A Beatles book rarity is always great to see re-published. “The ups and downs of being in and out of the limelight. Showbiz from the wings. Dancing with Sinatra, singing with Robert Mitchum, chatting with the Beatles, dining with Buzz Aldrin, making cake for David Bowie, taking the Duchess of Gloucester shopping, and having strange meetings with Anthony Hopkins have added to a life well-lived, rich with good friends, family, and memories.”
Singer Mary Hopkin ofThose Were the Days fame has a sister named Carole who is an artist. Several years ago, she wrote a book that was her memoir of recollections of encounters she had with many fascinating celebrities. The book was independently published and after a very short time it was impossible find a copy as it went out-of-print rather quickly. Good news though, as it has apparently been re-published as new listings for the book have appeared in March of 2026 on Amazon.
When I posted my original find of this book through a friend on Facebook, I remember receiving several requests from people searching for this book and they simply could not locate a copy. It appears that problem has now been solved!
Hear the story of how George’s brother invited Carole to Friar Park to do some sketches for his brother, George! Some of the sketches are included in the book. For more stories, you can find the book at these 2 links:
“The ups and downs of being in and out of the limelight. Showbiz from the wings. Dancing with Sinatra, singing with Robert Mitchum, chatting with the Beatles, dining with Buzz Aldrin, making cake for David Bowie, taking the Duchess of Gloucester shopping, and having strange meetings with Anthony Hopkins have added to a life well-lived, rich with good friends, family, and memories. As the author graduates from Art School her career path is waylaid by her sister’s sudden rise to world fame, and the two girls are whisked from recordings at Apple Records and Abbey Road to first class travel several times around the world. Through this the author manages to sustain her writing and painting, adding singing, dancing and acting to her C.V. along the way. She stars in The Mousetrap, and Dr. Who, chats to Richard Burton in New York, and Maxime de la Falaise as she makes Andy Warhol’s birthday cake. She’s on-board H.M.S. Hermes, entertaining the troops after the Falklands war and gets to paint in George Harrison’s garden when she lives in Henley. In Monte Carlo she meets Anthony Burgess and Rex Harrison and parties away with the best of them. The book sums up the best and the worst of being in and out of the limelight!”
Glad to see this book rarity reappear for Beatles book collectors. I had searched originally for months in trying to obtain an original copy when it was out-of-print and ultimately found one. Now that problem is solved! Though this is not a Beatles book per-se, you will enjoy many of the stories and illustrations!
A COLLECTOR’S ECCENTRIC RECIPE IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR MY BEATLES COLLECTION ITEMS
A DIRTY MAC PRINT BY PAUL SKELLET, A CD BOOK READ BY CYNTHIA LENNNON, A BOOK SIGNED BY JIM KELTNER & A SIGNED BOOK BY THE FAB PHOTOGRAPHER AT THE BEATLES ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE OUR WORLD SESSION IN 1967
There are always many reasons why individuals may make choices as to what may constitute some favorite items in their personal Beatles collections. Like your favorite Beatles songs those feelings and choices can vary and change on a a virtually daily basis. Some may seem like very logical choices and others may seem to be deemed irrational by others. In any case that is part of the fun of this big adventure that we as collectors can be on. So many memories may be tied in with the items and how they were acquired or added to the collection!
Whereas they may not be the absolute favorite items in personal collection or even approach the things that are most valuable and command the most money upon selling, they appeal to me very much for one reason or another. Would love to hear some of your own personal collection favorites in the comment section below especially those that you feel that others would find to be unusual choices!
I remember several years ago viewing some of multimedia artist Paul Skellett’s popular culture portraits/paintings at his Online catalog and I was amazed at the man’s talent. I wish I had been able to buy the painting of the Dirty Mac image shown below but at the time I knew it would not fit in my budget to do so, prompting me to do the next best thing! I purchased the 1st signed and numbered print of Skellett’s Dirty Mac portrait issued in a run of 99 prints.
I loved John’s appearance in the supergroup from the Rolling Stones Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus when he was being backed by Eric Clapton on lead guitar, Keith Richards on bass guitar and Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix band on drums!
This is the way Amazon describes Paul Skellett
“Paul Skellett is one of the most accomplished image restoration and remastering experts. As well as being a fine artist he is also a highly experienced illustrator, image curator, book designer, leisure brand creative and musician, in a career spanning over twenty-five years. Paul is a self-confessed Beatles fanatic.”
It is also available on a DVD of The Rock ‘n’ Circus on Amazon. Copies can also be found on eBay and several other sources which carry DVD’s!
I need to get around very soon to frame this print!
PAUL SKELLETT’S DIRTY MAC PRINT:
Title of the piece:
Paul Skellett’s signature and his acknowledgement to me that I had bought the first copy of his beautiful print!
A BOOK ABOUT THE “OUR WORLD” LIVE BROADCAST OF THE BEATLES PERFORMING “ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE.”
As stated above, Paul Skellett is a multimedia artist, and he has been involved in the production of several unique Beatles books including:
All You Need Is Love. The complete story of The Beatles historical performance highlighting the first-ever live global satellite broadcast. Paul Skellett; Simon Weitzman Published by Archivum, United Kingdom, 2016
All You Need Is Love
THE BEATLES: IN STEREOSCOPIC 3D
This particular item is now very difficult to find. It was created by Paul Skellett and Simon Weitzman and is a 3D photo book. Unique and difficult to find. I was glad to add a copy to my collection. The book was arduous process to bring to completion according to one of the creators!
A great description is provided at the Richard Porter website:
Presented in a unique 10 inch album box ‘The Beatles In Stereoscopic 3D’ Book Box Set features an accompanying 8 page overview booklet, high quality stereograph viewer and 50 digitally mastered viewable stereographic cards painstakingly re-imagined from our Beatles photographic vaults.
A BOOK WRITTEN BY STEVE TURNER WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO PRESERVED THE IMAGES OF THE ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE SESSION FOR POSTERITY – DAVID MAGNUS. HE ALSO TOOK SOME OF THE LAST IMAGES OF BEATLES MANAGER BRIAN EPSTEIN BEFORE HIS PASSING!
PHOTOGRAPHIC SESSION JUNE 24/25 1967 EMI STUDIOS ABBEY ROAD LONDON
Photographs-BY DAVID MAGNUS Text-BY STEVE TURNER
Thoroughly love this title offering the details of the historic “All You Need is Love” satellite performance for the Our World program which was seen by an estimated 400 million people in 1967. Written by noted author, Steve Turner who has written several excellent books about the Beatles, it features the magnificent photos of David Magnus and the book was signed by him.
All You Need Is Love – The Beatles Dress Rehearsal
THE BOOK SIGNED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER:
The photographer who took so many wonderful photographs in preparation for the live All You Need is Love satellite broadcast of the Our World program, David Magnus!
David wrote the date of the Our World broadcast at the bottom of the inscription!
SIMON WELLS AND PAUL SKELLETT’S EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU BOOK:
Paul Skellett worked on the images and Simon Wells wrote the text for this beautiful book of images about the production of the Beatles 2nd movie, Help!
Eight Arms to Hold You: 50 Years of Help! and the Beatles Simon Wells; Paul Skellett
AN AUDIO BOOK ABOUT JOHN LENNON READ BY CYNTHIA LENNON:WITH AN AUDIO INTRODUCTION BY JULIAN LENNON
I love this 4-cd set which featured Cynthia Lennon reading her book about her life with John Lennon. The set also featured an audio introduction by their son, Julian Lennon. In the introduction, you can easily see the devotion and love Julian had for his mum!
John by Cynthia Lennon
Back cover of the cd set:
FACES OF MUSIC BOOK SIGNED BY DRUMMER JIM KELTNER, PHIL PROCTOR OF THE FIRESIGN THEATER, 2 MEMBORS OF THE GROUP DEVO AND THE AUTHOR MR. BONSAI, WHO WAS AT THE BEATLES “I AM THE WALRUS: RECORDING SESSION AT JOHN LENNON’S INVITATION:
Jim Keltner is my second favorite drummer after Ringo Starr. He is universally praised by other musicians and his peers for his drumming skills. He does not sign his autograph very frequently and seems averse to doing so. To have his signature in a book was very special to me. He has played with virtually all of the giants of the pop music genre and was also the drummer for the legendary Traveling Wilburys. I had never seen a signed book by Jim Keltner and that was the primary motivation for purchasing it. I was very pleased with the books content as the stories in this volume impressed me with the amount of popular culture that Mr. Bonsai had witnessed!
Book signed by Jim Keltner, Phil Proctor of the comedy troupe Firesign Theater, Mr. Bonsai who was present at the Beatles I am the Walrus session and is the author of the book and then two members of the group Devo, who became famous for their hit Whip It-Bob Mothersbaugh and Bob Casales!
Published by Alfred Music, 2011-the back cover of the book:
The signatures of Jim Keltner & Phil Proctor from Firesign Theater, one of the Bob’s from Devo and the author of the book:
Michael Hill is one of the few people to have been friends with John Lennon from the age of five, through Dovedale School and Quarry Bank too. It was Michael who introduced John Lennon to rock ‘n’ roll – the moment John said changed his life. This is the story of how that happened.
As Beatles fans, we often find ourselves speculating about Beatles history and asking, yes, but What If…….
What if John and Paul did not meet?
What if The Beatles didn’t go to Hamburg?
What if they didn’t meet Brian Epstein?
What if they didn’t meet George Martin and work with him?
What if The Beatles didn’t break up in 1970?
Now, in one book, all of those questions have been asked, and potential answers given, for what would or could have happened.
Through over 70 different key moments in Beatles history, David Bedford and Andrew Phillips have examined these key moments and, using their knowledge and research, give their opinion as to what the outcome might have been.
Through these scenarios, you will gain a better understanding of Beatles history in a new way, and also start some great discussions too.
GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK NOW – SIGNED LIMITED EDITION COPIES AVAILABLE – SELECT EITHER US/ CANADA OR UK/EUROPE
Beatlemania: Four Photographers on the Fab Four Hardcover – Illustrated, 16 Sept. 2024
In 2024, I was very pleased to learn that a book was to be published featuring a collection of Beatles photographs taken by four prominent photographers that helped to document the Beatles during those explosive early years of 1963-1965.
The four photographers were Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson, Michael Ward and Derek Bayes! The text for this book was provided by renowned Popular culture historian, Tony Barrell.
BEATLEMANIA – PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE FAB FOUR
Beatlemania: Four Photographers on the Fab Four Hardcover – Illustrated, 16 Sept. 2024
by Tony Barrell (Author), Norman Parkinson (photographs) (Author), Michael Ward (photographs) (Author), Terry O’Neill (photographs) (Author), Derek Bayes (photographs) (Author)
Publisher-ACC Art Books Publication date Sept.16, 2024
The rise of the Fab Four – The Beatles in their fledgling years of fame
Incredible photos, many unseen, from the cameras of Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson, Michael Ward and Derek Bayes
With text by renowned Pop historian Tony Barrell
The perfect gift for any fan who keeps Beatlemania alive today
“The Beatles ascended like no band before, hurtling to the dizzy heights of international stardom in the early 1960s. Their counter-cultural vibes and unmistakable talent are still the subject of much discussion today – as is the rabid devotion of their fans. But how did one pop group become, as Lennon infamously quipped, “more popular than Jesus”?
The work of four photographers provides an enlightening insight into the band’s rise to fame. Ward captured the Fab Four when Beatlemania was still confined to their own home city – the band braved the icy Liverpool streets for a promotional shoot during the Big Freeze of ’62-63. O’Neill crossed paths with The Beatles amid the buzz of the Swinging Sixties, resonating with the band in 1963 as a photographer of their generation. Parkinson delivered a deceptively relaxed shoot later that year, when the band were recording their second album; while Bayes captured never-before-published candid shots of The Beatles filming Help! in 1965.
Accompanying these pictures, Tony Barrell’s text delves into the Beatlemania phenomenon – the good, the bad, the ugly and the odd. From the creation of their early hit records to the hails of confectionery that peppered stages after John claimed George had eaten his jelly babies, Beatlemania: Four Photographers on the Fab Four reveals how one band became a lasting sensation.”
Back cover of the book:
BEATLEMANIA – PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE FAB FOUR
Hope you enjoyed this blog piece about a truly wonderful photography book about the Beatles!
Do you have this title in your collections? If not, it is a worthy addition!
Who is your favourite Beatles photographer?
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
MORE GREAT BOOKS ABOUT THE BEATLES AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE – OUR FEATURED BOOK
It’s All Too Much is the unique memoir by music industry veteran David Stark, who grew up in north London during the 1960s as a dedicated Beatles fan and was lucky enough to meet his musical heroes on various memorable occasions. From gate-crashing the Yellow Submarine film premiere in 1968 (aged just fifteen) and ending up sitting directly behind the group, to meeting all of them individually in some extraordinary circumstances, David has some highly entertaining stories about his many Beatles…
Jimmie Nicol – (LIFE CAN BE CRUEL SOMETIMES) THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS (HAPPY TO BE A PART OF HISTORY)
As the title of this piece indicates life circumstances can often be cruel. Jimmie Nicol was the drummer chosen by the Beatles to fill in for an ill Ringo for a 13-day period in 1964 when they appeared in the Netherlands and Australia. Jimmie was one of those figures in the Beatles history where the question of “What If” can be posed, not only from our perspective but of his!
Since his stint with the Beatles ended, he did continue doing musical appearances on record, but he was never again to be exposed to the limelight, notoriety & spotlight of being a drummer for the Beatles. As the years advanced, Jimmie Nicol had become increasingly what most of us would term as being reclusive.
Interpreting events like these can be very difficult. On one side of the coin we could argue as we look at the fame and the financial loss aspect of things that Jimmie would experience at the end of his association with the band; we can fully understand the feeling of depression that Jimmie might feel even possibly to this day. Being at the top of the mountain and then immediately feeling as if one was being castaway must be hard to fathom. Brian Epstein must have made it clear to Jimmie that his tenure with the Beatles was a temporary thing and that should have helped mitigate some of the pain and anguish.
The adulation shown to the Beatles was an extraordinary phenomenon that one could not fully understand unless onelived through it personally. However, if we can take the glass is half-full analogy, isn’t it a blessing that he got the opportunity to be a part of history, always to be remembered as a part of that year (1964) that will forever be associated with the Beatles worldwide conquest. Nicol was a good drummer, or the Beatles would never have allowed him to join for the time he was with them! That certainly should have given him some satisfaction in the equation!
Jimmie Nicol Autograph
Here is my framed piece combining a picture of the three Beatles backed by Jimmie Nicol including Jimmie Nicol’s autograph:
Unquestionably, the best book to deal with the mysterious and reclusive, Jimmie Nicol!
Jim Berkenstadt, known as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Detective, has written a wonderful book about the man who for 13 days in 1964 stepped in for an ill Ringo Starr for gigs in the Netherlands and Australia! If you have not checked out this title do so as soon as you can!
This book is highly recommended!
Your eyes will be transfixed to the story from the beginning to the end of the book. Jim is an excellent writer, and his research skills are impeccable!
One of the rarest LP recordings featuring the 13-day drummer of the Beatles in 1964, named Jimmie Nicol. LP released in Mexico in 1967. It took me a long time to find a copy of this record until I found one on the Discogs record search service!
The following LP I acquired was from a rare LP that was issued by the Beatles Unlimited fanzine from Holland at a convention! The person the LP was signed for was named Jan. It is nice to have a Jimmie Nicol signed item reflecting his brief association with the world’s most famous band!
Jimmie Nicol Signed LP
I had seen notification of a 6-cd collection on the record search service named Discogs which contained most of the professional recordings that Jimmie Nicol had appeared on beyond his session work. Because it was an underground (bootleg) release, it was not available to purchase at Discogs but I was able to find it at a Japanese site!
Here is a photograph of the cd cover followed by the track listing and comments about the contents that tell what is not on the 6-cd box set; The link to the Discogs listing of the set is also included on this post!
Label: Nowhere Man Records – NRM005-011 Format: CD, Compilation, Unofficial Release Country: Released: Genre: Non-Music, Pop Style: Interview, Music Hall
Disk 1 – Pre Beatles 1 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Wild Eyes And Tender Lips 2 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Empty Arms Blues 3 Colin Hicks– La Dee Dah 4 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Wasteland 5 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Little Boy Blue 6 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Jambalaya 7 Colin Hicks– Brand New Cadillac 8 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Sexy Rock (Europa Di Notte) 9 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Johnny Be Good (Europa Di Notte) 10 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Giddy Up A Ding Dong (Europa Di Notte) 11 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Book Of Love (Europa Di Notte) 12 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Twenty Flight Rock (Europa Di Notte) 13 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Lea Lea (Europa Di Notte) 14 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Oh Boy (Europa Di Notte) 15 Colin Hicks & The Cabin Boys– Tutti Frutti (Europa Di Notte) 16 Jimmie Nicol & The Shubdubs– Humpty Dumpty 17 Jimmie Nicol & The Shubdubs– Night Train 18 Jimmie Nicol & The Shubdubs– Husky 19 Jimmie Nicol & The Shubdubs– Don’t Come Back 20 The Beatles– She Loves You 21 The Beatles– Twist And Shout 22 The Beatles– Please Please Me 23 The Beatles– I Want To Hold Your Hand 24 The Beatles– From Me To You 25 The Beatles– Love Me Do 26 Jimmie Nicol– Roaring Blue Disk 2 – With The Beatles 27 The Beatles– Meeting Jimmy Nicol (Abbey Road Rehearsal) 28 The Beatles– Interview 04.06.1964 (Copenhagen 1964) 29 The Beatles– I Want To Hold Your Hand (Copenhagen 1964) 30 The Beatles– All My Loving (Copenhagen 1964) 31 The Beatles– She Loves You (Copenhagen 1964) 32 The Beatles– Till There Was You (Copenhagen 1964) 33 The Beatles– Roll Over Beethoven (Copenhagen 1964) 34 The Beatles– Can’t Buy Me Love (Copenhagen 1964) 35 The Beatles– This Boy (Copenhagen 1964) 36 The Beatles– Thanks To Jimmy (Copenhagen 1964) 37 The Beatles– Twist And Shout (Copenhagen 1964) 38 The Beatles– Pathe News (Arrival In Amsterdam) 39 The Beatles– Press Conference 05.06.1964 (Amsterdam Airport) 40 The Beatles– Interview 05.06.1964 (Amsterdam, Doelen Hotel) 41 The Beatles– Interview (The Beatles In Nederland) 42 The Beatles– She Loves You (The Beatles In Nederland) 43 The Beatles– All My Loving (The Beatles In Nederland) 44 The Beatles– Twist And Shout (The Beatles In Nederland) 45 The Beatles– Roll Over Beethoven (The Beatles In Nederland) 46 The Beatles– Long Tall Sally (The Beatles In Nederland) 47 The Beatles– Can’t Buy Me Love 48 The Beatles– Intro (Blokker 1964 -Early) 49 The Beatles– I Saw Her Standing There (Blokker 1964 -Early) 50 The Beatles– I Want To Hold Your Hand (Blokker 1964 -Early) 51 The Beatles– She Loves You (Blokker 1964 -Early) 52 The Beatles– Intro (Blokker 1964 -Early) 53 The Beatles– Twist And Shout (Blokker 1964 -Early) 54 The Beatles– Long Tall Sally (Blokker 1964 -Early) Disk 3 – With The Beatles 55 The Beatles– Intro (Blokker 1964 -Late) 56 The Beatles– I Saw Her Standing There (Blokker 1964 -Late) 57 The Beatles– I Want To Hold Your Hand (Blokker 1964 -Late) 58 The Beatles– Intro (Blokker 1964 -Late) 59 The Beatles– All My Loving (Blokker 1964 -Late) 60 The Beatles– Interview By Bob Rogers 07.06.1964 (Flight From London To Hong Kong) 61 The Beatles– Press Conference 08.06.1964 (President Hotel, Hong Kong) 62 The Beatles– Interview 08.06.1964 (President Hotel, Hong Kong) 63 The Beatles– Interview By Bob Rogers 10.06.1964 (Hong Kong Airport) 64 The Beatles– Interview By John Edwars 11.06.1964 (Darwin Airport) 65 The Beatles– Radio Coverage 11.06.1964 (Mascot Airport) 66 The Beatles– Press Conference 11.06.1964 (Sheraton Hotel, Sydney) 67 The Beatles– Interview By Bob Rogers 11.06.1964 (Sheraton Hotel, Sydney) Disk 4 – With The Beatles 68 The Beatles– Interview By Bob Rogers 12.06.1964 (Flight From Sydney To Adelaide) 69 The Beatles– Radio Coverage (Town Hall, Adelaide) 70 The Beatles– Press Conference 12.06.1964 (South Australian Hotel, Adelaide) 71 The Beatles– Intro (Adelaide 1964) 72 The Beatles– I Saw Her Standing There (Adelaide 1964) 73 The Beatles– I Want To Hold Your Hand (Adelaide 1964) 74 The Beatles– All My Loving (Adelaide 1964) 75 The Beatles– She Loves You (Adelaide 1964) 76 The Beatles– Till There Was You (Adelaide 1964) 77 The Beatles– Roll Over Beethoven (Adelaide 1964) 78 The Beatles– Can’t Buy Me Love (Adelaide 1964) 79 The Beatles– This Boy (Adelaide 1964) 80 The Beatles– Twist And Shout (Adelaide 1964) 81 The Beatles– Long Tall Sally (Adelaide 1964) 82 The Beatles– Outro (Adelaide 1964) 83 The Beatles– Press Conference 5 Members 14.06.1964 (Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne) 84 The Beatles– Farewell To Jimmy 14.05.1964 (Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne) 85 The Beatles– Jimmy Nicol Leaves 15.06.1964 (Essendon Airport, Melbourne) Disk 5 – With The Spotnicks 86 The Spotnicks– Husky (Tokyo 1966) 87 The Spotnicks– Drum Diddley (Tokyo 1966) 88 The Spotnicks– Autumn In Japan (Tokyo 1966) 89 The Spotnicks– Memory Of Summer (Tokyo 1966) 90 The Spotnicks– Look Up To The Evening Star (Tokyo 1966) 91 The Spotnicks– The Old Love Letters (Tokyo 1966) 92 The Spotnicks– Piercing The Unknown (Tokyo 1966) 93 The Spotnicks– Bye Bye Birdie (Tokyo 1966) 94 The Spotnicks– Playboy’s Bunny Hop (Tokyo 1966) 95 The Spotnicks– Crying In A Storm (Tokyo 1966) 96 The Spotnicks– From Russia With Love (Tokyo 1966) 97 The Spotnicks– Happy Silence (Tokyo 1966) 98 The Spotnicks– Big Jump (Tokyo 1966) 99 The Spotnicks– Ode To Dawn (Tokyo 1966) 100 The Spotnicks– Highflying Scotsman (Tokyo 1966) 101 The Spotnicks– The Lonesome Port (Tokyo 1966) 102 The Spotnicks– Sentimental Guitar (Tokyo 1966) 103 The Spotnicks– Recado (Tokyo 1966) 104 The Spotnicks– Mood Of Asia (Tokyo 1966) 105 The Spotnicks– Sentimental Guitar (Spotnicks Around The World) 106 The Spotnicks– Geisha Girl (Spotnicks Around The World) 107 The Spotnicks– Uska Dara (Spotnicks Around The World) 108 The Spotnicks– Worrying Kind (Spotnicks Around The World) 109 The Spotnicks– Mood Of Asia (Spotnicks Around The World) 110 The Spotnicks– Subject In Orbit (Spotnicks Around The World) 111 The Spotnicks– Casting My Spell (Spotnicks Around The World) 112 The Spotnicks– Green Eyes (Spotnicks Around The World) 113 The Spotnicks– Honkong Blues (Spotnicks Around The World) 114 The Spotnicks– Turista (Spotnicks Around The World) 115 The Spotnicks– What Now My Love (Spotnicks Around The World) 116 The Spotnicks– Steel Guitar Rag (Spotnicks Around The World) 117 The Spotnicks– Plättlaggen (Spotnicks Around The World) Disk 6 – With The Spotnicks 118 The Spotnicks– C’Mon Everybody (James George SP) 119 The Spotnicks– Staggar Lee (James George SP) 120 The Spotnicks– Auld Lang Syne (Spotnicks In Winterland) 121 The Spotnicks– Frosty The Snowman (Spotnicks In Winterland) 122 The Spotnicks– Here Comes Santa Claus (Spotnicks In Winterland) 123 The Spotnicks– Jingle Bells (Spotnicks In Winterland) 124 The Spotnicks– Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers (Spotnicks In Winterland) 125 The Spotnicks– Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Spotnicks In Winterland) 126 The Spotnicks– Silent Night (Spotnicks In Winterland) 127 The Spotnicks– Sleigh Ride (Spotnicks In Winterland) 128 The Spotnicks– White Christmas (Spotnicks In Winterland) 129 The Spotnicks– Winter Wonderland (Spotnicks In Winterland) 130 The Spotnicks– Winterland (Spotnicks In Winterland) 131 The Spotnicks– The Spotnicks Theme (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 132 The Spotnicks– Johnny Guitar (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 133 The Spotnicks– Happy Silence (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 134 The Spotnicks– Havah Nagila (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 135 The Spotnicks– When The Saints Go March (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 136 The Spotnicks– Crying In A Storm (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 137 The Spotnicks– Karelia (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 138 The Spotnicks– Le Dernier Train De L’Espace (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 139 The Spotnicks– Hey Good Lookin’ (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 140 The Spotnicks– Memory Of Summer (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 141 The Spotnicks– Over And Over (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 142 The Spotnicks– Wabash Cannon Ball (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 143 The Spotnicks– What’d I Say (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 144 The Spotnicks– Look Up To The Evening Sta (Spotnicks Live In Japan, 1967) 145 The Spotnicks– Wham (Spotnicks In Acapulco) 146 The Spotnicks– El Toro Bravo (Spotnicks In Acapulco) 147 The Spotnicks– Moscow (Spotnicks In Acapulco)
The text that appeared at the Discogs site describing in their view what was still missing from the 6-cd set!
“When you’ve played with the best, the rest is just, well, the rest.” Jimmy Nicol ‘87.
In 1968 Andy Warhol said,”In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
So far as the majority of Beatles fans are concerned, he could just as well have been talking about the past……and in particular Jimmy Nicol.
It was Jimmy, who temporarily replaced Ringo as the Beatles drummer for ten whirlwind days for their tour of the Netherlands and the first date in Australia.
On the 14th of June 1964 Jimmy flew back to England and so far as the world was concerned, disappeared back into the obscurity from which he had briefly emerged.
As is usually the case, the truth is a whole lot different.
Jimmys recording career began in the late 1950s when between 1957 and 1959 he was the drummer with Colin Hicks and the Cabin Boys. Colin actually being the brother of a more famous artist, Tommy Steele. Before that, he had been a drum repairer/technician with Boosey and Hawkes and had also occupied the drummer’s seat in a few very well-known big bands,1960: The Oscar Rabin Band. 1961: and The Cyril Stapleton Big Band.
Following his departure from the Cabin Boys, he joined another fledgling Rock and Roll outfit Vince Eager and the Quite Three until 1960.
The trail then grows cold so far as recordings are concerned as Jimmy seems to have been involved almost exclusively in session work, including jobs with musicians from the orchestras of Ted Heath and Johnny Dankworth.
Rumours persist that he was a member of Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames in 1964, and whilst it is true that he played at the Flamingo Club, where the Blue Flames were the House Band..there is no trace of him on the recordings that they made at the time.
However in 1964 he formed his own band, The Shubdubs whilst continuing his session work.
He had worked for George Martin on both a Tommy Quickly recording session and possibly others on the NEMS roster.A set of recordings entitled Beatlemania featuring a number of Beatles songs also had Jimmie on drums.. When Ringo was hospitalised, it was George who recommended him to Brian Epstein as a replacement.
He rehearsed with John Paul and George at Abbey Road but sadly no recordings seem to exist.
Once back in England , Jimmy reformed the Shubdubs and during 1964 and 1965 they toured extensively. During this time Jimmy also released a solo single as The Sound of Jimmy Nicol.
Between 1965 and 1967 he was a member of the well-known Swedish guitar group The Spotnicks who rush-released a single, The Spotnicks Introducing Jimmy Nicol, titled Husky and Drum Diddley. In 1967, Nicol lived in Mexico working with samba & bossa nova groups, amongst whom were an outfit called Blue Rain.
He married and had a son, Howard, who in the 1990s was to win an award as sound engineer for his work on a BBC collection of Beatles recordings.
In 1969, he recorded “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (sung in Spanish) with his own band, “Jimmie Nicol Show”.
It is here that our story ends.
Sadly, we have been unable to trace all of Jimmys recordings, those which have eluded us are
“The Shubdubs” (1964):
Baby Please Don’t Go
Shubdubery
Solo single as “The Sound of Jimmy Nicol” (1965):
Clementine
Bim Bam
and Jumpin’ Jack Flash (sung in Spanish by “Jimmie Nicol Show”).
It is not known if “Blue Rain” ever entered the recording studio.
What remains is we hope definitive .
Hope you enjoyed this blog post about the 13-day Beatle! If you wish to learn more about Jimmie Nicol, seek out the Jim Berkenstadt book mentioned above, (several links provided) you will not be disappointed!
Dan Richter was born in my home state of Connecticut back in 1939. He became a professional mime and will always be remembered for a very famous sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s directed film of 2001: A Space Odyssey written by famed science fiction writer, Sir Arthur Charles Clarke.
Dan Richter portrayed the man-ape in the film and choreographed that famous sequence in the film. His evolutionary character was given the title of the Moon- Watcher. Dan was to meet Yoko Ono before John did and was impressed with Yoko’s vision of the concept of conceptual art. In the very early 70s, he was to go to work for John and Yoko as a personal assistant and assisted them with several projects.
Several years ago, Dan Richter wrote about his interactions with J & Y and discussed some of the projects that he worked on like the Imagine album!
Dan loves mountain climbing and has taught it to many adventuresome individuals!
Dan Richter’s inscription to me in my copy of the book:
THE MOON-WATCHER DAN RICHTER CHARACTER IN 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY:A SIGNED PHOTO
A signed photo of the ape sequence in 2001: A Space Odyssey which I acquired from the user ID of All Time Great Authentics on eBay! Dan Richter not only choreographed the ape sequence in this historic film, but he appeared as the man-ape pictured here: The sequence was seemingly meant to help illustrate the evolution of man on the planet. This sequence’s intention seemed be the attempt to illustrate the violent nature of man coming to the forefront in his development when he learns that a bone could be used as a weapon to fight off rivals and additionally to help secure food for survival!
Dan lived with John and Yoko at Tittenhurst Park, and he was involved in the production of both the John/Yoko Plastic Ono Band albums and also the Imagine LP and Yoko’s Fly LP.
Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band-Cover photo by Dan Richter John’s back is to the tree on Yoko’s album
Photo by Dan Richter Yoko’s back is to the tree on John’s album:
Dan Richter appears at a listening party to JL POB!
If you have not read the Richter book, I highly recommend that you find a copy. If it is indeed out of print, check out the Abe Books search service or other similar book search services!
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
