Author: liddypool

The Beatles Decca Audition is one of the most discussed moments in early Beatles history. What really happened, and does this letter from Brian Epstein reveal something extra? Nigel Pearce investigates!

I understand that I centre in on the Apple years, but the situation regarding Decca Records will always need to be re-affirmed and discussed as it is an integral part of Beatles history, and also that all important growing curve that the band undertook during 1962 before “Love Me Do” was officially released for the first time in October that year.

It all started really sometime in December 1961 when Decca A & R man Mike Smith came to The Cavern, and this single event caused quite a commotion in itself!!  (How Mike Smith was encouraged to the Cavern has still a little mystery about it, though Tony Barrow, who worked at Decca, definitely helped!). Brian Epstein entertained Mike Smith and amongst a quota of things delved into the Liverpool scene. At this stage Brian kept this information from the group at first, but told them soon after. Mike saw The Beatles perform and informed Brian that he liked very much what he had seen them do and the reaction. His comment was “I will see what I can do”. The outcome of all this was that an audition was secured at Decca’s studios in Hampstead,  London on New Years Day Jan 1^st 1962 – No Bank Holiday then at all; perhaps there should have been.

They journeyed to London and stayed at The Royal Hotel paying the princely sum them of 27/- shillings a night. That equates in today’s money to 1 pound and 35 pence including Breakfast in Woburn Place – very swish indeed!!.

They arrived at Decca’s Hampstead studios at 11am in a bitter cold wind with ice and snow laying on the ground, and apparently Mike Smith himself was late. This only served to heighten the tension still further. It is worth remembering that at this time there were no tapes of any songs that Brian had to play so all of their material had to be played for recording purposes.

Apparently the session was done in a very impersonal and somewhat brutal fashion, and The Beatles felt that there was no encouragement or warmth from the Decca staff at all. This unfortunately gave everyone, including the Decca staff, an edge of unease  on the day.

With no promise of further progress, the session was done and all returned to Liverpool and carry on and wait for things to happen.

February 1962 came and Brian found himself back in London at Decca, apparently to have lunch with some people, so Brian had built up some hopes that things might well be a little positive – how wrong!! He was to be hit and hurt like never before, and it hit home like a sledgehammer to the stomach.

There were two people to meet Brian, Dick Rowe and a Mr Beecher Stevens. As the pre lunch meeting turned to coffees, it was Dick Rowe that delivered that brutal – and now infamous – statement – “Not to mince words Mr. Epstein, we don’t like your boys sound. Groups of guitarists are on the way out.” 

A very hurt Brian cut in and replied with the following statement: “You must be out of your minds. These boys are going to explode, and I am completely confident that they will be bigger than Elvis Presley!!”

Dick Rowe and Beecher Stevens were amazed at his reply and then rammed their point home with: “The boys won’t go Mr. Epstein. We know these things. You have a very good record business in Liverpool, just stick to that”.

With this statement, the meeting was apparently deemed over and they went for lunch. Brian took this opportunity to impress further the impact of the group on the local scene and was tirelessly pursuing and pushing their talent. Brian did sense just a little crack in their self-determination not to record the group.  After this apparent onslaught from Brian, it was Dick Rowe himself who came up with a possible solution, and Tony Meehan’s name was mentioned, with the caveat that Tony would produce a few records and give his experience, but that this would cost 100 pounds to be done.

This hurt and also annoyed Brian tremendously, but Brian went back to Decca the next day and met with Tony Meehan. After a wait, they both went to another room and once again, this time through Meehan, the cold shoulder and heart of Decca reared itself with the following comment.” Look Mr. Epstein, Mr Rowe and I are very busy men, we know what you want, and need. We will fix a date for a tape to be made of these Beatles and if you phone my secretary, I will make sure that I am available to do the session etc. This will cost you 100 pounds”. With that the meeting was deemed over and after this passage of time, Brian left Decca for the third time and knew that Decca records was not for The Beatles in any way. A date was fixed for this session and Brian had already decided that the group and himself would not attend at all. The rest they always say is history.

So this letter was sent by Brian to Decca Records in London, and has become one of the most talked about and glossed over periods in their history.

Decca tried with all of their PR might to block it out when The Beatles became world famous, and it followed Dick Rowe around for the rest of his life. What happened to Beecher Stevens is never talked about, but that decision was not just Dick’s alone, but it seems he has taken all the flak, and others have quietly hidden away.

So I hope that this does explain and clear the air, but it is worth noting that EMI also turned the group down in 1961, and again I have a copy of that rejection letter. It will appear one day I am sure!

What do you think of the Decca Audition? Was it a disaster? Were there some good elements to it? Would you have signed them? Let us know in the comments.

Nigel Pearce

GET NIGEL’S BOOK ON APPLE RECORDS

The term “fifth Beatle” has been used for so many different people over the years, with many fans having it as a close tie between George Martin and Brian Epstein. Others like Stuart Sutcliffe, Pete Best or Neil Aspinall also get mentioned.

The first one to be given the title by the press was Jimmie Nicol after he stepped in for Ringo in June 1964 for their world tour, when Ringo Starr was rushed to hospital on the verge of the tour starting.

However, as featured on the cover of The Beatles: What If? is one man who could have become the fifth Beatle back in 1962, but who was he?

he is the guy at the top of the picture of The Beatles, expertly drawn by artist David Rainey on the cover below.

Got it yet?

His name was Roy Young, and he was the booking manager at the Star Club in Hamburg, the club that The Beatles opened in April 1962. He was also Britain’s answer to Little Richard, with an incredible singing voice and a boogie-woogie piano style to rival The Beatles’ hero, Little Richard.

On stage, Roy had his piano, and he was often pictured on stage playing with The Beatles.

Can you imagine what adding a piano permanently to The Beatles would have changed?

This is one of those key “What If” moments in Beatles history examined in The Beatles: What If? by David Bedford and Andrew Phillips.

David interviewed Roy Young and got his incredible story, which you can read in the book. See how close he came to being the first Fifth Beatle!

You can order it for US/ Canada or UK/Europe below.

Broadcaster Nigel Pearce brought the story of Apple Records to life at Carrow House in Norwich during a special fundraiser for Future Radio and Future Projects. With rare footage, memorabilia and shared memories from the Beatles era, the evening transported the audience back to the famous Savile Row years.

by Norfuknews

Nigel Pearce during his Inside No.3 presentation exploring the story of Apple Records and the Beatles’ Savile Row years at Carrow House in Norwich. 

It was lovely spending the evening with Nigel Pearce at Carrow House, fundraising for Future Radio and celebrating Apple Records music and memories.

Arriving at Carrow House on foot from Norwich station left me slightly puffing but pleased. The air that night had a real bite to it, and I felt sure even before getting there that the evening would be enjoyable.

Not long into my stroll, lights from Carrow House caught my eye through the glass panels of the elegant Orangery. As I approached, people were arriving and being greeted by members of the Future Radio team already inside.

The talk ‘Inside No.3: The Story of Apple Records’ was being presented by broadcaster and musicologist Nigel Pearce. The atmosphere inside was warm. There was chat from around the room, glasses clinking together and excitement building from guests eager to hear Nigel tell the tale of the Beatles’ iconic record label.

Beforehand, guests were invited to take a look at Nigel’s incredible collection. Items from the Apple era sat upon tables around the room. Vinyl covers, unique pieces and memorabilia allowed visitors to get even closer to the story Nigel was about to tell us.

Thankfully, Nigel permitted me to snap a few pictures of these treasures before his presentation began, and the Future Radio volunteers were absolutely brilliant throughout.

It set the tone immediately. This was not simply a lecture. It felt more like stepping into a living archive.

The Story Behind Apple Records

Nigel Pearce took to the stage, and within seconds the chatter in the room had subsided. He transported the audience back to the late 1960s when The Beatles formed Apple Records under the umbrella of Apple Corps.

The concept of Apple was revolutionary. Instead of artists being controlled by record company bosses, Apple would be different. It would allow creative minds to do what they do best with less interference from corporates. It was a true test of freedom of expression.

As Nigel spoke, vintage footage from the era was played on screen. He told the story behind 3 Savile Row, London. Home of Apple Corps Ltd. The address that would become world famous.

In conversation after his talk, Nigel mentioned how the audience reacted.

“It’s an immersive evening looking at what went on at Number 3 Savile Row and the record label side of the Beatles’ Apple story,” he said.

“The audience reaction would suggest that people enjoyed the evening. It’s great that we have raised money for Norwich’s Future Projects charity.”

I thought there was a good balance of history and personal memories. Nigel obviously knows his stuff inside out, but he also knows how to keep his audience interested. We were enthralled as rare film clips, photos and stories were mixed into his presentation.

Many times during the night, I found myself leaning forward in my seat, amazed at some little-known fact or remembered story from that fantastic period of music.

Music, Memories and Cultural Icons

Founded by the Beatles, Apple Records became something bigger and attracted other artists to the label.

Throughout the lecture, Nigel touched on various personalities associated with Apple, from Mary Hopkin and Badfinger to the Radha Krishna Temple recordings produced by George Harrison.

There were brief insights into the fashion subculture of Apple and Savile Row, too. The era was rich with creativity and collaboration, and Nigel’s presentation captured that atmosphere beautifully.

One moment might feature a rare photograph from the period. The next might move to a piece of music or a film clip that transported the room back to the late sixties.

It was personal for many in the audience.

Nigel threaded the talk together with snippets that members of the audience could relate to from their own memories. Many of those there will have lived through those times, and there were smiles and nods of recognition aplenty.

There were audible chuckles of appreciation as familiar scenes popped up on screen.

It wasn’t simply nostalgia.

At moments, it felt closer to stepping back into the era itself.

A Room Full of History

Part of the charm of the evening came from the remarkable collection Nigel had brought with him.

Vinyl copies of Apple Records artists’ albums were featured too, including Badfinger. Beatles releases were also present, along with various memorabilia from the Beatles’ time on Savile Row.

Nearby were two guitars mounted on stands, and one violin-shaped bass guitar. They served as a quiet reminder that the Apple story was not only about business or record labels. At its heart, it was about music, instruments and the creativity that shaped an entire generation.

Copies of Nigel’s book Inside No.3, telling the story of the iconic Savile Row building and the wider Apple world, were also available for purchase.

Items in the collection transported visitors from the past to the present. Stopping to look at a record sleeve or exhibition artefact allowed guests to place themselves in that iconic cultural moment.

It added a tactile quality to the evening that made the history feel wonderfully close.

The Community Behind the Event

While celebrating musical history, the night also had a job to do.

It was organised as a fundraiser for Future Projects, the charity which runs Future Radio, one of Norwich’s cherished community radio stations.

Future Radio has provided an invaluable service for many years, allowing volunteers and would-be presenters the chance to gain broadcasting and media skills, often their first taste of radio.

Speaking during the evening, Dean Tucker, station manager at Future Radio, explained the wider work carried out by the charity.

“Future Radio is part of the wider Future Projects charity,” he said.

“We work across the community helping people who need support, whether that’s financial help, homelessness support or education.”

Future Projects operates several initiatives, including Future Support, which helps individuals facing hardship, and Future Education, an independent school supporting young people who need additional help in their learning.

Future Radio itself remains at the heart of the organisation’s community outreach.

“We have around ninety volunteers supporting the station,” Dean explained.

“We’re more than just a radio station. We work closely with the wider charity to help people across Norwich.”

That community spirit was tangible throughout the evening. From volunteers greeting guests as they arrived and serving drinks throughout, there was a real team effort to make sure everything went well.

You could tell that many hands had made light work.

Bringing People Together

As Nigel concluded his presentation, there was warm applause from the room. Chat started up again as folks talked about their own impressions and memories of the night.

There was also a raffle prize, which helped raise a little more cash for the charity, too.

Events like this have a knack for bottling up something rather unique about nights hosted by community organisations. You go along to listen to a presentation or watch a show, but usually end up walking away with much more than you expected.

For some of those present that night, it was about reconnecting with more than just The Beatles or Apple Records. They had rediscovered a collective memory.

For others, it was an insight into the work of a great local charity doing good work right on their doorstep with Future Radio and the wider Future Projects charity.

Some music lovers also made the journey to revel in stories about a wildly creative era in music.

History That Lives On

More than fifty years after Apple Records was founded, the fascination with the Beatles’ creative experiment shows no sign of fading.

The Beatles were innovators in pioneering not just with their music but also in how artists should be handled by the industry.

Yes, it may have all unravelled at one point. Yet amidst the whirlwind, they were reinventing the rules.

Nigel Pearce has taken years of research and turned it into a wonderfully told story about the successes of Apple Records.

And on the night itself, within the orangery at Carrow House and surrounded by friends, family and Future Radio volunteers, that story was told to another audience.

Guests milled around outside as they filtered into the refreshing night air, and you got the feeling that everyone had been part of something special.

They’d come back in time together.

Not just to hear the music but to experience again what it must’ve felt like to be at the centre of something special, something that would alter pop culture forever.

Apple Records and 3 Savile Row

Founded in 1968, Apple Records began as part of Apple Corps, created by The Beatles. At 3 Savile Row in London stood the headquarters of this recording company. Though best known for The Beatles’ work, its catalogue included artists like Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and James Taylor. On that same street, atop their building, The Beatles gave what became their final live performance in January 1969.

COPYRIGHT NORFUKNEWS https://norfuknews.com/nigel-pearce-brings-apple-records-story-to-norwich/

GET YOUR COPY OF NIGEL’S BOOK ON APPLE RECORDS