MORE THAN A WORDSWORTH OF PRAISE FOR THIS NEW BOOK
Just received this wonderful book authored by John Webster, published in November 2024 by John Webster Publications in Oxford, UK. Doing this blog has enabled me to encounter many wonderful authors during my tenure here. Spotting the blog one day, the author of this title, THE CLOSEST THING IN HISTORY, John Webster, contacted me by email and suggested I would enjoy reading his book that approached discussions of the Beatles from a distinct and unique perspective by comparing elements of the history of the musical band to four early Romantic era writers.
John Webster is a scholar of the Romantics and has been studying their writings for nearly 50 years. This book does not only have an academic approach in the comparisons being offered, but it is also extremely informative and entertaining as well. John’s book helped to further educate me in the history and contributions of the Romantics to the world of literature as well as expanding my horizons of how I now view the importance of the Beatles in world history and culture.
You will be amazed at many of Webster’s anecdotes like how John and Yoko took their walk at St. Pancras Church on the Mad Day Out in 1968 near where Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife Mary Shelley once walked many decades earlier. How ironic that in the Beatles movie “Yellow Submarine” released in the same year of the Mad Day Out walk of 1968, the Frankenstein monster (a Mary Shelley creation) would transform into John Lennon in the animated classic. I do believe that Mary had much more of a sympathetic attitude towards the creature than Hollywood did, however!
Frankenstein
(and Dr. Winston O’Boogie)
From the Yellow Submarine Wiki page: Frankenstein | Yellow Submarine Wiki | Fandom
“Frankenstein is the monstrous form of John Lennon. When Ringo and Old Fred first met him, he is lying down on a contraction. After the monster gets up, he drinks a beaker with a purple potion, which makes him transform himself into John. He then says to Ringo that he had the most strangest dream.”
Thank you, Mary Shelley for the inspiration provided to the writer of that YS scene!
The actual historical comparisons put forth by John Webster in his title are not far-fetched as some skeptics might assume. Many of the parallels he draws in his book are quite frankly, astounding. I was very happy and pleased to purchase this book for my Beatles library. This book echoed a few words of wisdom that I like to use as a personal motto: “The day you stop learning, is the day you stop living.” With this book I like to believe that I learned a lot. Not only about the Beatles as a cultural phenomenon, but about the significant contributions of the Romantics to English literature.
This title is available at Amazon Books!!! Check it out!
This book was published in London by Purnell & Sons in 1964 featuring the photos of many celebrities of the day. From 1963-64, it did not take long for the publishing industry to discover that pictures of the Beatles on the cover of both books and magazines was virtually a surefire way to ensure healthy sales! With music magazines even under current times, that continues to be a good recipe!
Terry Southern was a very important writer to both the Beatles and to the counterculture during the 60’s. From Southern’s background as a writer of The Magic Christian, Candy, and Easy Rider as well as the classic screenplay for Dr. Strangelove, Southern’s cultural contributions are truly legendary.
A lesser-known association of Terry Southern with John Lennon was during John’s Lost Weekend in the 70’s. During that time Terry Southern taped John Lennon, and Mick Jagger along with a third celebrity on an hour-long cassette tape jamming on old Buddy Holly songs and other assorted oldies. That tape survives today and is owned by Terry Southern’s son, Nile.
Here is the internet story behind that tape:
Jack Len Tape
It was not uncommon for the Beatles or solo Beatles to use parts of childhood nursery rhymes to compose songs. In this title below, are the lyrics to a childhood rhyme that helped McCartney compose the song “Queenie Eye.”
This book was published by Wolfe Publishing LTD in 1970 in London and was compiled by Frank Shaw with a foreword by Peter Opie.
John Lennon with the encouragement of childhood friend, Pete Shotton, reminded John of another childhood nursery rhyme to write parts of “I Am The Walrus.”
Yellow belly custard
Green snot pie
All mixed together with a dead dogs eye
slap it on a butty, nice and thick
wash all it down with a cup of cold sick.
An alternate version supposedly favored (favoured) by Liverpudlians was the following:
Yellow matter custard,
Green slop pie,
All mixed together with a dead dog’s eye.
Slap it on a butty, ten foot thick,
Then wash it all down with a cup of cold sick.
Yellow Belly – Wirral-Wikiwirral
Love this book by one of John Lennon’s favorite rock photographers, Bob Gruen. This copy was signed and inscribed by Bob.
Bob’s signature from 2007:
See what being an obsessive collector will encourage you to accumulate/collect. This is Julian’s tour itinerary from his very first tour. It details the tour personnel and the shows where they were scheduled to perform. I saw Julian with my good friend, the late Bill Maura at one of the Beacon Theater shows in New York City. I purchased the tour itinerary from Ebay!
My copy of an Ebay purchased RIngo Starr tour itinerary from 1995 followed by a listing of the tour personnel on this tour:
Tour Personnel:
A hardback comic book about RIngo Starr that I purchased from Amazon:
A very large format magaine from the UK. I love these special magazines that were in a much larger-sized format than most other magazines:
A dear friend of the Beatles, but of George Harrison in particular, Joe Brown. He was a contemporary of the Beatles but he was well known before their rise to fame as he was a very popular musician in the 1950’s as well. Here is an an early recording of Joe Brown doing “A Wonderful Picture of You” which the Beatles were to later cover at their BBC radio sessions.
Joe Brown and the Bruvvers – A Picture of You (1962) – YouTube
He frequently visited his pal George at Friar Park. I purchased this signed biography from Ebay. Not too many people could keep a dry eye to his performance of “I’ll See You in My Dreams”‘ performed at the Concert for George.
I’ll See You In My Dreams (Live) – YouTube
Joe Brown’s John Hancock:
Was so happy and proud to acquire this great title from a couple of Beatle friends who were around to enjoy the Beatles as they rose to power in the early years. I refer to Mike and Bernadette (Bernie) Byrne. I love this book and so will you…..
You can find the book at Amazon:
Mike and Bernie’s wonderful inscription: Thank you!
Back cover of the book:
A signed photo of Double Fantasy bass player, Tony Levin, and the other group of musicians playing onJohn and Yoko’s LP. The photograph was taken by photographer David Spindel. I purchased this signed photo on Ebay as I did not have the Levin signature in my collection.
I love THE BIG ISSUE magazines that had solo Beatles cover shots and stories:
A great story about George but this magazine was difficult for me to find. I do occasionally see the issue advertised in Ebay.
An issue of this magazine which I know must be in Dan Ealey’s collection as it deals with Paul’s musical excursions in Tennessee with Wings!
To end this post, I have chosen a special book. A limited edition book of 2500 copies in a slipcase of one of the Beatles favorite all-time photographers, Robert Freeman. This edition comes with a signed print of Freeman of the rejected album design submitted by Freeman for the Revolver album. The design the Beatle ended up using was the Klaus Voormann design.
The back cover of the book:
The note from the people handling the publication of this stunning book:
An ad advertising the special edition of this book:
My copy of the signed print and design of Robert Freeman:
A QUESTION FOR YOU
Would you book collectors out there like to see a book of photography of all the alternate album covers that the Beatles were contemplating using over the years, both as a group and in their solo careers? Would a book like this be a big seller or marketable in your opinion? Why or Why not?
Also, need more of your input as to what you would like to see more of or less of on the blog. You have a direct impact on the blog content by giving us the feedback that can help us to direct the direction in which we should be heading based on your interests. Thank you!
Let me know your thoughts below.
BUZZ
SOME GREAT BOOKS AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
The Beatles
Books about The Beatles as a group
