As most members of this blog are aware, the primary purpose of the blog is to make people aware of the voluminous amount of print material about the Beatles that exists, or may be available in the marketplace.
The ideal function of the blog is not only to present the older and more obscure print material but also new and forthcoming titles as well. According to Amazon UK, the following book about the Beatles is due to be published in June of 2025.
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS: The story of the world’s biggest band. With a little help from their friends. Hardcover – 5 Jun. 2025-by Stuart Maconie (Author) Publisher: HarperNorth
Here is the Amazon UK description provided about the book:
Everyone knows a Beatles tune. But their story goes beyond the omnipresent songs and iconic albums. Theirs is a tale that has become one of the core stories we tell about ourselves as a nation. The Beatles narrative has both shaped and reflected the country we live in today. Four lads from Liverpool have taken a seat alongside Shakespeare as one of our key cultural exports to the world, a world they changed and re-made in their own image in a blaze of creativity. But these four distinct personalities changed the world not in isolation but with more than a little help from their friends.
Like all the best stories there’s an incredible supporting cast, and all the most compelling elements of the great dramas: ambition, power, triumph, disaster, heartbreak, tragedy, drama, intrigue, lust…and of course, love.
Split into 3 sections, Before The Beatles, With the Beatles and Beyond the Beatles, bestselling writer and broadcaster Stuart Maconie tells the epic tale of the people who made the band who made Britain, and along the way adds his own experiences, encounters and conversations that show the Beatles like you’ve never seen them before.
With A Little Help From Their Friends
AFTERWORD:
Since the book has not yet been published I certainly can not give a fair opinion about the contents contained within. However, I am certainly interested in the angle used to tell this world famous story!!!Looking forward to reading the book when it arrives!
A pair of Beatles Rarity related print oddities: Beatbook One and Beatbook Number Two issued in the 60s, followed by a fascinating story about A VERY RARE GEORGE HARRISON CASSETTE TAPE that well-known Beatles fan, Dave Morrell had listened to at an auction house.
The article was written by Beatles information specialist, Steve Marinucci. The tape featured George performing several John Lennon compositions before a group of people in India.
A Beatles Rarity Book
Enjoy the wonderful story…! The Beatbook books were found through Ebay and a Beatles fan on my old FB group!
Beatles Rarity Beatbook One and Two
A STORY ABOUT A VERY RARE GEORGE HARRISON CASSETTE TAPE
The article about the rare George Harrison cassette written by Beatles info specialist, Steve Marinucci:
Bob Wooler was the man who introduced many groups in the club that were to become a major part of the Mersey Sound that was to spread across the world.
Links to the Beatles have established an extended sense of immortality to people that were associated with them over the years, and one such man was Bob Wooler, the Cavern Club announcer who announced and introduced the group so many times in the early sixties.
Here are two books of interest about Mr. Wooler. The first book is a collection of some of his personal memorabilia. The book was put together after his passing to highlight some of the keepsakes he kept in his personal collection.
BOB WOOLER –LIVERPOOL MUSIC ROOTS – This Day in Music Books 2021
The Memorabilia of Bob Wooler
The Best of Fellas: The Story of Bob Wooler: Liverpool’s First DJ, the Man Who Introduced the Beatles Paperback – December 1, 2002
Spencer Leigh
Drivegreen Publications
This book is more of a biography and was written by author and radio announcer, Spencer Leigh!
Those that may be interested in these books, check Abe Books, eBay, and both Amazon US and Amazon UK! If that fails try to use a book search service site!
BUZZ
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE CAVERN IN THIS GREAT BOOK BY 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.
£17.25Original price was: £17.25.£13.50Current price is: £13.50.
All events will take place at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion, a historic venue with its own deep roots in coastal entertainment. Tickets can be booked directly via their official site:
Complete weekend pass: £179 – includes access to all sessions and events
Accommodation is plentiful in the local area — a bonus for anyone hoping to stay the weekend and let the music echo into the night.
Nigel Pearce
You remember certain mornings because they stand out in your memory. The sea exhibited a theatrical stillness while Cromer Pier radiated with warm, golden light. Something is fitting about talking all things Beatles under a sky that feels like a stage set. I had arrived early—early enough to catch the scent of sea air mixing with fresh coffee, waiting to meet a man who lives and breathes the music of the 60s: broadcaster, author, and Beatles historian Nigel Pearce, from Cromer.
I spotted him before he even got close — white jacket, bold red shirt, and the kind of boots that could walk straight out of Carnaby Street circa 1967. Nigel doesn’t just study the era. He wears it, walks in it, and perhaps most importantly, invites others to feel it too. And that’s precisely what he and Ray Anderson are about to do this summer on the Suffolk coast, at the Spa Pavilion, in fact! See the picture.
“There’s good news,” Nigel tells me, the words brimming with excitement. “We’re hosting East Anglia’s first-ever three-day Beatles Fest. It’s happening at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion — and it’s been a long time in the planning.”
Vibrant Nigel Pearce Links Eras on Air
Nigel Pearce is more than a man with a mic. Based in Cromer, his voice is familiar across the UK’s radio landscape, from Future Radio 107.8FM in Norwich – Poppyland FM in North Norfolk – Swindon 105.5FM and even with Go Global Groove Radio FM, beaming out from Chicago, USA.
But it’s his deep connection with Beatles history that truly sets him apart. As the author of Inside No. 3, a richly illustrated book tracing the product of Apple Records, he has established himself not just as a broadcaster, but as a preservationist — someone helping ensure the aura of music’s golden age isn’t lost to time. He’s also a member of Liverpool’s Beatles Bookstore and has spent decades building a collection of memorabilia that could rival small museums.
“The idea isn’t just to remember the Beatles,” he says. “It’s to bring the history alive — to give people a sample of what it felt like all those years ago.”
And from 20 to 22 June 2025, that’s exactly what will happen in Felixstowe.
Fabulous Beatles Fest, Day One: Brilliant Korgis will be Curtain-Raisers
Friday night’s opener is a gem: The Korgis, the British pop band best known for the haunting 1980 hit “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime”, will take to the Spa Pavilion stage.
“They had several hits through the 70s and 80s,” Nigel explains. “And they’re recording these days at Shabby Road Studios — a cheeky nod to Abbey Road. Their tribute session will be something really special.”
The Korgis are no ordinary nostalgia act. Their current performances blend their classics with songs that shaped them — think Tears for Fears, Simon & Garfunkel — each one interpreted through their unique musical lens.
Day Two: Apple Story and The Quarrymen
Inside Number Three The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Saturday kicks off with a rare treat: Inside Number Three, Nigel’s own Apple Records presentation. This is no dry lecture. It’s a sensory, audio-visual journey through the Beatles’ business empire — singles, albums, posters, rare films, forgotten footage. For fans who’ve only seen the highlights, this is a deep dive.
“We’ll have wall-to-wall video hits, some that many fans will have never seen,” says Nigel. “It’s a real chance to step back into 1968 — to really feel it.”
Later in the afternoon, audiences can expect free screenings of Beatles material, along with special inclusions such as footage of the late Joey Molland (the last member of Badfinger, who passed away just weeks ago), and an interview with Gary Van Syoc, who once played and recorded with John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Elephants Memory Band. Their Apple output was the Elephant’s Memory album, the Power Boogie Shuffle single, and John Lennon’s album, ‘Sometime in New York City.
“Gary has agreed to record and share an exclusive interview just for this event,” Nigel tells me, clearly moved.
Andrew Phillips
Author, Andrew Phillips, who has written a fabulous book on the Decca group, The Applejacks called ‘Like Dreamers Do’, will be presenting the story of when the Beatles and The Applejacks met and worked several times during 1963 and 64. Andrew will also chair a Q&A session.
The Quarrymen: From Skiffle Roots to Timeless Legacy
But Saturday evening may be the emotional heart of the weekend. The Quarrymen — the legendary group from which The Beatles emerged — still count three original members among their ranks: Rod Davis, Colin Hanton, and Len Garry. While Len is no longer able to travel, the band’s enduring legacy will be brought to life at Felixstowe by Rod and Colin, joined by a few musician friends, for a personal and intimate performance.
They’ll revisit stories and songs from their days playing with John Lennon in Liverpool — the heady, far-off days that planted the earliest seeds of what became The Beatles.
Their presence in Felixstowe isn’t just a performance; it’s a living, breathing piece of musical history.
“You’ll be seeing and hearing something truly special,” says Nigel. “Those early hits from the late 50s — brought to you by the very men who played them first.”
From Liverpool rooftops to festival stages across the world, The Quarrymen’s story isn’t just one of music — it’s one of memory, friendship, and transformation. These rare photographs, kindly shared by Rod Davis and the group, offer a glimpse into the journey, from their earliest days on the back of a lorry to recent performances that keep the legacy alive.
Day Three Bowie and Beatle Beat Magic
Nicky Horne’s Beatles, Bowie & Me.
By Sunday, there’s an emotional charge in the air. These aren’t just concerts anymore — they’re moments to treasure. And Nicky Horne’s part, Beatles, Bowie and me, will be very emotional.
Nicky, at one time, thought he had lost the tapes, but he found them in a box in his attic! Even then, he did not know if they would play. When he placed the tapes into the machine to check, he was amazed to find the recordings were crystal clear.
Nicky, a veteran DJ from the glory days of Capital Radio and now with Boom Radio, isn’t just presenting anecdotes. He’s opening his archives. Stories, perspectives, moments in time that haven’t been aired in decades. This offers something so rare — not just what the separate Beatles said, but exactly how they said it.
The Upbeat Beatles picture courtesy of Upbeat Beatles
As the day charges up further, the final act will take the stage — and what a finale it is. The Upbeat Beatles are one of the best Beatles tribute bands. They’ve been on the circuit for over twenty years, known for their pitch-perfect harmonies, tight arrangements, and uncanny ability to channel the Fab Four’s spirit — without slipping into impersonation.
“They’re going to take you through the full journey,” Nigel says, “All eight-and-a-half, nine years of Beatles brilliance — from the Cavern Club to the rooftop.”
It’s the kind of set designed to leave people swaying, singing, and smiling all the way to their beds.
Why It Still Matters For All Generations
Middle photograph: The Beatles with Ed Sullivan photo is in the public domain. The images, on either side, are of dancers in 1960s attire.
The Beatles weren’t just a band, they weren’t just a moment — they were a complete movement — and for the entire world, they still are. That’s why people are travelling to Felixstowe not just from across East Anglia, but from the US, Canada, and Europe.
“We’ve already had enquiries from as far as Canada and America,” Nigel shares. “It’s really exciting.”
Rehashing the past is not the point here. It’s about connecting with it. Younger audiences are discovering the music for the first time. Older fans are coming back to songs that shaped their lives. For three days, Felixstowe becomes a place where hearts beat in 4/4, and memories — even borrowed ones — feel vivid and alive.
There’s something enormously powerful about it all. In a theatre by the sea. Sharing songs that haven’t aged a day in feeling.
Tickets, Access and Final Thoughts
Parking at the Spa Pavilion Map, Image with kind courtesy of the theatre.
All events will take place at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion, a historic venue with its own deep roots in coastal entertainment. Tickets can be booked directly via their official site:
Complete weekend pass: £179 – includes access to all sessions and events
Accommodation is plentiful in the local area — a bonus for anyone hoping to stay the weekend and let the music echo into the night.
“We are getting older,” Nigel says, smiling. “But our hearts and our heads are not. And our love for the Beatles will remain intact around the world. That will never, ever change”
Nigel Pearce with his collection of guitars and an illustration from his book, Inside No.3. Images supplied by Nigel.
Further Information and Artist Links
To learn more about the performers and highlights of the Felixstowe Beatles Festival 2025, visit the official website of The Korgis, the acclaimed British pop group best known for “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime”. You can also explore Inside Number Three, Nigel Pearce’s captivating Apple Records presentation, which offers fans a rare glimpse into the Beatles’ creative and commercial legacy.
The origins of the Beatles come to life through The Quarrymen’s official website, where you can read more about the skiffle band that first brought Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison together. For details on Nicky Horne’s rare archival interviews with John Lennon, George Harrison, and David Bowie, visit Jack Up Events, where his show Beatles, Bowie & Me is featured.
To experience the energy and harmony of one of the UK’s top tribute acts, head over to The Upbeat Beatles
Special thanks to Chris Noble of Chris Noble Photography for kindly allowing the use of his live performance images of The Upbeat Beatles, taken at Alexander’s Live. Your lens captured the energy beautifully.
DON’T MISS THIS AMAZING FESTIVAL! IT WILL BE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND
Charles Rosenay, a fellow Nutmegger and a great Beatles and Monkee fan, recently suggested to me that an interesting blog post would be about Stu Phillips who conducted the Hollyridge Strings covering instrumental versions of Beatles songs on multiple LPs released on Capitol Records over the years. Stu Phillips, who is now 95 years old, signed some album covers for Charles. Charles is aware of my interest in collecting signatures of people that played some type of role in the Beatles story, and alerted me of the autographed albums. Stu Phillips has quite the musical resume’ as is witnessed at this Wikipedia link: (You will be amazed at what he has accomplished during his illustrious career).
It was obvious that Capitol was aware that there was a marketplace for instrumental versions of the wonderful Beatles musical catalog as is evidenced by the 6 volumes that they issued of this series though not all six of the volumes were conducted and arranged by Stu Phillips. In his time away from Capitol Records, he was heavily involved with Colgems/Colpix and The Monkees.
Screenshot
One of Stu Phillips notable accomplishments was that he was nominated for a Grammy Award in the following category in 1964
Nominated: 1964 Best Instrumental Performance – Non Jazz, The Beatles Song Book (Hollyridge Strings).
My special thanks go out to Charles Rosenay, for providing the photos for this post!
Front Cover of Vol 1:
Back cover:
Vol 2 Front cover:
Vol2 Back Cover:
Vol 3 Front Cover:
Vol 3 Back Cover:
Stu not involved with this release: Vol 4 Front Cover
Vol 4 Back Cover:
Stu was not involved with this one as well:Vol 5 Front Cover
Vol 5 Back Cover:
Stu comes back to conduct and arrange the Beatles songs on Vol 6 (the front cover). This is the signed LP that I acquired from Charles:
Vol 6 Back Cover:
QUESTION:
What is your favorite instrumental that you have heard of any Beatles song? My personal favorite was the version of “This Boy” that George Martin conducted.
A Great Beatles Genealogy book – published in 2018 by AR Heritage Publishing and authored by Richard A. Edmunds.
A brilliant book tracing the heritage and lineage of four of the world’s best known personalities. You will be amazed at some of the details provided in this book. Understanding where one comes from as was exemplified in the hit TV miniseries “Roots” helps to shed some light as to the synergistic properties that help to predict or lay the groundwork for the future.
Beatles Genealogy
Thoroughly enjoyed this book which helps to dispel some common Beatle myths and also adds significantly to our knowledge-base. Reading this book helped me to understand the magical prescription that helped to develop the fantastic story that would unfold over the years!
The Beatles Genealogy book – Inside the Beatles Family Tree
The best source to find this wonderful book is either on Ebay or Abe Books!
BUZZ
OUR FEATURED BOOK AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono (Signed Hardback)
Now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library & Archives
Acclaimed by MOJO & Goldmine
Recommended by Olivia Harrison
Spotlighted on The Beatles Channel, Sirius XM Radio
The true story of the woman John Lennon loved. Includes the work and music they made together, the love story of John & Yoko, and her relationship with the Beatles.
Ono’s incredible story goes way beyond what most people know.
There are astounding details about Yoko’s life (thirty-three years before meeting Lennon, twelve years with him, and over forty years of creativity since his death).
The author has followed Ono’s career since the mid-1960s, assembling a vast media archive on the artist. Yoko’s own voice, along with Lennon’s and others (in cited, published interviews) tell her undeniably true and complete story, disproving many myths. Bocaro has spent valuable time with Ono, gaining incredible insight.
Here is the ultimate exploration of Yoko’s childhood, her relationship with Lennon, her art, films, music and activism for peace and women’s rights.
