A LUCKY 21!!!
In card games, Blackjack or 21 represents a very lucky number. In my book collection the number 21 again appears to be lucky as I recently uncovered 21 Pierian Press Beatles-related book titles that I had in my book collection that were kept in secure boxes waiting to be reread at a later date! Blackjack also has a subtle Beatles reference as well as this blog reference will attest to: From The Blackjacks to The Beatles | Richard Oliff’s Blog …
Pierian Press, a Michigan based publisher had published many excellent Beatles reference books issued during the 1970s and 1980s. I was fortunate in being able to acquire 21 of them for my collection which are featured in today’s post. They are not presented in chronological order of release date but are listed in a random fashion. Some of the titles published were exclusive publications by Pierian. Others were published by Pierian after they had received publication by larger mass circulation publishers. I believe that all of the Pierian releases are now out-of-print! Though out-of-print, many of the titles are still available on Amazon and other sources such as eBay and Abe Books. I highly recommend that you seek them all out for your Beatles libraries!
The first title listed is by Tom Schultheiss represented a day-by-day account of known Beatles activities between 1960 and 1970. Kudos to Mr. Schultheiss for being able to compile the data for this volume.
A Day in the Life: The Beatles Day-By-Day, 1960-1970
Tom Schultheiss
Published by Pierian Press, U.S.A., 1980
The Beatles Reader: A Selection of Contemporary Views, News & Reviews of the Beatles in Their Heyday (Rock & Roll Remembrances Series) (Rock and roll remembrances series)
Editor and Compiler: Charles P. Neises
Published by Pierian Press, 1984
Various essays about the Beatles from numerous sources. Some are funny, some are sarcastic and some are based on serious critical analysis. You will be amazed at the variety of opinions that were expressed about the band especiall from conservative critics like William F. Buckley.
Here, There and Everywhere: The First International Beatles Bibliography, 1962-1982 (Rock & Roll Reference Series) Hardcover – January 1, 1985
by Carol D. Terry (Author)
Unfortunately, bibliographies are like discographies in that they are never really complete as new titles continue to spring up following their publication. This bibliography made a wise choice in limiting the scope of the book to the years 1962- through 1982. Also, it is a difficult task to thoroughly compile these titles as there are many independent publications that can easily avoid detection by collectors. Ms. Terry does a wonderful job with the 20 year span she has chosen. It would be interesting to see how many Beatles-related books have been published since this project.
Collecting the Beatles: An Introduction and Price Guide to Fabulous Four Collectibles Volume 1 (Rock & Roll Reference Series)
By Barb Fenick
Published by Pierian Press, 1982
For those of you who remember the excellent Paul McCartney/Beatles fanzine, The Write Thing, you will enjoy the following two books by collector author, Barb Fenick who amassed a very impressive and extensive Beatles/Paul McCartney collection over the years which are detailed in the following two volumes of Collecting the Beatles.
Price Guides have a limited scope as collectibles often rise extensively in value, though the state of the economy can also cause lapses in the value the collectible marketplace.
Barb does an excellent job with these two volumes.
Collecting the Beatles: An Introduction and Price Guide, Vol. 2 (Rock & Roll Reference Series) Hardcover – June 1, 1985
by Barbara Fenick (Author)
AS I WRITE THIS LETTER: AN AMERICAN GENERATION REMEMBERS THE BEATLES-By Marc A. Catone
Published by Greenfield Books of Ann Arbor, MI in 1982.-a division of Pierian Press Inc, Ann Arbor, MI, 1982
A wonderful collection of remembrances and letters from Beatles fans describing their love and interest in the band and why the group was so important in their lives. Well done, Marc!
The Castleman/Podrazik Trinity:
All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography, 1961-1975 (Rock & Roll Reference Series) Hardcover – January 1, 1975
by Harry Castleman (Author) and Wally Podrazik (Author) 2nd Edition
Perhaps my favorite titles in the Pierian listing of Beatles-related books, these three titles All Together Now, The Beatles Again, and The End of the Beatles helped set the standard for Beatles-related discographies and reference works about the band, and laying the groundwork for continuous excellent research and reporting of Beatles recording activities and their social significance and cultural impact.
In my opinion the three titles that follow are must haves in any Beatles book collector’s library…
The Beatles Again? (Rock & Roll Reference Series)
Harry Castleman; Walter J. Podrazik
Published by Pierian Press, 1977
The End of the Beatles? (Rock & Roll Reference)
Harry Castleman; Walter J. Podrazik
Published by Pierian Press, 1985
The Beatles at the Beeb: The Story of Their Radio Career, 1962-65 (Rock & Roll Remembrances) – Hardcover by Kevin Howlett
Publisher: Pierian Pr, 1984
Love this account of the Beatles involvement with their BBC radio and TV appearances over the years! Kevin Howlett is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world about this subject matter!
The Literary Lennon: A Comedy of Letters (Rock and Roll Reference Series)
By James Sauceda
Publisher-Pierian Press January 1, 1984
Hunter Davies was later to use an idea that was originally approached by James Sauced in the excellent book which explores John Lennon’s literary talents and his unique way of being able to express himself. Though not as extensive as the Hunter Davies, The Lennon Letters book, Sauceda gives a wonderful cross-section of Lennon’s notes, letters to both friends and perceived enemies, and such oddities like his Goon Show recollections from a newspaper review.
This book was a must have for me!
Beatlefan (The Authoritative Publication of Record for Fans of the Beatles), 2 books, (vols. 1 & 2, 3 & 4), 1985, 1986, Pierian Press-Editor Bill King. (TWO VOLUMES)
Since the 1970s, 6 times per year I eagerly anticipate my copy of the newest issue of Beatlefan magazine. Compiled, edited and written by journalist, Bill King, this is one of the best sources of Beatles information and news in the marketplace. Highly recommend that you become a subscribing member, Pierian published the first 5 years of Beatlefan fanzines in two hardcover books. I have expressed to Bill that I would love to one day see all of the issues of Beatlefan hardbound for collectors. I realize that would probably be cost prohibitive, but one can always dream, especially if an arrangement could be made with a publisher to print on demand.
If you would like to subscribe, here is Beatlefan’s website:
Brian Epstein by Brian Epstein (ghostwriter assistance provided by Derek Taylor)
Pierian Press, 1984
Brian Epstein’s earlier autobiography was supposedly ghostwritten by Derek Taylor and later was reissued by Pierian Press.
YOU CAN’T DO THAT!: BEATLES BOOTLEGS AND NOVELTY RECORDS, author, Charles Reinhart 1981 Pierian Press
I found this 1981 release by Charles Reinhart to be one of my favorite Pierian Press titles because it deals with two of my favorite subjects for discussion purposes, Beatles Novelty records & Beatles underground recordings.
As Time Goes By: Living in the Sixties by Derek Taylor published by Perian Press 1984
Another title that also appears in a mass market edition. These are Derek Taylor’s recollections if the Golden Age of Music-the 60s!
Things We Said Today – Complete Lyrics And Concordance To The Beatles Songs 62 – 70 by Colin Campbell and Allan Murphy, published by Pierian Press, Michigan in 1980
Do you want to know how many times the Beatles use the word LOVE in their musical catalog from 62-1970? If you do, then this is the source you need. This concordance is one of the most unusual and odd approaches to the Beatles library. However, it still serves as an excellent research and cross-reference tool for Beatles scholars and researchers!
LISTENING TO THE BEATLES: AN AUDIOPHILE’S GUIDE TO THE By David Schwartz
Author: David Schwartz
Publisher: Popular Culture Inc Pierian Press
Publication Year: 1990
Every Little Thing: The Definitive Guide to Beatles Recording Variations, Rare Mixes & Other Musical Oddities, 1958-1986 (Rock & Roll Reference Series) – Hardcover
William McCoy, Mitchell McGeary
The Beatles Down Under
The 1964 Australia & New Zealand tour
1985 reprint ed., with additions. (Pierian Press)
by Glenn A. Baker and Roger Dilernia
THE LONGEST COCKTAIL PARTY BY RICHARD DiLELLO 1983 EDITION Pierian Press by the Apple House Hippie, Richard Dilello, who I had breakfast with at the Bradford Hotel in Boston while we were all attending one of the first Joe Pope Beatles conventions!
A MISCALCULATION—I WAS WRONG-THERE ARE 22 PIERIAN BEATLES-RELATED TITLES:
Blog Subscriber, Mike Stenger, kindly informed me there are actually 22 titles as he pointed out the following to me. Ironically, I found my copy of this edition in a different box than I had stored all of my other Pierian books. My original calculation of 21 Pierian titles was obviously wrong! Thank you, Mike, for the correction!
Turn Me On, Dead Man: The Complete Story of the Paul McCartney Death Hoax (Rock Roll Remembrances)
Andru J. Reeve,1994
This book by Andru Reeve has been recently updated and published by Genius Books-see this link:
Hope you enjoyed the presentation of these 22 Pierian Press Beatles-related books. Highly recommend that if you do not have these titles, that you seek them out for your Beatles libraries!
Let me know if I have forgotten any of your favorite Pierian Press Beatles-related titles!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
They also published “Turn Me On Dead Man” by Andru J. Reeves Rock &Roll series.
You are absolutely correct Mike, and thanks to you, I opened another sealed box today and found the Pierian edition that you mentioned. It just goes to show you that even when you think you are being comprehensive in presenting a post, something can still slip through the cracks. I have modified the post to reflect your observation about this matter! Thank you!
Thankfully I have most of them – a VERY impressive library – they weren’t always the easiest books to buy in the 80’s for someone in New Zealand – we were and still are too far away.
I’ve started to stop buying Beatles books these days – retiremnt and limited monies and awful prices on some works is no longer is a possibilty – same goes for the McCartney Archive collections – still I have my Pierian Press books and quite a few others.
I must say the PP books always gave me the feeling I was buying a special book and I “LOVED” the smell that came off them…pure perfection.
Terry- I agree with your comments about cutting back on the books due to the fixed-income stream of our retirement years! I also agree with your comments that if extended to print media in general why digital media will never be an adequate replacement for print media. It is the tactile joy of being able to touch what you are reading, and the pleasant smell of a good book is something you do not receive from digital media. In regard to the retirement years question, I suppose my own personal remedy is to cut back on the buying of books and limit the purchases solely to books that I know will offer me something new and exciting or unique! I have the benefit of being able to present the knowledge and awareness of a new book on the blog without having to purchase it, so I have the best of both worlds at my disposal!