COVERING THE BEATLES – A RARE BEATLES BOOK BY ALAN LORD
Second Hand Beatles: A Covers Story Author Alan Lord Publisher House of Lords Publishing
Publication Year
2022
I normally do not like to repeat books that I have previously posted before on the blog, but with books like this I make an exception!
One of the lessons a Beatles collector learns after sometimes being disappointed in the search for a desired item is the ability to make quick purchase decisions. I remember seeing this book being offered on eBay and noticed that the book was only being issued in a 30-copy edition. I quickly acted upon my impulse and purchased a copy of the book from the author. They are, to the best of my knowledge all sold-out now!
The book represents a collection of many of the more notable Beatles cover versions done by other artists over the years! I feel compelled to once again present this book on the blog because it is not widely known but I consider it to be worthwhile having. It is an impossibility to have a book containing a comprehensive and complete listing of all of the cover versions of Beatles songs as that book would be several thousand pages long and it continues to grow exponentially as time goes by!
The author published this book independently and has been seeking a mass market publisher to print the book for a much larger audience. I sincerely hope that becomes a reality for him. The author is based in the UK. I am repeating an edited version of the old post for those who may have missed out on viewing the original posting.
SECOND HAND BEATLES – A COVERS STORY
My copy of the book #7 of 30 copies:
A Rare Beatles Book – Second Hand Beatles
Back cover of the book:
A Rare Beatles Book – Second Hand Beatles
The author’s signature on my copy of the book:
Recently saw copy #30 being offered on eBay for 250 pounds!
Copy number 30 was being offered by someone at 250 pounds on eBay, which is a substantial amount of money
Beatles collectibles appreciate in value very quickly. It is granted that just because someone asks a tremendous amount for a collectable does not always translate in getting the asking price, but it demonstrates that the true value of any collectable is determined by what the prospective buyer is willing to pay for it and whether an agreement can be reached between the buyer and seller!
Second Hand Beatles: A Covers Story, Alan Lord, 2022, limited ed., copy 30 of 30
GBP 250.00 – this photograph is from the eBay description/ portrayal of the book!
The eBay description of the book:
Second Hand Beatles: A Covers Story, by Alan Lord (House of Lords Publishing, [Macclesfield,] 2022)
A wide-ranging introduction to the people and groups who have covered the songs of Lennon and McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Alan Lord’s annotated survey considers CDs, albums and singles from virtually every corner of the world, and is illustrated mainly in colour with record covers. Number 30 in a limited edition of 30 copies. Signed and numbered by Alan Lord
It truly is a shame that this very interesting book is not available to a wider mass audience as it deserves to be there in the marketplace. I am hoping for an entrepreneurial publisher to contact Mr. Lord to explore that possibility!
Even though I could look at things from a selfish perspective and say I am happy that there are only 30 copies and I have one of them, though I have to be honest, I sometimes do feel that way. I would prefer that all quality Beatles books be made available on a mass audience level and at a reasonable price so that we all can share in the joy of being able to read the book!
As a collector, acquiring limited-edition books like this has taught me one major lesson. If the book is a limited- edition and you want it and can afford it, act quickly or you may miss out on it! Remember the old saying, “he who hesitates is lost?”
“This proverb emphasizes the importance of making quick decisions to avoid missed opportunities and negative consequences. While the exact origin is not definitively linked to a single figure, it has been widely recognized in English literature since the 1700s.”
In honor of their old band-mate John Lennon, his first band, The Quarrymen, reunited last week in London on October 11th and 12th. Rod Davies, guitarist for the group, has just written us with his enthusiastic comments about the events, the attendees, as well as an exclusive photo with author Hunter Davies.
Rod wrote, “On Thursday night we played for the after-party of Hunter Davies’ ‘The John Lennon Letters’ Book Launch at the British Library in London. Here is a photo you can share with your readers.” Rod added, “It was attended by (John’s sisters) Julia and Jackie, and also Yoko, who made a short speech.”
The Quarrymen
Hunter Davies just published the book, “The John Lennon Letters,” a 400-page book that includes almost 300 letters, postcards and notes penned by Lennon throughout his life.
Yoko Ono has provided the Foreword. Read our in-depth review here.
Len Garry, Shelley and Pete Shotton
The big performance the next night was at the North London Rock ‘n’ Roll venue Castle Rocks. “It
was great if I do say so myself,” Rod said, adding, “Julia and Jackie also attended that event, which was very nice of them. We had Chas McDevitt—the next biggest skiffler to Donegan in the sixties (watch this Lonnie Donegan video)—come and play his big hit with us, “Freight Train”, and an American friend came and sat in on musical saw and jug…(not at the same time of course) for a few numbers.”
Watch the video of the Quarrymen performing the Del Vikings’ ‘Come Go With Me.’ This was one of the songs they sang with John Lennon on July 6, 1957, the day John met Paul. The Quarrymen, you’ll note, use John’s “wrong-words” version of the song!
The Quarrymen with Hunter Davis
In the photo this page, see the line-up from the evening of Hunter Davies’ book launch: John Duff Lowe (keyboards), Len Garry (guitar/vocal), Colin Hanton (drums), Hunter Davies (Blue Shirt), Frank Cairns, (guest bassist) and Rod Davis (guitar/vocal).
The Quarrymen were John Lennon’s first group, before the line-up that became the Beatles. The name was taken from his school in Liverpool, Quarry Bank. The group was a skiffle group; the band still performs at Beatles functions, leaving a microphone open in honor of John. They still do their old favorites (included on their 2004 CD): Maggie May, I’m left, you’re right, she’s gone, Twenty flight rock,Down by the riverside, Come go with me, Mean woman blues, Puttin’ on the Style, That’ll be the day,Baby let’s play house, Memphis Tennessee, In spite of all the danger, All shook up, Rock Island Line, Blue Suede Shoes.
As well as loving Beatles recordings, I have another collecting passion. I also attempt to acquire the musical contributions of Julian Lennon, John’s first son. He has a wonderful voice, and I only wish he had more confidence in his musical prowess as he is extremely talented. I personally believe he chose photography as his primary life focus because he wanted to avoid comparisons with his legendary father. The world is missing out on a lot of magical music as a result. As a collector I love to find the lesser-known recorded works of an artist. (Being the obsessive detective) Julian Lennon has made numerous guest appearances on other’s recordings and is both exhilarating and rewarding finding them and adding them to the collection!
This work published in 2017 was composed by the musician, Brian Byrne, and was a very challenging but intriguing idea on his part to take the words of famous author James Joyce and to write compositions inspired by those words as the lyrics to the musical pieces.
Golden Globe-nominated and IFTA award-winning composer Brian Byrne released Goldenhair on June 16th, 2017. The release date coincided with Bloomsday, the holiday celebrated worldwide in commemoration of Irish author James Joyce, whose poems inspired Byrne’s album.
I loved this recording when it came to my attention and I purchased an autographed copy by the musical composer, Brian Byrne who is a very talented man!
The blog post contained here today is my copy of the cd that I purchased!
The song that Julian Lennon appears on is called Sleep Now and he performs it with singer, Kristina Train:
The song has a beautiful melody, and the singers perform the composition superbly! It serves somewhat as a peaceful lullaby for an older adult audience!
THE SONG SLEEP NOW SUNG BY KRISTINA TRAIN & JULIAN LENNON:
Do you have a favorite Julian Lennon vocal recording that you believe deserved greater recognition and exposure to a larger audience? Please let us know what it is in the comments section!
Broadcaster Nigel Pearce brought the story of Apple Records to life at Carrow House in Norwich during a special fundraiser for Future Radio and Future Projects. With rare footage, memorabilia and shared memories from the Beatles era, the evening transported the audience back to the famous Savile Row years.
Nigel Pearce during his Inside No.3 presentation exploring the story of Apple Records and the Beatles’ Savile Row years at Carrow House in Norwich.
It was lovely spending the evening with Nigel Pearce at Carrow House, fundraising for Future Radio and celebrating Apple Records music and memories.
Arriving at Carrow House on foot from Norwich station left me slightly puffing but pleased. The air that night had a real bite to it, and I felt sure even before getting there that the evening would be enjoyable.
Not long into my stroll, lights from Carrow House caught my eye through the glass panels of the elegant Orangery. As I approached, people were arriving and being greeted by members of the Future Radio team already inside.
The talk ‘Inside No.3: The Story of Apple Records’ was being presented by broadcaster and musicologist Nigel Pearce. The atmosphere inside was warm. There was chat from around the room, glasses clinking together and excitement building from guests eager to hear Nigel tell the tale of the Beatles’ iconic record label.
Copies of Nigel Pearce’s Inside No.3 book were displayed alongside Apple Records memorabilia before the talk at Carrow House in Norwich. Image by Andreas Yiasimi.
Beforehand, guests were invited to take a look at Nigel’s incredible collection. Items from the Apple era sat upon tables around the room. Vinyl covers, unique pieces and memorabilia allowed visitors to get even closer to the story Nigel was about to tell us.
Thankfully, Nigel permitted me to snap a few pictures of these treasures before his presentation began, and the Future Radio volunteers were absolutely brilliant throughout.
It set the tone immediately. This was not simply a lecture. It felt more like stepping into a living archive.
The Story Behind Apple Records
Nigel Pearce took to the stage, and within seconds the chatter in the room had subsided. He transported the audience back to the late 1960s when The Beatles formed Apple Records under the umbrella of Apple Corps.
The concept of Apple was revolutionary. Instead of artists being controlled by record company bosses, Apple would be different. It would allow creative minds to do what they do best with less interference from corporates. It was a true test of freedom of expression.
A selection of Apple Records releases from Nigel Pearce’s collection, including albums by Badfinger and composer John Tavener.
As Nigel spoke, vintage footage from the era was played on screen. He told the story behind 3 Savile Row, London. Home of Apple Corps Ltd. The address that would become world famous.
In conversation after his talk, Nigel mentioned how the audience reacted.
“It’s an immersive evening looking at what went on at Number 3 Savile Row and the record label side of the Beatles’ Apple story,” he said.
“The audience reaction would suggest that people enjoyed the evening. It’s great that we have raised money for Norwich’s Future Projects charity.”
I thought there was a good balance of history and personal memories. Nigel obviously knows his stuff inside out, but he also knows how to keep his audience interested. We were enthralled as rare film clips, photos and stories were mixed into his presentation.
Many times during the night, I found myself leaning forward in my seat, amazed at some little-known fact or remembered story from that fantastic period of music.
Music, Memories and Cultural Icons
Founded by the Beatles, Apple Records became something bigger and attracted other artists to the label.
Throughout the lecture, Nigel touched on various personalities associated with Apple, from Mary Hopkin and Badfinger to the Radha Krishna Temple recordings produced by George Harrison.
There were brief insights into the fashion subculture of Apple and Savile Row, too. The era was rich with creativity and collaboration, and Nigel’s presentation captured that atmosphere beautifully.
Guitars and a violin-shaped bass were displayed among Nigel Pearce’s Beatles-era memorabilia during the Apple Records event at Carrow House in Norwich. images by Andreas Yiasimi.
One moment might feature a rare photograph from the period. The next might move to a piece of music or a film clip that transported the room back to the late sixties.
It was personal for many in the audience.
Nigel threaded the talk together with snippets that members of the audience could relate to from their own memories. Many of those there will have lived through those times, and there were smiles and nods of recognition aplenty.
There were audible chuckles of appreciation as familiar scenes popped up on screen.
It wasn’t simply nostalgia.
At moments, it felt closer to stepping back into the era itself.
A Room Full of History
Part of the charm of the evening came from the remarkable collection Nigel had brought with him.
Vinyl copies of Apple Records artists’ albums were featured too, including Badfinger. Beatles releases were also present, along with various memorabilia from the Beatles’ time on Savile Row.
Nearby were two guitars mounted on stands, and one violin-shaped bass guitar. They served as a quiet reminder that the Apple story was not only about business or record labels. At its heart, it was about music, instruments and the creativity that shaped an entire generation.
A parcel addressed to Apple at 3 Savile Row, London, was displayed among memorabilia from Nigel Pearce’s collection. Image: Andreas Yiasimi
Copies of Nigel’s book Inside No.3, telling the story of the iconic Savile Row building and the wider Apple world, were also available for purchase.
Items in the collection transported visitors from the past to the present. Stopping to look at a record sleeve or exhibition artefact allowed guests to place themselves in that iconic cultural moment.
It added a tactile quality to the evening that made the history feel wonderfully close.
The Community Behind the Event
While celebrating musical history, the night also had a job to do.
It was organised as a fundraiser for Future Projects, the charity which runs Future Radio, one of Norwich’s cherished community radio stations.
Future Radio has provided an invaluable service for many years, allowing volunteers and would-be presenters the chance to gain broadcasting and media skills, often their first taste of radio.
Members of the Future Radio team gathering in the Orangery at Carrow House during the Apple Records fundraising evening in Norwich. Image: Andreas Yiasimi.
Speaking during the evening, Dean Tucker, station manager at Future Radio, explained the wider work carried out by the charity.
“Future Radio is part of the wider Future Projects charity,” he said.
“We work across the community helping people who need support, whether that’s financial help, homelessness support or education.”
Future Projects operates several initiatives, including Future Support, which helps individuals facing hardship, and Future Education, an independent school supporting young people who need additional help in their learning.
Future Radio itself remains at the heart of the organisation’s community outreach.
“We have around ninety volunteers supporting the station,” Dean explained.
“We’re more than just a radio station. We work closely with the wider charity to help people across Norwich.”
Future Radio station manager Dean Tucker (left), a volunteer serving refreshments, and broadcaster Nigel Pearce during the Apple Records fundraising evening at Carrow House. Images: Andreas Yiasimi.
That community spirit was tangible throughout the evening. From volunteers greeting guests as they arrived and serving drinks throughout, there was a real team effort to make sure everything went well.
You could tell that many hands had made light work.
Bringing People Together
As Nigel concluded his presentation, there was warm applause from the room. Chat started up again as folks talked about their own impressions and memories of the night.
There was also a raffle prize, which helped raise a little more cash for the charity, too.
Moments from the Apple Records evening at Carrow House, including Future Radio volunteers, broadcaster Nigel Pearce, guests and memorabilia from the Savile Row era. Images: Andreas Yiasimi.
Events like this have a knack for bottling up something rather unique about nights hosted by community organisations. You go along to listen to a presentation or watch a show, but usually end up walking away with much more than you expected.
For some of those present that night, it was about reconnecting with more than just The Beatles or Apple Records. They had rediscovered a collective memory.
For others, it was an insight into the work of a great local charity doing good work right on their doorstep with Future Radio and the wider Future Projects charity.
Some music lovers also made the journey to revel in stories about a wildly creative era in music.
History That Lives On
Apple Records releases from artists including Delaney & Bonnie and The Iveys, part of Nigel Pearce’s memorabilia collection, were displayed during the Inside No.3 talk at Carrow House. Image: Andreas Yiasimi.
More than fifty years after Apple Records was founded, the fascination with the Beatles’ creative experiment shows no sign of fading.
The Beatles were innovators in pioneering not just with their music but also in how artists should be handled by the industry.
Yes, it may have all unravelled at one point. Yet amidst the whirlwind, they were reinventing the rules.
Nigel Pearce has taken years of research and turned it into a wonderfully told story about the successes of Apple Records.
And on the night itself, within the orangery at Carrow House and surrounded by friends, family and Future Radio volunteers, that story was told to another audience.
Guests milled around outside as they filtered into the refreshing night air, and you got the feeling that everyone had been part of something special.
They’d come back in time together.
Not just to hear the music but to experience again what it must’ve felt like to be at the centre of something special, something that would alter pop culture forever.
Apple Records and 3 Savile Row
Founded in 1968, Apple Records began as part of Apple Corps, created by The Beatles. At 3 Savile Row in London stood the headquarters of this recording company. Though best known for The Beatles’ work, its catalogue included artists like Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and James Taylor. On that same street, atop their building, The Beatles gave what became their final live performance in January 1969.
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.
On 21st March 1961, The Beatles made their evening debut at The Cavern Club.
Debbie Greenberg is not only an expert on The Cavern, but with her father, she went from Beatles fan who saw every single Cavern performance of The Beatles, to running the Cavern.
Discover the amazing story in her book, and in this interview with Mike Croaker on his “You Can Talk To Me” podcast
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.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE- ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE?
Ringo’s drumhead for the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show:
Auction catalogs have always held a strong fascination for me especially as it relates to Beatles-related items.
I recently learned from one of my blog subscribers about the Jim Irsay collection, the late owner of the Indianapolis Colts was going to have many of his pop-culture artifacts auctioned off by Christie’s auction house in March of 2026.
Some biographical information about James (Jim) Irsay from Wikipedia
“James Irsay (June 13, 1959 – May 21, 2025) was an American billionaire businessman who was the principal owner, chairman, and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 1997 until his death in 2025.”
The news of the auction:
I became instantly intrigued. Not because I could afford any of the wonderful high-ticket Beatles items that Mr. Irsay had acquired in his extensive collection over the years but I was now getting the opportunity to view the items in my own copy of the photographs of the magnificent items going up for auction by purchasing the Christie’s auction catalog which I was able to findbefore the auction. A viewer of this blog post was disappointed after the original link that was used to purchase my copy of the auction catalog was apparently no longer offering it once the auction had ended!
Not being able to personally afford any of these high-priced items, I was able to do the next best thing as I was able to have the photographs of the items being auctioned by purchasing the 439-page massive catalog of Mr. Irsay’s fabulous collection directly from the Christie’s auction website provided above.
Not only did the catalog contain many Beatles collectibles but it featured many superb items from virtually all of the major characters prominent in pop-culture over the years. Mr. Irsay had good taste as the many great items in the catalog would attest to!
The front cover of my copy of the catalog:
A side view of the thick catalog of auction items:
The back cover of the mammoth auction catalog!
A few sample pages from my copy of the Christie’s catalog of the Jim Irsay Collection:Here are the main categories of the Table of Contents of the auction catalog
AUCTION INFORMATION FROM THE CATALOG:
INFORMATION ABOUT JIM IRSAY:A GREAT MUSIC FAN!
A FEW SAMPLE PHOTOS FROM MY COPY OF THE CATALOG:
Though I love viewing all of the items in this auction catalog, it is the Beatles collectibles that primarily attract my interest. Mr. Irsay had tremendous taste in the items he chose to acquire for his tremendous collection. I am includinga few sample photographs from my copy of the auction catalog so you can get a flavor for what is being offered at the auction. One can only imagine what some of these items will end up fetching!
According to the auction catalog, this is Ringo Starr’s first Ludwing drum kit used with the Beatles from May 1963 to February 1964!
THIS LENNON RICKENBACKER SOLD FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS AT THE CHRISTIE’S AUCTION:
John Lennon’s Rose-Morris Rickenbacker Guitar:This guitar was used the Beatles’ Christmas Shows December 1964-January 1965!
Hope you enjoyed this brief view of my recently acquired Christie’s catalog and some of the items contained within. Though I could never own any of the items personally, it is nice to have a photographic record of some of the pop-culture history, artifacts and the treasures compiled by Jim Irsay when he was around. He collected these items to preserve them for posterity and future generations.
