Author: Buzz

THE LARGEST BEATLES CROWD EVER WAS IN AUSTRALIA

The book shown below with the yellow background is a special leatherette edition of only 300 copies by Andy Neill and Greg Armstrong. When I first learned of this book and went to order a copy, I discovered at the purchase stage that because I lived in the United States, that they could not/ would not sell me a copy. Simply put, you could not order a copy if you lived in the States the way the purchasing system was setup. I believe it had something to do with the very high cost of postage in being able to send the book across the Pacific.

Obsessive Beatles Collectors!

There is a part of the mind inherent in some obsessive Beatles collectors that when they are denied something that they wish to acquire, it makes them even more determined to want to obtain a copy. I used the contact information provided at the publisher’s website and informed them that I ran a Beatles Book/Print blog and had the intention of presenting the special edition of the book on my blog indicating it would also help them in informing others of this special book title. I then proceeded to ask them if they would make a one-time exception in that case and allow me to purchase one of the 300 copies of the special edition for that purpose. Their management kindly agreed, and I was able to purchase a copy to show on the blog and to have it securely and safely ensconced in my personal archives.

True to my word, this is my second post about the book!

The book arrived on November 4, 2025, and it is a marvelous addition to my Beatles Book collection! I do not know if that exclusion to US buyers’ policy remains in place but if not, thought you would like to hear the story in the event you ever encounter a similar circumstance in your hunt for limited edition print artifacts!

Leatherette is a type of artificial leather, usually made by covering a fabric base with plastic. It is designed to mimic the appearance and texture of real leather, while being more durable and easier to maintain. It is often used for upholstery, clothing, bags and other items.

BOOK DESCRIPTION AT THE PUBLISHER WEBSITE: INSIDE THE BEATLES AUSTRALASIAN TOUR 1964

Description

The Beatles’ historic – and hysterical – tour of Australasia was now over 60 years ago, but interest in the band and the visit never fades. The importance of the tour remains deeply significant, not only in the memories of baby boomers who lived through it, but also to today’s millennials who wish they had. The Beatles Australasian tour is continually celebrated as a major social landmark for both countries, a huge and lasting step in the advancing development of youth culture, and a major highlight of the Beatles’ remarkable career. 

When We Was Fab: Inside The Beatles Australasian Tour 1964 is the definitive and highly illustrated (with many previously unseen photographs) account of this extraordinary tour by the world’s most creative and influential musical force; the key moment in the coming of age of Australian and New Zealand youth as they embraced the cultural explosion of the 1960s. This leatherette hardcover collectors’ edition is limited to 300 copies.

https://www.woodslanepress.com.au/?ref=vjqwamuh

When the site opens up – type in Beatles in the search grid and it will bring up the two October 1, 2025 editions of the book:

The red volume issue of the book at one time was being offered for a limited time on Amazon but I believe most of those copies are now sold out, though a few copies may still be available in certain countries.

The gold edition only appears as a 300 copy limited edition book:

THE AMAZON HARDBACK EDITION

The following book is the edition that started it all for me. I bought it on Amazon and I was very happy I did as I was not aware that the publication of the hardcover was a limited run. I have been told that now there is only a few copies left of the hardcover edition at select Amazon sites! It is a gorgeous book, many beautiful photos and stories.

WHEN WE WAS FAB: INSIDE THE BEATLES AUSTRALASIAN TOUR 1964 by ANDY NEILL and GREG ARMSTRONG

Woodslane Pty Ltd Published: 21 October, 2024

When We Was Fab: Greg Armstrong: 9781922800688: Amazon.com: Books

FLEXI-BOUND EDITION DESCRIPTION–OCT. 1, 2025

WHEN WE WAS FAB: INSIDE THE BEATLES AUSTRALASIAN TOUR 1964 by ANDY NEILL and GREG ARMSTRONG

Description- Flexibound edition-to be issued on October 1, 2025–WOODSLANE PRESS

When We Was Fab: Greg Armstrong: 9781922800688: Amazon.com: Books

The Beatles historic – and hysterical – tour of Australasia was now over 60 years ago, but interest in the band and the visit never fades. The importance of the tour remains deeply significant, not only in the memories of baby boomers who lived through it, but also to today’s millennials who wish they had. The Beatles Australasian tour is continually celebrated as a major social landmark for both countries, a huge and lasting step in the advancing development of youth culture, and a major highlight of the Beatles’ remarkable career.

When We Was Fab: Inside The Beatles Australasian Tour 1964 is the definitive and highly illustrated (with many previously unseen photographs) account of this extraordinary tour by the world’s most creative and influential musical force; the key moment in the coming of age of Australian and New Zealand youth as they embraced the cultural explosion of the 1960s. This new flexi-bound edition follows the sold-out limited edition hardback which was marketed on Amazon

Definition of a flexi-bound book from Imago What is a Flexibound Book? | A Visual Guide (Infographic)

In truth, flexi-bound books are closer in their binding style to a cased book (hardback book) than to a limp book (paperback book). The only difference being that flexi-bound book covers are made of flexible card stock, instead of a rigid binding board. Just like a cased book, the edges of the cover overhang the book block.

This means that while the two book styles are almost identical in their binding processes, a finished flexi-bound book remains lightweight with its flexible cover.

Hope this information helps you if you are attempting to seek out this wonderful book!

Be Healthy and be Happy!

Buzz

OUR PHOTO OF THE WEEK AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE – THE QUARRYMEN IN ROSEBERY STREET SIGNED BY THE QUARRYMEN

Here is the presentation of my Beatles scrapbook identified as being #9 in the sequence of presentation. Though they are numerically listed, these scrapbook presentations are not necessarily in chronological order. They are a collection of the newspaper clippings and articles that I saved in a scrapbook format prior to the internet. When the internet exploded, I stopped collecting articles for the scrapbook. I personally cut out most of the articles that you see presented in these books. Many articles were also sent to me by friends and relatives who knew of my intense interest in the Beatles.

I apologize as not all of the articles presented in these scrapbooks have the corresponding date of the newspaper or magazine of origin as a reference point. I do encourage if you are the author of an uncredited article and you wish me to acknowledge you as the author or source of the piece, please write to me and I will amend the post accordingly, please include the date and the source of the publication. Keep in mind I kept these articles with no intention of sharing them until several people that I know encouraged me to share them with other Beatles fans that would have an interest in seeing what I kept in my own personal memory log in those pre-internet days.

Again I want to caution you, you may view an article or record review that you may vehemently disagree with for one reason or another. I collected as many viewpoints as I could with these articles, some are good and some I personally disagree with. I did not reject a negative review of a solo Beatles LP, for example. I included it to present a balanced viewpoint. In other words, don’t shoot the messenger or personalize the message as me being the source of the viewpoint being expressed. LOL!

First Beatles Convention?

A Ringo article coupled with a piece about one of the first major Beatle conventions held in Boston by the late Joe Pope who edited the wonderful Strawberry Fields Forever magazine/ fanzine!

I kept virtually all of my Beatles or solo picture sleeves in a pastic container in the scrapbooks. Here is a small sample.

George Harrison’s You 45:

McCartney’s Waterfalls:

Ringo’s Goodnight Vienna:

Love this one -an Italian Apple 45 with Hey Bulldog as a single:

The Cold Turkey picture sleeve is sought after by many collectors:

John Lennon suggested that Ringo record this song and it became a top ten cover:

This Song – George’s response to his being sued for My Sweet Lord:

Dark Horse picture sleeve (the back cover):

George’s holiday song:

George’s tribute to John with vocal help from Paul and Linda and Ringo on drums:

One of the Deccagone bootleg 45s issued from the Decca audition tape back in the 70s:

The Royal Command performance numbers were apparently issued by the same people that issued the Decca tracks on 45:

The flip side of Elton John’s Philadelphia Freedom featured the live performance of I Saw Her Standing There by Elton John and John Lennon from Madison Square Garden:

Another unauthorized Decca audition 45 issued by a fan in the 70s:

The flip side of the sleeve:

The flip side of Goerge’s All Those Years Ago picture sleeve:

Capitol issued Beatles sleeve issued far too late in my opinion:

Another unauthorized bootleg EP issued with an alternate Robert Whitaker photo:

An ex-Beatle and harry Nilsson in my home state:

Wing’s – Getting Closer picture sleeve:

Another unauthorized Beatless Deccagone Decca audition 45 from the 70s:

Study the Past

Hope the older people enjoyed the trip down memory lane! Also, hope the younger people get a stronger feeling as to what they missed-out on. Study the past to help prevent the problems of the future...Current times have clearly demonstrated that we have NOT learned from the mistakes of the past!

Be Healthy and Be Happy!

Buzz

Our Book of The Week at the Beatles Bookstore

Here is the presentation of my Beatles scrapbook identified as being #8 in the sequence. Though they are numerically listed, these scrapbook presentations are not necessarily in chronological order. They are a collection of the newspaper clippings and articles that I saved in a scrapbook format prior to the internet. When the internet exploded, I stopped collecting articles for the scrapbook. I personally cut out most of the articles that you see presented in these books. Many articles were also sent to me by friends and relatives who knew of my intense interest in the Beatles.

I apologize as not all of the articles presented in these scrapbooks have the corresponding date of the newspaper or magazine of origin as a reference point. I do encourage if you are the author of an uncredited article and you wish me to acknowledge you as the author or source of the piece, please write to me and I will amend the post, please include the date and the source of the publication. Keep in mind I kept these articles with no intention of sharing them until several people that I know encouraged me to share them with other Beatles fans that would have an interest in seeing what I kept in my own personal memory log in those pre-internet days. Again I want to caution you, you may view an article or record review that you may vehemently disagree with for one reason or another. I collected as many viewpoints as I could with these articles, some are good and some I personally disagree with. I did not reject a negative review of a solo Beatles LP, for example. I included it to present a balanced viewpoint. In other words, don’t shoot the messenger or personalize the message as me being the source of the viewpoint being expressed. LOL!

Included the first mention of my Beatles course at a local community college:

Princess Daisy with Ringo:

An article about Ringo’s program based loosely on the Prince and the Pauper.

Af ew utens of interest to me including a brief article about the course I was to teach about the Beatles at Manchester Community College!

My brief course syllabus for the class I taught in 1984 at Manchester Community College. Teaching this course was a highlight of my life as I was able to teach my lifelong passion as a college course marking the 20th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in America.

Our good friend, Charles Rosenay ran one of his many Connecticut Beatle conventions and this article appeared in the New York Times back in 1983:

A letter sent to me by the Department of Justice when I requested John Lennon’s FBI files from the Federal Bureau of investigation. They did send me a voluminous set of paperwork, a lot of it was blacked out but the balance of the material was fascinating. They sent me my copy free of charge but because of the cost of copying the documents, subsequent requestors had to pay the cost per page to receive the files.

An ad for Pipes of Peace:

Hope you enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Sometimes a look at the past can also bring sorrow and pain.

Contemplate and think about it just for a while, as some of the memories will bring a big smile!!!

Be Happy and Be Healthy!

Buzz