Saturday, August 23, 2008

Stuart Sutcliffe: The Lost Beatle

At art college in Liverpool in 1959, Stuart Sutcliffe met John Lennon and they soon became close -with Lennon persuading Sutcliffe to use the proceeds of a painting he had sold to buy a bass guitar and join his band, along with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Before long, with drummer Pete Best in the line-up, they won a contract in Hamburg playing sleazy clubs in the seedy Reeperbahn area of the city, amidst the casual sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll of the era. The newly-christened Beatles were on their way.

With the band on the brink of success, Sutcliffe left the group to concentrate on his first love, art, and his new love, German photographer Astrid Kirchherr. But Stuart's health soon began to decline. On the 10th of April 1962, Stuart suffered a seizure and slipped into a coma. As Astrid cradled his head in her hands, Stuart died of a cerebral hemorrhage, cutting short the life of the promising young artist.

Interviewees include Stuart's fiancée and Beatles stylist/photographer Astrid Kirchherr, early Beatles manager Allan Williams, Stuart's sister Pauline Sutcliffe, Liverpool flatmate to Sutcliffe and Lennon, Rod Murray and esteemed American art historian and writer Donald Kuspit.

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The Beatles - Let It Be (UK Stereo LP - MFSL)

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, MFSL-1-109

1. Two Of Us (Lennon/McCartney) 3:40
2. Dig A Pony (Lennon/McCartney) 3:56
3. Across The Universe (Lennon/McCartney) 3:50
4. I Me Mine (Harrison) 2:25
5. Dig It (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey) 0:50
6. Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney) 4:02
7. Maggie Mae (Trad. Arr Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr) 0:40
8. I've Got A Feeling (Lennon/McCartney) 3:40
9. The One After 909 (Lennon/McCartney) 2:55
10. The Long And Winding Road (Lennon/McCartney) 3:38
11. For You Blue (Harrison) 2:34
12. Get Back (Lennon/McCartney) 3:13

Notes
A reproduction on CD of the Beatles' thirteenth, and final UK album, as released by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Thermal printed legend on CD-R disc looks like a "silk screened, factory pressed" CD.
These are transferred from the vinyl releases. Only the smallest amount of noise reduction necessary has been applied.
An excellent sounding recording, when compared to the actual Mobile Fidelity releases. Very clear, crisp stereo.

The Mystery Partly Explained

by Frederick James

There's never been a Television Show quite like it! And I doubt if there will be again until The Beatles make another TV film NEXT year!

The story begins with RINGO and his Auntie Jessie (played by heavyweight actress JESSIE ROBINS) deciding to go on a Mystery Tour. They buy their tickets from a little shop where the sales assistant is a jolly chap with a ridiculous R.A.F. moustache and a distinct resemblance to JOHN! While all this is happening the soundtrack is brimming over with brand-new Beatle sounds in the form of the show's fast-rocking title number "Magical Mystery Tour."

The MAGIC bit means that the film is never limited to realistic happenings. With MAGIC around the most fantastic scenes can be pounced upon the amazed viewer at a moment's notice. Incidentally we ARE allowed to see where all the magic is made. Now and again the cameras leave the coach tour to show us the bubbling test-tubes, mysterious maps and magical telescopes of The Magicians' Secret Laboratory--manned by five extraordinary folk in bright red and yellow gowns and high pointed hats. Five? Yes, the big guy in the background looks suspiciously like MAL EVANS!

So the coach tour begins and we're introduced to the bus driver (Alf), the Hostess (MANDY WEET), the Courier (DEREK ROYLE) and passenger-type people ranging from comedians NAT JACKLEY and IVOR CUTLER to actress MAGGIE WRIGHT and "Little Man" GEORGE CLAYDON. What a marvellous bunch of Magical Mystery Tour companions!

The second song we hear is PAUL'S simple, very tuneful ballad "The Fool On The Hill." Later there's a special spot for GEORGE'S "Blue Jay Way" (he's seen sitting cross-legged on a pavement in thick fog!) and all the other numbers including the Twenties-tinted finale song "Your Mother Should Know."

Most Spectacular

Perhaps the most spectacular of all the song sequences is that which has The Beatles plus the entire cast involved in "I Am The Walrus." In last month's Book I expect you saw the Competition Page which showed a photograph of all four Beatles covered from head to toe in furry animal suits. THAT is just one small part of the "Walrus" scene.

But you mustn't get the impression that "Magical Mystery Tour" is just a long parade of songs. There are plenty of strong comedy items. For me one of the most hilarious is set in a curiously out-of-date Army Recruiting Office where a smartly uniformed Major McCartney(!) watches VICTOR SPINETTI giving a fair impression of a parade-ground sergeant who demonstrates (amongst other things) the right way to defend yourself against an aggressive cow.

There's a beautiful touch of "human interest" in a scene in which JOHN and GEORGE are sitting on the bus talking to a bright little 5-year-old girl named Nicola. This--and most of the dialogue involving The Beatles with professional actors and actresses--is unscripted. Instead of demanding that the cast should learn written lines, The Beatles discussed each bit of talking with the people concerned, told them what they were supposed to be doing and what their various reactions should be AND THEN LEFT THE ACTUAL WORDING TO THEM.

The lack of a script let all the actors relax because it didn't matter too much what they came out with and they hadn't got to keep stiffening up and remembering precise sentences to say. You'll see how well this approach works when you watch Ringo having an argument with Auntie Jessie or Little George taking photographs of Maggie The Lovely Starlet. And the late-night homeward-bound sing-song on the bus couldn't have been rehearsed to such perfection in a month of blue moons! Nice touch to include accordionist SHIRLEY EVANS in the cast for this and various other scenes!

I could tell you much more--but I'm not supposed to give away TOO MANY secrets. For the rest--well, "Magical Mystery Tour" will be on your home screens in just a few weeks from now and (as the boys have said themselves) it has Something For Everybody. Dream sequences, a Hollywood-scale Finale, a load of great songs, a marvellous guest appearance of THE BONZO DOG DOO DAH BAND in a Strip Club scene, and (wait for THIS) a marathon race which includes RINGO DRIVING THE "MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR" BUS!

Don't know about YOU but I'm booking my seat for NEXT year's tour right now before the rush!

Friday, August 22, 2008

With the Beatles

by Alistair Taylor

"A stunning insight by the man who was with the band every step of the way."
Mail on Sunday

When we went to the Palace to get the Beatles their OBEs John Lennon had some acid with him. 'I'm gonna slip it into the Queen's tea' he told me, 'I want to open her mind and try to get her to declare war on somewhere nice and warm so we can all go and fight on the beaches.'

After Jane Asher dumped Paul McCartney he literally used to cry on my shoulder. We hit the bottle together. Hard. 'I had everything and I threw it away,' he would say.


Alistair Taylor was with the Beatles from the moment they signed with Brian Epstein. In fact, apart from the Fab Four's names, his is the only other name on the contract.

Since that moment he travelled, partied, ate, and even holidayed with them until the beginning of the group's spectacular break up. As the group's 'Mr Fixit' he settled paternity cases, bought islands, houses and estates and took care of John, Paul, George and Ringo when their lifestyle got a little too lively.

He was privy to all the secrets we were never supposed to know. Now for the first time he reveals what it was really like to ride the rollercoaster that was the sixties with the Beatles.

The Beatles - Let It Be (UK Stereo LP - Apple)

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, PCS 7096

1. Two Of Us (Lennon/McCartney) 3:37
2. Dig A Pony (Lennon/McCartney) 3:56
3. Across The Universe (Lennon/McCartney) 3:49
4. I Me Mine (Harrison) 2:26
5. Dig It (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey) 0:49
6. Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney) 4:02
7. Maggie Mae (Trad. Arr Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr) 0:41
8. I've Got A Feeling (Lennon/McCartney) 3:39
9. The One After 909 (Lennon/McCartney) 2:55
10. The Long And Winding Road (Lennon/McCartney) 3:37
11. For You Blue (Harrison) 2:34
12. Get Back (Lennon/McCartney) 3:11

Notes
This issue by the Doc of the UK stereo LP uses the MFSL stereo master - superior stereo sound quality using the original UK mixes.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

John Lennon: The New York Years

text & images by Bob Gruen

A musical genius, an innovator, a peace activist--John Lennon was all these and more, and he continues to be revered a quarter century after his shocking murder in New York elevated him to mythic stature. Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Lennon's death, this intimate album of 150 photographs--most of which have never been published before--offers a very personal view of the rock legend in his last decade by someone who had astounding access to his private life.

Bob Gruen first photographed Lennon in 1971 and became his personal photographer and close friend shortly thereafter. Over the course of the next nine years, right up until Lennon was killed, Gruen would photograph him extensively. This book assembles the most revealing of those images, taken during Lennon's years in New York, together with Gruen's reflections on the circumstances surrounding the photos, including John's relationship with Yoko, how he dealt with fame, and his experiences with fatherhood. The result is a remarkable behind-the-scenes look at John Lennon as a performer, a legend, and a person.

Bob Gruen is one of the world's most respected photographers of the rock scene, and was John Lennon's personal photographer through the 1970s. He has also worked with major rock and roll figures including Elton John, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and Tina Turner. His work has appeared in numerous publications and galleries including the National Portrait Gallery in London. He lives in New York City.

The Beatles - Abbey Road (UK Stereo LP - MFSL)

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, MFSL-1-023

1. Come Together (Lennon/McCartney) 4:20
2. Something (Harrison) 3:03
3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer (Lennon/McCartney) 3:28
4. Oh! Darling (Lennon/McCartney) 3:27
5. Octopus's Garden (Starkey) 2:52
6. I Want You (She's So Heavy) (Lennon/McCartney) 7:45
7. Here Comes The Sun (Harrison) 3:05
8. Because (Lennon/McCartney) 2:45
9. You Never Give Me Your Money (Lennon/McCartney) 4:02
10. Sun King (Lennon/McCartney) 2:26
11. Mean Mr. Mustard (Lennon/McCartney) 1:06
12. Polythene Pam (Lennon/McCartney) 1:12
13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Lennon/McCartney) 1:58
14. Golden Slumbers (Lennon/McCartney) 1:31
15. Carry That Weight (Lennon/McCartney) 1:36
16. The End (Lennon/McCartney) 2:22
17. Her Majesty (Lennon/McCartney) 0:25

Notes
A reproduction on CD of the Beatles' twelfth UK album, as released by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Thermal printed legend on CD-R disc looks like a "silk screened, factory pressed" CD.
These are transferred from the vinyl releases. Only the smallest amount of noise reduction necessary has been applied.
An excellent sounding recording, when compared to the actual Mobile Fidelity releases. Very clear, crisp stereo.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

John Lennon: The Albums

by Johnny Rogan

A comprehensive analysis of every album recorded by John Lennon during his solo years from the end of the Sixties to his death in 1980, as well as the posthumous work that followed.

A lively and provocative commentary of every song is interspersed with comments from Lennon on his final decade. Features a song by song analysis, a song index for easy reference, details of compilations and live albums and details of posthumous releases.

From his early experimental work with Yoko Ono, through the startling sound of the Plastic Ono Band, the chart-topping Imagine, the political years in New York, the 'lost weekend' in Los Angeles, retirement, the comeback with Double Fantasy and his tragic assassination in December 1980 - Rogan leaves no stone unturned.

Johnny Rogan is the author of the best-selling Morrissey And Marr: The Severed Alliance, one of the most acclaimed music biographies ever written, and still a best seller since its first publication in 1992. He has written high-profile biographies on The Byrds, Neil Young, George Michael and his latest, Van Morrison: No Surrender was featured in the Sunday Times' best books of 2005.

The Beatles - Abbey Road (UK Stereo LP - Apple)

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, PCS 7088

1. Come Together (Lennon/McCartney) 4:20
2. Something (Harrison) 3:03
3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer (Lennon/McCartney) 3:28
4. Oh! Darling (Lennon/McCartney) 3:27
5. Octopus's Garden (Starkey) 2:52
6. I Want You (She's So Heavy) (Lennon/McCartney) 7:45
7. Here Comes The Sun (Harrison) 3:05
8. Because (Lennon/McCartney) 2:45
9. You Never Give Me Your Money (Lennon/McCartney) 4:02
10. Sun King (Lennon/McCartney) 2:26
11. Mean Mr. Mustard (Lennon/McCartney) 1:06
12. Polythene Pam (Lennon/McCartney) 1:12
13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Lennon/McCartney) 1:58
14. Golden Slumbers (Lennon/McCartney) 1:31
15. Carry That Weight (Lennon/McCartney) 1:36
16. The End (Lennon/McCartney) 2:22
17. Her Majesty (Lennon/McCartney) 0:25

Notes

This issue by the Doc of the UK stereo LP uses the MFSL stereo master - superior stereo sound quality using the original UK mixes.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Beatles - Beatles For Sale (Japanese Mono LP) Red Wax

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, EAS 70133

1. No Reply (Lennon/McCartney)
2. I'm A Loser (Lennon/McCartney)
3. Baby's In Black (Lennon/McCartney)
4. Rock And Roll Music (Berry)
5. I'll Follow The Sun (Lennon/McCartney)
6. Mr Moonlight (Johnson)
7. Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (Leiber-Stoller/Penniman)
8. Eight Days A Week (Lennon/McCartney)
9. Words Of Love (Holly)
10. Honey Don't (Perkins)
11. Every Little Thing (Lennon/McCartney)
12. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party (Lennon/McCartney)
13. What You're Doing (Lennon/McCartney)
14. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby (Perkins)

Liner Notes:
THE FOLLOWING TITLES ARE PART OF A NEW DR. EBBETTS VINYL SERIES – THE RED JAPANESE MONO VINYL COLLECTION – OR SIMPLY PUT, THE “RED MONOS.” THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS TO THE EBBETTS CANON ARE SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES 1982 JAPANESE RED MONO VINYL LPs, CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE AMONG THE VERY BEST REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BEATLES ORIGINAL MONO CATALOGUE. ALL BUT TWO OF THE TEN TITLES THAT COMPRISE THIS SET ARE INCLUDED HERE. THE REMAINING TWO TITLES WILL BE RELEASED VERY SOON.

Behind the Headlines

FREDERICK JAMES digs out some background facts inspired by the news-making stories from The Beatles' December 1965 tour.

Nobody could doubt that THE BEATLES' December concert tour of the U.K. was one of the most action-packed of their career. Eight thousand pounds had to be returned by the management of the Cardiff Capitol after all seats for their two shows had been allocated. Scores of policemen linked arms right across the front of the stalls at Hammersmith where nearly 7,000 Beatle People packed the vast Odeon during the evening. The crowds, the screams, the enthusiasm of the fans and the details of the actual performances have passed into pop history via news reports.

YOU MUST HAVE READ ABOUT THE SMASHING OF GEORGE'S GUITAR. IT WAS FASTENED TO THE BOOT OF THE GROUP'S AUSTIN PRINCESS AND IT FELL OFF DURING THE DRIVE TO SCOTLAND. ACCORDING TO A DISAPPOINTED GEORGE, AT LEAST FOURTEEN LORRIES MUST HAVE RUN OVER THE GUITAR BEFORE THE BOYS LOCATED ALL THE BATTERED BITS AT THE SIDE OF THE MOTORWAY.

Luckily this wasn't one of the instruments George needed on stage. He'd been using it to rehearse. Before setting out for Scotland all the boys got together in the West End basement flat occupied by Neil and Mal. Here they put in nearly eight hours of act-polishing practice on the new numbers for the tour.

Instruments used during this session were strapped together on the back of the Princess. Mal had already left London by van with the rest of the equipment. His load included seven guitars--two each for John and Paul plus three for George.

The last time a Beatle lost a guitar was two years ago when the boys put on their first Christmas Show at Finsbury Park. John and George had purchased a pair of Gibson Jumbos towards the end of 1962. They were very proud of these having saved up their money for the H.P. deposits with much determination. The Jumbos were the first two spares bought by the boys. Otherwise they were using stuff bought in Germany for £40 or £60.

By the time of the Finsbury Park show the total collection of Beatle guitars had grown, but John and George were using their Gibson Jumbos in the dressing room and they were there as stand-by replacements if strings snapped during a performance.

Recalls John: "George and I often took a Jumbo home with us so nobody noticed until the end of the season that one was missing. A week or two afterwards I asked Mal where he'd put my Jumbo. It was only then that we realised the guitar had been pinched at Finsbury Park. No, I never got it back."

LOSING HIS £300 GRETSCH COUNTRYMAN WASN'T THE END OF GEORGE'S PROBLEMS IN SCOTLAND. DURING THE OPENING PERFORMANCE IN GLASGOW HIS AMPLIFIER CEASED TO FUNCTION. SAYS GEORGE: "I CHECKED THE JACK PLUGS, TWIDDLED THE VOLUME CONTROL, FIDDLED WITH EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE AMPLIFIER ITSELF WAS O.K. BUT THE LEAD HAD BROKEN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY."

Way back in the Cavern days the boys were used to this type of trouble. Amps and lights blew up quite regularly and the cause was usually the excessive amount of condensation on the walls and ceiling above the stage. So much damp dripped down that electrical problems became an accepted occupational hazard of Cavern sessions!

According to Neil, equipment break-downs happened less frequently once The Beatles started to play the major theatre and cinema circuits. The last major disasterhe can remember happened in Brighton one Sunday during the summer of '63. "Mal hadn't joined us then," says Neil. "I was responsible for setting up the equipment on stage. Everything was ready--switched on, tested and working. The boys used to open with a very fast Little Richard number at that time. I think it was 'Oh My Soul'. Anyway, George had a big guitar intro on the number. After a few seconds EVERYTHING went dead. It was pointless to think of continuing so I got the stage people to close the curtains right away. I dashed on stage and we re-checked everything."

A minute later all seemed to be well, the curtains were opened for a second time and George went into his hefty intro.

"Then, for a second time, everything just went dead," recalls Neil. "It was ridiculous. We thought we were all going potty. This time John ran into the wings muttering something about the whole lot blowing up at any moment!"

The cause was traced to the drummer with one of the show's other groups. Not to The Beatles' amps or leads or speakers! This drummer was shifting his kit around behind the scenes and he'd dumped a heavy bass drum on the mains supply point. The fact that he broke circuit just after The Beatles started to play was pure coincidence.

THE TWO CONCERTS AT THE LIVERPOOL EMPIRE MUST HAVE BROUGHT BACK MANY MEMORIES FOR JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE AND RINGO.

It was at this theatre, on Sunday, 28 October 1962, that The Beatles made their first major concert appearance. They came on after The Breakaways as Item 3 in the first half of the programme. After doing just four numbers--including "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You"--they stayed on stage to accompany Craig Douglas. The rest of the bill included Sounds Incorporated, Kenny Lynch and Jet Harris with Little Richard closing the show.

At the Empire on Sunday, 5 December 1965, they played to two capacity houses just as they had done over three years earlier. Again the audience included friends and relatives from various parts of Merseyside. The audience also included two little girls who managed to meet The Beatles backstage to discuss their Save-The-Cavern campaign.

A thousand shows--a thousand stories. But to the boys the most important performance is always the one they're just about to do. And this Autumn Tour was no exception to the rule.

Monday, August 18, 2008

The Beatles - Something New (German Stereo LP - Odeon)

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, 1C 072-04 600

1. I'll Cry Instead (Lennon/McCartney)
2. Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney)
3. Any Time At All (Lennon/McCartney)
4. When I Get Home (Lennon/McCartney)
5. Slow Down (Williams)
6. Matchbox (Perkins)
7. Tell Me Why (Lennon/McCartney)
8. And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney)
9. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You (Lennon/McCartney)
10. If I Fell (Lennon/McCartney)
11. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (Lennon/McCartney/Nicolas/Hellmer)

Liner Notes:
By overwhelming request, the German wing of the Ebbetts catalogue continues to grow. Here, is the lineup of the US "Something New" LP in beautiful German stereo. It features the extended ending of "And I Love Her."

The Beatles - The Beatles Vs. The Four Seasons (US Mono LP - VeeJay)

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, VJDX 30

1. I Saw Her Standing There (Lennon/McCartney)
2. Misery (Lennon/McCartney)
3. Anna (Go To Him) (Alexander)
4. Chains (Goffin/King)
5. Boys (Dixon/Farrell)
6. Ask Me Why (Lennon/McCartney)
7. Please Please Me (Lennon/McCartney)
8. Baby It's You (David/Bacharach/Williams)
9. Do You Want To Know A Secret (Lennon/McCartney)
11. There's A Place (Lennon/McCartney)
12. Twist And Shout (Russell/Medley)
13. Sherry
14. I've Cried Before
15. Marlena
16. Soon (I'll Be Home Again)
17. Ain't That A Shame (Domino/Bartholomew)
18. Walk Like A Man
19. Connie-O
20. Big Girls Don't Cry
21. Starmaker
22. Candy Girl
23. Silver Wings
24. Peanuts

Notes:
Tracks 1.-12. : The Beatles (Same as VeeJay LP INTRODUCING...THE BEATLES - Version 2)

Tracks 13.-24. : The Four Seasons (Same as VeeJay LP THE GOLDEN HITS OF THE FOUR SEASONS)

Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium

by Chip Madinger and Mark Easter

Over thirty years in the making... over twenty years of research... over two years of writing... and here it is!

Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium is the ultimate look at the careers of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr beyond the Beatles. Every aspect of their professional careers as solo artists is explored, from recording sessions, record releases and tours, to television, film and music videos, including everything in between. From their early film soundtrack work to the officially released retrospectives, all solo efforts by the four men are exhaustively examined.

Not only are John, Paul, George and Ringo's official projects investigated in detail, along with the events surrounding their recording and release, but the best available sources for each are specified. This same approach is used to profile the unissued recordings and performances by all four - both bootlegged and in private circulation. In short, this is the reference guide that Beatles collectors have been waiting for decades!

Over the past twenty years, noted Beatles authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter have done extensive primary and secondary research to ensure that no fact has gone unchecked, and no myth has gone unprobed. The result is this massive 700 plus page work, the scope of which has never previously been attempted.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (Japanese Mono LP) Red Wax

Label: Dr. Ebbetts, EAS 70132

1. A Hard Day's Night (Lennon/McCartney) 2:34
2. I Should Have Known Better (Lennon/McCartney) 2:46
3. If I Fell (Lennon/McCartney) 2:23
4. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You (Lennon/McCartney) 2:00
5. And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney) 2:33
6. Tell Me Why (Lennon/McCartney) 2:12
7. Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney) 2:16
8. Any Time At All (Lennon/McCartney) 2:14
9. I'll Cry Instead (Lennon/McCartney) 1:49
10. Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney) 2:40
11. When I Get Home (Lennon/McCartney)
12. You Can't Do That (Lennon/McCartney) 2:38
13. I'll Be Back (Lennon/McCartney) 2:22

Liner Notes:
THE FOLLOWING TITLES ARE PART OF A NEW DR. EBBETTS VINYL SERIES – THE RED JAPANESE MONO VINYL COLLECTION – OR SIMPLY PUT, THE “RED MONOS.” THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS TO THE EBBETTS CANON ARE SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES 1982 JAPANESE RED MONO VINYL LPs, CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE AMONG THE VERY BEST REPRESENTATIONS OF THE BEATLES ORIGINAL MONO CATALOGUE. ALL BUT TWO OF THE TEN TITLES THAT COMPRISE THIS SET ARE INCLUDED HERE. THE REMAINING TWO TITLES WILL BE RELEASED VERY SOON.

Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image: The Complete, Unauthorized Story of The Beatles' 'Get Back' Sessions

by Doug Sulpy with Ray Schweighardt

DRUGS, DIVORCE and a SLIPPING IMAGE - The Complete, Unauthorized Story of The Beatles' 'Get Back' Sessions - by Doug Sulpy with Ray Schweighardt New, completely revised edition! This new volume isn t just a compilation of material from the 1994 book Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image (also later published as 'Get Back') and 'The 910's Guide To The Beatles Outtakes Part Two: The Complete Get Back Sessions' (2001). I've re-listened to the entire canon of available Get Back session tapes, come up with a bunch of new conclusions (and even a handful of new identifications!), and pretty much re-written half the book from scratch. In addition, great effort has been made to improve readability of the book. Songs have now been put into groups (generally by Nagra reel, or series of them), rather than describing each performance separately, as was done in the original. In every way, this is the book we wished we could have written in 1994.

Doug Sulpy is recognized worldwide as perhaps the world s premier expert on unreleased Beatles recordings, having authored (or co-authored) a number of highly respected books on popular music, edited/published The 910 magazine for many years, contributed to several leading music publications and written liner notes for several CD compilations.