Well the reaction to the first Beatles scrapbook post was very positive and therefore their presentation will continue but I had a change of heart about one element of the scrapbooks. I am not planning on avoiding the presentation of controversial topics or potential negative information about the band. I will be presenting articles that deal with the murder of John Lennon though not making that the focus of a particular Beatles scrapbook’s content.
Also some negative articles portrayed in some of the tabloid press as part of the scrapbook potpourri will be shown from the scrapbooks. This is not to give credibility or to lend credence to the gossip articles or to demonstrate the veracity of everything that is shown. By presenting the multitude of Beatles articles presented over the years, both good and bad, you will see many truthful well researched and substantiated articles, but also gossip media as well. We know that many people prefer to read rumor, and conspiracy theories because of the often explosive nature of those type of stories, not because of any basis in fact. Hopefully, with these scrapbooks you will be exposed to a healthy balance of what has appeared over the years in the various print media.
You may be pleased with some of the articles and others may anger you but I caution you not to shoot the messenger!!! If album reviews are presented that you disagree with, do not personalize your criticism to me as it does not mean that I personally agree with the negative review. My goal has always been to expose you to the various print material about the Beatles that have been issued or appeared over the years, both positive and negative…
So sit back, relax, and hopefully, enjoy!
A pot pourri from 1979/1980 or so:
Paul McCartney
Remember FAN is short for FANATIC:
Bits of info:
The Dakota
They’re gonna put him in the movies: Ringo
Caveman review:
Anyone in New England remember this?
Caveman review:
More bits and pieces:
Film ad for I Want to Hold Your Hand:
JAPAN OR BUST? BUST APPARENTLY!!!
Here is a McCartney novelty record that I don’t remember hearing about, has Howard Stern connections and the late Al Anderson of NRBQ as well!
A McCartney II review:
A review of London Town from 1978:
A story about the Lapidos Fest for Beatles Fans:
An early Charles Rosenay convention and an ad for one of my favorite Beatles books:
BEATLES RELATED RECORDS
Some of the picture sleeves stored in the scrapbook: One of those rare times that both John and Paul were on the same page politically as Paul released Give Ireland back to the Irish and John released The Luck of the Irish and Sunday Bloody Sunday dealing with the crisis In Ireland as it relates to the British involvement in the crisis!
A Beatles novelty record:
I love George’s B-side on this record:
If we ever get a Rubber Soul box set I want to hear John’s full original demo for What Goes On which has a radically different feel to the released version of the song!
A rare Lennon song that received virtually no airplay at all.
Mary Hopkin
Mary, Mary— Quite Contrary Mary Hopkin never seemed comfortable to me in much of the material Apple asked her to record. That is a subjective opinion, of course, but I believe she has stated as much in some select interviews she has done over the years!
My Sweet Lord
Yoko’s controversial cover for her Now or Never Apple 45. Featured a photo of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam:
“Walking in the Park with Eloise” is a jazz instrumental written by Jim McCartney, Paul’s dad, and later recorded by his son Paul McCartney, reflecting a heartfelt connection between father and son. This is the picture sleeve of the song. The flip side was Bridge on the River Suite which was an instrumental by Paul.
From RIngo’s Goodnight Vienna album:
A #1 Wings 45:
Despite some McCartney critics detesting the song, I love it. Great melody line and I believe McCartney did this number in order to sock it to some of his critics accusing him of being too saccharine!
Not quite boys, but I give you credit for trying!
The rare Girl picture sleeve:
Ending this scrapbook with a copy of my withdrawn picture sleeve of Leave My Kitten Alone which should have been released early in the Beatles career. Fantastic Lennon vocal on the Anthology recording where it eventually appeared!
The other side of the sleeve:
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
CHECK OUT THE GREAT BOOKS WE HAVE AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
The Beatles and Music
The music of The Beatles
$2 for all 4 Beatles movies at the midnight show?! What a bargain!! I love these articles Buzz!
Another great selection
Excellent! And I always included controversial articles, along with negative press, ads for a variety of Beatles and solo Beatles items in my scrapbooks. All of that was an integral part of The Beatles history.
I do not believe in censorship of negative articles as that would be sanitizing the coverage and reaction towards the band. For example, John Lennon would never have allowed, if he were still alive, the omission of his Woman is the ‘N’ of the World from the Power to the People box set. He would be seething and breathing fire at the record company and the lawyers that recommended this decision. Sean should have put his foot down and said it goes on the set or the set does not get issued “at all.”
Fantastic, always love seeing a well put together scrapbook. Looking forward to the rest.
Thanks for the nice comment, Seamus! Also, thank you for always being the good friend you have been since we began our communication exchange via email several years ago. You are the best!!!