Room 902 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono Amsterdam 1969
An obscure hardcover book about John and Yoko’s Amsterdam Bed-In, featuring the photography of Nico Koster. The books come in both an English edition and a Dutch edition. The book is about 50 pages long and features many photos of the event that gathered press coverage all over the world.
Welcome everyone to the Apple Records Inside No3 Newsfeed and Blog.
Inside Number 3
This will offer information, photographs, and documents from Apple Records No.3 Savile Row, London W.1 from 1968 – 1976.
Let’s start at the top for Number 1
Apple Records was announced to the world officially on August Bank holiday in 1968 in several ways. We had the package of Our First Four, which was issued in 3 forms.
The first was a limited set of 100 plastic laminated sets for heads of State around the world.
The second offering was a cardboard set numbering just over 400 units distributed to radio presenters and other notables in the media for promotion.Â
The third set was the United States sets from Los Angeles and New York Apple offices. These were US indigenous designs. These were mainly in Green and White in an entirely different setting using the same wording, with text supplied by Derek Taylor.
All of these items went very quickly, with many being quite simply destroyed. Each set contained the first four Apple records to be released, “Hey Jude”, “Those were the Days”, “Sour Milk Sea” and finally “Thingumybob”.Â
With the passing of the years, these have become highly prised articles of desire for all Beatles fans, and no doubt that will continue for the future.
All of these were displayed in my publication Inside No 3 . All of the items are from my own collection so I thought that I would show them here.
A selection of the Apple Records Our First Four sets. The US released sets are the ones in green.
In an earlier Buzz’s Beatles Book Blog Post, there were several books posted that were written by researcher extraordinaire, Philip Kirkland, dealing with some very interesting facets of the Lennon lineage. Additionally here is a small collection of harder to find book titles either written by a relative of John’s or about a relative of John’s.
This book was written by a kind lady who is no longer with us after a brave long battle with cancer. She became friends with John’s Aunt Mimi and had exchanged letters with her for an extended period of time as well as visiting her on several occasions. I communicated with Kathy on several occasions on Facebook.
Book Title-The Guitar’s All Right As a Hobby, John
The Guitar’s Alright For A Hobby, John
Book Title-The Guitar’s All Right As a Hobby, John
Author-Kathy Burns Publisher-CreateSpace, 2014
John Lennon’s Uncle Charlie
This book is about Charlie Lennon, John’s uncle and the brother of Freddie Lennon, John’s dad.
I met Charlie on the site where the Strawberry Fields orphanage once stood and we had a cup of tea talking about the “Lennon” name living a long time as a result of his nephew’s music. He seemed very pleased with that distinct possibility. Several years later, I was shocked to see on Youtube a song that was posted with Charlie singing “The Ships of the Mersey.” Apparently, the late author of the book about Charlie shown below had recorded Charlie singing the song. Charlie wanted to make sure that his brother Freddie did not outshine him in displaying the Lennon proclivity for exhibiting their musical aptitude. LOL!!!
Uncle Charlie Lennon – “Ships of the Mersey”
Charlie Lennon: Uncle to a Beatle
Publisher
Outskirts Press, Incorporated-2005
Book Title-Charlie Lennon : Uncle to a Beatle
Author-Scott Wheeler
John Lennon’s Sister – Julia Baird
A very hard to find title as this account written by John’s half-sister, Julia and was released in 1986. It was a shortened version of Julia’s memories of her famous brother. Expanded versions appear under several titles and one of the more recent ones appears below this title.
I was fortunate to be able to obtain a signed version of the earliest edition of this book.
In His Own Youth: In My Own Words
John Lennon In His Own Youth in My Own Words Julia Baird-1986
River Women Press
A later edition of Julia’s book memories of her brother
Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon by Julia Baird
Hodder & Stoughton-2008
Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon
What is your favourite book about John Lennon? Let me know in the comments below.
Buzz
More Books About John Lennon at The Beatles Bookstore
These two books were compiled by ardent Beatles fan, Ray Zirkle. Ray collects the advertisement and promotional print material that accompanied the Beatles rise to stardom. His wonderful two books are a treat to read and bring back so many memories of seeing these various advertisements in magazines, trade publications and newspapers over the years.
I have seen Ray’s two books available on both Amazon and eBay! HenschelHAUS (August 10, 2018)
Chip Madinger and Scott Raile are the co-authors of the first one, “LENNNONOLOGY  |  Volume One – Strange Days Indeed.”
This exhaustive book details the work and activities of John Lennon and Yoko Ono from 1968-1980. Being meticulous and being accurate are the modus operandi and signatures of the two authors, who will certainly impress you with their revelations of previously unknown Lennon and Ono work and projects. I have learned over the years, if these two authors have verified some bit of Lennon information, you can rest assured that it is true. When Lennonology was released, I quickly bought one of the signed hardcover limited editions that was issued in a run of 250 copies. I was not disappointed and this book eagerly makes me anticipate a Volume 2 when it is ready to be issued. Chip is one of a few select authors that I hold in a special literary Beatles pantheon.
There are a few people that I hold in that high regard. Mark Lewisohn, Bruce Spizer and Ken Womack are others. I do not wish to insult others with my omission of their names as there are so many splendid Beatles book authors. I consider Lennonology to be in my top 10 Beatles-related books in my collection and with the amount of titles that I have, that is no small compliment or praise. Hardback copies of the book command premium prices as they are sold out and are in high demand among Lennon/Beatles collectors. There is some good news, however, as paperback copies of the book are still available.
LENNNONOLOGY | Volume One – Strange Days Indeed-First Edition – October 9, 2015 – 250 Copies Signed and Numbered Strange Days Indeed A Scrapbook of Madness Hardcover Book by Chip Madinger and Scott Raile. Published by Open Your Books
Front cover of the informative and voluminous book
Lennonology
Lennonology – Back Cover
Lennonology – Back Cover
Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium
Another work of impeccable research is this book that came out in the year 2000 in paperback format. Lavish detail and thoroughly lengthy and comprehensive at over 700 pages. This book was also co-authored once again by researcher par excellence, Chip Madinger, and his superb collaborator, Mark Easter. Their level of detail about the sessions and activities of the solo Beatles is the ultimate source to turn to when you want to learn more about that subject. They have also worked on a digital updated and revised version of the title which is available to purchase at the Lennonology website. The link is provided below.
Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium Paperback – October 1, 2000
by Chip Madinger (Author), Mark Easter (Author)
Eight Arms to Hold You Cover
There is an ultra rare hardcover edition of “Eight Arms to Hold You.” Long since sold out, there were only 9 copies made of the hardcover. Quite a treasure if you have one of the nine!!!
Eight Arms to Hold You Cover
Summary and conclusion:
In this information age in which we live, these two books help set the standard to the way research books should be written. Taking great care to verify the accuracy of the information provided, and verifying detail with extraordinary precision. The only criticism I have is not of the work in the books, but in the nature of information itself.Â
As the years pass, new material, sometimes not previously known, has a way of turning up from out of the blue. For example, who until recently knew that an hour long 1963 tape of the Beatles performing at a boys school at Stowe in the UK, existed? Research books have that one drawback, like discographies, in that new discoveries and recordings keep turning up every “Now and Then”, pun intended, keeping the need for many book revisions and updates.
Highly recommend the two titles shown above and if you are fortunate enough to purchase the hardback editions, you will not regret it. Happy Hunting!!!
A complete set of the 86 issues of the McCartney magazine known as Club Sandwich which is no longer being published, as a result of Linda McCartney passing away in 1998. The club offered many bonus items like special tickets to special McCartney live performances and options like being able to purchase McCartney’s Russian LP. It was sad to see this magazine end as it contained so many fabulous photos and stories. To compile a complete set of these magazines now is not only difficult but also very expensive.
Glad I have all of the issues, but they are difficult to store because of their large size. The older newspaper-like issues are also prone to yellowing.
Complete Set of Club Sandwich
Buzz’s Question for Paul McCartney
When Beatles book author Mark Lewisohn worked for the Club Sandwich magazine, he ran a contest inviting subscribers to submit questions to Paul. I submitted a question that I had been alerted to by reading Mark’s “The Beatles Recording Sessions” book. The book quickly mentioned an unreleased McCartney track that he had recorded in the studio back in 1968 and then took the recording home, provided to him by the engineer. The track was called “Etcetera.” Supposedly the track was written for Marianne Faithfull.
I submitted the question to the magazine about the track and I was surprised to see the question was chosen for publication in one of the Club Sandwich issues.
Here is a photo of the question I asked and Paul’s response.
Buzz’s Question for Paul with Reply
Did You Collect Club Sandwich?
Let me know if you collected them? Favourite issue?
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono (Signed Hardback)£44.00
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Bill Zygmant – Where Did You Get That Shirt? (Signed Limited Edition)£75.00
Just Like Starting Over: John Lennon and The Quarrymen£15.00
The One After 9:09£2.16
Shoulda Been There (Vol. 1) 1940 – Dec 1961£7.20
Shivering Inside (Vol 2) Dec 1961 – Jan 1963£7.20
She Loves You (Vol. 3) 1963 – 1st March 1964£7.20
