Apple Records
As with all record companies, demos and lost recordings always feature, and it was the same with Apple Records too. However, those demos and lost recordings always resonate more with fans and some of these will feature in the next book, Deeper Inside No 3. Lost recordings and records always have a mystique, and these most certainly do. The photographs are as follows:
No. 1. Hey Jude / Revolution
This is a test pressing of that recording before the Parlophone Catalogue Number was applied R 5722. Shown here is the B side, which contains the handwriting for Promo Identification.
No. 2. Apple 8 King of Fuh – Brute Force.
So much again has been said about this issue, but a quick re-brief follows. Recorded and Written by Steve Friedland and first rejected by Capitol in the USA, John Lennon and George Harrison liked the content humour and agreed to release the song. Large numbers were pressed and issued to Media people, and when the song was finally listened to, it was agreed that it simply could not go out, so was recalled and dropped. Copies are changing hands at over 3,000 pounds.
No. 3. Que Sera Sera Apple 16 – Mary Hopkin.
This single flopped when issued failing to chart anywhere in the world. Mary never liked the song and was against its release, so really her heart was not in it. Unsurprisingly it flopped and despite a re-release on Apple 27 it failed again, and both copies were quickly withdrawn.
No. 4. Happiness is a Warm Gun in Your Hand – The Beatles Demo Pressing.
This was a first-finished pressing for demo and listening only. Ostensibly a John Lennon song, as with the contract situation, the demo pressing was labelled as an EMI Recording, not Apple. This is one of the very few one-sided records in existence. Having been given this copy, in 1968, it has remained in my collection since then stored away from sunlight. This was to be the title until changed to the one we know today. The song was also reworked, mainly with the Tuba and brass moved backwards into the final mix.
No.5. Badfinger Apple 35 – Suitcase / The Name of the Game
Recorded by the band and planned as a single release during 1971/72. The songs were duly finished and were selected as the single APPLE 35. The finished recordings were listened to again, and George Harrison, who largely took Badfinger under his wing was rather scornful of the songs, saying that they were not strong enough. Maybe he was right at the time, but it’s worth remembering that when various compilations of Badfinger were assembled, both tracks were often included in the presentations.
This is just a sample of some of the lost and missed recordings. More will be found Deeper Inside No 3. Can you wait for it?
Nigel Pearce
In the meantime, get Nigel’s great book, Inside Number Three
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Inside No3 takes you through that famous door, deep into the minds of all who worked there at Apple Records. This is done also in a very different way. This is not a kiss-and-tell diary, it is through fan adulation and understanding via a personal collection of artifacts and memorabilia that author Nigel Pearce has built up over the last 50 years.
For prices and dates please contact Nigel again via the website
