member of the Beatles Band). LENNON spoke in definite anti-law enforcement tones and is a strong believer in the movement and the overthrow of the present society in American today.

Informant advised that STEVIE WONDER was present, that he entertained and made a plea for peace. Informant also saw Reverend DENNIS MOLONEY, Reverend JAMES BLAKESLIE (associate of MOLONEY), and JOHN SINCLAIR's wife (who appeared to be "stoned").

Headlines

Yoko Ono -- The Mad Hatter
TMZ.com - Glendale,CA,USA
You may not be able to get Ringo Starr's autograph anymore -- but you can still get photos of 75-year-old Beatles breaker-upper Yoko Ono actin' fool in ...

Beatles' Apple Records-US Manager to Speak
Fairfaxtimes.com - USA
Ken Mansfield, US Manager of Apple Records for the Beatles, will give his unique testimonial at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 432 Van Buren St., Herndon. ...

Theater screens Cirque-Beatles film
Arkansas Democrat Gazette - AR,USA
All Together Now, a documentary film about Cirque du Soleil’s creation of Love, its Las Vegas show based on the music of The Beatles, will be shown at 7: 30 ...

My best trip ever: Pat Carlini
Indianapolis Star - United States
While in Las Vegas, we introduced the kids (ages 6, 9 and 11) to the Beatles by taking them to see the Cirque du Soleil production of "Love" at the Mirage. ...

Profile: Ringo Starr - Grumble, grumble little Starr
Scotland on Sunday - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK
BE WARNED: if you plan to send an old drum stick, Beatles LP or Thomas The Tank Engine video to Ringo Starr to be signed, your memorabilia had better ...

Beatles songs as likely to explain Christianity as the Bible, says bishop
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
Artists highlighted for exploring Christian themes in their music include Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and John Lennon, who famously claimed the Beatles were ...

Beatles Memorabilia in Oct 26th PRWAuctions.com Pop Culture Auction
News-antique.com - Garden City,NY,USA
Approx 700 lots of Rock N Roll and Hollywood Memorabilia will be sold at auction. Highlights include a First State Mono “Yesterday and Today” album with the ...