liddypool, Author at The Beatles Bookstore

Posted on 03/03/202327/05/2024 by liddypool — 2 Comments

A MAD DAY OUT IN THE SUMMER OF 1968

Mad Day Out

Excellent limited edition books about that famous Mad Day Out photo session taken around the time of the Beatles recording the “White Album.”

The Beatles were photographed in July of 1968 in several locations around London. The photographers taking photos of them that day were: Don McCullin, Ronald Fitzgibbon, Stephen Goldblatt, Tom Murray, Tony Bramwell, and Mal Evans.

Here are a few of the limited edition books about that famous photo shoot.

This book is by photographer and cinematographer, Stephen Goldblatt.

Edition One Books published this work for the non-profit organization Fotovison around 2010. Only issued in an edition of 250 copies, it is the most difficult Beatles Mad Day Out photo book to acquire. Two people who were instrumental in seeing this book become a reality were Beatles expert Norman Maslov and book designer, Michael Rylander. The images in this book are exclusively black and white!

Paul McCartney originally commissioned war photographer Don McCullin to take photos of the Beatles for promotional purposes around the impending release of the “White Album.” The slip-cased signed version of this book containing both color/ colour and black and white photos is very rare, as Don McCullin had emergency surgery while he was beginning the signing of this special edition so very few of the signed slip-cased version of the book has made it to the marketplace. Here are a few photos of the McCullin book:

Published by Jonathan Cape, 2010

Tom Murray

Tom Murray’s book was published by Archivum publishers in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of the photoshoot.

Tom Murray was asked by photographer Don McCullin if he was interested in taking photos of a band he was shooting that day in 1968. Only Don McCullin did not notify Tom Murray of the band he was shooting that day. Tom agreed to go with Don that day. With the limited information that Don provided to Tom, he only took one roll of colour/color film with him to shoot that day. Needless to say, he was shocked and startled to see the band that McCullin was scheduled to photograph. Tom’s film was fortunately in color and he was able to take what many consider to be the best color photographs of the Beatles taken that day. Tom is a very friendly and gracious personality and has taken many fabulous photos throughout his illustrious career.

The Beatles: The Summer of 1968

Earlier than the above-mentioned limited edition books, I was able to acquire a limited paperback version of Tom’s photos entitled: “The Beatles The Summer of 1968” through the UK company Tracks.

All of these books are highly sought after as they represent what possibly may be the best Beatles photoshoot of their career.

Is this your favourite Beatles photo shoot? Or do you have another?

Buzz

Another Beatles Photograph Book

Bill Zygmant – Where Did You Get That Shirt? (Signed Limited Edition)

Get your copy of Bill Zygmant’s portfolio book of unique photographs covering his career from the late 1960s to the 1980s.

This will be a signed, numbered edition – maximum of 250 numbered editions.

It comes with one of Bill’s signed photographs, which usually sells for £50!

£75.00

Shop now

Posted on 01/03/202327/05/2024 by liddypool — Leave a comment

A MACCA-RONI salad of wonderful books about Paul McCartney written by author Adrian Allan

Adrian Allan was born in 1971. After showing early promise on the classical guitar, he went on to pass a performance diploma in 1996. He also has a keen interest in historical research which is clearly demonstrated in the following set of books noted below.

He holds a BA Hons degree in history from Lancaster University and a Master’s with distinction in Scottish history from The University of the Highlands and Islands.

The books noted here are all self-published by Adrian under the imprint of “Meadow Music Publishing”.

Adrian’s McCartney books are not only well-researched, they have the advantage of being written by someone with a depth of musical knowledge which allows the information to be presented in both an informative and educational context. He is thorough and I have learned significant new material from this author. For further information about Adrian’s titles, you can access this website https://paulmccartneyafterthebeatles.com/

Current list of Adrian’s McCarney books:

Paul McCartney After The Beatles A Musical Appreciation

Published in 2019 -this is a two-volume set appearing in 2019 and 2020 that demonstrates many of the musical contributions that Paul has presented to the world after being in the greatest pop band ever. This impressive two-volume set was an impressive debut into the world of Beatles-related literature.

Paul McCartney After The Beatles A Musical Appreciation Volume 2

Published in 2020

Paul McCartney After The Beatles - 2 — Paul McCartney After The Beatles – 2

Wings Live

Published in 2020 and deals primarily with Paul’s post-Beatle performances during the Wings years.

Paul McCartney The World Tour 1989-90

Published in 2022-This volume deals with a specialized short time frame when Paul did numerous live appearances throughout the world. I was amazed at the depth of information provided in this volume.

Wings Live Extended Special Edition

Published in 2022-an expanded edition of his Wings Live book which includes memories and photos of fans that were fortunate to see Paul as a live performer in his post-Beatle years. My memories of seeing Paul perform live for the first time in 1976 were included in this volume.

Discover more at Adrian’s Amazon page

Buzz

Discover more about Paul McCartney here

Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records

Rated 1.67 out of 5 based on 6 customer ratings

Find Out More
Bill Zygmant – Where Did You Get That Shirt? (Signed Limited Edition)

£75.00

Add to basket
Your Mother Should Know

£7.20

Buy the book on Amazon
Product on sale

The Fab One Hundred and Four: The Evolution of The Beatles

Original price was: £49.00.Current price is: £20.00.

Add to basket

Posted on 28/02/202328/02/2023 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Despair as The Cavern Club Closes

And in The End?

Until that fateful last night on 28th February 1966, no one knew anything was wrong. It was just like any other Sunday night at the Cavern – until Ray McFall arrived and informed the staff that the bailiffs would be there the next morning. He said the club was to stay open all night – with free admission. Young men were furious, girls cried, and by the early hours, patrons had blocked the stairs leading down to the club. No one could get in or out.

When the police arrived, Paddy told the protestors to let them in. The kids were escorted out but they wanted doorman Paddy to be the last one to leave.

Cavern Sound Ltd

The two working directors of Cavern Sound Ltd., Nigel Greenberg and Peter Hepworth, whose recording studio occupied the basement of No. 8 Mathew Street, next door to the Cavern at No. 10, had no idea Ray McFall was about to declare bankruptcy when they locked up the previous Friday. The recording studio could only be accessed through the front door of No. 8, where the Cavern offices were situated.

The Bailiffs

Nigel recalls: “When we arrived for work that Monday we found that bailiffs, acting on behalf of the Official Receiver, were sealing up the front roller shutter to prevent anyone from removing any of Ray McFall’s assets, which were to be sold to pay off his debts.

“I tried to explain to one of the bailiffs that Cavern Sound Ltd. was a completely separate legal entity to the Cavern Club and that none of the studio equipment belonged to Ray, but the bailiff would have none of it and prevented us from entering the building.”

Find out more about Cavern Sound Ltd.

What happened next in Cavern history?

Find out more about the Cavern story in Debbie’s fascinating book

Debbie Greenberg

Cavern Club – The Inside Story

This first-hand account of Debbie’s teen years frequenting and eventually helping to run the original Cavern Club is the authentic inside story of the Beatles launch pad, full of triumphs and failures – and surprise celebrity encounters.

Shop now

Posted on 27/02/202331/05/2024 by liddypool — Leave a comment

A Marvel-ous Tale of Mayhem or Beatles Comic Relief

Marvel and the Beatles Comics

When I was young, not only did I have a fascination with the music of the Beatles but I also loved comic books, specifically Marvel comics. With the following comics, I believed I was getting the best of both worlds as my favorite band was being celebrated in the comic book lexicon. Unfortunately, my comic book collection was thrown out when I became a teenager as it was explained to me that I was getting “too old to read those kids’ magazines.” As the years passed, and it was shown how much some of those thrown-away comics were now worth, the decision made by my parents turned out to be a foolish one. Ironically, as I became an older citizen, I was able to reclaim some of those souvenirs from my youth. Here are a few comic book/Beatles tales that you might find interesting.

The first story which I have also provided a link to is possibly the most interesting. The rarest Marvel Beatles-related comic book in the world has a mixed history as it has a Beatles connection but the movie the comic book was based on was virtually universally panned by critics everywhere. It was the Peter Frampton, Bee-Gees, Billy Preston, George Burns, Alice Cooper etc. version of Sgt. Pepper. Though the music was produced by George Martin, the film failed miserably at the box office. Marvel was going to print an English-language comic book version of the new Sgt. Pepper film but when they saw the poor performance financially of the film, they withdrew the English language version of the comic. It was released in France and Canada in French. It was also released in a few Asian countries but even in the countries that issued the comic, the supply was very limited. I was lucky to be able to track down a rare hardback French language copy of the comic a few years ago and a photo of the comic appears below. Despite the film’s poor reception by the public, the desire to have something concerning the Beatles that was so difficult to find even though it got horrendous reviews, served as the catalyst or enticement to get the rarity for the collection.

Here is the excellent story written by author John Freeman and the link with all the details. Hope you will enjoy!!! Author John Freeman describes this rare comic in the following article appearing on downthetubes.net in 2021.

How a 1970s “lost” Marvel Comic still takes Beatles fans on a magical mystery tour

BY JOHN FREEMAN on MARCH 1, 2021

How a 1970s “lost” Marvel Comic still takes Beatles fans on a magical mystery tour – downthetubes.net

This is the hardback version of the comic that I was able to purchase:

This is the well-known English language Marvel comic book dealing with the Beatles Story. Many Beatles collectors have a copy of this comic and it is relatively easy to find.

Marvel had many satirical appearances by the Beatles or a member of the band in many issues, often to spoof political or cultural situations. Here is an example:

The fact that the Beatles were so popular in the ’60s led to Marvel weaving something about the band into many of their comics. Here is a classic example where The Fantastic Four spoof the Beatles:

Posted on 23/02/202319/03/2025 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Bruce Spizer’s Beatles Books – Part 2

Another format to some of Bruce’s album series is this boxed set of 4 of his titles packaged and available together (above)

Bruce’s Books – The Beatles’ Records

This is Part 2 presenting some of the works of noted Beatles author, Bruce Spizer!

This is Bruce’s website provided for your perusal:

The Beatles on Capitol

A fascinating 2 book series chronicling the Beatles history and association with the record label and company that saw their explosion in the world’s largest record market of the time-the US! Without question, a must-have for your book collections!

The Beatles Are Coming!

An excellent book detailing the evolution and the development of the Beatles invasion and the details preceding the revolution:

The Beatles On Apple Records

I love the Apple Records story and learning what the Beatles’ goals for the company were. However, the quote about the “best-laid plans of mice and men” surely applied to this story. A fabulous 2 volumes documenting the Apple label story!

The Beatles on Apple Records - Part 2 — The Beatles on Apple Records – Part 2

The Beatles on Parlophone

A detailed history of UK record releases by the Beatles on Parlophone!

The Beatles on Vee-Jay

A fantastic book dealing with one of the record labels the Beatles were on in America before they were signed to Capitol. Once again a fascinating story as to the details of what happened. You do not want to miss the details…

The Beatles on Swan Records

The first Beatles record that I ever bought was “She Loves You” on the Swan record label. This was another record label that the Beatles appeared on before they were locked in with the US label, Capitol. Once again another fascinating story presented by Bruce Spizer. Bruce is without peer as an investigator and this tale will amaze you!

The Beatles Hard Day’s Night and More

The Beatles Hard Day's Night & More — The Beatles Hard Day’s Night & More

Beatles For Sale To Help!

Bruce’s new title able to be pre-ordered on April 4, 2025 and to be published in August of 2025. No doubt that it will be another wonderful and informative title in the Bruce Spizer catalog:

The Beatles For Sale To Help!

A fantastic series of books on The Beatles’ records. Check out Bruce’s website for more information.

Home – beatle.net

What did you learn about the Beatles that you did not know before as a result of reading these fantastic books?

Buzz

Posted on 20/02/202327/05/2024 by liddypool — 5 Comments

Bruce’s Books on the Loose

Bruce Spizer’s Books on the Loose

For many years, I have dedicated myself to the pursuit of purchasing all of the Beatles-related books compiled and written by Bruce Spizer. These books are put together with a host of other very prominent Beatles experts and authors contributing to his books. Not only does one benefit from learning fabulous new information about the Beatles’ recording career, but Bruce’s research and writing skills are impeccable. Waiting for a new book from Bruce is like waiting for the next significant holiday, with all the pleasure and enjoyment that entails! Bruce’s books come in many formats. Hardcover and softcover editions, signed special collector’s boxed editions with lots of extras provided, and yes kindle editions as well are available to purchase. My favorite item to purchase of Bruce’s books are the limited-edition special collector’s editions. Limited to 500 copies, these are truly special and you will treasure them in your Beatles library forever.

Here is Bruce’s excellent website at www.beatle.net

The Beatles Please Please Me to With The Beatles

Recently Bruce announced this forthcoming work is expected in the fall of 2023. The main focus of this title of Bruce’s excellent album series will be to highlight and discuss the recording of their first two UK Parlophone releases of “Please Please Me” and “With the Beatles”. Other early recording ventures of the Beatles such as the famous Decca audition, will also be discussed in this book. Looking forward to this!

Want to see how comprehensive Bruce’s Beatle Book catalog is? These books are not presented in the order they were released, but it provides a good sampling of the tremendous library and literary contribution Bruce Spizer has made to the Beatles book canon.

The Beatles Rubber Soul to Revolver

Fantastic title that highlights the two albums that provided the incredible transition period that the Beatles made in their musical development. Both of these LP’s emphasized the band’s incessant need and desire to push the throttle forward to new sounds and experimentation with the creative process.

The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine

This wonderful book fills in the magical gaps following the release of the Sgt. Pepper album and discusses the origins and creation of these two works as 1967 cruised into 1968.

The Beatles Finally Let It Be

Though not the last Beatles album officially recorded, it was the last album issued. Though it had a few Beatles gems in the grooves it served as a reminder to fans that the group was about to move on to their solo careers. It is hard to explain but this book’s details make me feel simultaneously happy and sad!

The Beatles Get Back to Abbey Road

Their last LP and what a way to go out. Served to prove that when the Beatles were all on the same page, no one could beat them and their songwriting skills. What better way for the Beatles to end their recording career by going out on top and leaving their massive audience yearning for more. Subsequent generations were also drawn to the musical mystique of the band and left those generations with a feeling of “we missed out on a very exciting period of history.”

The Beatles White Album

Looking at the Beatles in retrospect, it seems strange that an album that signaled the beginning of the disintegration of the group would also be seen as their greatest work by many. Possibly due to the diversity of musical styles exemplified by the Beatles on this LP, this book serves as a great analysis of that subject matter.

The Beatles and Sgt Pepper

Many people look at this LP as the apex and the zenith of the Beatles’ career. Bruce and his many author contributors do a superb job in putting the Sgt. Pepper LP into its proper historical and cultural perspective.

Part 2 coming soon

Buzz