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!

Monday 30 June 2014

A Hard Day's Night review


No, it's not my review but the guy who is doing Beatles-reviews over at DvdBeaver knows his stuff, and compares the new release with those older editions. Apart from that, we have heard that some buyers are experiencing synchronisation problems between audio and picture.

DvdBeaver review

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Australian turnaround

The original cover design for the Australian A Hard Day's Night
Umbrella Entertainment, who are releasing the A Hard Day's Night film in Australia are also doing a 360, changing their original cover design due to fan reactions. They had used a 1963 photo of the boys, and fell under heavy criticism for this on their website. Like Second Sight Films in the UK, the company has listened to the fans and are now presenting a new cover, more in line with the USA design:

New design


And on this happy note, WogBlog is taking a holiday break, as we are going to a small Greek island with limited internet coverage. See you!

Friday 20 June 2014

A Hard Day's Night - Japan edition

Japan Limited edition of A Hard Day's Night on VAP: 6,800 yen + tax

Regular edition in Japan: 4,800 yen + tax
VAP has launched a website detailing the Japanese editions of "A Hard Day's Night", to be released on 20 August, 2014.

Bonus material:
  1. You Can't Do That! The Making of A Hard Day's Night
  2. Things We Said Today
  3. The Beatles: The Road to A Hard Day's Night interview with Mark Lewisohn
  4. In Their Own Voices
  5. Anatomy of a Style
  6. Picturewise
Special screenings will be held in theatres in Japan on August 15th.

Looks like it will only be released on Blu-ray in Japan, not as a DVD.

Thursday 19 June 2014

Blue Plaque for Brian Epstein

Another Eppy plaque: this one by Seven Dials Trust is at 13 Monmouth Street, London
SongLink International is proud to be the title sponsor of the Heritage Foundation's Blue Plaque for Brian Epstein which will be unveiled at 12 noon on Sunday 29th June, at Sutherland House, 5/6 Argyll Street, London W1 next door to the London Palladium.

Epstein's company NEMS Enterprises occupied offices on the fifth floor of the building from the height of Beatlemania in 1964 until shortly after his tragic death in August 1967, aged just 32. Epstein would have turned 80 on September 19th this year, and was recently posthumously inducted into the USA's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A bio-pic of his life is also currently in development.

David Stark, founder and editor of SongLink, the global song-plugging resource said, "As a lifelong Beatles fan I'm delighted to be involved with this official commemoration of Britain's most famous music manager. Epstein's signing of the Fab Four in 1962 developed into the greatest story in music and showbiz history, thanks to his belief and vision that the group could conquer the world, but even he couldn't have foreseen to what extent that would become true. Sadly Brian only lived to enjoy five years of their phenomenal success from 1963-67, but it's important that we recognise his outstanding contribution to the music industry and popular culture in his short but highly influential life."

VIP guests at the unveiling ceremony will include Geoffrey Ellis, Liverpool friend of Epstein and MD of NEMS Enterprises (later a PRS director) who worked at Argyll Street from 1964-67; Tony Bramwell (ex-NEMS & later head of Apple Records); Beatles author Mark Lewisohn; actor Andrew Lancel who stars in the upcoming play "Epstein - The Man Who made The Beatles"; Martin Lewis who secured Epstein's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Rod Davis of The Quarrymen (the band that became The Beatles); Adam Ant and other celebrities.

The event will be hosted by actress Vicki Michelle, President of the Heritage Foundation, and followed by a sold-out tribute lunch at the Marriott Regents Park with live music by the Trembling Wilburys, Dave Berry & others. In addition, messages of goodwill to be read out on the day are being received from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Cilla Black, Sir George Martin and others associated with Epstein.

David Stark added, "It's totally fitting that Brian Epstein should be honoured in his 80th birthday year, and at one of the most prestigious show business locations in the world - right next door to the London Palladium, where his clients The Beatles, Cilla, Gerry and Billy J. Kramer all performed. I'm delighted that the current owners and managing agents of Sutherland House have given permission and their blessing for the plaque to be erected, and am sure it will give pleasure and be of enormous interest to the hundreds of tourists and music aficionados who pass by the site each day, not realising that this was the place where so much of the Fab Four's busy day-to-day schedule was meticulously planned by Brian and his staff. The Heritage Foundation and I are proud to honour the man who paved the way for so many others in the music business, and who is still recognised as being one of the most visionary, hard-working and totally honest managers of all time, withoutwhom The Beatles phenomenon might never have happened."


Links:
The Heritage Foundation
Epstein - The Play
Brian Epstein website
SongLink International 

In other words, it's the usual crowd who turns up for these Beatles related plaques in London.

New cover for UK A Hard Day's Night

New cover. Second Sight Films
Now that's more like it! It's no secret that the Beatles fan community has been disappointed with the various proposed covers for the new edition "A Hard Day's Night" film, and British distributor Second Sight Films has finally landed on a design we are happy with.

It's not terribly original of course, as the same photo is used on The Beatles Rockband game, which was released in 2009 and still is in the shops.

The Beatles Rockband


Initially, the art for the DVD and Blu-ray in the UK looked like this:

Original cover idea, designed by design studio La Boca.
There was an outcry from the public about this, and people posted messages on the Amazon UK site that thay would rather order the film from abroad. After a while, Second Sight Films decided to drop the colours from the cover, and their second version looked like this:
Second Sight's second thought
Now it looks like they've abandoned the La Boca design altogether and the new cover is a Sight for sore eyes. The best of the lot, we think - and that includes all the foreign editions, as well.

Birthday boy

Birthday party
Paul McCartney celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday, at the Club at The Ivy in Central London. Ringo's wife, Barbara Bach and George's widow, Olivia Harrison (hidden behind Joe Walsh in this photo) were among the guests.

Earlier that day, the photographer from M&M / Splash News captured Paul and Nancy in more casual clothes, strolling around. They passed a street musician who obviously didn't notice the celebrities. But wait, what's that t-shirt the musician is wearing?

Earlier that day
Yep, it's the $40 Wings t-shirt they are currently selling at the 'Out There' tour...

Wednesday 18 June 2014

New auction tape: Hull, 16 October 1964

Upcoming Pop Culture auction has lots of Beatles memorabilia
Being auctioned by Christie's this Friday:

1. A rare and previously unheard reel-to-reel tape recording of The Beatles in concert at the A.B.C. Theatre, Hull, 16 October, 1964, the recording with loud screaming throughout, recorded on 1/4 inch Emitape by John Hill from the orchestra pit at the theatre, the recording, over two tapes with an approximate total running time of 24 minutes, contains ten tracks, each introduced by either John Lennon, George Harrison or Paul McCartney, comprising:

1. Twist And Shout
2. Money (That’s What I Want)
3. Can’t Buy Me Love
4. Things We Said Today
5. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
6. I Should Have Known Better
7. If I Fell
8. I Wanna Be Your Man
9. A Hard Day’s Night
10. Long Tall Sally

Accompanied by a ticket stub for the A.B.C. Theatre, Hull, Friday 16 October, 1964, 2nd performance 8-3, Centre Circle (Front); another smaller ticket stub printed Front Stalls; a CD recording of the concert; three original black and white photographs of the Beatles on stage, one of John Lennon, one of Paul McCartney and another of Paul McCartney and George Harrison, all 3 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. (9x13.5cm.); and a document concerning the provenance.

This appearance in Hull on 16 October, 1964, came as part of The Beatles’ 1964 British Tour. A Hard Day’s Night, the band’s third studio album, had been released earlier that year in July and this appearance saw them perform six songs from the LP, which formed part of their standard repertoire for the U.K. and later World Tour in 1964. By this time, Beatlemania was in full swing and, with much of the performance drowned out by the intense screaming of the fans, this recording gives the listener a real sense of the atmosphere in the theatre at that time. George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney all take turns to address the audience and make introductions to the songs, with McCartney in particular rallying the audience and scat singing in between songs.

2. A previously unheard reel-to-reel recording of Paul McCartney playing piano during a press conference at the A.B.C. Theatre, Hull, 16 October, 1964, the recording on 1/4 inch Emitape recorded by John Hill on a Fi-Cord Fidelity Recording machine, with a running time of 3 minutes, the recording features McCartney playing Have A Go Joe and Roll Out The Barrel, with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr singing and responding to comments from the assembled press; accompanied by a CD recording; four black and white photographs of Paul McCartney playing piano with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr gathered round singing and smoking, majority 3 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. (9x13cm.); and a document concerning the provenance.

Although it is known that the Beatles occasionally played Roll Out The Barrel and Have a Go, Joe during their early performances at the Cavern, the songs had certainly disappeared from their stage repertoire by 1964. Although various recordings of interviews with the Beatles are in existence, this is believed to be the only known recording of the band playing piano and singing during a press conference.

3. A previously unheard reel-to-reel recording of an interview with John Lennon, the interview conducted by John Hill at the A.B.C Theatre, Hull on 16 October, 1964 for the Hull University Union newspaper, Torchlight, published on 21 November, 1964, the interview, recorded on 1/4 inch Emitape on a Fi-Cord Fidelity Recording machine with a running time of 8.30 minutes, includes Lennon discussing the songwriting and recording process, his favourite books, failing his exams whilst on tour in Germany and Scotland and his recently released book “In His Own Write”; accompanied by a CD recording of the interview; two black and white photographs of John Hill with John Lennon and one photograph of Paul McCartney with another Torchlight reporter, largest 4 3/4 x 6 1/2in. (12x16.5cm.);a copy of Torchlight, 21 November 1964; an issue of Fabulous magazine, 18 January, 1964; and a document concerning the provenance.

Accompanying photo.

During this interview, Lennon gives some candid responses in answer to questions about various subjects. When asked if he was told what to record, he replies “We were nearly told at the beginning to record other stuff. It was us that forced the issue to record our own songs.” He discusses his songwriting process “sometimes I use the piano, I can just about handle a couple of chords…” and confesses “I enjoy recording better” [than being on stage]. When asked what he would have been if he hadn’t been a Beatle, he answers “I probably would have been a layabout” and reveals that whilst he was at Art School “I was in Scotland on tour and some other lad did the exam for me”. He talks about the last book he read Clockwork Orange and admits “I’ve enjoyed very few books…the one I enjoyed the most was Alice In Wonderland”. When probed about his future plans, he reveals that he would like to work more with film: “I fancy working on films and making them good…there’s a lot to do in films…"

Link: Christie's

Monday 16 June 2014

The Beatles: Mono vinyls press release

The vinyl mono boxed set  © Apple Corps Ltd.

With an audiophile audience in mind, The Beatles’ mono albums have been newly mastered for vinyl from quarter-inch master tapes at Abbey Road Studios. While the corresponding CD boxed set from 2009 was created from digital remasters, these new vinyl versions have been cut without the use of any digital technology.  Manufactured for the world at Optimal Media in Germany, The Beatles’ albums are presented in their original glory, both sonically and in their packaging

London – June 16, 2014 – The Beatles in mono

This is how most listeners first heard the group in the 1960s, when mono was the predominant audio format. Up until 1968, each Beatles album was given a unique mono and stereo mix, but the group always regarded the mono as primary. On September 8 (September 9 in North America), The Beatles’ nine U.K. albums, the American-compiled Magical Mystery Tour, and the Mono Masters collection of non-album tracks will be released in mono on 180-gram vinyl LPs with faithfully replicated artwork. Newly mastered from the analogue master tapes, each album will be available both individually and within a lavish, limited 14-LP boxed edition, The Beatles In Mono, which also includes a 108-page hardbound book.
The Beatles, 1968. © Apple Corps. Ltd.

In an audiophile-minded undertaking, The Beatles’ acclaimed mono albums have been newly mastered for vinyl from quarter-inch master tapes at Abbey Road Studios by GRAMMY®-winning engineer Sean Magee and GRAMMY®-winning mastering supervisor Steve Berkowitz. While The Beatles In Mono CD boxed set released in 2009 was created from digital remasters, for this new vinyl project, Magee and Berkowitz cut the records without using any digital technology. Instead, they employed the same procedures used in the 1960s, guided by the original albums and by detailed transfer notes made by the original cutting engineers.

Working in the same room at Abbey Road where most of The Beatles’ albums were initially cut, the pair first dedicated weeks to concentrated listening, fastidiously comparing the master tapes with first pressings of the mono records made in the 1960s. Using a rigorously tested Studer A80 machine to play back the precious tapes, the new vinyl was cut on a 1980s-era VMS80 lathe.

Manufactured for the world at Optimal Media in Germany, The Beatles’ albums are presented in their original glory, both sonically and in their packaging. The boxed collection’s exclusive 12-inch by 12-inch hardbound book features new essays and a detailed history of the mastering process by award-winning radio producer and author Kevin Howlett. The book is illustrated with many rare studio photos of The Beatles, fascinating archive documents, and articles and advertisements sourced from 1960s publications.

Available now for preorder at www.thebeatles.com.

The Beatles In Mono
* Available individually and collected in a limited 14-LP boxed edition, accompanied by an exclusive 108-page hardbound book.
  • Please Please Me
  • With The Beatles
  • A Hard Day's Night
  • Beatles For Sale
  • Help!
  • Rubber Soul
  • Revolver
  • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
  • Magical Mystery Tour
  • The Beatles (2-LP)
  • Mono Masters (3-LP)

"The Beatles", affectionally known as "the White album". © Apple Corps Ltd.




Official promotional film for the mono vinyl releases.

The prices from Amazon in USA for the boxed set is $409.26, single-LPs are $26.60, the 2LP "The Beatles" $43.97 and the 3LP "Mono Masters" $77.52.

Official press release.

Sunday 15 June 2014

September for mono vinyls

Here come the vinyls again, this time in mono.
Amazon has announced the Beatles' albums on vinyl again, in mono. Looks like they will be available both individually and as a boxed set. An official announcement from the Beatles/Apple is expected tomorrow, check Wogblog around noon - UK time. The release is for September 8, September 9 in USA.

Friday 13 June 2014

A Hard Day's Night - US box view

A crate of hard days and nights
It seems copyright (as has been speculated) was not the reason why the familiar "A Hard Day's Night" portraits weren't used on the cover of the remastered film, as they are present on the top of the box. Seen here before shipping. Here it is, zoomed in:
Close up of three boxed sets
Back

The inner disc holder slides out

The inner disc holder

Open it and you see the discs, 2 DVDs 1 Blu-ray

Back and front of disc holder


Here's a comparison of the various front covers used so far:
Germany, Special Edition (1 Blu-ray, 3 DVDs)

Germany, Blu-ray

USA Dual format edition

Australia

UK, Blu-ray.

Thursday 12 June 2014

A Hard Day's Night in Australia

Australian release of A Hard Day's Night
It seems "A Hard Day's Night" is distributed by a different company for each country. Criterion Collection in the USA, Second Sight Films in the UK, Koch Media in Germany and now, Umbrella Entertainment in Australia. Very appropriate, since umbrellas played a major part in the Beatles' arrival down under. Depicted above is the Australian front cover. As we have revealed, the bonus material is also different, depending on where you live. In Germany, the "Special Edition" is a 1 Blu-ray, 3DVD release, which means it may contain even more than the USA edition, which is only 1 Blu-ray and 2 DVDs. Koch Media doesn't list the full contents, but the original German trailer is mentioned. The UK edition is the same as in the USA, except they don't get the "Running, Jumping & Standing Still" film and no deleted scene, and probably not all the trailers.
In Australia, here's what they get:

Blu-ray:
* The Beatles: The Road to A Hard day's Night- An Interview with Mark Lewisohn
* In Their Own Voices: The Beatles on A Hard Day's Night
* Anatomy of a Style
* Picturewise- A New Featurette on Richard Lester
* Audio Commentary
* New Trailer

DVD:
* Things They Said Today
* You Can't Do That! (The Making Of A Hard Day's Night)
* The Running Jumping & Standing Still short film
* Audio Commentary
* New Trailer

Site: Umbrella Entertainment (Blu-ray) and Umbrella Entertainment (DVD). Release date is 2. July. The Special Edition Blu-ray will contain a DVD with the above listed contents.

A Hard Day's Night: Interesting facts

The look of the UK blu-ray release of "A Hard Day's Night" when it was first announced by Second Sight Films.
The New York Post has put together a short list of ten interesting facts about the "A Hard Day's Night" film. The word "Beatles" is for instance never spoken in the film!

Read the other nine facts in the New York Post

Another interesting fact is that Second Sight Films seem to have had Second Thoughts about the cover, they have removed the colours. We think it's an improvement.
Current image of the UK blu-ray box.

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Lennon's "One to One" Concerts due soon

From one of the concerts. Photo: John Skelson.
In January 2010, WogBlog suggested that the material from the One to One concerts should be used, not only to bring us a remastered CD, but that a rethinking of the home video is in order, taking material from both concerts to bring us a more complete DVD/Blu-ray concert experience in surround sound, as well as in stereo. This was answered in September 2013 by the unexpected announcement from Jack Douglas.

On 30 August 1972 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Lennon performed two shows, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, to raise money for children with mental challenges at friend Geraldo Rivera's request. The benefit concerts, billed as One to One, also featured other performers in addition to Lennon, including Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Melanie Safka and Sha-Na-Na. These concerts were Lennon's only rehearsed and full-length live performances in his solo career, and his first – and last – formal, full-fledged live concerts since the Beatles retired from the road in 1966.
Both concerts sold out in advance. The first show, which had been added due to public demand for tickets, was dubbed “the rehearsal” by Lennon, owing to the band’s relative lack of experience performing live to such large audiences.

The setlist was (as pieced together by The Amazing Kornyfone Label from amateur recordings):

- Power To The People intro / New York City
- It’s So Hard
- Move on Fast
- Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
- Sisters, O Sisters
- Well, Well, Well
- Born In A Prison
- Instant Karma
- Mother
- We’re All Water
- Come Together
- Imagine
- Open Your Box
- Cold Turkey
- Hound Dog
- Don’t Worry Kyoko (only performed at the matinee performance)
- Give Peace A Chance

"Give Peace A Chance" was the final song, and Lennon and Ono were joined on stage by the other stars and the organisers of the concerts.

A 40 minute special from the evening performance was shown on ABC-TV on December 14th, 1972 as a pilot for the future late night music series "In Concert", with a simulcast on FM radio. The special included "Come Together," "Instant Karma!," "Sisters O Sisters," "Cold Turkey," "Hound Dog," "Give Peace a Chance" and (over the credits) "Imagine". There were also three tracks from support acts: "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and two from Roberta Flack: "Reverend Lee" and "Somewhere".

From 1973 the King Biscuit Flower Hour live radio show produced a six song edit of highlights from the evening performance, which was played on radio stations via a transcription LP (with Yoko’s song usually not being aired subsequent to its initial airing in 1972).

Yoko's performance of "Move On Fast" was seen on British TV in BBC2's late night Rock programme "The Old Grey Whistle Test" on 30th January 1973, in order to promote her album "Approximately Infinite Universe".


In 1986, Yoko Ono decided to release a concert video, as well as a CD from the "One To One" performances.

1986 release, never remastered.

The concert video, released on VHS, Betamax, Laser Disc and the little known format VHD Video Disc was a 55 minute edit of the afternoon performance, containing the following:
Power To The People (merely a part of the record played over the PA during the introduction, the video used the afternoon show intro), New York City (from the afternoon show), It's So Hard (afternoon), Woman Is The Nigger Of The World (afternoon), Sisters, O Sisters (evening), Well, Well, Well (afternoon), Born In A Prison (afternoon), Instant Karma! (afternoon), Mother (afternoon), Come Together (afternoon), Imagine (afternoon), Cold Turkey (evening), Hound Dog (evening) and Give Peace A Chance (evening). John's introductions were also a mixture from the afternoon and evening concerts, many of which did not match the choice for the actual performance. As you'll gather from the above, Yoko also performed four other songs that were not included on the video, these were Move On Fast (afternoon & evening), We're All Water (afternoon & evening), Open Your Box (afternoon & evening) and Don't Worry Kyoko (afternoon show only).

The soundtrack was radically remixed and issued as an accompanying album (omitting Yoko Ono's tracks all together) to the home-video, both were first released in the USA by Sony on 24th January 1986, and international releases followed in February.

Upon its release, Yoko Ono was criticized by former members of Elephant's Memory for using the first - and weaker - performance instead of the stronger evening show. They also took issue with the video release of the concert, which it was alleged had been edited to show Ono as prominently as Lennon.

However, in fact, on the album release, Ono's vocal performances on such numbers as "Hound Dog" had been mixed out completely.

"John Lennon: Live in New York City" reached #55 in the UK, and surprised many with its US appeal where it peaked at #41 and eventually went gold.

The One To One Concert Special Laser Disc
A 1992 Laser Disc from the TV Special
In 1992, the original 40 minute ABC TV Special surprisingly made it's reappearance, as an international VHS and Laser Disc release. It has also recently been aired in high definition quality on TV in several countries.

Three songs from the evening performance later saw release on The John Lennon Anthology boxed set in 1998: "Woman Is the Nigger of the World," "It's So Hard," and "Come Together," as well as Rivera's spoken introduction.
“The most recent issuance of One To One material was the inclusion of three tracks and Geraldo Rivera’s introduction from the evening on Anthology. Although the performances are considered to be superior to those of the matinee, they were considered unusable at the time of Live In New York City’s release due to unacceptable noise levels. Advances in digital restoration software allowed their inclusion on Anthology.” [Madinger & Easter, p. 80]

The performance of "Mother" was released as a bonus track on the Classic Albums: Plastic Ono Band DVD from Eagle Rock Entertainment on 28th April 2008.

Douglas has said that for the new release, unlike the 1986 LP and video cassette versions, he plans to include material from both the afternoon and evening charity concerts. Douglas said that he wants fans to be able to relive the moment with the benefit of modern technology: "What I'm proposing is that we get the One To One concert, get it to be at its proper status and sound and do a stereo and 5.1 (mix) that are worthy of the experience and make a proper DVD and get it to the fans. I would hope that we would do everything that I could get my hands on as far as footage and sound. That event really deserves more than, than we have right now."

In a May interview with hit-channel.com, Gary Van Scyoc from Elephant's Memory was asked about the upcoming release. He replied that we are getting really close to a release, as he recently met Jack Douglas who confirmed that it will be released soon.

The Beatles, interviewed by Binny Lum

The Threetles and Binny Lum
Just released by the National Film And Sound Archives of Australia, as part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles visit to Australia, this interview has been around before, but only in an edited form. This is the complete uncut interview, and this website also has the complete transcript of the interview to download as a PDF file. The site also links to other NFSA features on the Fabs.

Link: Soundcloud

Monday 9 June 2014

Beatletoon: The Making of Paperback Writer

This cartoon, made by Alvar Ortega, is all the rage among Beatle People in social medias today. Voiced by Stevie Riks, it's "The Making of Paperback Writer".



Here are some more of Ortega's Beatles cartoons: Link.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Ringo Starr setlist

From a rehearsal
Live at the Casino Rama in Canada.
  1. Matchbox 
  2. It Don't Come Easy
  3. Wings
  4. I Saw the Light (Todd Rundgren)
  5. Evil Ways (Willie Bobo)
  6. Rosanna (Toto)
  7. Kyrie (Mr. Mister)
  8. Don't Pass Me By
  9. Bang the Drum All Day (Todd Rundgren)
  10. Boys 
  11. Yellow Submarine
  12. Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen (Fleetwood Mac)
  13. Anthem
  14. Honey Don't 
  15. You Are Mine (Richard Page)
  16. Africa (Toto)
  17. Oye como va (Tito Puente)
  18. I Wanna Be Your Man
  19. Love Is the Answer (Utopia)
  20. Broken Wings (Mr. Mister)
  21. Hold the Line (Toto)
  22. Photograph
  23. Act Naturally
  24. With a Little Help from My Friends
  25. Give Peace a Chance 

Friday 6 June 2014

When the Beatles Drove Us Wild: trailer



Trailer for the upcoming Australian documentary.

TV Documentary: When the Beatles Drove us Wild, Tuesday June 10 8:30pm on ABC1

Fifty years after their only Australian tour, the ABC will screen a documentary on The Beatles ‘down under’ called When the Beatles Drove us Wild.
Narrated by Brian Dawe, who queued for three days to buy his tickets to the first concert in Adelaide, this features interviews with many leading Australians about their direct experiences.

Among those reminiscing are Glenn Shorrock, Jim Keays, Glenn A Baker, Blanche d’Alpuget, Jenny Key, ‘Little Pattie’, Chantal Contouri, ‘Molly’ Meldrum, Bob Francis, Bob Rogers andBob Katter.
Squeaky clean by day and musically charged at their concerts – it was a different story behind closed doors. Much of what really occurred on the Beatles’ Australian tour has never been told before. Like JFK before them the media indulged in the spoils of being on tour with the Beatles and turned a blind eye to the bedroom antics!

In June 1964, the Beatles made their one and only visit ‘Down Under’ and turned the southern hemisphere on its head!
The social turmoil caused by scenes of mass hysteria and the loss of control of public spaces was new and very unsettling for conservative authority figures.
In Adelaide a crowd estimated to be around 300,000 people (half the City’s population at the time)turned out in the streets to welcome the Beatles. It was the biggest reception the Beatles ever experienced, anywhere in the world.
In Melbourne the army was called in to help police control the crowd.
In Sydney over 10,000 girls entered a competition to win one of just 17 invitations to attend Paul’s 22nd birthday party!
The Beatles and their music embodied the future – a future of infinite possibilities. This was a future that promised a world of freedom and promised it to the young! For the first time in Australia and New Zealand, jobs were plentiful and there were a lot of people under twenty with disposable income. It was fun!

In Australia and NZ, the older generations, shaped by depression and war, seemed bewildered and alarmed at their children’s reaction to the Beatles.
What happened ‘Down Under’ in June 1964 was a mirror to what was evolving worldwide.
This was a time when the ‘baby boomer’ generation was just starting to find its voice and unwittingly flex its muscles. Youth culture was inventing itself, marshalling its forces and was on the march to change Australia, New Zealand and the World!

Beatles in Hillegom

Rehearsing for the TV show
Here are some interesting and rare photos of the Beatles (with Jimmy Nicol) in Holland, especially nice are the ones from the Hillegom TV Show rehearsal for VARA-TV.
See the photos at: beeldbank.noord-hollandsarchief.nl

Thursday 5 June 2014

Little Wing - The Jimmy McCulloch Story

One thing about this book is that every photograph included has never been published or seen before.
Paul Salley is currently writing a biography of Jimmy McCulloch's life and career. Jimmy was a gifted guitarist known for his work with Wings, Stone The Crows, Thunderclap Newman and The Dukes, among others.

Over the past six and a half years, Salley has been compiling a visual archive of McCulloch's musical career and seeking out people who personally knew him. To date, Salley is in touch with people from each stage of McCulloch's life including his family. Among those that Salley has interviewed are Pete Townshend and John Mayall.

Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story will feature interviews from the people who knew Jimmy best in addition to rare and unseen photographs taken throughout his life.

Lennon auction a success

An untitled drawing of a four-eyed guitar player by John Lennon. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Original manuscripts and drawings by John Lennon, produced for the two books he wrote in the mid-1960s, In His Own Write (1964) and A Spaniard in the Works (1965), sold for $2.9m (£1.73m) on Wednesday, more than double the pre-sale estimate, Sotheby's auction house said.

All of the 89 lots in the sale were snapped up by buyers, something auctioneers call a white glove sale.

The highlight of the sale was The Singularge Experience of Miss Anne Duffield, the manuscript for Lennon's parody of Sherlock Holmes from A Spaniard in the Works which fetched $209,000 (£125,000).

More about this in The Guardian.

Ocean Galleries Hosts “The Art of Ringo Starr”

Meet Ringo the artist!
For two weekends in June, Ocean Galleries (9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ) will showcase Ringo Starr’s artwork, which will be on display at two locations and available for acquisition. “The Art of Ringo Starr” will open at the Stone Harbor gallery on Friday, June 13 and run through Sunday, June 15, 2014, with special receptions from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14; as well as 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 15.

On June 19, a collection of Starr's self-portraits will be unveiled at a VIP reception and exhibition at the Soho Contemporary Art Gallery in New York.

The following weekend, Ocean Galleries brings the collection of Ringo’s artwork to Caesars Atlantic City where it will be displayed in the Tiberius Room (third floor) from 6:00 PM until 12:00 AM on Friday, June 20 and from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 21. Anyone who acquires Ringo’s artwork throughout the June exhibition run will have the opportunity to meet with the legendary artist at a private reception and have a photo taken on Saturday, June 21 prior to the All Starr Band’s performance at Caesar's.

“It is an honor to host this historical collection of contemporary artwork,” explained Kim Miller, owner of Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor, which was one of three galleries in the U.S. chosen to host the icon’s artwork in conjunction with Ringo’s summer All Starr Band tour. “We have had so many calls already from our clients and others that are eager to own a piece of rock ‘n roll history - artwork by the renowned Ringo Starr. We can’t wait to share this amazing collection of artwork!”

All of the vibrant artwork selections in the collection were composed by Starr electronically. Ringo began composing art on his computer in the late 1990s while on tour. “While I was touring, it gave me something to do in all those crazy hotels you have to stay in on the road,” explained Starr. What started as merely a diversion to pass the time, has since developed into an iconic collection of artwork. His initial creations focused on “faces” featuring a variety of expressions, but have since evolved to include a wide array of subject matter, many tied to the recurring theme of “peace.”

Over the past several years, he has created art for various groups and organizations, including Knot For Violence, Imagine World Peace, WaterAid, and Timberland boots, as well as an original design for the Hard Rock Signature Series T-Shirt.

Ringo’s new artwork will feature “Self Portraits” from his early days to now, as well as a new series of Peace Signs, all depicted in his bright and colorful palette. As always, Ringo’s proceeds will benefit the Lotus Foundation Charity, which funds, supports, participates in, and promotes charitable projects aimed at advancing social welfare in diverse areas.

“The Art of Ringo Starr” will include nearly 50 pieces of his artwork, all available for acquisition. You may also see the artworks over at RingoStarrArt.com.

On July 7, Starr will celebrate his 74th birthday in Los Angeles. As in past years, he encourages fans around the world to pause at noon local time to share a "peace and love" moment. He's inviting L.A. fans to gather with him at noon PT in front of the Capitol Records building.

Ringo Starr: A Lifetime of Peace and Love, a tribute concert honoring the drummer, will premiere at 8 p.m. ET July 13 on AXS TV. The special showcases performances by Joe Walsh, Ben Harper, Ben Folds, Brendan Benson, Bettye LaVette and others, plus a band featuring Don Was, Benmont Tench, Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather and Kenny Aronoff. The concert, taped in January in Los Angeles, launched the Ringo Starr Peace & Love Fund , a division of the David Lynch Foundation, which provides Transcendental Meditation instruction to tens of thousands of at-risk students in underserved schools, women who are survivors of domestic violence, and veterans with post-traumatic stress.

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Shaved Fish - US edition

The original sticker is probably not included on this re-release.
Yesterday, we reported about an upcoming release of "Shaved Fish", Lennon's collection from 1975 reappearing on vinyl in the UK in July. We now have confirmation that the album will also be given a Capitol release in the USA on July 15. In Germany, the album will be available on Universal Music/EMI on July 4th. This is a limited edition, but we're sure they'll press up copies enough for the collector community.
You may preorder the USA release from Acoustic Sounds.

Promo film for Japan box



Japan's Universal Music has put together this promotional film for their upcoming boxed set of five Japan albums on CD for the first time.

See also Press release.
Track list.
Pre-ordering.

Liverpool fan search

Six fans wanted: At St John’s Hall in Tuebrook, Liverpool, 1961
This is being posted on Beatles sites everywhere, but we thought we might as wll post it here, too. The search is on for six early fans of the Beatles captured in a photograph more than 50 years ago.

The six girls were pictured with the fab four at St John’s Hall in Tuebrook, Liverpool in 1961.

The negative of this image was given to Stephen Bailey who has managed The Beatles Shop in Mathew Street for 28 years.

The shop is busy collecting memorabilia for the 23rd Annual Liverpool Beatles Auction which will be held at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in August. The annual event always turns out interesting pieces from the early days in Liverpool and Merseysiders are busy rummaging through their attics in anticipation.
This photo was one such find which was discovered when a man dropped off some negatives to The Beatles Shop in Mathew Street which he said had been taken half a century ago by his father who was a photographer. Stephen got the pictures processed and found they were in perfect condition. One in particular stood out.

Stephen said: “It is a lovely photograph and so evocative of the relationship The Beatles has with their early fans. Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr the following year.”

Stephen now wants to invite the women to be VIP Guests of Honour at this year’s auction which is being held at the Paul McCartney Auditorium at LIPA.
If you are one of the women pictured or you can help identify them please get in touch either at news@liverpool.com or call in to the Beatles Shop on Mathew Street or call Stephen on 0151 236 8066.

Source: Liverpool Echo

Of course, this is also a nice way for Stephen to get some free promotion for the auction, and we benefit from getting one more interesting photo of the boys. George Harrison pulls a face this time, and Pete prefers not holding on to any female fan, as he always stayed away from other girls while he was dating his girlfriend.

The Beatles played at Liverpool’s St John’s Hall on 11 occasions. The dates were 17 February; 10 March; 13, 20 and 27 July; 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 August; and 8 September, all in 1961.

Wrongly captioned by Liverpool Echo as taken after the Beatles came back from playing the Star Club, Hamburg - that venue didn't open until 1962.

If this was really their first gig after a Hamburg stint, the date would be 13 July 1961, as that was their first gig after returning from their second Hamburg trip, where they played at the Top Ten Club.

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Shaved Fish for vinyl re-release

A strange re-release on vinyl: John Lennon's hit collection "Shaved Fish" is due out in the UK on July 7.
For some reason, John Lennon's collection of songs, "Shaved Fish" is due out on vinyl in the UK on July 7th, according to Amazon in the UK.
It's a strange choice, because since the original's release in 1975, other collections of Lennon's songs, such as The John Lennon Collection (1982), Lennon Legend (1997), Working Class Hero (2005) and Power To The People - The Hits (2010) have all far surpassed the this album by including more songs.

"Shaved Fish" was Lennon's final release on Apple Records, released in the UK on 24 October 1975, peaking at number 8 and number 12 in the USA. The album contains all of the singles that he had issued up to that point in the United States as a solo artist, with the exception of "Stand by Me", which had been released earlier that year.

The only compilation of his non-Beatles recordings released during his lifetime, it was a commercial success, ultimately becoming one of the world's first platinum albums.

Track list:
Side 1:
  1. Give Peace a Chance 
  2. Cold Turkey
  3. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
  4. Power to the People
  5. Mother
  6. Woman Is the Nigger of the World
Side 2:
  1. Imagine
  2. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night
  3. Mind Games
  4. #9 Dream
  5. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)/Give Peace a Chance (Reprise)

I'm gonna buy your songs, Paul!

Once friends, Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
Forbes has published an extract from the new book on Michael Jackson: "Michael Jackson Inc". The extract is titled "Buying The Beatles: Inside Michael Jackson's Best Business Bet" and focuses on Jackson's acquisition of the ATV company, the company that held the publishing rights to most of The Beatles' songs. The text is based almost entirely on original interviews.

Here are a few interesting passages:
“I got Yoko on the phone,” recalls [John] Branca. “And then I said, ‘Michael asked me to call you and find out if you’re bidding [on] ATV Music that owns all the Beatles songs.’ ”
Ono: “No, we’re not bidding on it.”
Branca: “No?”
Ono: “No, no, if we had bought it, then we’d have to deal with Paul, it’d have been a whole thing. Why?”
Branca: “Because Michael’s interested.”
Ono: “Oh, that would be wonderful in the hands of Michael rather than some big corporation.”

According to Branca, John Eastman, Paul McCartney’s lawyer and brother-in-law said McCartney wasn’t interested because the catalogue was “much too pricey.”

To finalize the deal, Michael Jackson had to commit to perform a concert in Perth, Australia as part of the payment.

Now, go on over to Forbes and read it, if it interests you.

Of course, in interviews over the years, Paul McCartney has claimed that he did talk to Ono regarding the possibility of buying back the rights to the Beatles' songs, and that her reply was that she thought they could get them for less than the asking price. In the end, Jackson bought the catalogue for $47,5 million, and it's value is now estimated to be $2 billion. During his lifetime he sold half of his interests to Sony, but his estate still owns Jackson's half.