Anyone who has followed the Beatles for more than 30 years should be distinctly aware of two very prominent people named Bill who have made their mark in Beatle circles in so many ways during those years.
First, we have Bill Last. Bill is a fellow Connecticut native (a Nutmegger) who I can recall seeing at the earliest Beatle conventions. Overhearing many of his conversations with fellow-Beatle fans, I instantly knew this was a very well-informed and bright Beatles fan. He was good friends with fellow Connecticut Beatles fan and expert, Charles Rosenay. Bill would write columns for Charles’ excellent Beatles fanzine, Good Day Sunshine! Over the years I was so impressed that several items that I was looking for in my Beatles collection I was able to find through Bill. They include a beautiful copy of Ringo Starr’s Scouse the Mouse LP and a rare LP by a saxophone player named Raphael Ravenscroft featuring one of the first ever singing performances of a young Julian Lennon.
Bill also writes a great Beatles column for an excellent current Beatles fanzine/magazine run by Tom Aguiar in Massachusetts called Octopus’ Garden.
Bill has now entered the realm of being a Beatles book author and here is his book that was inspired ny his large collection of Beatles-related video performances over the years!
BILL LAST’S THE BEATLES COLLECTED VIDEOGRAPHY:
Back cover of the book:
TeaFlix Interview with Bill Last (Beatles Videos Historian)
by Bill Last
Independently published (March 17, 2025)
Don’t panic, fellow Beatles book collectors. It is certainly not the last Beatles book but it is a wonderful new book by longtime Beatles fan and collector, Bill Last! Over the years, as a fellow collector I purchased quite a few rare items from Bill Last. To me personally, that was the first indicator to me of Bill’s great Beatles knowledge-base. The fact that he not only knew of the very rare Beatles-related items that I was looking for, but he already had them in his personal collection spoke volumes to me as the Beatles items I was looking for would only be known to hardcore Beatles fans. I was so happy to learn that he has recently published a new book.
This is the description and background information concerning the book which also appears on the back cover photo…
The Beatles Collected Videography is a comprehensive guide to collecting The Beatles group and solo videos from 1962–2024.
“Part checklist, part critical assessment, and balancing the scholastic and the fun, this Videography will be a welcome addition to many a Beatles fan and collector’s reference desk. Notice I didn’t say ‘bookshelf’, it’s not one you’re gonna display, it’s gonna be one you refer to… constantly.”
Tom Frangione
The Beatles Channel
SiriusXM Radio
“Six decades after The Beatles invaded America, we still love all the music, laughs, joy, and memories they provide us. Part of that gift to the world was their great films and videos. I can say, without hesitation, that Bill Last has put out the most complete and well-assembled work on the subject of Beatles video. It’s a must-read for any Beatles fan and a crucial addition to any Beatles library.”
Charles F. Rosenay !!!
Liverpool Productions
About the Author
Bill Last is a first generation Beatles fan and collector. He is a singer-songwriter, musician, producer, arranger, educator, and author. He did script research for the 1978 Stephen Spielberg executive produced film “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, and provided videos for the 2007 release “Photograph, the Very Best of Ringo”. His column “The Last Word on Collecting” appeared for years in the Beatles fanzine Good Day Sunshine and currently in the fanzine Octopus’ Garden.
SIGNED BOOK INFORMATION:
Readers can order Bill’s book signed directly from him using PayPal. International customers will have to contact Bill at his email address first for an exact postage quote. billlast@att.net
Regarding people domestically in the US- ordering his book directly from him. Current prices posted at the time of the writing of this post are
$25.00 shipped Media Mail
$28.00 shipped Ground Advantage
His PayPal account is his email address: billlast@att.net
Here is the US Amazon link for the title:
THE BEATLES COLLECTED VIDEOGRAPHY: Last, Bill: 9798314490709: Amazon.com: Books
Here is the UK link for the book:
THE BEATLES COLLECTED VIDEOGRAPHY: Amazon.co.uk: Last, Bill: 9798314490709: Books
Here are a few examples of the rare videos that Bill Last has informed me about
From WIKIPEDIA
“The short film “Who Goes There?” was directed by Ringo Starr and features Maurice Gibb, one of the Bee Gees. The film includes some comedy sketches and has been featured in Ringo’s 2024 promo video for the songs “Gonna Need Someone”. This collaboration highlights the playful and comedic side of Ringo Starr and Maurice Gibb, showcasing their ability to blend music with humor.” Ringo lived close by to Lulu and Maurice when he lived in Surrey and they often partied at each other’s homes!
Maurice Gibb & Ringo Starr Fooling Around 1
Though not the Beatles this rare Bee Gees video called Cucumber Castle has many Beatles connections. It was aired at a time that Robin Gibb had quit the group after the Bee Gees’ Odessa album. Ringo Starr was buddying around with Maurice Gibb and singer Lulu, who Maurice was married to, and they (Ringo and Maurice) produced a short comedy film together called “Who Goes There?”
This is the rare Bee Gees film from the BBC that was posted on YouTube called Cucumber Castle. See how many Beatles connections to other people that you can find in this film….
Bee Gees – Cucumber Castle – An Original Musical (1970) [Better Quality]
Cucumber Castle – Nostalgia Central
WIKIPEDIA DESCRIPTION:
“This hour-long TV special was produced by the Robert Stigwood Organisation as a vehicle for The Bee Gees and aired on BBC2 at 1.30 pm on Boxing Day 1970.
On his death bed, The King (Frankie Howerd) orders his kingdom divided into two halves, the Kingdom of Jelly and the Kingdom of Cucumbers. Before the King even dies, his son Prince Frederick (Barry Gibb) declares himself King of Cucumbers and the other son Prince Marmaduke (Maurice Gibb) the King of Jelly.
The film intersperses (bad) comedy sketches with Bee Gees songs plus performances By Blind Faith and Lulu with cameo appearances from other music stars of the day.
Barry and Maurice Gibb display very little acting ability but Frankie Howerd is delightfully over the top as the hypochondriacal King whose death scene lasts the entire film.
Robin Gibb does not appear in the film as he quit the group earlier in the year following the release of their fourth album Odessa.“
See how many Beatles connections you can spot in this cast listing:
An uncredited Mike Mansfield (TV music guru) assisted Hugh Gladwish with the direction.
Prince Frederick, King of Cucumbers-Barry Gibb
Prince Marmaduke, King of Jelly -Maurice Gibb
The King-Frankie Howerd
Lady Margerie Pee-Eleanor Bron
Nurse Sarah Charles Bottom-Pat Coombs
Lord Chamberlain-Julian Orchard
Lulu the cook-Lulu
Court Jester-Spike Milligan
Wicked Count Voxville-Vincent Price
Narrator-Peter Blythe
Blind Faith-Themselves
Roger Daltrey-Himself
Donovan-Himself
Marianne Faithfull -Herself
Mick Jagger -Himself
The Beatles magazine by Tom Aguiar entitled Octopus’ Garden features a Collecting the Beatles column by Bill Last
Contact: For subscription Information:
Tom Aguiar
P.O. Box 3683, Peabody, MA 01961-3683, USA
Email: ogfanzine94@gmail.com
And now…Mr. Bill King!
The digital age is considered to be the INFORMATION AGE where information is conveyed immediately to the masses via the internet. However, Bill King has always done much better than that for the world in that he conveys much information but places it in the proper context so that you are not overwhelmed by it as we often are, in the world of the internet!
Bill King has always provided a wealth of information to his readers whether it was at his full-time job at a prominent Atlanta newspaper to his creation and role of being the founder & the publisher of Beatlefan magazine since the 1970s, Bill was always my own personal source of credible information about the Beatles. Despite now facing the challenges of continuing his print magazine in a digital age, Bill has weathered the storm through his high journalistic standards and his superb network of information contacts that he acquires much information from. To this day I prefer to read and collect print media as it relates to the Beatles. I thank Mr. Bill King for that great gift.
Recently, Bill King wrote a book about music in the Southern part of the US from the years 1976-1986. This book was largely inspired by many of the well-known and popular musicians that Bill was pleased to interview during those years! Though my own personal obsession remains the Beatles, I was captured by the information conveyed in his Large Time book and you will too! The interviews are always first-class and not based on fan worship. Bill always attempts to get to the heart of the matter with his questions and with this book he certainly succeeds!
BILL KING’S-LARGE TIME ON THE SOUTHERN MUSIC BEAT, 1976-1986:
Back cover of the book:
Bill King with the front and back dustjacket covers of his book:
HAVING A ‘LARGE TIME’ — The Making of a Book – Quick Cuts With Bill King
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Bill King covered the Southern and Georgia music scenes from 1976 to 1986, writing about a broad range of acts that included classic rock, new wave, country outlaws, mainstream Nashville, soul music, modern R&B and disco, and even a little gospel. “LARGE TIME: On the Southern Music Beat, 1976-1986” includes expanded versions of some of King’s favorite interviews with Southern acts from that era, along with previously unpublished stories behind the stories. You’ll find chats with The Allman Brothers, James Brown, R.E.M., Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes, the B-52s, B.B. King, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Roy Orbison, Randall Bramblett, Jimmy Buffett, Barbara Mandrell, The Brains, the Dregs, Tanya Tucker, Stillwater, the Swingin’ Medallions, the Tams, Chips Moman, Brenda Lee, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Amy Grant, Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Millie Jackson, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Daniels, Phil Walden, Buddy Buie, Bill Lowery and more. It’s all Southern music!
The Goody Press
Large Time: On the Southern Music Beat 1976-1986: Bill King: 9798218446543: Amazon.com: Books
ORDERING INFORMATION:
Publication date-August 16, 2024
It can be ordered directly from The Goody Press for $39.99 each postpaid in the U.S., $69.99 each postpaid outside the U.S. Add $10 to the cost if you’d like a numbered, signed copy!
Send a check, money order or credit card information to:
The Goody Press Books, 3009 Delcourt Drive, Decatur, GA 30033
Or, for an order form, go to beatlefan.com/book-store/
Credit card orders must include address, expiration date and CVV number. You also can pay via PayPal to goodypress@gmail.com, or via credit card at 404-713-6432. Address all inquiries to goodypress@gmail.com.
Havin’ A Large Time – Abbeville Institute
Capricorn Records – Quick Cuts With Bill King
BEATLE REFERENCES DEALT WITH IN THE “LARGE TIME” BOOK:
Much to my delight, Bill King’s book about Southern music also has many Beatles references demonstrating how the love of music has many overlaps and cross-references!
“And The Beatles make quite a few cameo appearances in the book, too! The Fab Four came up frequently in King’s conversations with Southern music stars. And it’s undeniable that quite a few Southern musicians were major influences on all four Beatles.
From his pre-Wilburys days, Roy Orbison talks about the role that touring with The Beatles played in his decision always to wear sunglasses onstage. You’ll read how George Harrison was thrilled that country guitar great Chet Atkins was one of the first major stars to record an album of Beatles covers. You learn why Jerry Lee Lewis said, “John Lennon was nobody’s fool.” You’ll find out about the blind Atlanta piano player from whose band The Beatles got the obscure song “Mister Moonlight.” Delbert McClinton talks about teaching Lennon harmonica licks. The Commodores explain how they patterned themselves after the Fabs. You’ll find out about Ringo Starr’s dispute with producer Chips Moman. And Paul McCartney and Harrison are major players in the chapter on Carl Perkins.“
BILL KING’S LONG-STANDING MAGAZINE MAINSTAY: BEATLEFAN MAGAZINE
One of the best if not THE BEST Beatles magazines in the marketplace. Published since the 70s. I always am thrilled at receiving the newest issues. It is one of the few Beatles fanzines/magazines that I have every issue of! It would drive me mad to be missing an issue!
AND MORE GOOD NEWS- A FORTHCOMING BEATLES BOOK PROJECT FROM BILL KING IN EARLY 2027!
Bill King has given me the permission to announce that he currently is at work on a collection of the best of his 50 years of writing about The Beatles! He hopes to have this exciting book out by early 2027.
We all anxiously await to add this book to our Beatles book collections!
Hope you get the opportunity to check out the 2 books written by the 2 Bills. You will enjoy their work and will ultimately be a better educated follower of music by doing so in my humble opinion!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
Thank you David Bedford!
Very interesting, thanks for the introduction to the two Bills, Bill Last and Bill King.
You are quite welcome Katie. David is the administrator of the blog and posts quite frequently, but that particular post was my post. The email notifications from the posts come across using the David Bedford email address but those posts distinguished as being by Buzz are my contributions to the blog! You are not the only one that has operated under your supposition! I just wanted to clarify the matter for some viewers!
Thanks for your understanding of this matter!
John Bezzini (Buzz)