A rare hardcover book about Nicky Hopkins, one of rock’s greatest session musicians who has backed the Beatles, the Stones, John Lennon, and George Harrison, as solo artists, and many others of prominence. It is very difficult to find this book in the hardcover format.
Publisher : Desert Hearts (4 May 2011)
Imagine
Who can forget Nicky’s superb keyboard work on the “Imagine” LP and his stellar contribution to the Beatles song “Revolution.” Nicky’s many contributions to the Rolling Stones catalog will also be fondly remembered.
Nicky’s life was cut short at age 50 due to intestinal problems.
Rare Autograph of Nicky Hopkins
A rare autograph (above) of Nicky Hopkins obtained on eBay many years ago. Hopkins seemed to share fellow session man Jim Keltner’s aversion to signing many autographs during the course of their careers.
Buzz
Some Great Autobiographies & Biographies at The Beatles Bookstore
THE CONCEPTS OF SELECTIVE PERCEPTION, ATTENTION AND RECALL AND HOW THAT RELATES TO CONSPIRACY THEORIES LIKE THE INFAMOUS PAUL McCARTNEY DEATH RUMOR FROM 1969
Have you ever wondered how rumors get started and are perpetuated?
Well, picture how political differences are portrayed by different media outlets. The same event that you may be watching (a political speech for example) can be interpreted in vastly different ways depending on if the media outlet has a conservative or liberal leaning.
Paul Is Dead?
Well, the same type of psychology can be applied to the study of rumor and how those rumors are spread and perpetuated. The Beatles in 1969 became the subject of one of those rumors when a college student claimed that both album visual clues and audio song clues pointed to Paul McCartney passing away in a 1966 car crash.
I can remember vividly in late ’69, being a young teenager and participating in the hunt for so-called clues that would verify this bizarre theory.
Keep in mind that much of this speculation is tied to the concepts of selective perception, attention, and recall. You have a theory or belief that you hold in your mind and then you selectively pay attention to information that backs up or supports your belief. Conversely, you ignore anything that would disprove or discredit the belief you hold. These concepts help to understand why conspiracy theories have become so prevalent in our society as more people decide to pick and choose the information available that supports their preconceived notions and beliefs and they choose to ignore the information that discredits their beliefs.
The Paul Is Dead Rumor
I will use this opportunity with the Paul is dead rumor to hopefully demonstrate how selective perception operates in the finding of so-called clues.
Someone came up with the idea of holding a strait-edged mirror to the Sgt Pepper drum on the cover of the album (see photo above). By doing so they were able to look in the mirror and see the message I ONE I X HE DIE with an arrow pointing up to the blue-clad, Paul. The I ONE I was said to represent the total of the other three Beatles-3. and the X was said to represent X-ing the 4th individual out of the picture. You can see how many see this as being outlandish and far-fetched.
However, if you have your mind set on believing the theory, you seek out things such as this to support the theory and you ignore things that may dispute the theory. People that supported this rumor would seek out photos of Paul where he did not conform in some way with the other Beatles like the out-of-step Paul on the Abbey Road cover photo.
However, photos of the other three Beatles non-conforming would be ignored or not addressed as they would not be applicable to the rumor in question.
Clues for the Paul Is Dead Rumor?
Here is another photo used by the Paul is Dead theorists (above). The picture on the left is a banquet scene from the Magical Mystery Tour booklet. This scene supposedly does not appear in the movie. The theorists in their typical bizarre antics, turned the photo to the side and were able to see a skull giving support to the Beatles providing death imagery in their albums.
These images represent only a few of the many so-called clues discovered to prove the rumor!
Truth?
I do not believe in this rumor but I have to admit it was somewhat eerie to spend time with friends to see if we could find another clue to support the rumor back in 1969, as young kids. Hopefully, when you now see a conspiracy theory proposed, that you take a look at the full picture and examine the total amount of information being provided and what is being disclosed, and what is not. That can help us get a far more accurate picture of what constitutes the TRUTH!!!
The Last Laugh?
To bring a smile to your face after this discussion, the end result of this rumor was that record sales for the Abbey Road LP and all of the post-66 Beatles albums soared, as people fall prey to the notion of discovering another hidden Beatles message. The laugh turned out to be on all of us either directly or indirectly! I am sure John Paul, George, and Ringo all enjoyed their trips to the bank that summer!!!
What was your favorite “Paul Is Dead” clue? Let me know in the comments below.
The Iveys (Badfinger) in their PERMISSIVE PARADISE in the PLEASURE GARDEN
Young London: Permissive Paradise
was issued to illustrate the Swinging London of the Sixties. Included as a bonus flexi disk in early copies of the book, was a rare song recorded by the Iveys which they did not write but they recorded to supplement their income. The song was entitled “Permissive Paradise.” The Iveys used the pseudonym group name of The Pleasure Garden to record this song!
This is the book that the flexi disk appeared in.
Young London – Permissive Paradise
Author: Heather Cremonesi and Robert Bruce (Photographs by Frank Habicht)
Title: Young London: Permissive Paradise
Publication: London: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 1969
Discover Some Great Books Linked to Badfinger at The Beatles Bookstore
Heavenly Encounters: Wish You Were Here Part 2 (Paperback)
Inspired by the group Badfinger.
Rock star Tomas Alvers finds that searching for his friend Paul isn’t as simple as he’d hoped. Still in Heaven, Tomas meets past souls from times gone by, such as Marc Bolan and Marylin Monroe. Along the way, Tomas discovers a strange and mysterious stone and stumbles upon an exact replica of a club where his Earthly band debuted.
I am looking to purchase a copy of this old Borge magazine for my collection. I believe it is from Norway or possibly Danish. If you have one that you would like to part with, please contact me with the details below.
Author Ken Womack is a workaholic! He always has a new book project looming or lurking around each corner. He has no trouble creating a fine and delicate balance between his academic studies as a professor and author, to discuss those topics in books that strike a popular chord with a mass pop-culture audience. I first met Ken a few years ago, on a Facebook page I was running, and quite frankly, my life has not been the same since. I am overwhelmed with Ken’s abundant Beatles-related knowledge base and his ability to analyze events on both a musical and cultural basis. I would like to take this opportunity to expose the current members of Buzz’s Beatles book blog to the wide scope of Ken’s Beatles catalog of print material. Ken’s Beatles-related books are well respected and admired by a very large audience. Here are a few samples of his prolific and stellar Beatles library of books:
Long and Winding Roads, Revised Edition: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles Hardcover – January 12, 2023 Bloomsbury Academic
Long And Winding Roads
Ken’s recent revised edition of his earlier work by the same name. This book uses more recently discovered group outtakes released in the intervening years since the last edition. He examines the great debt the Beatles owe to rhythm and blues as one of the focal points. Like most of Ken’s work, his books are both scholarly and extremely interesting to his large readership base.
John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life Paperback – September 15, 2020-Omnibus Press
by Kenneth Womack (Author)
Ken’s analysis of the final days of the life of John Lennon. Ken’s words transport you and make you feel like you are there witnessing the creation of John’s final musical creations. Ken manages to find the healthy balance between John’s eccentric nature and his genius, wit, and insecurities.
John Lennon 1980
Fandom and The Beatles: The Act You’ve Known for All These Years Paperback – March 12, 2021-Oxford University Press
by Kenneth Womack (Editor), Kit O’Toole (Editor)
A collaborative effort between two scholars I admire very much. This book analyzes the Beatles fan base and why their cross-generational appeal continues beyond the realm of first-generational Beatles fans. This is an excellent title that helps to explain the Beatles’ seemingly universal appeal.
Fandom and the Beatles
Solid State: The Story of “Abbey Road” and the End of the Beatles Hardcover – Illustrated, October 15, 2019
by Kenneth Womack (Author), Alan Parsons (Foreword)
Cornell University Press, 2019
The story of Abbey Road and The End of the Beatles. This book and a book by Ken McNab entitled “And In the End” make excellent companion pieces for this time frame.
Solid State
The Beatles Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: Everything Fab Four Hardcover – June 30, 2014
by Kenneth Womack (Author)-Greenwood
An exhaustive informational 2-volume book set that will help to explain why those four young men from Liverpool turned the world on its ear and continues to fascinate the younger generations as well.
The Beatles Encyclopedia
The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles by Kenneth Womack
Cambridge University Press | December 14, 2009. A work of a more academic nature but this work will be enjoyed by a wide array of readers.
Organized into three sections, covering Background, Works, and History and Influence, the Companion is ideal for course usage and is also a must-read for all Beatles fans.
Cambridge Companion to The Beatles
Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Early Years, 1926–1966 Paperback – September 3, 2019
The superb 2-volume biography of Beatles producer George Martin. Both books were published by Chicago Review Press.
Maximum Volume – The Life of George Martin
Sound Pictures: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Later Years, 1966–2016 Paperback – September 3, 2019 by Kenneth Womack
Sound Pictures – The Life of George Martin Vol 2
The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper, and the Summer of Love (For the Record: Lexington Studies in Rock and Popular Music) Hardcover – July 3, 2017
Published by Lexington Books
by Kenneth Womack (Editor), Kathryn B. Cox (Editor), Kenneth L. Campbell(Contributor), Jacqueline Edmondson PhD (Contributor), Michael Frontani (Contributor), Katie Kapurch(Contributor), Mark Osteen (Contributor), Kit O’Toole (Contributor), Joe Rapolla (Contributor), RobertRodriguez (Contributor), Bruce Spizer (Contributor), Jerry Zolten (Contributor)
The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper and the Summer of Love
An excellent academic analysis of the Summer of Love by an impressive coterie of contributors.
The Beatles in Context (Composers in Context) Hardcover-Publisher Cambridge University Press-Dec 23, 2021
Edited by Kenneth Womack
Another fascinating academic analysis of the Beatles musical and cultural impact.
The Beatles in Context
Reading the Beatles: Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, and the Fab Four Annotated Edition
SUNY Press 2006 by Kenneth Womack (Editor), Todd F. Davis (Editor)
Addresses the band’s resounding impact on how we think about gender, popular culture, and the formal and poetic qualities of music.
Reading the Beatles
All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs Hardcover – July 20, 2021
by Kenneth Womack (Author), Jason Kruppa (Author) Chicago Review Press 2021
Renowned Beatles expert Ken Womack and music historian Jason Kruppa explore Harrison and Clapton’s musical and personal collaboration, friendship, and rivalry
This is a very entertaining book exploring the friendship between two men who found the same woman to be a muse and yet despite this apparent conflict, they would remain good friends to the end.
All Things Must Pass Away
And the best is yet to come as I write this!
Living the Beatles Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans Hardcover – November 14, 2023
by Kenneth Womack (Author)
Living the Beatles Legend – Mal Evans
Ken Womack has secured a two-volume book deal to tell the fascinating story of the late Beatles road manager, Mal Evans. Volume 1 of the 2 book series will be the biography of Mal and is tentatively scheduled for release in November of 2023. Volume 2 will consist of Mal’s diaries, notes and immense collection of photographs that he compiled over the years and is scheduled for a 2024 release.
Ken Womack’s insatiable appetite for new and interesting Beatles information will no doubt provide many more pleasant surprises for fans everywhere!!! The man never ceases to amaze me!
Here are balance of the remaining Beatles-related Genesis Publications titles. Hope you have enjoyed this mini-travelogue dealing with the superb Beatle-related books produced by Genesis Publications Ltd over the years!
The Concert for George (above) – a beautiful book of a beautiful concert.
Fifty Years Adrift
A fabulous book authored by Beatles friend and publicist, Derek Taylor. Copies of this book were also signed by Beatle George Harrison
Derek Taylor – Fifty Years Adrift
I Me Mine
The book that started it all for collectors. I distinctly remember Strawberry Fields Forever fanzine author, Joe Pope offering this title for sale in the 70’s to his fanzine subscribers.
I Me Mine
I Me Mine – 2
Genesis was to issue 2 versions of I Me Mine. The earlier version was signed by George. The later posthumous edition was to feature additional content as an attraction to potential buyers.
I Me Mine 2
It Was Twenty Years Ago Today
It Was Twenty Years Ago Today
George Harrison – Live In Japan
Beautiful photos of the limited tour of Japan by George Harrison, along with his friend, Eric Clapton and his band!
Live In Japan
Liverpool Days
Astrid and Max Scheler’s photos of Liverpool in the early sixties!
Liverpool Days
McCartney: Yesterday and Today
The Ray Coleman Genesis book about Paul McCartney-Ray was a good friend of the Beatles and was an excellent journalist.
McCartney: Yesterday and Today
Postcards from The Boys
The excellent book of Ringo’s featuring postcards that were sent to him by John , Paul and George, over the years!
Postcards from The Boys
Revolver 50: Birth of an Icon
Klaus Voormann’s superb book about the creation of Revolver and celebrating it’s 50th anniversary.
Revolver 50: Birth of an Icon
Sometime in New York City
Yoko Ono and Bob Gruen collaborate on a book discussing John’s time in New York City.
Sometime in New York City
Songs by George Harrison Volume One
Volume One of the Songs of George Harrison which are richly illustrated by artist Keith West.
Songs by George Harrison Volume One
Songs by George Harrison Volume Two
Volume Two of the George Harrison, Keith West collaboration.
Songs by George Harrison Volume Two
Summer of Love
The Summer of Love, a Genesis title by the late Beatles producer, George Martin.
Summer of Love
Playback by George Martin
Another wonderful title about George Martin published by Genesis PLAYBACK by George Martin.
Playback George Martin
Photograph – Ringo
Photograph – Ringo
Came The Lightening – Olivia Harrison
The most recent Genesis title is by George Harrison’s wife, Olivia, and features twenty poems that she wrote about her late husband. The book also features many rare photos. The book is entitled “Came the Lightning.” There is a signed edition and an unsigned one. There is also a trade edition of this book. In addition, there is a special deluxe edition featuring several special limited-edition prints as well as a bookmark that was made from a fallen oak tree at Friar Park.
Came The Lightening
I hope you have enjoyed this two-part look at some of the best of the Genesis Limited Edition books, which are a treasure-trove of books and information.
Don’t forget to share this post and encourage your friends to subscribe so that they don’t miss out!
The Cutting Edge (Hardback Limited Edition)£25.00
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono (Signed Hardback)£44.00
Just Like Starting Over: John Lennon and The Quarrymen£15.00
It’s All Too Much£14.99
The Cutting Edge (Paperback) (Spanish)£20.00
Your Mother Should Know£7.20
Shoulda Been There (Vol. 1) 1940 – Dec 1961£7.20
Shivering Inside (Vol 2) Dec 1961 – Jan 1963£7.20
