As a Beatles book collector, I do not limit what I collect to just books about the Beatles. I also love parodies and books that indicate the significant impact the band had on world culture. One of the reasons given by music analysts for the Beatles’ immense success, beyond their musical talent, was also their sense of humor. This 1964 Australian book, yeah Yeah Yeah, by Roy Bisson and Fred Fowler highlights the band being on the receiving end of that humor.
Buzz
Some of the amazing ArtworkGreat humour in the cartoonsThe Authors/ Artists
Yes that is Mary Hopkin’s sister, Carole, who wrote this rare and obscure book released in 2013 and is now out of print. The book was published by Merton Press. (Beatles Before and Beyond)
Carole had met George’s brother, Harry at a Henley pub and he had expressed the thought that George would love for her to be able to do some sketches of George’s home at Friar Park. Being an illustrator, Carole was thrilled to be given that opportunity and a few of those sketches are included in the book.
Mary Hopkin’s Autograph
Following the picture of the cover of this rare book is Carole’s sister, Mary Hopkin’s autograph and a very rare Apple 45, released only on Apple in the Philippines. It was a Christmas tune that was issued on Apple after her contract with the company had expired and it is the only country where the 45 appeared on Apple.
Mary Had A Boy
Cherry Tree Carol
All of these items are from my personal collection.
In the 1980’s Yoko got together to work with a famous Japanese director to make a 1/2 hour VHS video that was released only in Japan whereby she portrayed a homeless person In NY. The video was available for only a short time as Yoko had it withdrawn as she did not approve of how the video was being marketed. I was able to find and purchase a copy of the rare VHS tape on Ebay.
Yoko Ono in the Homeless Film
A museum-produced book in Japan by the Museum of Modern Art. Earlier editions of the book contained the only official cd release of a Yoko Ono composition to honor the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. (Hiroshima Sky is Always Blue) The full nearly 8-minute version of the composition appeared only on the cd accompanying the book. What is very notable is Paul McCartney and family appear with Sean Lennon backing Yoko on the track. What I found interesting is both Linda and Paul take their turns at making Yoko vocalizations on the track. There are two different cover variations of this book.
The book issued contained the rare Yoko/McCartney recording.
The Road of Hope
The cd contained in the Museum of Modern Art book:
Though this is not a book, it certainly represents Beatles-related print material. In the year 2000, Cynthia Lennon created this special box set portfolio of 4 signed prints she did of John as a gift to her son. I was able to obtain one from Ebay several years ago. The photos below are my set that I acquired. I was very happy to acquire this beautiful set for the collection.
Hope you will enjoy this post!!!
The website link provided here has the full description of this wonderful set
In 2000, Cynthia Lennon, the 1st wife of John and mother of Julian, painted four portraits of John and gave them to Julian as a birthday gift on the 20th anniversary of John’s death in 1980. A production company in London contracted to produce a “limited edition” of these portraits in colour lithograph prints. The promotion never went through but there were 300 sets of these prints produced. This example is in near-mint condition.
Inside the John Lennon Book
The four-piece artwork set was printed by Napier Jones to Fine Art Trade Guild Standards
Print #1 (top) is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1963 in his collarless jacket.
Print #2 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1965, the year the Beatles received an accolade from the Queen of England.
John Lennon in 1965 by Cynthia Lennon
Print #3 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1967, during the period of time that Sgt Pepper was released and John and the other Beatles had finally stopped touring
John Lennon in 1967 by Cynthia Lennon
Print #4 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1980, when John`s life was so quickly and cruelly taken.
John Lennon in 1980 by Cynthia Lennon
Buzz
Other Books About John Lennon at the Beatles Bookstore
This privately published edition is no longer available. Soon a mass market edition will be available on Amazon
Lennon Reality or Fantasy
When John Lennon had finished recording Double Fantasy, shortly thereafter he was assassinated. After several years had passed, many photo compilations of pictures taken in the last year of his life began to hit the marketplace. I had become aware that one of the photographers that had taken some of the last professional photos of John, was involved in several projects with Yoko to issue some of those photos for public consumption. David for example was responsible for the cover photo of the John Lennon “Acoustic” cd.
Reality or Fantasy
Starting Over by Ken Sharp
Starting Over
Starting over
He was also to have several of his photos published in the “Starting Over” book by Ken Sharp and the book “John Lennon Summer of 1980”, a book of photography compiled by Yoko Ono of John and Yoko photos taken by 8 photographers, of which David was one of them.
Summer of Love
Summer of Love
Many years later I happened to come upon David Spindel’s website (spindelvisions.com) where I saw a photo of a hardcover book that I had never seen before and I quickly made inquiries to David to see if I could purchase a copy.
David Spindel Website
Even though the book is published privately and therefore more expensive, I quickly made arrangements to buy a copy from David. In doing so I quickly became a good friend of his as he is both kind, generous, and a very funny man. He provided many little signed extras for me when I purchased something from him and he is a very nice guy. In addition, I love his photos of John and Yoko and he is an extremely talented man.
David Spindell Autograph
I have included two emails to reach him if you would like to inquire either about his book or his photos or the many celebrities he has interacted with over the years. I have never met David but I truly consider him a good friend and I wish him well in all his endeavors. I love this book and it deserves a much wider circulation in my humble opinion and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with you when I contacted Mr. David Spindel!!!
John’s turn today, although he said in a Rolling Stone interview that he didn’t like the song much:
I never liked ‘Run for Your Life,’ because it was a song I just knocked off. It was inspired from …“Baby, Let’s Play House.” There was a line on it…”I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man” – so I wrote it around that but I didn’t think it was that important.
In fact, in the early ‘70s he said that it was his least favorite Beatles song, although he knew that George liked it a lot.
There is an interesting lineage for the song, however, that started with a country and western song written for Eddy Arnold in 1951, “I Want to Play House with You.”
Four years later, that song title had morphed into “Baby, Let’s Play House.”
This was a song written for Elvis Presley by a young songwriter named Arthur Gunter. His song included the following lines:
Now listen to me baby Try to understand I’d rather see you dead, little girl Than to be with another man
The Gunter song was an unambiguous “I want you” song. Ten years later (1965) Lennon, however, remembered a couple lines from it, and made them the centerpiece for a song about a “wicked guy” who was “born with a jealous mind.” It’s an interesting case study in how derivative music can be, and I’ve talked here before about how the Beatles listened to everything they could get their hands on, then made it their own.
For this derivative, “knocked off” song, John sang lead, Paul and George did the harmonies, and everyone played their regular instruments with the exception that John had both electric and acoustic tracks on the song to go along with George’s energetic lead and Paul’s bass.
Flash forward over 55 years to a time when the nation has been running for its collective life, and we all are working to adapt the best we can to the new reality.
From:
When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles
(All their songs with encouraging words for challenging times)
By Tim Hatfield
[Go to www.amazon.com, search “Tim Hatfield Beatles” and download the free app to read the ebook on your device]
