Move over, Ms L!

Hi all, wondering why you are looking at this jumbled up page? This is due to the fact that Facebook didn't like our url since it starts with wog, so we have been forced to move the blog. This was some time ago, and we have placed a script which would automatically send you to our new location. Obviously, this hasn't worked for all of you, since we have just finished moderating some of your comments which appeared on this site recently, and not on our new (and improved!) site. So what we're saying is head on over to our new site, and update your bookmarks!

Tuesday 31 August 2010

With a little help from Sir Paul

Kansas City 2010 Photo © FansOnTheRun
Fran Healy, leader of ’90s Scot-rock champions Travis, called on old friend Macca to contribute to his first solo album, Wreckorder. McCartney agreed—and a grateful Healy, prid quo pro, subsequently promised to go vegetarian.

You can hear the result of their collaboration and pre-order the single here.
Thanks to macho for this info
franhealy.com

Sunday 29 August 2010

Mojo with "Let It Be" LP

Mojo Magazine
In this month's Mojo, the free CD is also available as an LP (limited to 10 000 copies), and is called "Let It Be Revisited". It's The Beatles’ final album from 1970 re-interpreted exclusively for Mojo by artists like Beth Orton, Phosphorescent, Judy Collins, Wilko Johnson, Pete Molinari, The Amorphous Androgynous, The Besnard Lakes, John Grant, The Jim Jones Revue and more. One of our readers has heard it and claims that some of these versions sound "even worse than Yoko Ono".

There are 23 pages devoted to The Beatles and Paul McCartney in the magazine.
Paul McCartney: "Follow that!" What to do after The Beatles? For Paul McCartney it meant boozing, battling, then rebuilding and rediscovery in the playful freedom of Wings and the arms of Linda. "I survived," he tells Tom Doyle.

The Beatles: "1970 and all that." Jon Savage puts Let It Be under the microscope and Mark Paytress returns to the corridors of Apple Corps in what's described as "the full inside story".
To order this issue of Mojo, including the vinyl LP and a special collectors' cover, follow this link.

Friday 27 August 2010

Red and Blue Boxed Set

Outtake from the photo session

In conjunction with the upcoming releases of the Beatles' Red and Blue Albums (aka "1962-1966" and "1967-1970"), Amazon in the UK features a boxed set: "The Beatles 1962-1970". It's 4 discs and has the same release date of October 18th, so it looks like a combo of the red and blue albums. There's no picture of the product, and it's priced at £21.99, whereas the regular remastered red and blue albums are priced at £8.95 (the pre-order price is as single disc CD albums, but this price will rise in the future). UK based record stores HMV and Play are also listing it, Play describing it as "This 2x 2CD album comes in a 6 panel digipack with a 32 page booklet in a rigid o-card" Eil has another view: "Each set comes presented in triple panel card sleeves [using conservation grade FSC paper] and housed together in an outer slipcase, complete with an expanded 32-page picture booklet containing original liner notes, newly written essays by Bill Flanagan, and rare photos)." Eil also mentions that the set is "available until 31st December 2010 only". We have no idea what's going on here, but I'm sure details will be forthcoming.
Ringo with the outtake photo, 1969

Thursday 26 August 2010

Double Fantasy Stripped Down

John and Yoko's "Double Fantasy" in a stripped down version (also including the original but remastered version on a second disc) has now been made available for pre-ordering at Amazon, hence we can now show you the art work for the cover front, signed Sean Ono Lennon.
Amazon (UK) £11.99
Amazon (USA) $18.99

Beatles The Empire Strikes Back Bonus DVD

The bonus DVD accompanying the new "The Empire Strikes Back" CD is now available. The contents:

- Two songs from the Royal Variety Performance, synchronised with the new audio.
- Four songs from 'It's The Beatles', reconstructed in full with the new audio.
- Ticket To Ride excerpt from Top Of The Pops.
- Coming Soon trailer
The DVD is PAL only, a NTSC DVD featuring the same as well as some bonus content from the Royal variety Performance is due in a month or so.

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Multi-angled in 1963

Multi-angled "Twist and Shout" from Manchester 1963. Taken from the Pathe Films release "The Beatles Come To Town" and outtakes from the same film.Also includes the instrumental riff from "From Me To You" that they used to finish with at the time.

Top Ten Beatles Songs

"Rolling Stone: The Beatles 100 Greatest Songs" is a special collector's issue available now. The magazine has put what they think is the Beatles' ten best ones online. Number ten is "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", with the text: "The lyrics for George Harrison's first truly great Beatles song began as a deliberate accident — and it wasn't until Harrison pulled Eric Clapton in to play guitar that the arrangement was finished." Click here for the next nine ones - with some great photos to boot.

Gear up

John Lennon - Peace for You


Gear up for the Lennon celebrations


John Lennon's 70th birthday is coming up, why not wear something like this to mark the occasion? Available in S-M-L-XXL at $19.99.

Tuesday 24 August 2010

EMI buys online stores

EMI Music has just purchased Digital Stores Limited, a company which provides online stores for some of the EMI artists including The Beatles, Queen and Oasis. This is a logical move for the music group, since the market is shifting from records and other physical media to downloads and mp3's. So why not branch into the memorabilia market, after all it's their own artists.
The Beatles online stores:
UK
USA
Japan

Monday 23 August 2010

Bambi Kino Interview

The Indra Club in Hamburg, August 17th. On stage, a fresh, English speaking band working like a live jukebox, belting out favourites from the late fifties and early sixties. “Some Other Guy”, “Lend Me Your Comb”,” I'm Talking About You”,” Soldier of Love”, “Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey”. The club is filled to capacity and the crowd is as sweaty as the band. All the band members are sharing the vocals, taking turns in singing lead. Sometimes the band is throwing in old chestnuts like “’Till There Was You” and “Red Sails In The Sunset”. Teasing the German crowd with a rock version of “Falling In Love Again”. The Beatles? No, this is 2010, not 1960. And the band is a quartet, not a quintet. And they’re Americans.
I’ve been visiting the Indra Club several times over the years, and I have even played the congas on stage here, improvising with a local jazz band. But I needed to be here one more time for this. The band, “Bambi Kino”, named after the movie theatre around the corner, where the Beatles first home in Hamburg once was, has been put together especially for the occasion: the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first Hamburg gig.

A year ago, I was at the 50th anniversary of the Quarrymen’s first concert at the Casbah Club in Liverpool. The core trio of George, Paul and John had drifted apart and George had been playing with another band. When that band disbanded just before an upcoming gig at the Casbah Club opening, George reinvented the Quarrymen, featuring himself, John, Paul and Ken Brown. Ken was the only Quarryman present at the anniversary celebration and has since, sadly, passed away.

Well here I was, a year later at the Indra Club. When you get to be at two such landmark anniversaries, your body gets a real feel about the time that passed, all those years ago. And what time of year it is, what the weather was like and so on. From the reunited Quarrymen to the first professional residence concert as The Beatles, a little less than a year had passed.

A couple of days later, I had the opportunity to have an informal chat with the rhythm section of “Bambi Kino”, bass man Erik Paparozzi (38) from New Jersey and drummer  Ira Elliot (47) from New York. The other two members are Mark Rozzo and Doug Gillard. I sat down with the guys at the hotel where they were staying, the Pacific. It used to house the biggest artists who were playing at the Star Club back in the day, and the Beatles stayed at the Pacific when they were doing the string of concerts that have been preserved on the infamous “Live At the Star Club” record.

WogBlog: So whose idea was it to put a band together for this occasion?

Erik: We’re all big Beatles fans and Mark and Ira was in Hamburg last summer. They took part in a guided Beatles walk, and of course they visited the Indra Club. Upon realizing that it was 49 years since the Beatles arrived to play at the club, they came up with the idea.

Ira: Another thing that happened, was that Paul McCartney was having a string of concerts at Citi Field, and I wanted to be there badly, but couldn’t. I was in Japan at the time, but when I returned to New York I was aching to see McCartney. I found out that his tour had moved on, and he was due to play in Boston. My girlfriend really wasn’t up for the trip, so I recruited Mark and Eric and we all went to Boston, just to see McCartney.

WogBlog: Was that the first time you saw McCartney play live?

Erik: No, I’d seen him in 1990 and 1993. But at that time I was at the very back of the stadium, as far away from the stage as it was possible to be, unless you were outside. The first time I saw him, he was pulling out some of the old, well known Beatles tracks. Then in 1993 he started playing some of the lesser known ones, like “Paperback Writer”. And this time around, he’s been playing some true hidden gems like “Mrs Vandebilt”. And his new backing band is great, really fine musicians who stays out of the limelight. And the drummer sure has a fine voice, doing harmonies behind McCartney.

WogBlog: So the three of you talked about the ambition of playing in Hamburg for the anniversary. How did you know each other?

Erik: Well, Mark and Ira plays together in the band Maplewood, and I also occasionally play with them. Ira also plays in my band, Paparozzi, and Doug and Ira plays together in Nada Surf. Doug was an obvious choice as lead guitarist. Ira and Erik were also part of a band who was doing an all solo McCartney songs concert at Loser’s Lounge in New York back in 2007. Anyway, we presented the idea of “Bambi Kino” to Maplewood’s Hamburg based label, Tapete, and they were very enthusiastic about it. I think there’s a distinction between being a tribute band and a band paying tribute. I think we’d like to be seen as a band paying tribute to the Beatles.

WogBlog: When the Beatles started out at the Indra Club, they were a five man band.

Ira: Yes, we’ve discussed many aspects of these gigs, including having someone on stage with his back turned, faking bass, but we decided against it. We decided not to mike up the drums and amplifiers, as the Beatles didn’t do that and it’s a small club anyway. Also, we’ve been discussing the songs. We’ve rehearsed around 80 songs, all from the old Star Club record, the Decca Tapes and the Live at the BBC record. What we’ve said is that we’re trying to recreate what the Beatles might have played, but of course, nobody knows what their real set list at the Indra looked like.

WogBlog: Yes, the songs you played were more of a representation of the entire Hamburg era Beatles repertoire, wasn’t it. Did you rehearse much?

Erik: Not a lot. We’re all busy with our respective bands, so it’s a question of logistics. All in all, we’ve only rehearsed about four times with the full band, but we’ve rehearsed quite a bit in pairs. At my home studio, Mark and I have made the song structures and I’ve made demos of the songs for all to learn, demonstrating the parts. And I think it’s important not to play to well. After all, the Beatles were quite rough musicians at this stage of their careers, so we’re playing fewer notes and easier chords than we usually do.

WogBlog: Earlier in the day on the 17th, I met Horst Fascher. He wasn’t sure if he remembered the lyrics well enough to sing “Hallelujah I Love Her So” with you, reprising his old Star Club favourite. I saw him at the gig, but it didn’t happen.

Ira: Yes, he was going to, but he chickened out. Instead we got a friend of us, Dirk, to come on stage and do those vocals with us.

WogBlog: Which do you prefer, studio work or playing live?

Ira: I definitely prefer doing live concerts. There’s a lot of waiting involved in making a record, and as the drummer you must lay down the basic track. Everything else comes on top of that, and if the basic track’s not really good, the end result will suffer. I’ve ruined some good records in my time (chuckles). But if you’re playing live, you gotta watch the girls in the front row dancing. If they stop to dance, you’re doing something wrong and you have to adjust your playing accordingly, to try and get them on their feet again. If they’re dancing, just go on playing. Don’t mess it up.

Erik: I like both, but I’m probably enjoying the studio work the most. Like I said, I have a home studio and enjoy spending time with that.

WogBlog: You’ve recorded a single, was that live or studio?

Erik: That was live in the studio. We’ve pressed it up on vinyl and it’s “Some Other Guy” coupled with “Falling In Love Again”. The Beatles are doing a slow version of that last one at the Star Club record, but we’re doing an all out rock version.

WogBlog: Any plans for an album?

Erik: Well, we’re definitely thinking about it. After these rehearsals and concerts, we’ve sort of become a very good Beat group. So perhaps we’ll try and write some songs with that sound, you never know!

WogBlog: You sure got a lot of publicity from this event!

Erik: It’s been crazy. CNN, MTV and lots of other stations have had features on the gig. The German channel “Arte” filmed the gig on the 17th and will be broadcasting it later this month.

Ira: I got a kick out of reading Record Collector, because they mentioned us as one of the important upcoming gigs. There we were, among such artists as Ozzy Osbourne, “Bambi Kino” in Hamburg!

“Bambi Kino” played four gigs at the Indra Club in Hamburg, from the 17th to the 20th of August. On September the 2nd,they’re playing at the Bowery Electric in New York City.

A live album from the concerts at the Indra Club is being put together and will be released on Tapete records on November 19th. It will be available both on CD and as a vinyl LP.
From left to right: Erik, Doug, Ira and Mark.

Links:

Tapete Records

Bambi Kino

Paparozzi

Nada Surf

Maplewood

Photos: Bente Gullerud

Sunday 22 August 2010

Lennon's on sale again

Some of the items going up for sale at this year's annual Beatles memorabilia auction in Liverpool has been announced, among them John Lennon's "John" or toilet from Tittenhurst Park. This made the BBC News and are now spreading like wildfire. A Taste of Money, we presume. Estimated price: £750 - £1000. The auction is scheduled for Saturday 28th of August. PDF of full text version of catalogue here.

The pictures are from the Imagine film. More auction items here.

Hidden Gallery finds a home in Liverpool

"The Hidden Gallery" photos unveiled earlier this year in London will now be on permanent display at the Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, starting Tuesday. Entry to the gallery will be free of charge. Jerry Goldman, MD of The Beatles Story, said: “We are delighted that these unique images are going to have a home at the Beatles Story."

“They are very revealing photos as they picture the Beatles in unguarded moments fooling around, sharing a snack and relaxing and I’m confident that our visitors will love them."

“Although they were on display in London in April, they were only on show to the public for a very short space of time. Many more people will be able to view these photos in all their glory here and they are a welcome addition to the Beatles Story, and all that we have to offer.”

Apple Remasters Astore


Here's the Astore for the new Apple Remasters.

Remastered reds and blues

Available on October 18th. Preorder at Amazon (UK).
The Beatles 1962-1966
The Beatles  1967-1970

New Lennon releases

Available from October 4th. Pre-order from Amazon (UK):
John Lennon Signature Box: Remastered
Gimme Some Truth: a Life in Music
Power to the People: the Hits/Discovery Edition
Power to the People: the Hits/Experience Edition/+DVD

Friday 20 August 2010

Remastered Band On The Run track lists

1CD digipack – Standard Edition:

1. Band on the Run (2010 Remaster)
2. Jet (2010 Remaster)
3. Bluebird (2010 Remaster)
4. Mrs Vandebilt (2010 Remaster)
5. Let Me Roll It (2010 Remaster)
6. Mamunia (2010 Remaster)
7. No Words (2010 Remaster)
8. Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me) (2010 Remaster)
9. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five (2010 Remaster)


2CD+1DVD digipack – Special Edition:

CD1 like the Standard Edition

CD2

1. Helen Wheels (2010 Remaster)
2. Country Dreamer (2010 Remaster)
3. Bluebird [from One Hand Clapping] (2010 Remaster)
4. Jet [from One Hand Clapping] (2010 Remaster)
5. Let Me Roll It [from One Hand Clapping] (2010 Remaster)
6. Band on the Run [from One Hand Clapping] (2010 Remaster)
7. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five [from One Hand Clapping] (2010 Remaster)
8. Country Dreamer [from One Hand Clapping] (2010 Remaster)
9. Zoo Gang (2010 Remaster)

DVD

Videos:
1. Band on the Run (05:10)
2. Mamunia (04:52)
3. Album Promo (07:42)
med Band on the Run, Mrs Vandebilt, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Bluebird
4. Helen Wheels (03:39)
5. Wings In Lagos (03:01)
Edit of mute black and white footage of a day out in Lagos during the recording sessions with a
soundbed based on an alternative version of Band on the Run
6. Osterley Park (15:20)
Edit of behind the scenes footage at the album cover photoshoot featuring all participants
7. One Hand Clapping (51:49)

Documentary programme originally made for TV featuring studio performances
Filmed & recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, August 1974
Directed by David Litchfield

7.1. One Hand Clapping Theme
7.2. Jet
7.3. Soily
7.4. C Moon
7.5. Little Woman Love
7.6. Maybe I'm Amazed
7.7. My Love
7.8. Bluebird
7.9. Let's Love
7.10. All Of You
7.11. I'll Give You A Ring
7.12. Band on the Run
7.13. Live and Let Die
7.14. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
7.15. Baby Face

3CD+1DVD case – Deluxe Edition:

CD1 & CD2 like the Special Edition

CD3 21 tracks remastered from the original documentary produced for the 25th Anniversary Edition.

1. Paul McCartney (Intro) /Band on the Run (Nicely Toasted Mix)(2010 Digital Remaster)
2. Band on the Run (Original) (Background) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 1)(2010 Digital Remaster)
3. Band on the Run (Barn Rehearsal – 21st July 1989) (2010 Digital Remaster)
4. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 2) /Mamunia (Original) (Background) /Denny Laine (Dialogue) /Mamunia (Original) (Background) /Linda McCartney (Dialogue) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 3)(2010 Digital Remaster)
5. Bluebird (Live Version – Australia 1975) (2010 Digital Remaster)
6. Bluebird (Original) (Background) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 4)(2010 Digital Remaster)
7. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 5) /No Words (Original) (Background) /Geoff Emerick (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
8. No Words (Original) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 6) /Tony Visconti (Dialogue) /Band on the Run (Original) (Illustration) /Tony Visconti (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
9. Jet (Original from Picasso’s Last Words) (Background) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 7) /Jet (Original from Picasso’s Last Words) (Background) /Al Coury (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
10. Jet (Berlin Soundcheck – 3rd September 1993) (2010 Digital Remaster)
11. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link)  /Clive Arrowsmith (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
12. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five (Original) (Background) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 9) /James Coburn (Dialogue) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 10) /John Conteh (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
13. Mrs Vandebilt (Original) (Background) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 11) /Kenny Lynch (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
14. Let Me Roll It (Cardington Rehearsal – 5th February 1993) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 12)(2010 Digital Remaster)
15. Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 13) /Mrs Vandebilt (Original) (Background) /Michael Parkinson (Dialogue) /Linda McCartney (Band On The Run Photoshoot) (Dialogue) /Michael Parkinson (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
16. Helen Wheels (Crazed) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 14) /Christopher Lee (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
17. Band On The Run (Strum Bit) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 15) /Clement Freud (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
18. Picasso’s Last Words (Original) (Background) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 16) /Dustin Hoffman (Dialogue)(2010 Digital Remaster)
19. Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me) (Acoustic Version) (2010 Digital Remaster)
20. Band on the Run (Nicely Toasted Mix) /Paul McCartney (Dialogue Link 17) (2010 Digital Remaster)
21. Band on the Run (Northern Comic Version) (2010 Digital Remaster)

DVD like the Special Edition

2LP:
LP 1: like the CD1 Standard Edition
LP 2: like the CD2 Special Edition

Source: Universal Music France via Maccablog
The release date has been postponed to November 2nd.
Amazon.com: Band On The Run [3 CD/DVD Combo]

Thursday 19 August 2010

Bambi Kino set list

I had the pleasure of being present at the Indra Club in Hamburg for the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first concert there. The band "Bambi Kino" had the honour of trying to recreate a typical Beatles gig from the Hamburg days.
They did a great job and had lots of energy on stage despite the damp and sweaty environment. All the guys played well and had great voices. Here's some of the songs they played:
Some Other Guy
Lend Me Your Comb
I'm Talking About You
Soldier of Love
Bad Boy
To Know Her Is to Love Her
Red Sails in the Sunset
Boys
Cry for a Shadow
Nothin Shakin' but the Leaves on the Trees
The Sheik of Araby
Lonesome Tears in My Eyes
Bésame Mucho
Mr. Moonlight
Anna (Go To Him)
Falling in Love Again
A Shot of Rhythm and Blues
Ask Me Why
Slow Down
Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey
Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby
So How Come (No One Loves Me)
Sure to Fall (In Love with You)
Ain't She Sweet
'Till There Was You
Shakin' All Over
Memphis, Tennessee
Take Good Care of My Baby
A Taste of Honey
Ramrod
Money
Matchbox
Chains
Shimmy Like Kate
I Saw Her Standing There
3.30 Blues
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
Honey Don't
Long Tall Sally

They also did "Rock'n'Roll Music", backing the ukulele playing Stefanie Hempel. Horst Fascher was going to reprise his "Hallelujah I Love Her So", but chickened out. He was replaced by someone called Dirk who gave a good interpretation of the song.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Indra Club: Fiftieth Anniversary

It was fifty years ago today, that Bruno Koschmieder urged the band to play, at the stage of his Indra Club in Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany. I had to be there, and I am. I've got tickets for tonight's concert with Bambi Kino, who are trying to recreate what they think The Beatles might have performed on that first of many Hamburg nights.
Today I ran into Horst Fascher, who managed the Star Club in 1962. He said he'd be at the concert tonight and if he remembered the lyrics, would sing the Ray Charles classic "Hallelujah I Love Her So" together with the band, just as he did on the infamous "The Beatles Live at the Star Club, Hamburg, 1962" album. 
I was interviewed by local TV Hamburg 1 briefly, and if you saw it and taped it, I want it. Also, tonights concert will be filmed and eventually broadcast on the Arte TV station on August 29th. So I'd be interested in a DVD from that as well. Get in touch on roger@norwegianwood.org.
Horst Fascher (with the hat) and me.

Sunday 15 August 2010

The Empire Strikes Back

A new, fan made CD has just been made available on the internet, featuring upgraded sound from The Beatles' appearance at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool in 1963. Also, a different audio source for the Royal Variety Performance has been found and included, as well as some appearances at the Jukebox Jury program.
Here are the contents of the disc.
IT'S THE BEATLES Empire Theatre, Liverpool txd 7th Dec 1963

Tracks marked (*) from newly-discovered off-air audio

1. Prelude / From Me To You
2. I Saw Her Standing There*
3. Intro
4. All My Loving*
5. Intro
6. Roll Over Beethoven*
7. Intro
8. Boys*
9. Intro
10. Till There Was You*
11. She Loves You*
12. Intro
13. This Boy
14. I Want To Hold Your Hand*
15. Intro
16. Money*
17. Twist And Shout*
18. From Me To You (instrumental)

19. Recollections by David Jacobs (2004)

JUKE BOX JURY Empire Theatre, Liverpool txd 7th Dec 1963

Speed corrected and with upgraded insert

20-28. David Jacobs chairs The Beatles

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE Prince Of Wales Theatre txd 10th Nov 1963

Optical soundtrack from film recording

29. ATV ident and Twist and Shout extract
30. Harry Secombe
31. From Me To You
32. Intro
33. She Loves You
34. Intro
35. Till There Was You
36. Intro
37. Twist And Shout
38. Joe Loss and his Orchestra
39. Dickie Henderson

BONUS MATERIAL:

THE ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE Prince Of Wales Theatre txd 10th Nov 1963

New upgraded audio from original off-air recording

40. Intro
41. Till There Was You
42. Intro
43. Twist And Shout

JUKE BOX JURY Television Centre, London txd 29th June 1963

Speed corrected

44-50. John shares the panel with Katie Boyle, Caroline Maudling and Bruce Prochnik

JUKE BOX JURY Television Centre, Londontxd 1st Aug 1964

Speed corrected

51-61. George shares the panel with Reg Varney, Carole-Anne Ford and Alexandra Bastedo

A DVD is also forthcoming.

Thursday 12 August 2010

George & Ravi: Collaborations

We've just bought the new CD and DVD from Ringo, we're about to shell out for the new Band on The Run from Paul, we're gonna buy the frigging Lennon catalogue again and get some new versions of The Beatles red and blue albums, and we were still saving up for the new Apple Remasters when, lo and behold, the missing record releasing Beatle George turns up with another product.
Dark Horse Records announced today the October 19th release of a limited edition deluxe box set, entitled RAVI SHANKAR GEORGE HARRISON COLLABORATIONS. The release honors the sitar master’s 90th birthday.

Collaborations is a 3 CD and 1 DVD uniquely numbered limited edition box set. All compositions were composed by Ravi Shankar and produced by George Harrison over a period of 20 years.

The DVD is a rare concert performance of the Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India recorded at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1974. The albums include the acclaimed Chants Of India (1997), The Ravi Shankar Music Festival From India (studio version 1976) and Shankar Family & Friends (1974). The 56-page book includes a foreword by Philip Glass, a history of George and Ravi “in their own words” and rare photographs from both family archives.

"The personal and musical friendship between Ravi Shankar and George Harrison has been known and well documented for decades now. It was a friendship that was powerful enough to make an impact on the large, musical life of the late nineteen sixties and it reverberates, as clearly, even today."
– from the Foreword by Philip Glass

In 1973 George Harrison signed Ravi Shankar to his Dark Horse Records label. The first joint recording project between George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, Shankar Family & Friends brought together renown Indian classical musicians such as Ustad Alla Rakha, Lakshmi Shankar, and Shivkumar Sharma alongside Western jazz and rock musicians including George, Ringo Starr, Tom Scott, Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner and Billy Preston. One half of the album comprises instrumentals and songs, while the second half is a thematic ballet to a yet un-staged performance.

Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India (live from the Royal Albert Hall) was the first artistic event organized and sponsored by George Harrison’s Material World Charitable Foundation; bringing together a 17-piece Indian classical ensemble as well as a solo sitar performance by Ravi Shankar accompanied on tabla by Alla Rakha.

In 1997 George Harrison and Ravi Shankar again collaborated on an album. This time Ravi created music for ancient Sanskrit chants with the challenge of maintaining the authenticity of the ancient verses. Released in 1997, Chants Of India are timeless, Vedic verses chanted for the well being of man and mankind.

Collaborations, is available on Dark Horse Records and distributed worldwide by Rhino Entertainment.

No wonder The Beatles Remasters on vinyl is being put on hold. We just can't afford it this autumn!
Collaborations is exclusively available at Amazon.com

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Red and Blue remasters

Apple has announced the release of remastered editions of the Beatles red and blue albums (1962-1966 and 1967 - 1970) on CD on October 18th (19th in North America). They will be as they were, but this time using the newly remastered versions of the tracks from last year's Beatles catalogue release. There will be no bonus tracks and they will still both be 2CD releases. The first time these 1973 compilation albums were released on CD was in 1993, and the complaints were that the red album would easily have fittet on a single CD. After all, the Beatles were always about value for money, but with the red album, people thought they were cheating us by spreading one CD worth of material over two CD's. The answer from Apple was that they didn't want to mess with the integrity of the original LP release of the red album, which was a double album. This logic was not applied when John and Yoko's "Some Time In New York City" was released in remastered form a few years ago. In fact, they even cut away some of it's tracks in order to present the original double album as a single CD!
We'd like to present Apple and The Beatles with our idea: how to maintain the red album's status as a double album and still give the people value for money. Release the red album as a 1CD + 1DVD package! The DVD (or, in a deluxe version, the Blu-ray) should hold the promotional videos for all these hits.
Of course, we're dreaming.
The new releases will feature booklets with newly written liner notes by Bill Flanagan and some "rare" photos.
Here's the press release from yesterday (August 10):

The Beatles’ Classic 1973 ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Collections Remastered by Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music for Worldwide Release in October.
In Stores: October 18 (October 19 North America)
The September 2009 release of The Beatles’ remastered original albums and new boxed collections in stereo and mono was one of the year’s top entertainment events, breaking chart records around the world. Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are pleased to announce that The Beatles’ original 1973 compilations, 1962-1966 (‘Red’) and 1967-1970 (‘Blue’) have been digitally remastered for worldwide CD release on October 18 (October 19 in North America). Both 2CD packages include expanded booklets with original liner notes, newly written essays by Bill Flanagan, and rare photos.

The first Beatles compilations to be released after the band’s 1970 disbandment, the popular ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ collections each feature a selection of singles and album tracks written by the band’s members.

‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ have been remastered by the same dedicated team of engineers at EMI Music’s Abbey Road Studios responsible for remastering The Beatles’ original UK studio albums, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

New Remastered Lennon Box track lists


BOX SET "John Lennon BOX" (Limited Manufacture) Total of 11 Discs. Includes 8 discs of original solo albums, rare recording Disc, unreleased tracks, and EP unrecorded on CDs.
Deluxe BOX which stores all 11 discs which are digi-sleeve package.
Booklet with limited John Lennon art print, rare photos, art work, collage, lyrics, liner notes.

Bonus Tracks:
Bonus Disc 1 - Home Recordings

1. Mother
2. Love
3. God
4. I Found Out
5. Nobody Told Me
6. Honey Don't
7. One Of The Boys
8. India India
9. Serve Yourself
10. Isolation
11. Remember
12. Beautiful Boy
13. I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier

Bonus Disc2 - Album Unrecorded Tracks

1. Power To The People
2. Happy X’mas(War Is Over)
3. Instant Karma
4. Cold Turkey
5. Move Over Ms.L
6. Give Peace A Chance


New BEST Album "Power To The People" (2 Editions)
15 tracks of John's most popular hit songs.
Experience Edition: CD+DVD / Standard Edition: 1 CD.
Experience Edition includes the same CD as the Standard Edition with a DVD with music videos.

Track List
1. Power To The People
2. Give Me Some Truth
3. Woman
4. Instant Karma
5. Whatever Get You Through The Night
6. Cold Turkey
7. Jealous Guy
8. #9 Dream
9. (Just Like) Starting Over
10. Mind Games
11. Watching The Wheels
12. Stand By Me
13. Imagine
14. Happy X’mas(War Is Over)
15. Give Peace A Chance


4CD Discs "Gimme Some Truth" categorized into themes.
4CD Discs which includes total of 72 tracks categorized into themes.
- Roots: John's rock 'n' roll roots and influences
- Working Class Hero: John's socio-political songs
- Woman: John's love songs
- Borrowed Time: John's songs about life
Rare photos and new liner note essay.


Track List
Roots: John's rock 'n' roll roots and influences

1. Be-Bop-Lula
2. You Can't Catch Me
3. Rip It Up / Ready Teddy
4. Tight A$
5. Ain't That A Shame
6. Sweet Little Sixteen
7. Do You Wanna Dance?
8. Slippin' And Slidin'
9. Peggy Sue
10. Bring It On Home
11. Yer Blues
12. Just Because
13. Boney Moronie
14. Beef Jerky
15. Ya Ya
16. Hound Dog
17. Stand By Me
18. Here We Go Again

- Working Class Hero: John's socio-political songs

1. Working Class Hero
2. Instant Karma
3. Power To The People
4. God
5. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier
6. Gimme Some Truth
7. Sunday Bloody Sunday
8. Steel And Glass
9. Meat City
10. I Don't Want To Face It
11. Remember
12. Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
13. I Found Out
14. Isolation
15. Imagine
16. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
17. Give Peace A Chance
18. Only People

Woman: John's love songs

1. Mother
2. Hold On
3.You Are Here
4. Well, Well, Well
5. Oh My Love
6. Oh Yoko!
7. Grow Old With Me
8. Love
9. Jealous Guy
10. Woman
11. Out The Blue
12. Bless You
13. Noboby Loves You (When You're Down And Cut)
14. My Mummy's Dead
15. I'm Losing You
16. (Just Like) Starting Over
17. #9 Dream
18. Beautiful Boy

Borrowed Time: John's songs about life

1. Mind Games
2. Nobody Told Me
3. Clean Up Time
4. Crippled Inside
5. How Do You Sleep?
6. How?
7. Intuition
8. I'm Stepping Out
9. Whatever Get You Through The Night
10. Old Dirt Road
11. Scared
12. What You Got
13. Cold Turkey
14. New York City
15. Surprise Surprise
16. Borrowed Time
17. Look At Me
18. Watching The Wheels

This text is from EMI Records press release, the photos are all from the Beatles Photo Blog.

Monday 9 August 2010

Paul McCartney Is Really Dead DVD

Go ahead, buy it. You know you're curious. And people are prone to believe in conspiracy theories. This myth was first created in 1969 and has lived on ever since. Much like Paul McCartney himself. Just let me give you some antidotes to read after you've watched it. Here's the Wikipedia page on the Paul Is Dead myth. And here's an investigation by the rec.music.beatles news group.
The DVD is due out September 1st.
Official movie site

Thursday 5 August 2010

Radha Krishna Temple and Apple bonus tracks

Just announced on the new official Apple records website:
‘Come and Get It: the Best of Apple Records’
First Commercial Multi-Artist Compilation in Apple’s History
Set for Release on October 25th 2010
‘The Radha Krishna Temple’ Added to Historic Release of Original Apple Albums from 1968 to 1973 – Remastered CDs and Apple’s First Digital Downloads Due October 25th 2010
CD Bonus Tracks and Digital Download Extras Now Announced

COME AND GET IT: THE BEST OF APPLE RECORDS

1 Those Were The Days / Mary Hopkin

The multi-million selling debut 45 by Mary Hopkin was UK No. 1 for six weeks in 1968 and was produced by Paul McCartney, who discovered this 1920s Russian folk song in a London night club.

2 Carolina In My Mind / James Taylor

Taken from his self-titled debut album, this is the original version of ‘Carolina In My Mind’, cut in London in 1968. Issued as a US single, it features Paul McCartney on bass and George Harrison on backing vocals.

3 Maybe Tomorrow / The Iveys

The Iveys were brought to Apple by former Beatles roadie Mal Evans and ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ was a hit in Holland and a minor hit in the US, before the band changed its name to Badfinger.

4 Thingumybob / The Black Dyke Mills Band

Paul McCartney’s theme tune for a 1968 British TV comedy drama series, recorded by the most famous brass band in the world.

5 King Of Fuh / Brute Force

Brute Force is a New York songwriter and this single was championed by John Lennon and George Harrison, but ‘Fuh’ rhymes with ‘Uh’, and ‘the Fuh king’ was therefore banned back in 1969.

6 Sour Milk Sea / Jackie Lomax

Jackie Lomax has a great blue-eyed soul voice that more than does justice to this otherwise unavailable ‘White Album’-era song by George Harrison. Paul and Ringo provide rhythm and Eric Clapton plays lead guitar.

7 Goodbye / Mary Hopkin

Mary’s hugely successful follow-up to ‘Those Were The Days’ was written by Paul McCartney, and features Paul providing his own thigh-slapping percussion throughout.

8 That's The Way God Planned It / Billy Preston

Billy Preston’s breakthrough UK hit, reaching No. 11, features the stellar line-up of Billy on keyboards, George Harrison on guitar, Keith Richards on bass, Ginger Baker on drums and Eric Clapton on lead guitar.

9 New Day / Jackie Lomax

An original non-album Lomax 45 that was co-produced with Mal Evans, and single-handedly defines the Jackie Lomax sound: British soul meets R&B with horns.

10 Golden Slumbers-Carry That Weight / Trash

A powerful interpretation of two songs from The Beatles’ Abbey Road, recorded by Trash, a heavy Scottish group that came to Apple via their producer, former Shadows drummer Tony Meehan.

11 Give Peace A Chance / Hot Chocolate Band

This completely re-worded British reggae version of John Lennon’s peace anthem was brought to Apple in a one-off deal by the band that became hugely popular in the Seventies with a string of classic disco hits.

12 Come And Get It / Badfinger

Written and produced by Paul McCartney for The Magic Christian film starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr, ‘Come And Get It’ was a massive worldwide hit and the first record issued by The Iveys under their new name of Badfinger.

13 Ain't That Cute / Doris Troy

Soul singer-songwriter Doris Troy had scored hits before coming to Apple in 1969, and she and George Harrison wrote ‘Ain’t That Cute’ from scratch in the studio — the first time George had ever written a song that way.

14 My Sweet Lord / Billy Preston

George Harrison produced this soulful, gospel version of his most famous solo song, which he gave to Billy Preston before he had recorded it and released it himself.

15 Try Some Buy Some / Ronnie Spector

Ronnie Spector, one-time Ronette and former wife of legendary producer Phil, recorded this George Harrison original in 1971. George later re-cut it himself for Living In The Material World, using the exact same backing as Ronnie’s single.

16 Govinda / Radha Krishna Temple

‘Govinda’ is a Sanskrit hymn to Krishna, and was a UK Top 30 hit for the Radha Krishna Temple in 1970. Produced by George Harrison, who also plays bass and accordion.

17 We're On Our Way / Chris Hodge

In 1972, Chris Hodge, a young British pop singer with a fascination for UFOs, caught the attention of Ringo Starr who signed Chris to Apple. ‘We’re On Our Way’ was recorded at Apple’s own studio in the basement of 3 Savile Row, London, and was a hit in America.

18 Saturday Nite Special / The Sundown Playboys

‘Saturday Nite Special’ is a lover’s lament sung in Cajun French by this cross-generational collective from Louisiana, USA, who came to Apple when their teenage accordionist sent in the song on a whim.

19 God Save Us / Bill Elliot & The Elastic Oz Band

John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote this fundraiser for the defence in the famous Oz Obscenity Trial of 1971 and produced it too with Mal Evans and Phil Spector. Vocalist Bill Elliot later signed to George Harrison’s Dark Horse label.

20 Sweet Music / Lon & Derrek van Eaton

New Jersey’s Lon & Derrek van Eaton were one of the last acts to sign to Apple in 1971 and the first to make use of Apple’s then state-of-the-art recording studio. George Harrison produced ‘Sweet Music’ and Ringo played drums.

21 Day After Day / Badfinger

The band’s third single for Apple was produced by George Harrison, who duetted with the band’s Pete Ham on the slide guitar solo. It went UK Top 10 in 1972, and peaked at No. 4 Billboard in the US, in the same week that Nilsson’s cover of Badfinger’s ‘Without You’ was at No. 1.

JAMES TAYLOR (1968) by James Taylor

James Taylor’s debut album, recorded in 1968, includes two of his best loved songs, ‘Something In The Way She Moves’ and ‘Carolina In My Mind’. Both are familiar to millions from the 1976 versions that open his 11 x Platinum Greatest Hits, but were first recorded for Apple Records in 1968. Here are the original recordings, alongside 10 equally strong others, made in London with a little help from top musicians and some baroque English strings.
This Remastered CD includes four Bonus Tracks, all previously unreleased:
  • ‘Sunny Skies’ / studio demo, later re-recorded for 1970’s Sweet Baby James
  • ‘Let Me Ride’ / studio demo, later re-recorded for 1971’s Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon
  • ‘Sunshine Sunshine’ / solo acoustic demo of a song from James Taylor
  • ‘Carolina In My Mind’ / solo acoustic demo of a song from James Taylor

MAGIC CHRISTIAN MUSIC (1970) by Badfinger

Magic Christian Music is a sweet, colourful pop album packed full of early gems from the songwriting powerhouse that began as The Iveys and later became Badfinger. Also featuring the worldwide smash hit 'Come And Get It', written and produced by Paul McCartney for the 1969 Peter Sellers / Ringo Starr movie The Magic Christian.
This Remastered CD includes five Bonus Tracks, all previously unreleased rare recordings by The Iveys:
  • ‘And Her Daddy’s A Millionaire’ / alternative version
  • ‘Mrs Jones’ / remix of an Iveys single-that-never-was
  • ‘Sali Bloo’ / mono mix
  • ‘See-Saw Granpa’ / mono mix
  • ‘I’ve Been Waiting’ / unedited take of this psychedelic cult classic
Six further rare Iveys tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads:
  • ‘Dear Angie’ / mono mix
  • ‘No Escaping Your Love’ / mono mix
  • ‘Think About The Good Times’ / previously unreleased mono mix
  • ‘Yesterday Ain’t Coming Back / previously unreleased mono mix
  • ‘Arthur’ / previously unreleased stereo remix.
  • ‘Storm In A Teacup’ / from Apple’s 1969 Wall’s Ice Cream EP

NO DICE (1970) by Badfinger

The first album with guitarist and singer-songwriter Joey Molland, No Dice is a watershed collection of power pop that bridges the band's commercial instincts with the classic, no-frills rock that became their trademark. Includes the Top 10 single, 'No Matter What', and the original version of the Ivor Novello and Grammy Award winning ‘Without You’, made famous by Harry Nilsson, and later Mariah Carey.
This Remastered CD includes five Bonus Tracks, all previously unreleased rare recordings; the last five of which were all produced by Mal Evans:
  • ‘I Can’t Take It’ / extended version / produced by Geoff Emerick
  • ‘Without You’ / mono studio demo
  • ‘Get Down’ / mono studio demo
  • ‘Photograph’ (aka ‘Friends Are Hard To Find’) / alternative version
  • ‘Believe Me’ / alternative version
  • ‘No Matter What’ / mono demo version
Two further previously unreleased tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads:
  • ‘Love Me Do’ / instrumental version
  • ‘Get Down’ / extended stereo version

STRAIGHT UP (1972) by Badfinger


Long considered to be the group's finest album, Straight Up is a glorious collection of strong melodies, insightful lyrics and deep emotion. Produced in part by George Harrison and containing the U.S. hit, 'Baby Blue', plus the worldwide smash 'Day After Day' — featuring George and the group's Pete Ham joining forces on the superb synchronized slide guitar solo.
This Remastered CD includes six Bonus Tracks, all produced by the Grammy Award-winning Geoff Emerick, three of which are previously unreleased songs:
  • ‘I’ll Be The One’ / originally intended as a Badfinger single
  • ‘Name Of The Game’ / first version; the cancelled single, Apple 35
  • ‘Baby Blue’ / US single mix; not issued on 45 in the UK
  • ‘Baby Please’ / previously unreleased song
  • ‘No Good At All’ / previously unreleased song
  • ‘Sing For The Song’ / previously unreleased song
Seven further tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads, all taken from the unreleased album in between No Dice and Straight Up, produced by Geoff Emerick. One of these tracks is previously unreleased:
  • ‘Money’
  • ‘Flying’
  • ‘Perfection’
  • ‘Suitcase’ / with original ‘Pusher, Pusher’ lyric
  • ‘Sweet Tuesday Morning’ / previously unreleased
  • ‘Mean Mean Jemima’
  • ‘Loving You’

ASS (1974) by Badfinger

Joey Molland assumes half the songwriting on this, the group's heaviest and most serious album. Ass is solid gold Badfinger. It was partly recorded at the then state-of-the-art Apple Studios at 3 Savile Row, London, and contains the group's valedictory 'Apple Of My Eye', written by Pete Ham. The album was produced by Badfinger with Chris Thomas.
This Remastered CD includes five Bonus Tracks, all produced by Badfinger themselves. Four of these are previously unreleased versions, and one is a previously unreleased song:
  • ‘Do You Mind’
  • ‘Apple Of My Eye’
  • ‘Blind Owl’
  • ‘Regular’ / previously unreleased song
  • ‘Timeless’
Five further tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads, all produced by Badfinger themselves. Four of these are previously unreleased versions and the other is a previously unreleased song:
    ‘Get Away’ ‘When I Say’ ‘The Winner’ ‘I Can Love You’ ‘Piano Red’ / previously unreleased song

POST CARD (1968) by Mary Hopkin

Mary Hopkin's debut is a treasury of popular song. Produced by Paul McCartney and featuring numbers from Donovan, Harry Nilsson and, in rare songwriting mode, George Martin; plus classics from the Gershwins and Irving Berlin. Mary's pure, folk-inspired vocals make for a beguiling, dreamy album. Although not included on the original UK LP, Mary’s global smash hit ‘Those Were The Days’ is now the staple track on Post Card.
This Remastered CD includes four Bonus Tracks, three of which were produced by Paul McCartney, and one by Geoff Emerick. One of these is previously unreleased — a cancelled Mary Hopkin single from 1969
  • ‘Turn Turn Turn’ / 1968 B-side to ‘Those Were The Days’
  • ‘Goodbye’ / Mary’s second hit single, written by Paul McCartney
  • ‘Sparrow’ / 1969 B-side to ‘Goodbye’, written by Gallagher & Lyle then signed to Apple Publishing
  • ‘Fields Of St. Etienne’ / previously unreleased version of this Gallagher & Lyle song, the cancelled single, Apple 16.
Four further tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads, each produced by Paul McCartney: foreign language vocal versions of ‘Those Were The Days’. Two of these have never before been available in digital format (CD or download):
  • ‘Le Temps Des Fleurs’ / ‘Those Were The Days’ in French (first time on digital)
  • ‘An Jenem Tag’ / ‘Those Were The Days’ in German (first time on digital)
  • ‘Quelli Erano Giorni’ / ‘Those Were The Days’ in Italian
  • ‘Que Tiempo Feliz’ / ‘Those Were The Days’ in Spanish

EARTH SONG / OCEAN SONG (1971) by Mary Hopkin

Issued in 1971, this is Mary Hopkin's coming-of-age collection, packed with socially-conscious, lyrically-aware anthems from the cream of the era's folk protagonists: Ralph McTell, Gallagher & Lyle, Tom Paxton, Cat Stevens, Harvey Andrews and the relatively unknown Liz Thorsen who wrote the collection’s title songs, ‘Earth Song’ and ‘Ocean Song’. Mary defines her art on this album, co-ordinated by legendary producer and Mary's husband-to-be at the time, Tony Visconti.
This Remastered CD includes three Bonus Tracks, all produced by Tony Visconti:
  • ‘Kew Gardens’ / 1971 B-side to ‘Let My Name Be Sorrow’
  • ‘When I Am Old One Day’ / from the Earth Song / Ocean Song sessions
  • ‘Let My Name Be Sorrow’ / Mary’s penultimate single for Apple Records, issued in 1971
Three further tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads, each produced by Tony Visconti and two of which are being made available digitally (on CD or as downloads) for the first time:
  • ‘Quand Je Te Regarde Vivre’ / ‘Let My Name Be Sorrow’ sung in French (first time on digital)
  • ‘Watashi O Kanashimi To Yonde’ / ‘Let My Name Be Sorrow’ sung in Japanese (first time on digital)
  • ‘Jefferson’ / original 1971 B-side to ‘Water, Paper And Clay’, Mary’s last single for Apple Records

THAT'S THE WAY GOD PLANNED IT (1969) by Billy Preston


Billy Preston’s debut album for Apple Records was his vocal album debut too. Before this Billy was renowned merely as a wizard instrumentalist. Here, his impassioned vocals help create one of the best soul records of the 1960s. Produced by George Harrison, That’s The Way… expands Billy’s palette of gospel and R&B to embrace rock elements brought in by A-list players Keith Richards, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton.
This Remastered CD includes the three bonus tracks from the 1991 CD plus the previously unreleased ‘Something’s Got To Change’
  • ‘Through All Times’
  • ‘As I Get Older’ / an instrumental produced by Ray Charles and the 1970 B-side to Billy’s second Apple single, ‘All That I’ve Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)’
  • ‘That’s The Way God Planned It’ / stripped back ‘rock’ version
  • ‘Something’s Got To Change’ / first recorded by Ray Charles in 1967

ENCOURAGING WORDS (1970) by Billy Preston

Encouraging Words is steeped in exemplary playing and songwriting… and pure funky soul. Produced by George Harrison and Billy together, it is packed with originals and inspired covers, including 'My Sweet Lord' and 'All Things (Must) Pass' — donated by George before he released them himself — and a unique Harrison-Preston songwriting collaboration, the gospel hymn 'Sing One For The Lord'. This is Billy on the launch pad just before he rocketed to U.S. No.2 success with 'Outta Space' for A&M Records.
This Remastered CD includes the two Bonus Tracks from the 1993 release along with ‘How Long Has The Train Been Gone’ which is a previously unreleased track
  • ‘As Long As I’ve Got My Baby’ / originally the planned B-side to the cancelled UK ‘My Sweet Lord’ single, Apple 29
  • ‘All That I’ve Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)’ / co-written with Doris Troy and Billy’s third Apple single in 1970.
  • ‘How Long Has The Train Been Gone’ / written with Bruce Fisher and later re-recorded for Billy’s 1973 album Everybody Loves Some Kind Of Music

DORIS TROY (1970) by Doris Troy

The self-titled Apple album from the legendary Doris Troy, nicknamed ‘Mama Soul’ by her British fans, is an exciting union of R&B, gospel and rock. It showcases four little-known songs that Doris co-wrote with George Harrison, two of which also credit Stephen Stills and Ringo Starr. Other guests include Billy Preston, Peter Frampton and Eric Clapton.
This Remastered CD includes the five Bonus Tracks that appeared on the 1992 CD reissue, plus an additional, previously unreleased, alternative version of ‘All That I’ve Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)’, written with Billy Preston and issued by Billy as his third Apple single in 1970.
  • ‘All That I’ve Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)’ / co-written with Billy Preston
  • ‘Get Back’ / Beatles cover version and the B-side to Doris’ second Apple single ‘Jacob’s Ladder’
  • ‘Dearest Darling’ / a Doris original unreleased until 1992
  • ‘What You Will Blues’
  • ‘Vaya Con Dios’ / the B-side to ‘Ain’t That Cute’ in 1970
  • ‘All That I’ve Got (I’m Gonna Give It To You)’ / newly discovered alternative version

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? (1968) by Jackie Lomax

Yes! This is a cracking album of powerful late-Sixties rock and blue-eyed soul originals by Liverpool vocalist Jackie Lomax. Among the many highlights is the one cover, George Harrison's otherwise unavailable 'White Album'-era song 'Sour Milk Sea', given to Jackie and featuring guest players including George, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton.
This Remastered CD includes six Bonus Tracks, three of which are previously unreleased:
  • ‘New Day’ / Jackie’s second single for Apple, from 1969
  • ‘Thumbin’ A Ride’ / cover of the Coasters song, produced by Paul McCartney and the B-side to ‘How The Web Was Woven’ in 1970
  • ‘How The Web Was Woven’ / Jackie’s last single for Apple, produced by George Harrison
  • ‘You’ve Got To Be Strong’ / previously unreleased by Jackie Lomax; also covered by Doris Troy on her Apple album
  • ‘You Make It With Me’ / previously unreleased; one of the last tracks Jackie recorded for Apple
  • ‘Can You Hear Me’ / previously unreleased; one of the last tracks Jackie recorded for Apple in the summer of 1969
Four further tracks will be available exclusively as Digital Downloads, three of which make their debut in the digital domain:
  • ‘Going Back To Liverpool’ / unreleased until 1991
  • ‘Sour Milk Sea’ / 1968 mono mix (first time on digital)
  • ‘The Eagle Laughs At You’ / 1968 mono mix (first time on digital)
  • ‘Little Yellow Pills’ / 1968 mono mix (first time on digital)

UNDER THE JASMIN TREE (1968) & SPACE (1969) by the Modern Jazz Quartet (a 2-on-1 CD)

Two albums of high-class improvisational bebop recorded by Atlantic Records legends the MJQ while on secondment to Apple. With their unique line-up of piano, vibes, bass and drums, the Quartet brought old-style tuxedo excellence and cool organic jazz to the Apple catalogue.
This Remastered CD includes one Bonus Track:
  • ‘Yesterday’ / previously unreleased version of The Beatles’ classic

THE WHALE (1970) & CELTIC REQUIEM (1971) by John Tavener (a 2-on-1 CD)

Sir John Tavener was knighted by The Queen in 2000 for his services to music, and he remains one of Britain’s most popular classical composers. Back in the late Sixties, John Tavener was championed by John & Yoko, and befriended by Ringo Starr. Apple's recordings of The Whale, his avant-garde oratorio, and Celtic Requiem, written for soprano, orchestra and children’s choir, were his first ever full-length releases, and remain extraordinary examples of British contemporary classical music.
This remastered CD also contains two supporting pieces, ‘Nomine Jesu’ (‘Name Of Jesus’) and ‘Coplas’ (‘Verses’), that were originally issued on the Celtic Requiem album in 1970, and were later reworked into the major Tavener composition of 1972 Ultimos Ritos. For this new CD, Sir John has re-presented The Whale as it was originally published in the score. Instead of spanning two tracks as per all previous releases, the oratorio has now been split into its seven discrete sections, allowing the listener for the first time to follow on record the individual elements of this early and most innovative work.

RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE (1971) by the Radha Krishna Temple (London)

The latest addition to the 2010 Reissue campaign is The Radha Krishna Temple album, which was recorded by the London chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and was produced by George Harrison. The album is a collection of devotional chants and prayers to Krishna (another name for God) and to the movement’s own divinely-inspired spiritual masters. It spawned two Top 30 UK singles, ‘Hare Krishna Mantra’ (No. 12) and ‘Govinda’ (No. 23), and said George: “It was the greatest fun of all, really, to see Krishna on Top Of The Pops”. Krishna Consciousness can be defined as a “process of plain living and high thinking” that leads to spiritual knowledge, self-realization, as well as the greater goal of peace and happiness in the wider world.
This Remastered CD includes one Bonus Track:
  • ‘Namaste Sarawati Devi’ / previously unreleased