Another excellent musical offering by Julian Lennon with this 4 song EP called Because…
A recent check of Julian’s website indicated that the physical copies both signed and unsigned are already sold out!!! The official Julian Lennon online store – Julian Lennon Store but the 4 songs as a physical release were still listed as being available at TalkShop Live but I believe they also may no longer be available Julian Lennon – because… EP Black by AMS – TSL on TalkShopLive® If you missed out on the physical copies the Julian Lennon website offers the songs at many streaming outlets and platforms
Closing comments: I have always been fascinated by the musical recording career of Julian Lennon. Many of his tracks that he has kept in his vaults over the years are excellent and deserve to be heard by the public.
There are some unreleased Julian songs that I have heard on YouTube for example in the past that would make for superb studio production releases. In my personal opinion the choice to not yet share them with the world may be the artist selling himself short.
I personally believe the way the press has treated him over the years has created an unwarranted self-confidence crisis in regard to the decisions made about his musical recording output. That is coupled with poor record promotion by the recording industry in general!
Julian is an excellent singer who loves to write and sing the catchy melodies! He deserves much better from both the recording industry and the public!
The material is first-class, Julian!!! Keep on bringing those smiles to your many admirers!
I look forward to reading your forthcoming autobiography when you are ready to release it. It is my understanding from several interviews you have given that you are indeed currently working on it!
I would love to be able to present that book one day on this blog!
Be Healthy and be Happy!
Buzz
BEATLES BOOKS ABOUT JOHN LENNON AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
THE DOWNTOWN SINGER, PETULA CLARK – HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY “IS THAT YOU, PETULA?”
The British Invasion has predominantly been associated with being an exclusively male domain! That was not the case! Petula Clark had numerous hits in the 60’s that mirrored the success and prominence of the many male rock groups of the 60s. With the release of this book which Petula Clark states will be her one and only book title, it gives her the opportunity to tell her story directly from the primary source. Growing up as a first-generation Beatles fan, I remember that Petula Clark released so many excellent songs during the British Invasion time frame that helped to define that wonderful era. I have many of her songs permanently etched in my memory as being important ingredients in the musical milieu of the time.
Now in her 90s, Petula has chosen this as the time to share her memories with us. We will all benefit from reading about her recollections…
You will even learn about her association with John Lennon and how she became a backing singer on one of John Lennon’s first solo songs!
Some excellent examples of Petula’s career as a female pioneer during the British invasion, a few Beatles-related cover songs, and a few samples of some of her classic songsfeatured on YouTube:
A SORTABIOGRAPHY BY GEORGE HARRISON’S GOOD FRIEND ERIC IDLE
THEY SAY “AN IDLE BRAIN IS THE DEVIL’S WORKSHOP” PART OF THE FULL MONTY (PYTHON) – ERIC IDLE’S GENESIS BOOK
As most of the members of this blog are aware, I not only collect Beatles books but I also collect titles that have a connection or an association to the band. In this case, Eric Idle, a former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe was a good friend of ex-Beatle George Harrison and he also was one of the primary creative minds that put together the Beatles spoof known as the Rutles, which spawned two excellent album releases of Rutles Beatles-satirizing music written by former Bonzo Dog member, the late Neil Innes!
The musical releases were a result of Eric Idle’s wonderful video script he wrote, created and directed the Rutles film known as All You Need is Cash.
Here is the slipcase of the Genesis title the “sort of biography” of comedian Eric Idle. The man who can break you up without a word. His facial expressions alone can leave you in need a surgeon to deal with the stitches…
Here is the special 500 copy signed edition offered by Genesis Publication Ltd., the same company that published the limited edition of I Me Mine by George Harrison. Within this book you will see what a close friendship that Eric Idle had with former Beatle, George Harrison. You will notice that most great comedians are also very sensitive people harboring a lot of sadness within their psyche which they express through their comedy. Eric Idle has always given me that impression and it is only pure conjecture on my part. The photos you see on this post are from my copy of the book:
The Slipcase that holds the book:
Eric Idle – Always Look on The Bright Side of Life
The cover of the book:
Copyright info:
My copy is #499 of 500 signed by Mr. Idle:
Notification of some of the contents within this special book:
My copy of The Order of the Rutland Goat Certificate:
Signed lyrics to Eric Idle’s The Meaning of Life:
Part of the Galaxy Song by Eric Idle-this page of the lyrics is signed by Eric Idle:
Part of Eric’s sterling resume in the Genesis version of his biography:
The Mass Market Edition:
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography Hardcover – 2 Oct. 2018 by Eric Idle (Author) Crown Archetype
From the ingenious comic performer, founding member of Monty Python, and creator of Spamalot, comes an absurdly funny memoir of unparalleled wit and heartfelt candor.
We know him best for his unforgettable roles on Monty Python & from the Flying Circus to The Meaning of Life. Now, Eric Idle reflects on the meaning of his own life in this entertaining memoir that takes us on a remarkable journey from his childhood in an austere boarding school through his successful career in comedy, television, theater, and film. Coming of age as a writer and comedian during the Sixties and Seventies, Eric stumbled into the crossroads of the cultural revolution and found himself rubbing shoulders with the likes of George Harrison, David Bowie, and Robin Williams, all of whom became dear lifelong friends.
With anecdotes sprinkled throughout involving other close friends and luminaries such as Mike Nichols, Mick Jagger, Steve Martin, Paul Simon, Lorne Michaels, and many more, as well as John Cleese and the Pythons themselves, Eric captures a time of tremendous creative output with equal parts hilarity and heart. In Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, named for the song he wrote for Life of Brian and which has since become the number one song played at funerals in the UK, he shares the highlights of his life and career with the kind of offbeat humor that has delighted audiences for five decades. The year 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of The Pythons, and Eric is marking the occasion with this hilarious memoir chock full of behind-the-scenes stories from a high-flying life featuring everyone from Princess Leia to Queen Elizabeth.
AMAZON UK EDITION OF THE MASS MARKET EDITION OF THE BOOK:
Major Happy’s Up And Coming Once Upon A GoodTime Band
2
Rendezvous
3
Questionnaire
4
We’ve Arrived! (And To Prove It We’re Here)
5
Lonely – Phobia
6
Unfinished Words
7
Hey Mister!
8
Easy Listening
9
Now She’s Left You
10
The Knicker Elastic King
11
I Love You
12
Eine Kleine Middle Klasse Musik
13
Joe Public
14
Shangri – La
15
Don’t Know Why
16
Back In ’64
HANDMADE FILMS BOOKS
An amazing book about George Harrison’s Handmade Films and how he helped to finance Monty Python’s Life of Brian.Also learn how Handmade Films mismanagement by one of their executives helped to make the Beatles Anthology a possibility!
The book details many of the films produced by George’s film company. The story of George’s willingness to put up the money to film The Life of Brian which turned out to be a great success despite/because of the surrounding religious controversy!George’s willingness to help the Pythons finance the film by putting up his palatial home Friar Park as collateral, surely permanently endeared GH as a friend of Eric Idle for life!
HARDCOVER LIMITED EDITION BOOK–HANDMADE FILMS-BEHIND THE FILM MAKING
A special limited edition hardcover book about Handmade‘s collection of films. One thousand copies were issued of this limited-edition book:I have been told that the publication is still being offered at the following website:
Rutles Forever, The Official Rutles Fanzine featured exclusive interviews with Eric Idle, musician and songwriter Neil Innes, and of course Neil’s close friend Ron Nasty. Reprinted here, for the first time ever in a glorious facsimile edition. Extremely rare, with an original run of one hundred copies each. Presented as originally seen, four issues, 1978 to 1980. Making this collection more than complete is Archeology, selections from what would have been Rutles Forever Issue 5 and choice tidbits from the official RutleManiacs International fan archive. Digitally remastered for your enjoyment.
Back Cover:
Found some assorted videos on YouTube that give some proper context to this post:Thank you for all of the smiles over the years, Eric Idle . You, and your great circle of friends!!!
And a special treat from that wonderful YouTube site – an interview with our wonderful blog administrator, David Bedford:God Bless You, David! You are the best!!!
So What have A Clockwork Orange and The Beatles got in common?
As you see this Blog you may well ask what is this doing here, well please read on and all will become so very clear, as clear as mud it seems in parts,…… but the question and story is so very real.
The original book of A Clockwork Orange was first published by Anthony Burgess in 1962 and immediately opened several lines of questioning as regards morality and scope of the book and its contents. Interest however was very rich and the film rights were sold by the author for a then good sum of $500 US Dollars almost immediately, (today that would be worth around $5,200 Dollars).
As strength and wind got behind the movie project, The Rolling Stones were first in line for the film, with Mick Jagger very keen to play the role of Alex, (finally done with reverence by Malcolm Mcdowell). Ken Russell was to be the director of the said movie.
During the early 1970s records were made that The Beatles were also considered for roles within the film. The two bands were rotated in many peoples heads throughout the 1960s. All this occurred before Stanley Kubrick got involved with the project.
Enter at an early stage, writer Terry Southern who had written a script with the Beatles as the main cast, apparently building on their acting success in A Hard Day’s Night. This seemed to be the agreed approach until, the film’s executive producer Si Litvinoff passed a letter to prospective director John Schlesinger in February 1968, and with it a petition signed and fully supported by The Beatles and Mick Jagger, that the role of Alex was to be played by Mick, and the other Stones to play his gang mates in the movie.
The Beatles were then slated to write the film’s soundtrack and the resultant album was to be issued on Apple Records, their new Record Company. This, however. was never to be done due to the pressure brought to bear by The British Board of Film Classification, who stated that they would not grant any viewing certificates for the film, so the rights for the movie reverted finally to Stanley Kubrick.
The project rumbled on without any strong movement until the film IF was released starring Malcolm Mc Dowell, who played his role superbly exuding his violent nature, but also expounded intelligence on the screen. Some time later, Terry Southern gave a copy of his plot (still wrapped around The Beatles), and script to Stanley Kubrick, who apparently, after completing another project, liked everything about the film project so took it on.
By the time filming had begun in September 1970 and finished in April 1971, The Beatles had split as a group, so the avenue to having them write and record the soundtrack was lost completely.
However, filming was slated to begin on several occasions during late 1968 and 1969, and it was also planned to use mainly London locations. Thamesmead and other nearby areas were earmarked, so could one could ask the question, That could it be that the studios used to start rehearsals for the Get Back Project, in January 1969, could they have originally been booked for A Clockwork Orange soundtrack sessions? It certainly does bear thinking about, does it not?
Yes, we can now speculate with a lot more concrete timings, but it still remains conjecture until further information is added to this pot.Â
However strange this story must appear to many fans, I am 100% assured that it is not wishful thinking, or 100% conjecture, but a huge amount of fact that sadly never came to fruition. I add another caveat to this whole scenario in the fact that Lennon’s solo music really explored vastly different areas to mainstream music that The Beatles so richly dominated worldwide at the time. Some of the tracks on the White Album could have easily been used as background music to some of the explicit and disturbing scenes in the film. Along with Two Virgins as a candidate, the barriers and differences were at times not to far apart.
Finally, some of the film projects undertaken by John and Yoko via Apple films are so very surrealistic, avant garde in concept, that they indeed would have fitted very well in A Clockwork Orange. So although we did not get A Clockwork Apple, what we ended up with was a film that provoked at the time, and still does this very thing today.
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.
Author Philip Norman has written many books about the legendary band and/or the solo members of the group!
The first book entitled Shouthas been in print continuously since the 1980s when it was first published. When the Beatles split in 1970, the unity of the collective admiration for the band of fans seemed to evolve and dissipate somewhat as fans of the group began to choose their individual favorite solo Beatle to follow and many fans became increasingly defensive when their chosen favorite Beatle was shown to have some human failings that they did not want to be given credibility or veracity by the press.
Philip Norman suffered the anger of many McCartney fans with the initial publication of Shout as the portrayal of Paul McCartney in the book was not what many McCartney fans had expected (or dare I say-wanted). Norman was accused of giving John Lennon preferential treatment in the Beatles perceived power hierarchy.
All I know is that Philip is an excellent writer and researcher and I have enjoyed all of his Beatle-related books. His post-Shout McCartney biography seems to have been his subtle and clever way to answer the criticisms about his McCartney portrayal in Shout bringing the immensely talented Paul into a more balanced and less critical portrait of the man. Journalism is not always based solely on fact. It is also based on the author’s perceptions and the language being used to describe events. Word choice creates emotional meanings to the reader and viewer. An author of any printed work has certain predispositions that for whatever reason will influence their final product. This blog will present some of Philip Norman’s literary works about the Beatles and some of the locations where you can obtain/purchase them.
Philip Norman – Shout!
The Folio Society has recently published a new hardcover slipcased edition of the book that started it all entitled Shout! What is an additional attraction of this new edition is that it features many photos of noted Beatles photographer, Terry O’Neill as part of this wonderful edition, through an apparent agreement with the late O’Neill’s estate.
Copies of the latest edition can be obtained/purchased at the Folio Society website:
The hardcover book: I want to take this opportunity to thank a special individual for his help in being able to facilitate a signed and inscribed bookplate from author Philip Norman of the slipcased edition of the book. I am referring to Beatles book author and lifelong fan, David Stark, who occasionally sees Philip Norman in his neighborhood, and he took the time to ask Mr. Norman if he would consider sending me a signed bookplate for the new edition which I just purchased. The signed bookplate arrived in the mail in early November 2025.
I thank David Stark and Philip Norman for their kindness and consideration in this regard. David Stark is fully aware of my fascination as a collector for signed limited editions of books and I am genuinely appreciative and happy with this outcome.
For those of you who may not be aware, David Stark has an excellent book of his own recollections as an intense first-generation Beatles fan. It is one of my favorite books in my large Beatles book collection. You will enjoy the many fascinating stories in this title and here is the link to his website: (Check out David’s book-you will NOT be disappointed)
Another photo from the Folio Society’website, describing the new hardcover edition of Shout!
The first of two signed bookplates that Philip Norman kindly sent to me:
Philip Norman was very kind in sending me two signed bookplates for this special edition of his book. Special thanks are extended to David Starkfor facilitating Philip’s kind gesture!
Philip Norman’sSHOUT!
(From the Folio Society Website)
The True Story of The Beatles
Illustrated by Terry O’Neill
Introduced By the author
Packed with Terry O’Neill’s evocative photographs, this definitive Beatles biography gets the Folio treatment. Philip Norman’s forensic, funny and brilliantly written portrait captures the chaos and charisma of the Fab Four – a must-read for music lovers, Beatlemaniacs and anyone fascinated by the band that changed everything.
THE AUTHOR:
Philip Norman
About the Author – THE DESCRIPTION IS FROM THE FOLIO SOCIETY WEBSITE
Philip Norman has an international reputation as a chronicler of pop music and culture. Shout! (Folio 2025), his groundbreaking biography of The Beatles, first published in 1981, has been continuously in print ever since. He went on to write definitive biographies of the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Sir Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison. Also an award-winning writer of fiction, he was one of the first Top 20 Young British Novelists. His latest non-music book is We Danced On Our Desks: Brilliance and Backstabbing at the Sixties’ Most Influential Magazine (2022).
Coming in June of 2026 Philip Norman’s Brian Epstein biography:Mr. Moonlight: Brian Epstein and the Making of the Beatles Hardcover – June 16, 2026 by Philip Norman (Author)
Paul McCartney: The Life Hardcover – May 3, 2016 by Philip Norman (Author)
This is the book that many of Philip Norman’s critics felt was his attempt to portray a more balanced viewpoint about Paul McCartney’s contributions to the Beatles than the McCartney portrayal in the Beatles bio of Shoutwhere Norman was accused of taking an anti-McCartney focus!
I do not know for sure if that is the case but let the reader decide!!! LOL!
George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle Hardcover – October 24, 2023 by Philip Norman (Author)
Norman’s sensitive portrayal of George’s reluctance to bask in the non-ending glow of being a former Beatle and having to live up to the world’s expectations.
Well, we have Philip Norman books about the Beatles and about John, Paul, and George. We will soon even have a Brian Epstein biography coming from him. What are the odds that we will one day see the biography of Mr. Richard Starkey as a task assigned to PN?If it becomes a reality, one thing I am sure of, we will certainly learn something about the man from the Dingle in Liverpool that we did not know before!
Hope you have enjoyed this blog post about featured author, Philip Norman!
Best Wishes to all of you during this holiday season! Be Happy and Be Healthy!
Just received this wonderful book that was recently released. Though advertised as a children’s book title on Amazon, I would firmly disagree with that categorization. It is a direct message to all of us highlighting the insanity of war. The storyline was conceived and implemented by the team of Brad Booker, Dave Mullins, and Sean Lennon, along with the fabulous illustrator of the book, Max Narciso!
This team was inspired by the John Lennon and Yoko Ono holiday classic of Happy Xmas (War is Over). They put together a short film inspired by the song which has now turned a beautiful film and a timely message to the world. This short film was recognized for its excellence by winning a well-deserved Academy Award!!!
I ordered a signed edition of the War is Over book and I certainly did not expect my copy to be inscribed by Sean. I met Sean once at a musical performance he gave at a club in Massachusetts called The Iron Horse. There, I gave him a copy of his grandfather Freddie Lennon’s very rare recording entitled That’s My Life; That’s My Love and My Home sung in the Dutch language. It is virtually impossible to find a vinyl copy of that version of the song with a sleeve, but the internet solved that problem for me. Sean seemed to be very pleased and thanked me for the recording. He should be very proud of himself for both the Academy Award winning film and this wonderful book with a universal message of peace for all of us...
SIGNED SEALED AND DELIVERED
Thanks for inscribing the book, Sean. That was very kind of you!
The site where I purchased the signed book now says it is out of stock. I do not know if that means it is completely sold out or whether there will be more signed copies available at a later date:
