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WELL I JUST HAD TO LAUGH … AN UNUSUAL BEATLES BOOK BY JEFF WALKER

I JUST HAD TO HAVE A LOOK HAVING READ THE BOOK. DOES THE JOKER LAUGH AT YOU???

I have an affinity for special Beatles-related books that have a different angle or approach to one of our favorite subject matters. One of the group’s characteristics, if you can ascribe individual character traits to a group entity, was their brilliant sense of humor or (humour). This book by Jeff Walker with illustrations by Mike Constable. certainly fits the bill as it captures many of the significant humorous comments or circumstances surrounding the astounding lives of the Beatles. I throroughly enjoyed this book and I believe you will too.

Everyone has a different concept as to what they may view to be funny. For example, some people believe that some of John’s sarcastic comments over the years designed to cut certain people down to size were insensitive and not funny. However others saw the same comments as being able to cut through to the true nature of the individual he was describing. Take your pick!!! Their jokes and comments were varied enough to have a little something for everyone! You be the judge!!!

The Walker menu in this book covers it all and you smile often when you read it!!!

Well I Just Had to Laugh: 1,234 Funny Things the Beatles Said or Did

Perfect Paperback – June 10, 2019
by Jeff Walker (Author, Editor), Mike Constable (Illustrator)

Publisher: SomethingNow Publications

AMAZON US LINK TO THE BOOK:

Well I Just Had to Laugh: 1,234 Funny Things the Beatles Said or Did: Jeff Walker, Jeff Walker, Mike Constable, Mike Constable: 9780986708022: Amazon.com: Books

AMAZON UK LINK TO THE BOOK:

Well I Just Had to Laugh: 1,234 Funny Things the Beatles Said or Did: Amazon.co.uk: Jeff Walker: 9780986708022: Books

Well I Just Had To Laugh
Well I Just Had To Laugh

Back cover of the book:

Well I Just Had To Laugh
Well I Just Had To Laugh

You’ve got to laugh!

Buzz

ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FROM THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE

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BUZZ’S BEATLES SCRAPBOOK #1

INTRODUCTION TO THE BEATLES SCRAPBOOK

My curiosity was recently awoken to the more than 100 print-related Beatles scrapbooks that I kept over the years. As I came across the boxes in storage that contained them, I was intrigued by the print time capsules. Long ago, I had abandoned keeping and maintaining the scrapbooks when the digital internet revolution exploded! When I was compiling the scrapbooks I would preserve the newspaper articles about the Beatles by placing them in scrapbooks to help prevent their deterioration and yellowing of the poor print quality of newspapers in general. I also kept many of my picture sleeves in the scrapbooks encased in their own plastic sleeves, as well as ticket stubs and other Beatles-related print items.

I am planning to share with you the contents of many of the Beatles scrapbooks that I have compiled over the years.

Many friends and people that I knew very well also knew of my fascination with the band and they would save articles for me or send them to me through the mail so I could include them in the scrapbooks. I was able to compile more than 100 of them. The best scrapbooks that I chose to use were the ones that had no photo inserts aspects to the scrapbook, The articles were placed on pages of approximately 8X11 size with a single piece of plastic covering for each page, protecting the articles in question. I would cut the articles out of the newspapers in order that they would fit into the scrapbook even if it required multiple pages to preserve the full article.

Most of the articles saved were from the post-Beatles 1970s era onward as prior to that I could not afford the costs to purchase and maintain the scrapbooks. There was a local pharmacy employee who used to stack the newspapers on a daily basis and would inform me when a Beatles article would appear in the newspaper.

The scrapbooks served as excellent time capsules for those times.

My blog administrator, David Bedford, has encouraged me to share the scrapbooks with you, the members and visitors to the blog, and he told me it was Ok to do so as they are all items personally acquired for my personal Beatles print-related collection.

INSIDE THE BEATLES SCRAPBOOK

The various scrapbooks presented will not be in chronological order. You may see one from 1987 in one post and the next one may contain articles from 1992. They will be chosen randomly for display on the blog. Some will have subject matter that is consistent throughout the particular scrapbook. Others may not follow that trend! In that way those scrapbooks will mirror the Hodgepodge posts that have also been presented on this blog.

We will continue to present both old and new Beatles-related books, old and new Beatles magazines, and other print-related material on the blog! Since my original intention was to keep these articles for my own viewing, I put the articles in after cutting them from the newspaper. Some of them have attribution. Others do not. If anyone recognizes one of their articles that they have not received attribution for and would like to receive it, please let us know and I will amend the post if you provide the necessary updated info. If not, I will remove the article that you specify to avoid any problems.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy this new category on the blog!!!

BUZZ

In 1987, Yoko goes to Russia to advocate nuclear disarmament with a few other celebrities:

More about the Russian and the talks about disarmament:

Numerous articles of this time frame were devoted to the introduction of Beatles cds in the marketplace which came later than most other huge musical artists!

More cd info and a also a mention about analyzing the chins of celebrities

An article from the Hartford Courant about a release of the Help film!

More about celbrity chins! LOL. Hard to believe they treated this stuff as NEWS!

A Julian Lennon article from his early touring days!

Building anticipation from the Beatles cds

Beatles For Sale on CD

CD-planned obsolesence. Release the medium then years later introduce streaming and contribute to making hard copies of music take a lower rung on the ladder and eventually disappear if the music entrepeneurs have their way.

If you do not have to produce a physical product, there is much less overhead, cheaper for the music organizations to issue which translates into more $$$$. No matter how hard you try, you will not change my outlook on this subject!

A bit of discussion about Beatles video:

LOST BEATLES MOVIE SCRIPT

A discussion about a movie script the Beatles turned down that Todd Rundgren wrote a score for: Joe Orton’s script for Up Against It

A few interesting articles:

RIngo’s album was never issued from this new George and Ringo forthcoming LP discussion:

Beatles CD advertisement:

CD news, Ringo Chips Moman news and Yoko at Andy Warhol’s funeral:

The Yoko article was certainly a surprise to me when I saw it in the newspaper:

A great article authored by Allan Kozin in the New York Times about Beatles cds from 1987:

The picture sleeve to the Time Will Teach Us All picture sleeve. The song featured a duet with Julian Lennon and Stevie Wonder. The song was from the London stage musical of Time put together by Dave Clark!!! I went to see the stage presentation in London and had a great time!

One of the rarest and most costly Beatles picture sleeves to acquire: Notice that the record executives had not yet arrived at the point when they would later photoshop out the cigarette from Paul’s hand.

The back view of the picture sleeve:

John’s Toronto show:

An article from Rolling Stone discussing Let It Be:

A Ringo Wine Cooler ad which he may have regretted when he and Barbara were treated for their problem:

An essay that promotes a lot of thought:

More cd discussion and news about the Beatles suing Nike:

And the Beatles cd rampage continues:

A George Martin interview discussing the first 4 in mono controversy!

An article about Tim Leary former Harvard professor and one of his later attempts at “mind movies.”

Twiggy and Peter Max both had Beatles connection and a brief note about Paul recording with the late Phil Ramone:

Hope you enjoyed this first scrapbook blog! Tell your friends about it!

Be healthy and be happy!

Buzz

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Apple Records: Inside Number 3, Savile Row – is brought to life

Inside Number 3
Inside Number 3

Ever since author Nigel Pearce published his book, Inside Number 3: The Illustrated History of Apple Records, Beatles fans have had the best chance ever to relive those colourful days once again inside The Beatles’ Apple Headquarters at 3, Savile Row. Nigel’s book takes us inside Apple, and the only successful part of Apple: Apple Records. 

All this was done via a brand-new angle, with Nigel showing part of his incredible and unique collection of products and artefacts captured in the book. There will be artists and records, as well as documents that you will be discovering for the first time. 

However, in this multi-media age, he has now brought those photographs and images to life in a unique presentation that has already wowed the audience at the recent Felixstowe Beatles Festival in June 2025.

Nigel’s Record Collection of Apple Records
Nigel’s Record Collection of Apple Records

The whole presentation lasts for over two hours, though it doesn’t feel like at all! This is a trip, not via a history book, but via a superb collage of content, visuals, and stories told by Nigel. You are taken back to 1966 to understand Apple’s vague start, through those colourful years and brought back to the modern day, by that one immoveable force that was The Beatles.

Apple Boutique
Apple Boutique

March 1966 is the starting point and immediately you find yourself in the Revolver sessions with the Beatles’ promo videos of “Rain” and “Taxman”. Nigel illustrates the first public knowledge of Apple with some slides and then we move into the technicolour world of The Apple Boutique at 94 Bakers Street with colour film showing the insides and with Dame Maggie Smith and Bob Newhart – a unique and fantastic piece of film.

Number 3 Savile Row
Number 3 Savile Row

Onto 1968, and the whole “Hey Jude” broadcast, which caused so much stress and panic to ITV executives that night is re-constructed and is shown in full and you are back there again in 1968. From then on it is a rollercoaster of video and photo content, both rare and well-known, and it is so well put together that the whole book and Apple building is brought to life. We see perhaps the world’s first ever DVD/ Video presentation of “Our First Four”, which is a very rare production of the first artists to appear in a set by Apple as we travel through the archives of Apple Records. But it is a vibrant and colourful voyage of Beatles discovery through Apple Records.

Our First Four
Our First Four

Who is included in the presentation apart from The Beatles? We have The Radna Krisna Temple, The Iveys and Badfinger, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, James Taylor, and so much more. 

Badfinger
Badfinger

If that is not enough, then to give it all context, time pops are placed throughout the presentation that expertly frames these times and events and wraps you in the living history of the ‘60s.

When it is all over, you are not only brought back to today’s world having delved into the previously little-known history of Apple Records.

The angle in which Nigel has presented this is unique and fascinating and is only possible via his collection and illustration of the artefacts to which he has collated over the years. Yes, The Beatles story has been told many times, but The Story of Apple has never been revealed in this detail.

Book him for your event, school or simply a presentation to a group that you have put together, you will re-live those great times, and you will feel that you have glimpsed into the rarely told part of The Beatles’ story: Apple Records. 

It has to be seen!

David Bedford

Beatles Historian, Author, Filmmaker

Find out more about Nigel Pearce and Inside Number 3

Book website/ Booking website details www.insideandoutsideno3.com

GET NIGEL PEARCE’S BOOK INSIDE NUMBER THREE

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PAUL McCARTNEY THE NEW WORLD TOUR 

ADRIAN ALLAN’S PAUL McCARTNEY BOOKS

My friend Adrian Allan has done a wonderful series of books in the past 5 or six years to document Paul McCartney’s live concert appearances over the years Here are the five books that have appeared thus far. One of the books has two editions, the first one issued in 2020 and an expanded edition issued in 2022. So in effect Adrian Allan has issued 6 books on the subject matter thus far. A special highlight of most of the books are the fan recollections of the specific tours. They serve as excellent scrapbooks for the McCartney legacy!

To avoid lengthy descriptions of each title, I have included the UK and the US Amazon links for you to peruse the individual book descriptions! Enjoy!

Adrian’s new title published in August of 2025

Publication date ‏ : ‎ Aug. 5, 2025

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published

Amazon UK link:

Paul McCartney The New World Tour 1993: Amazon.co.uk: Allan, Adrian: 9798296723789: Books

Amazon US link:

Paul McCartney The New World Tour 1993: Allan, Adrian: 9798296723789: Amazon.com: Books

Back cover of the book:

Paul McCartney After the Beatles: A Musical Appreciation
by Adrian Allan | 10 Jul 2019

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lulu.com

Amazon UK link:

Paul McCartney After the Beatles: A Musical Appreciation: Amazon.co.uk: Allan, Adrian: 9780244478544: Books

Amazon US link:

Paul McCartney After the Beatles: A Musical Appreciation: Allan, Adrian: 9780244203481: Amazon.com: Books

Back cover of the book:

Paul McCartney After The Beatles: A Musical Appreciation Volume Two Paperback – 26 Mar. 2020
by Adrian Allan (Author)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lulu.com

Amazon UK link:

Paul McCartney After The Beatles: A Musical Appreciation Volume Two: Amazon.co.uk: Allan, Adrian: 9780244275327: Books

Amazon US link:

Paul McCartney After The Beatles: A Musical Appreciation Volume Two: Allan, Adrian: 9780244275730: Amazon.com: Books

Back cover of the book:

Wings Live Extended Special Edition Paperback – 4 Dec. 2022
by Adrian ALLAN (Author)

Back cover of the extended special edition:

Wings Live Paperback – 14 Dec. 2020
by Adrian Allan (Author)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lulu.com This was the earlier edition of the book published in 2020. Two years later the expanded deluxe edition of the book appeared which is shown above!

Earlier edition UK link: Wings Live : Allan, Adrian: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Amazon link to the earlier edition:

Wings Live: Allan, Adrian: 9781716381799: Amazon.com: Books

Back cover of the earlier edition of the book:

Paul McCartney The World Tour 1989-90 Paperback – 17 Mar. 2022
by Adrian ALLAN (Author)

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published

Amazon UK link:

Paul McCartney The World Tour 1989-90: Amazon.co.uk: ALLAN, Adrian: 9798415600175: Books

Amazon US link:

Paul McCartney The World Tour 1989-90: ALLAN, Adrian: 9798415600175: Amazon.com: Books

Back cover of the book:

Hope you enjoyed this post of the wonderful collection of Adrian Allan Paul McCartney books! I have them all, and I am confident that you will enjoy them as well if you decide to acquire them for your collections!

Be healthy and be happy!

Buzz

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A SHORT FICTIONAL STORY ABOUT JOHN LENNON LEAVING THE BEATLES IN 1962 AND THE FILM CALLED “SNODGRASS”

SNODGRASS– BY IAN R. MACLEOD

Everyone’s life can feature speculation as to what life may have turned out to be if you made choices to take a different turn in the forks of the road you were facing along the way. Ian R. Macleod wrote a fictional short story which examines the “what if’s” of life, in the case of the restless spirit of John Lennon, and what might have happened if John had quit the Beatles in 1962, instead of climbing the mountain of musical fame with his former partners. Beatles fiction is probably the most difficult genre for any author to attempt because so many Beatles fans are resistant to stories that do not reflect actual facts or events. Conversely, those authors that are able to attempt Beatle fiction and make it seem credible or possible are to be commended for attempting that very difficult task. In reading the short story and watching the UK feature, I kept wanting to scream out to the Lennon character, “Don’t make that choice,” fully knowing what he would have thrown away in terms of accolades and fame. However, you can also look at the other side of the coin and realize if Macleod’s Lennon had made that choice in 1962, he may still be alive!!! No matter where you stand on the issue of Beatles fiction, the story made me ponder the issue of life choices and where those choices might have redirected one’s destiny.

Wikipedia description of the book that the short story Snodgrass appears in: In Dreams (ISBN 0-575-05201-5)

In Dreams is a 1992 anthology book of science fiction and horror short stories, ‘a celebration of the 7-inch single in all-original SF and horror fiction’. It includes stories by Jonathan Carroll, Greg Egan, Ian R. Macleod, Alastair Reynolds, Lewis Shiner, and Don Webb. It was edited by Paul J. McAuley and Kim Newman, and published by Gollancz.

The paperback book which features the Snodgrass short story:

In Dreams (book) – Wikipedia

In Dreams by Paul J. McAuley | Goodreads

The UK TV program of Snodgrass posted by someone on YouTube which features Ian Hart of Backbeat fame as John Lennon If John Lennon had left The Beatles in 1962…. – YouTube

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The Beatles Birth Certificates Set

A series of 4 little books issued in 1968 which featured reproductions of the Beatles birth certificates and brief bios which often featured some disputed information such as John being born during an air raid in 1940, which has since been challenged by old newspaper accounts from that day! Loved the cover design and unusual approach to the subject matter.

1968 GLENLOCK PRESS THE BEATLES THE GENERAL REGISTER FOLDOUT BOOK SET