Beatles Stuff

Beatlesmemorabilia

There is a wealth of information in this section for Beatles fans, don't miss out any of it !

From rare beatles records to memorobilia, posters, video cd.s it's all here....

This section of  the 'Inacityliving' site is to recount and exhibit all of the Beatles memorabilia and items I have collected over the years.

As far back as a 6 year old in 1968, I can remember my older brother who was then 17 baby sitting me as my parents went out to their local for a drink. He had his friend over and the two LP albums (records came on a black vinyl discs back then for all you youngsters) that were constantly played were the latest two releases from the Beatles, The oldies album from 1966 and 'last years' newest offering, the magnificent Sergeant Peppers lonely hearts club band.

As I got older and heard more of their back catalogue singles, I realised i'd heard these before and were already in my subconscious, a lot of them being on the oldies album of course. However, it wasn't really until around 1975, when my dad was playing some old Philips reel to reel tapes to see what was on them as he'd forgetten, that I heard an old 1967 chart programme that he must have taped off the wireless (a transistor radio to all you...oh, I can see i'm going to be explaining myself a lot)

At No.2 on this chart was a fantastically atmospheric song which mentioned a fireman and his fire engine, complete with bell effects and it was called Penny Lane though I didn't know at the time it was a place in Liverpool or indeed that it was by The Beatles. I was more bemused that a soppy ballad called 'Release Me' by a bloke with a name that would win you 97 points in scrabble was keeping this gem off the top of the hit parade.

And so my love affair with the Beatles began in earnest. For my birthday and Christmas that year, my dad and my brother, the latter, a newly re-acquainted Beatles fan, through me, went down to Rumbelows on Whitechapel which had NEMS below (again, the historical connection was lost on me at this time) and the White Album and others were bought. Next port of call was a book shop that was near to the top of Bold Street on the right hand side before news from nowhere was ever there.

1976 proved fruitful as, as if by magic, EMI Parlophone decided to release all the Beatles Singles back catalogue in special green sleeves. My dad was particularly amazed, recounting that the early 1970s had been   pretty much Beatle free era, even the Cavern was demolished, 'The what' I asked.

So much was I into the Beatles back then that my mates Brian and Chris also became avid fans, it helped that our school science lab technician, Harry (the hippy) was also into them and practised his acoustic guitar in his little back room to the chords in the thick black Beatles songs book.

1977 saw the three of us attend the first ever Liverpool Beatles Convention held across the road from our tenement blocks. This took place in Mr. Pickwicks in Frazer Street. Allan Williams, the first Beatles manager and Bob Wooler, the ex cavern dj were in attendance as were a number of Beatles copycat groups from all over the place. Rare albums, books and other memorabilia were on sale and I was hooked. It was a whole weekend jobby and on John Lennon's 37th birthday, Sunday 9th October, the 2nd day of the convention we partook on the first magical mystery tour coach around the city to the lads most famous haunts.

By the next year, all things Beatley were gathering momentum. A John Chambers was trying to get together donations for a statue (now you can't move for them), councillors were pillorying their predecessors for allowing the Cavern to be demolished and husband and wife team Jim and Liz Hughes were running the 'Magical Mystery Store' Beatles collectables shop in North John Street which Chris and I often frequented.

1978 also saw me come 3rd in a Liverpool Beatle Quiz competition, i'm sure I read that the winner was a certain Mark Lewisohn, now recognised as the toppermost Beatles expert with many books on the subject to his name as well as having worked on their Anthology albums. In this same year, I took 'The Beatles story' as my English oral CSE exam where I had to speak before Mr Duggan, himself of the 60s era and a Beatles fan who quizzed me mercylessly about them. It became one of my 5 grade 1's.  

My dad accompanied me to other Liverpool Beatles sites i'd since become aware of, snapping away on my new kodak disc camera, going everywhere by bus. In the next three years, the annual Beatles Conventions were held at Mr Pickwicks again and then Zhivagos in Temple Court and Romeo & Juliets in St. John's precinct.

Around this time, my mate and I started a scrapbook. We'd cut out everything from every newspaper and magazine, Radio Times, TV Times, Melody Maker, New musical express - anything we could get our hands on, like the anoraks we'd become. We were even in Kit's chippy in Everton Brow one day getting a portion when we spotted him nearly putting our dinner on an Echo article about them and we shouted 'No stop' and grabbed it. It was pasted into the book less than an hour later.

That book is featured on these pages and is so thick that it just won't close.

Oh what joy when the Christmas T.V. adverts started previewing that they'd be showing all the Beatles films, even including 'let it be' - this was fantasy land, it's like they were doing all this for their newly recruited fans, for us. The reason was, the EMI boxes set of singles mentioned earlier and now, new albums 'Rock N' Roll' and 'love Songs' had all blasted to near the top of the charts giving them a 2nd lucrative career.

The Beatles recording contract with EMI had come to an end in 1976, it meant free from contraints, the record label was re-releasing and re-packaging everything they could, they even marketed a single from the Sgt Pepper album where there hadn't been one before, even at the original time of the album's release (something George Martin later said he regretted)

Around 1979 I could be found drumming away on my bed with two pieces of dowl to drummers favourites such as Good Morning, Good Morning, Rain, Paperback Writer and Birthday. The likes of Yesterday, Michelle, Julia, well, what good were they to me. Brian, Chris and a couple of other lads, Paddy and his cousin Carl would muck around on guitar, the problem was they all played rhythm. My dad had got me a proper set of 2nd hand drums out of the echo from a fella in Billinge. We felt part of the scene hanging around probe records, the joss sticks smell there becoming known to us as 'Wally juice', we called the regulars 'Smellies'. Being 'musicians' meant frequent visits to Hessey's and Curly music in Stanley Street.

It was a great time to mix around Liverpool city centre, Erics was booming, punks coloured the place, the Moonstone pub in St. John's was rocking but our local clubs were more like Livvo's and Gatsby's. 1979 was also the year Chris, I and many others slept out by the subway in Lime Street near the Penny Farthing pub, this was for tickets to see Wings play on the Royal Court Theatre. It was mayhem when the box office opened next morning with a huge stampede. Paul's tour didn't last long, he went off to Japan just after this gig and was subsequently busted for drugs. Lime Street subway must've seemed like heaven compared to a Japanese jail.

The next year was further joy. John lennon released Just like starting over and his Double Fantasy LP with rumours about a UK tour. He was re-invented from the house-husband he'd become after Sean was born 4 years earlier - his USA green card issues now sorte. Things were looking up then - WHAM (No, not George Michael - he was still four years off) - but the news that JWOL had been shot by a deranged madman. I attended the 'wake' memorial with thousands of others down at St. George's Plateau - the city mourned as one.  

On a personal level, the lad's interests in a group soon fell away, Brian and Chris going nelson eddy with a couple of girls. Being uglier I stuck with the drums and soon teamed up with a couple of ex school lads Robbie and Colin and together with their mate from Mabel Fletcher music college, John, we formed a group which was to perform locally for an intense period throughout 1981.

The set included our near perfect renditions of 'I feel fine', 'Come together', 'Got to get you into my life', 'Get Back', and later when Pianist Les joined us, 'Let it be' and 'Lady Madonna'. We were all clearly influenced by our city's most famous sons. I'd taken in so much knowledge about the Beatles by now that I remember watching Bob Monkhouses '$64,000 question' - a sort of forerunner to 'Who wants to be a millionaire' and a bloke on there was answering questions on the Beatles and I got all of them right and would have loved a go on a programme like that where you could pick your specialist subject. It's true to say i've probably forgotten more than a lot know about them, the trivia that once filled my head on them being so OTT.

On the other pages that you can view below, you'll see just what I accrued over the years. I would love to see this whole collection go to a good home, perhaps an overseas fanatic (with lots of money :o) - else, a Beatles style museum or hotel - now there's a thought - Enjoy.Contact details: ged.fagan@rosewoodtrucking.co.uk

Rare Records

Apart from the regular UK album releases, all of which I have and are included in the collection, these are the promo, not for sale, rare pressings and bootleg recordings. All the vinyls are in pristine condition, played once and taped. All the covers are in plastic protective sleeves and all have been stored for 3 decades in a cupboard at room temperatures.

From us to you is a red vinyl 78 sized disc which plays at 33 and a third rpm. It features the song of the same name recorded for BBC Radio broadcast on 30/3/64 which is obviously From me to you with the appropriately changed lyric. This album also features a Parlophone rehearsal session including a false harmonica start on I should have known better then another version without the harmonica to see what works as it progresses. There's also an instrumental version of 'I'm happy just to dance with you' as well as a 2nd version of 'From us to you'. Other tracks include Kansas City, Long tall sally, If I fell, Boys, I'm happy just to dance with you inncluding vocals, Things we said today and A hard days night

At the bottom of this page I have linked 4 fantastic Beatles Bootlegs sites but you won't find this one mentioned on any of them. This contains rare out-takes from what was labelled the 'Get Back' sessions. As well as old favourites such as She said, She said and Blackbird being revisited, future songs that were to appear on Abbey Road are also sampled and rehearsed, including two versions of Mean Mr Mustard, one of which is lengthy and includes a reference to someone wearing pink pyjamas (possibly a dig at Macca if you look at the suit he's wearing on the cover?) Other working versions of songs yet to be issued are Two of us, One after 909, Don't let me down, She came in through the bathroom window, Golden Slumbers, Carry that weight and Her Majesty (featuring the final guitar chord) The pick of the bunch is possibly the title song itself 'Watching Rainbows' which is sung by John and is worthy of having appeared in its own right on the subsequent 'let it be' album and Paul lets rip on a song called Early in the morning/Hi ho Silver. Other tracks include Stand by me, Hare Krsna mantra, Too bad about sorrows, All things must pass, A fool like me, You win again and A quick one he's away. The cover pictures as those that were taken around London's dock lands and parks in 1968.

This album contains a number of studio out-takes from the Abbey Road sessions (side 1) as well as some songs recorded by Paul McCartney with Donovan Leitch, Mary Hopkins and Linda and Heather in 1968 - (side 2). The front and back cover photographs were taken at the same time as the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing snaps. Side 1 includes different 'takes' of what was later released on the Abbey Road album including Golden Slumbers (with a wayward vocal in parts), Carry that weight, Her Majesty, You never give me your money (with a lengthy jam session ending), Octopus's Garden, Maxwells Silver Hammer, Oh Darling and take 37 of Something. Side two comprises How do you do, Blackbird, The Unicorn, Lalena, Heather, Mr Wind, The Walrus and the Carpenter and Land of Gisch.

This is best described by taking a look here.

Each Christmas, the Beatles issued a flexi disc of jingles, songs, jollification and snippets especially for their fan club members. This is the rarer U.S. issue from 1970 containing all 7 discs from 1963 through to 1969. 

Youngblood contains early concert recordings sourced as follows. Side 1: Too much monkey business, Hippy hippy shake, Sweet little sixteen, Devil in her heart, A shot of Rhythm and blues, Memphis, Sure to fall, Youngblood, Crying Waiting Hoping, Kansas City and I forgot to remember to forget - al lfrom late 1962 to early 1963 from a radio programme called 'Stramash'. Side 2 comprising From me to you, I saw her standing there, All my loving, Roll over Beethoven, Boys, Till there was you, She loves you, This boy, I want to hold your hand, Money and Twist and shout was taken from their Liverpool Empire appearance in 1963.

My version of this album is called 'The Beatles on stage in Japan - The 1966 Tour' but is also known as 5 nights in a judo arena and live at the BudoKhan hall. It caused uproar in an already tumultuous year for the Beatles that included Johns 'Christ' remark and the perceived snubbing of Imelda Marcos in Manilla resulting in the Beatles being given some rough treatment to say the least. The uproar in Japan was because the hall was classed as sacred and not befitting of a pop concert - hardly the Beatles fault but still. Armed guards made sure the fans didn't make any noise and sat and clapped each song politely. The unusual quietness during songs, the Beatles being used to not being able to hear themselves, shocked the Beatles into hearing how bad they'd become live. Not long after this concert, they played their last ever live concert to a paying audience at Candlestick Park, San Francisco on 29th August. The song listing is the set as performed live in the afternoon show on June 30 1966: Rock And Roll Music, She's A Woman, Day Tripper, If I Needed Someone, Baby's In Black, I Feel Fine, Yesterday, I Wanna Be Your Man, 
Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer and I'm Down

The Beatles - Both sides is in excellent mono and after an introduction includes Come and get it as recorded by Paul McCartney on all instruments as a demo for Badfinger. Something (studio out-take) Running Free (a Ringo song from his Scouse the mouse era) followed by Macca and Tracy Ulmann's tv version of That'll be the day. Next is a studio out-take of Things we said today then John & Yoko on the Mike Douglas show in 1972 singing Luck of the Irish. Honey Don't follows, sung though by John on a BBC studio rehearsal. Side one ends with George singing Lay his head, an out-take from his album Somewhere in England. Side two opens with Waterspout, a McCartney out-take. Track 2 is John & Yoko and friends with a Christmas song from Thy, Denmark in 1970. Track 3 is I want you from the Abbey Road sessions but with Paul on vocals, an interesting comparison. How do you do it, recorded on 26/11/63 at the insistance of producer George Martin was to be their 2nd single until the Beatles stood firm with Please please me. This song with its new Beatles arrangement was instead given to Gerry and the Pacemakers - both Please please me and this got to No1 so happy days all round. Next, George sings John's 'In my life' on U.S. tv in 1974. The last 3 tracks on the album are 'Because', another Abbey Road out-take, 'Child of Nature' which is a 1969 studio rehearsal of John's which he would later release in 1971 and retitled 'Jealous Guy' on his Imagine album and finally 'Too many cooks' with Mick Jagger on vocals, Ringo on drums and produced by John. It was to be an Apple single but never was.

Indian Rope Trick - The Echoes of a dream.

Opening with Mein Bonnie which is the original slow version from 1961. Track 2: I love you too purports to be Paul singing lead vocal with the Foremost in 1964 though that has been challenged. It's only love is an acoustic out-take from 1965 whilst Indian Rope Trick is a song to the Maharishi recorded in 1968 during the Beatles retreat to Rishikesk, India. Whilst there with other celebs including Mia Farrow and Beach boy Mike Love they sang a song in celebration to Mike whose birthday it was. They are clearly enjoying this upbeat song as it descends into joyous laughter. Not Guilty is a George song, originally planned to be included on the White Album but omitted due to him having his 4 song share - something he wasn't happy about as he was now writing songs to rival the big two of Lennon and McCartney. Hey Bulldog, Savoy Truffle and Fool on the hill end side one and are all unfinished early versions of the songs we came to love.

An early demo version of I am the Walrus opens side 2 followed by 3 tracks laid down in January 1969 at the Get Back sessions, these being Watching Rainbows, Mean Mr Mustard and All things must pass (another George omition from any Beatle studio release but which George released as a triple album after the break-up) Track 5 is Cheese and Onions, a very Beatlesque sound but actually by comic mimic group the Rutles. Oriental nightfish is a 1973 Wings demo featuring Linda Mc on vocals whilst the album ends with the Pirate song as sung by George in 1975 about his 'My sweet lord' lawsuit - ahh me hearties.

Shea - At last. A green vinyl collectors edition of the 1965 landmark concert at Shea Stadium. It has to be remembered that before the official release of Live at the Hollywood Bowl, this was the benchmark and all that many fans had to go on - but what a substitute. The vibrancy of the album almost takes you back in time to being in the audience.

To give an atmospheric account of the gig, look no further than this.

An excellent live recording with a super de luxe cover, the front of which is an alternate view of the famous banned 'Butcher Cover' from the US album - Yesterday and Today.

Full details are here of the various recordings on this offering which includes the full 8 minute version of Dig it which was cropped for the final 'Let it be' album mix.

L.S. Bumblebee is mainly made up of tracks from the infamous Get Back sessions of early 1969, the title track not even being by the Beatles.  here  are more details.

Any fan will tell you that their first U.S. concert performance was on 11th Feb 1964 at the Washington Coliseum so not this one as advertised on the album cover as being Carnegie Hall which was the following day. However, as would be expected, the set list was the same and was Roll over Beethoven, From me to you, I saw her standing there, This Boy, All my loving, I wanna be your man, Please please me, Till there was you, She loves you, I want to hold your hand.

Around the Beatles was a t.v. programme made for broadcast on 6th May 1964. Apart from featuring the Beatles in dramatisation as Shakespearian actors, there was a set performed with a few intersting asides including a medley and a previously and yet unreleased track. Twist and Shout and Roll Over Beethoven open the set then into I wanna be your man and Long Tall Sally which were to prove live favourites for some time. Then a medley of Love me do, Please please me, From me to you, She loves you, I want to hold your hand, Can't buy me love and Shout. The latter having been made famous by the gruff voice of Lulu. Each Beatle takes turn to sing it with the tune getting a little louder now then getting a little softer now - a great finishing touch to the medley. Side two of the album is taken up with tour interviews by the Beatles as given to Ken Douglas in 1966.

Spicy Beatles songs (label number TMOQ 71076   was also marketed as Mary Jane, label number CBM 3585)

Have you heard the word was marketed supposedly as the Beatles last ever recording in 1970 which also featured the Bee Gees - it turns out not to be either of them at all. Don't let me down, Those were the days (released by Mary Hopkins) and Cottonfields (released by the Beach Boys) are 3 impromptu short versions sang by the Beatles to journalists during airport transfers. Whats yer new Mary Jane (as it's called here) is the 1967 studio out-take. Twist and Shout as sang in Sweden in 1963 follows and side one ends with a Bbc radio version of Dizzy miss Lizzy from 1964. Side two feature from a Swedish tv show called 'Drop in' broadcast on 24th Oct 1963 and includes great quality vesions of You really got a hold on me, Roll Over Beethoven, All my loving, I wanna be your man, A hard days night, Things we said today and From Us to you.

Dr. Robert contains 12 tracks, three of which are contentious. I'm only sleeping, And your bird can sing and Dr. Robert are Revolver studio out-takes whilst Mary Jane resurfaces again. The Inner light, You know my name, Blue Jay way and Penny Lane all feature, the latter with the original trumpet ending. Peace of Mind (also known as The Candle burns is a pshycodelic weird piece but alas not confirmed to be a Beatles piece) whilst L.S. Bumblebee and Have you heard the word make another appearance.

Before the official release of the Live at the BBC album, Yellow Matter Custard (also packaged as 'As sweet as you are') was one of the best bootleg albums around as everything contained within it except for 'Slow down' was unheard of unless you'd taped the original BBC recordings off the radio in the early 1960s. Tracks are: I got a woman, Glad all over, I just don't understand, Slow Down, Please don't ever change, A shot of Rhythm and blues, I'm sure to fall, Ain't nothin' shakin' but the leaves on the trees, Lonesome tears in my eyes, Everyone wants someone, I'm gonna sit right down and cry over you, Crying waiting hoping, To know her is to love her and Bound by love (also known as The Honeymoon song) and sung by Paul in the Till there was you fashion. See  this page to see how the official release of Live at the BBC ruined bootleggers of this album for good.

It is alleged that the Beatles recorded as many as 200 songs during the bleak Twickenham film studio sessions in January 1969 which were later moved to their Saville Row Apple headquarters culminating in their famous free rooftop concert. Though many were snippets and it's not known if that is meant to be 200 different songs or many versions of the same songs, sometimes with working titles (eg. Two of us being called On our way home and Dig a pony being All I want is you)

The 'Get back sessions' on blue vinyl and the 'More Get Back sessions' on red vinyl (above) give us another smattering including Maxwells Silver Hammer, Besame Mucho, Two of us, One after 909, Shake rattle and roll, Get back, Dig a pony, Whole lotta shakin', Suzy Parker, I me mine, I've got a feeling, Paul raps and Let it be.

Supertracks Vol 2 in good mono sound features Paperback Writer and Rain as taped in England in 1966 for the Ed Sullivan show in the States. Peace of mind, as stated earlier aka The Candle Burns was reputedly found in an Apple bin in 1970 and dates from 1967 which is maybe so, but that might be where the Beatles connection ends. Take 37 of Let it be follows then Hey Jude with an accompanying interview from rehearsal sessions in 1968. Get Back is from the Let it be film soundtrack whilst the album ends with 5 songs from the 'A hard days night' film soundtrack.

This album features the songs recorded with Tony Sheridan in Hamburg (as the Beat Brothers) as well as Tony's own recording which do not feature the Beatles at all.

See here      for a detailed account of the sessions.

This new years eve 1962 gig at the Star Club on the seedy Reeperbahn in the red light district of Hamburg was honoured by the Beatles even though by now they had become a lcoal, if not British sensation. The album's release caused controversy as to the ownership of the rights as it was neither on the parlophone EMI or Apple label, the parlophone deal having expired a year earlier. Recorded by Ted King Size Taylor and supposedly unbeknownst to the Beatles, it is a raw insight into lengthy stage expectations and repertoire of the group at the time. It's easy to see how the groups first official album was recorded in just twelve hours. See here     for the track listings and see here for further details of the session and recording.

As only 26 of the 33 songs taped at the above session appear on the black album, I came across a couple of the others on this alternative pressing

As is commonly known. The American versions of the 'A hard days night' and 'Help' film soundtracks feature instrumental versions of some of the Beatles songs and of course, as ever, are packaged differently than their UK counterparts. As such, these albums deserve their place as being not of the norm. They of course were pressed on EMI Parlophone's U.S. label which was Capitol.

A rare American imported copy of interviews undertaken in 1964. See here for more details of why, what, where and when.

David Wigg undertook interviews with all four Beatles between 1969 and 1973, some during turbulent times around the time of the break-up. He didn't hold back in his questioning and the Beatles to be fair were honest though holding on to the long held notion that to outsiders, they always held a tight knit front. John prophetically announces during one interview that he and Yoko are the worlds clowns, like Laurel and Hardy and they don't mind that because all the serious people like J.F.K. and Martin Luther king got shot - The double album, each side dedicated to each Beatle also comes complete with an inner booklet. See here for further details.

In the late 1970s, picture discs were all the rage. This is the Abbey Road offering. Notice the track listing on the sleeve is in red.

Also common for a period, were coloured vinyl discs. This foreign import of Sgt Peppers lonely hearts club band is on 'marble'. The album is complete with the cut out inserts which originally came with the LP.

The very yellow Magical Mystery Tour LP (which although released in the U.S. in 1967, had to wait a further 9 years for a UK release) popped up on yellow vinyl. The booklet which appeared with the UK EP release can now be seen in its larger format. EMI was coming to the end of its deal with the Beatles in 1976, therefore a glut of releases ensued including the double compilation Love songs and Rock N' Roll albums

Of course the White album had to materialise on white vinyl as shown here on this American Capitol release as did what were to become known at the red album (1962-1966) and the blue album (1967-1970) as shown here on my French imports.

THE DECCA AUDITIONS

On new years day 1962, The Beatles as were (including Pete Best on drums) auditioned for the Decca record label for what has now become a legendary session. Rejected by Dick Rowe in favour of the Tremeloes, he somewhat made up for it later by securing the Rolling Stones. All of the songs, except for one feature on a collection of coloured vinyl discs with picture sleeves I amassed at various conventions and collectors fairs.

Five of these surfaced on the first anthology album that the Beatles subsequently brought out in the mid 1990s but these however still remain a rare 45rpm collection. For further details on that session, please see here.

OTHER RARE 45 PRESSINGS

As explained earlier. How do you do it was lined up by the Beatles producer George Martin as the Beatles follow up single to their debut Love me do which charted only at No.17. Recorded on 26th November 1963, it is said that the Beatles performed it at a lacklustre pace on purpose so it would be deemed not good enough. Even at that early stage in their careers, they were pushing for their own compositions to be recorded and in fact 3 of those pictured above recorded at the Decca auditions nearly 2 years ahead of How do you do it were Lennon & McCartney offerings. Gerry & the Pacemakers, another Merseybeat group in the Brian Epstein stable would take the song to No.1 instead as part of their being the first group whose first three singles all topped the charts.

This version of Revolution has the fast electrification pace of the 1968 single issue but the extra 'Don't you know it's gonna be' and 'Shoo-bee- doo-wops' of the White album slower versions lyrics. The Beatles performed the song semi-live (with live vocals performed over a pre-recorded instrumental track) in a specially produced promotional film shot by director Michael Lindsay-Hogg at the same time as the Hey Jude promotional film. The film received its world premiere in Britain on David Frost's ITV television programme, 4 September 1968. As the Beatles were singing the vocals live on the film, they elected to incorporate part of the vocal arrangement from the slower Revolution 1 version of the track. McCartney and George Harrison added the "shoo-bee-doo-wops" backing vocals unique to that version behind Lennon's lead vocal - thus making the vocals on the film performance a hybrid of the two versions of the song. On the single version, the scream at the beginnig is that of John, however as he would not be able to manage this and catch his breath on the live version, the scream is done by Paul.

These 2 singles on the Swan label contain Sie Liebt Dich (She loves you sung in German) and Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand (I want to hold your hand sung in German) - backed with that song again - How do you do it and the regular She Loves you 'B' side, I'll get you, they were issued on 21st May 1964 in the USA and on the Odean label in Germany (though neither with How do you do it as the 'B' side)

The German division of EMI (the parent of the Beatles' British record label, Parlophone Records), decided that the only way to sell Beatles records in Germany would be to re-record them in German. The Beatles found the idea stupid, but were asked by George Martin to comply, recording "Sie liebt dich" on 29 January 1964, along with a German version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand," at the Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris. Other than the earlier sessions backing Tony Sheridan it was the only time in their career that the Beatles recorded outside London. They were actually scheduled to record them 2 days earlier but didn't show up, much to George Martins annoyance. He later conceded though that they were right, they didn't need to record in German for that market but he was also glad they were not graceless and did good recordings of them.

Two singles, never officially released turned up on the Merseybeat label. These were Soldier of love coupled with Clarabella and Carol backed with Lend me your comb. These were live gig standards performed by the Beatles in their early years and used when having to fulfil BBC radio recording contracts and were sometimes performed live in the studio for radio. These 4 were recorded on the radio show 'Pop goes the Beatles' on 2nd July 1963 and which was transmitted exactly a fortnight later on 16th July. It's described by Beatle expert Mark Lewisham as without a doubt the most fascinating Beatles radio appearance ever. Although surfacing on the Live at the BBC album over 3 decades later, in this form as 45s, they remain a rare commodity.

Aint she sweet sung by John lennon during the Tony Sheridan sessions was issued on a few labels one of which in the USA was ATCO as on this imported copy. For more details see here.

Rare foreign imported singles in my possession include live versions of Ticket to ride/Dizzy miss Lizzy as taken directly from the Live at the Hollywood Bowl album. Also shown in the first picture above is French Odean label EP with 4 tracks from the Help album.

Ob la di Ob la da b/w Julia on the U.S. Capitol label complete with a single version of the White album sleeve.

Three French picture sleeve singles on the odean label. No reply/Baby's in black. Yesterday/The night before and Eight days a week/I'm a loser.

Three U.S. releases on the Apple label with Apple single sleeves.

Apart from my collection of every UK vinyl album release of the Beatles which encompasses their 12 studio albums from 1963 to 1970 and later releases such as Live at the Hollywood Bowl and Rarities, I have the total 45s re-issue package from 1976 when EMI coming to the end of their final contract with the Beatles took the opportunity of making as much money as they could out of them (all over again), which was fine by me at the time. The singles collection from Love me do to Let it be were supplimented by a further couple of releases which charted, these being Yesterday/I should have known better and Back in the USSR/Twist and Shout - these all being in special picture sleeves as shown. In 1978 a further single release of songs from the Sgt Pepper album were issued where none were originally back in 1967 - something George Martin always said he regretted.

During the 60s, the Beatles also issued a number of Extended play discs known as EPs, as shown above. Although most of the tracks were available elsewhere, this is another line of collection worthy of note.

SOLO RELEASES

As well as a special edition green vinyl 'Happy xmas (war is over), there are 4 picture sleeve singles of John lennon's that I have including him and Elton John performing 'I saw her standing there' and 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'. There is also a yellow vinyl edition of 'Seaside Woman' as recorded by Suzy and the red stripes which is in fact Mrs. Linda McCartney. A raggae feel to this song, it having been conceived during the McCartney's trip to the Caribbean.

Another selection of picture sleeved singles, this time of the Paul ilk. You won't get hold of some of these again as generally, they are easily ripped and lost during house moves etc. Some of these go back to not long after the split.

Apart from the standard issue LPs and Singles (most of which I have), these are the Ringo picture sleeves on 45. Beaucoups of blues is particularly rare as is the album I have as it's an import copy with it never having been issued here in the UK. Standard issue solo LPs which I have are:

John: Live peace in Toronto, John lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Some time in New York City, Mind Games, Walls and Bridges, Shaved Fish and Double Fantasy.

Paul: McCartney, Ram, Wild Life, Red rose speedway, Band on the run, Venus and Mars, Speed of sound, Wings over America, London town, Back to the egg, McCartney II, Tug of war.

George: Lent to a girlfriend circa 1979 and never returned nor replaced - bah!

Ringo: Sentimental Journey, Beaucoup of blues, Ringo, Goodnight Vienna, Rotogravure, Ringo the 4th, Bad boy.

Beatle Books

Every word on every page has been read and every photograph scrutinised and yet no one can ever claim to know everything there is to know about the most written about and photographed group on the planet. New websites pop up every week, new unseen photographs exhibited, yet another dvd of exclusive footage, another newspaper story from their past and more rarities going under the hammer at auction houses - when will it all end. Never, hopefully and yes, I suppose this is yet another one of those websites of previously unpublished memorabilia. Many of these books are now discontinued, some of them being 1960s originals and iconic in their nature with has it happened stories. I have tried to put a simple description of what each contains but some are so varied, it's an almost impossible task.

All together now lists every official and unofficial disc release from 1961 to 1975 together with all the information pertaining to that disc you could ever wish to know. Fantastic for full colour album sleeve shots.

Hunter Davies was the official biographer to the Beatles and mixed with them throughout their hectic lifestyle which gave him an insight into not just their past but stories as they happened. A must have.

Growing up with the Beatles is Ron Schaumberg's account of being a fan and enjoying new releases as they came out, giving an account not often catered for. This books come complete with the poster as shown on the cover.

The Lennon & McCartney songbook for the keyboard featuring 50 of their classics. 

Mersey Beat was a newspaper created by Bill Harry which advertised the Mersey sound, promoted groups, gave their gigs details and generally reported any news for all the local fans to keep in touch with what was happening. The Beatles unsurprisingly featured a lot throughout those heady days of the early 1960s and this book containing replica pages from those times including original writing by messrs Lennon and McCartney.

Behind the Beatles songs was launched at the first ever Liverpool Beatles convention in 1977, arguably the forerunner to todays Mathew st festival. Illustrated, it contains the background to how, when, where and why many of those famous songs we've grown to love were written.

For the record offers another detailed account of the fab four's vinyl output throughout their careers and supplimented with the usual array of photographs we come to expect from any publication about them.

The Beatles unseen archives really did present yet another 'lost and suddenly unearthed' plethora of pictures for the world to see. Just who didn't photograph them might be easier to ascertain.

Paperback Writer offers a different concept to Beatlemania. Whilst all the Beatle bookshelves rely on fact, information, dates and times, this novel chronicals an alternative more spurious rise to stardom.

The Beatles an illustrated record was purchased by me from Bold Street back in 1978 when revised and new. Detailing each UK album release to date, including full page coloured album sleeves. Containing photos and information on solo happenings such as Ringo's films, Wings tour dates, JL's lost weekend and George's dark horse label, it remains as fresh as ever.

Images of the Beatles somehow manages to capture more, yes even more rarely seen photographs, some back stage, some candid, mostly great.

1960s originals which have passed into the annals of time. Purchased from stalls at Beatles conventions in the late 1970s, The Beatle book, Help and Love me do proves that the bandwagon regarding releasing written and pictorial material on the boys was as widespread as ever in those early days when there's a cash cow to be had. Obviously these books will only take you up to a certain period of the Beatles lives but they do record recent events as they happened so are fresh and first hand.

These 3 are what I would call iconic books about the Beatles.

The man who gave the Beatles away by their first manager Allan Williams recalls those manic days of the late 1950s and ealy 1960s when the group sometimes struggled to find a drummer which could sometimes turn out to have hilarious or frightening consequences. Chronicalling their Hamburg trips and the sleaze that went with it, the homecomings, the Liverpool nightclub scene, the final insult when the Beatles stopped sending his management fee home and then his statement to Brian Epstein - you can av em' I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Almost tantamount to what Dick Rowe at Decca records did, but Allan's made a living out of them. A must have in my 'book'.

A cellarful of noise is an obvious continuation of the previous review if you like, though this one was published first of the two. The cellar was the Cavern and the story goes that Brian Epstein was so intrigued by repeat requests for a record in his NEMS record shop that he took a lunchtime trip down there to see for himself. The rest as they say is history.

Apple to the core takes us to the other extreme of their careers. The boring business meetings, the contractual negotiations, the sometimes lousy deals and the final breakdown. If you thought it was just about having cash rain down on them - read this. They undoubtedly made more money since the split than they ever did during their 8 year recording career.

From the old to the relatively new. Whatever will they come up with next - still, it's novel. The Beatles book of lists will tell you how many songs mention the word sun, where to find all the 'Paul is dead' clues and which barbers they used throughout their careers - well ok, maybe not that one but still, you get the picture.

All you need is love is largely pictorial and deals with many previously unpublished shots of the Beatles in 1967 and particularly during the Our World live satellite broadcast of All you need is love.

The Walrus was Ringo debunks 101 largely believed 'myths'   and written by two of the great music commentators, it is a good read though probably nothing new to the ardent and avid fanatic.

Nicholas Schaffer's Beatles Forever is full of information such as the Sgt Pepper cover identities and recording information which although available on the www these days, was not back in the early 1980s when this was purchased. Some great photos too that I haven't seen on the web.

Beatles - In their own words really is that. Them talking about various aspects of group life and their music - another Bold Street treasure from way back when I was compiling as much information about our city's favourite sons as I could.

The Beatles Anthology book, as thick as the bible was created by Paul, George and Ringo in the mid 1990s to go alongside their t.v. series, video package and trilogy of double cd's catalogueing themselves from the late 1950s up to their demise with much previously unreleased material. This in a way is their bible.

The music was never the same may be right in its title and is a well compiled accounts of the life and time of the lads who shook the world.

The Beatles at the Beeb - 1962-1965 is a similar offering as that of Beatle expert Mark Lewisham as it offers the complete rehearsal, recording and transmission details of every Beatle appearance on BBC radio, and there's many more than you'd ever think which featured lots of then unreleased material.

Beatlemania takes us through what it was like to be close to the Beatles during that frantic time in the 1960s. Bill Harry of Mersey Beat fame was there and he knows.

These four books deal with John Lennon as an individual yet so much was he entwined with the other Beatles, that it's hard to isolate him away in the 60s decade and gladly, none of these authors pretend otherwise nor try to do so. A twist of Lennon was Cynthia's first biography/autobiography and is a paly on words as her then married surname was Twist and Lemon is replaced by Lennon for the effect. Her later book 'John', after his death was perhaps a little more scathing.

The other three books, biographies by George Tremlett and Ray Connolly all have something to offer in their own way. The almost daily diary part of Tremlett's book at the back is particularly interesting for facts.

Another four relating to John. One day at a time is an in depth look at John mainly through the last few years of Beatles ownership, then his peace bed-ins, solo gigs, forming of the Plastic Ono Band and subsequent fight to stay in the U.S. during political concerts and rallies - a great read.

The Lennon Tapes, a transcript of interviews with Andy Peebles, were undertaken in early December 1980 just days before JLs assassination, making them the last words spoken at length to the media.

Search for liberation cashes in on the vague Lennon connection to the Maharashi and Hare Krishna movement - which he'd pretty much debunked by then - but still.

Lennon Remembers is the infamous Rolling Stone interview that has been much documented but is here for those who wish to dissect for themselves.

The Paul McCartney story by George Tremlett takes the same vein as his writings on John (reviewed above). With comprehensive life stories from childhood to solo career via Beatle stardom, this too contains the diary section at the end which provides details of individual awards along his marvelous career.

Paul McCartney - In his own words is an individual take on the previosuly published and reviewed Beatles - in their own words. Talking about his life, music and what inspired certain songs, it's another with a mine of information and pictures.

George Harrison - Yesterday and Today takes you into the much more private life of the quiet Beatle. With details of what he got up to when out of the Beatles limelight, his handmade films production, dark horse record label, formula 1 racing hobby and Friar park estate management, this is a fascinating read.

These publications, some of which are of Liverpool city council origin and largely general information packs. There is a year by year account of major happenings, a tour chart and a map of the city's Beatle hot spots. Some of the books are guides to Beatle places and why they are so with lots of information.

Record Collector was a 1980s magazine dealing with rare records and memorabilia of all artists. This special edition Beatles copy tells you all you need to know about what's what and what isn't.

Tracks in Chorley is a rare records and memorabilia organisation. This is one of their catalogues which also reveals what you should be looking out for.

From 1963 until 1969 The Beatles monthly publication was issued giving up to the minute details of what the boys were up to including their latest recording details and many recent photographs. It was very popular, so what a sad day when the last issue told of how it was becoming increasingly difficult to photograph and obtain interviews with the lads now they had other interests and were on the verge of splitting up. The Beatles appreciation society decided to re-issue the mags during the late 1970s with a wrap around containing current news and Q and A sessions and so popular were they that they carried on long after the last official re-issue of the original Beatles monthly mag. The full collection is available here.

If it's Wings you're into. Learn everything there is to know about Macca from 1970+ With line-up, tour and recording details as well as more than a handful of pictures to show you the changing face of McCartney throughout the 70s. Two of the many tours which brought Macca to the pool. The UK tour of 1979 saw him play at the Royal Court. An intimate gig where he was almost within reaching distance as we sat in the circle. He embarked on a world tour just after this though it was cut short when he was busted for drugs in Japan. Back the Egg was his latest album, Goodnight tonight one of his latest singles, another track performed was the soon to be released Wonderful Christmastime. The 1989/90 World tour programme can also be found here.

The assassination of John Lennon at the end of the first week of December 1980 sent shockwaves through the world. Refreshed from retirement and spurred on by the fact he reckoned Macca's 'Coming up' single was no worse than he could do, a tour was in the planning to accommodate his new LP offering 'Double fantasy' Mr Lennon was already in the recording studio laying down the tracks for a follow up when upon his return one night, crazed gunman Mark David Chapman opened fire from a revolver after taking a military stance outside the Dakota apartment building where the Lennon's lived. John had signed a copy of his double fantasy album just hours earlier after Chapman had shoved it under his nose. Needless to say, the tabloids, The Liverpool echo and publishing houses didn't wait around in issueing commemorative mags.

Likewise, when George lost his battle with cancer in 2001, although the clammer wasn't as great - natural causes not being as sensational it seems as being shot - The Echo provided a tribute to the lad from Wavertree.

Down the years, there's always been some reason or other for the Liverpool Echo to churn out the odd suppliment whether it be the anniversary of one of their albums, the Mathew St festival event or a homecoming. Here are the ones i've collected.

Now for the daddy of all scrapbooks. Started in the mid 1970s and compiled over a 20 year + period, included are Beatles convention tickets, Wings concert tickets, Rare postcards depicting the lads in Liverpool, the very first bubblegum card, broadsheet book serialisations, Melody makers pages, Merseybeat pages, magazine exclusives, rare pictures, handwritten song lyrics, tv and radio times cuttings, fan drawings, latest solo album reviews, newscuttings of stories as they happened and much much more. A unique 1200 page aladdins cave of nearly everything written about the Beatles that was worth reporting and it was much.

Vids/dvd's

The five films from the Beatles years including the much sought after Let it be movie, promised and rumoured to be about to be released from various sources over the years - but yet to yield fruit.

A 4 DVD set of all the Beatles cartoons as detailed here.

Beat City is the story of the Merseybeat scene featuring lots of archive Liverpool material and internal shots of the Cavern.

The Complete Beatles with some magnificent footage was the bible up until the Anthology series but is not replaced by it in any way.

The whole Anthology on 1 x LP VHS with home made cover.

These aren't mine but is a great site with every song video of the Beatles pooled together in one place. Not all are official vids but some are made for the likes of Youtube etc.... Artie Wayne on The Web

Posters

All of these are 3ft x 2ft (36'' x 24'') or metric 90cms x 60 cms.