The blog is designed to feature old and new Beatles-related print material including books, magazines, posters & autographs of people that have a Beatles connection or association. The blog also features books from people that have worked with the solo members of the group after the breakup. Looking forward to seeing you as a subscribing member of the blog and I eagerly anticipate your participation and feedback on the blog!
John “Buzz” Bezzini has one of the world’s largest collections of Beatles books and Beatles-related print material and he will share his thoughts and opinions on some of the more obscure & rare and unusual Beatles titles in addition to the new and forthcoming titles as well!
John taught a course in 1984 called “The Beatles in Retrospect” marking the 20th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in America.
John also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication.
Enjoy Buzz’s Beatles Book Blog.
The images shared here are part of John’s private collection and are shared under Fair Use/ Fair Dealings. If you have any questions, contact the administrator.
If you would like to receive notifications of all new posts to this blog, you will need to register or subscribe. Then you will be kept up-to-date by email that new posts have appeared! If you enjoy the page, please pass the word on to your fellow Beatle fan friends! Thank you!
Don’t forget that there are hundreds of Blog Posts here, so check them out on the Index at the bottom of the page!
The Beatles and The Jungle Book when The Beatles could have been turned into Vultures! – ANOTHER “WHAT IF” OF BEATLES HISTORY
This is a pin featuring the Vultures – Dizzie, Buzzie, Ziggy, and Flaps – issued in 2009 by Disney to commemorate the appearance of the characters in the 1967 Disney “Jungle Book” film. The pin sold out, no doubt due in some part to the supposed connection to the Beatles. Apparently, the Beatles were approached to do the voices of the vultures in the Disney film “The Jungle Book.” According to the article presented in the link below, John Lennon vetoed the notion of the Beatles doing the voices for the characters. Hope you enjoy the story. Written by Jordan Potter and appearing in FAR OUT!!!
What impact would it have had on the fans if the Beatles had made the decision to do a cameo vocal appearance in the film? Would it have been a positive career move or a negative one in your opinion?
The Lennon Play: In His Own Write by John Lennon, Adrienne Kennedy, and Victor Spinetti
Published in 1968 by Simon and Schuster – Victor Spinetti collaborated with Lord Laurence Olivier in a 1968 stage adaptation of a John Lennon work, The Lennon Play: In His Own Write, for the National Theatre!!!
Here is an excerpt from a Daily Mail article written by Ephraim Hardcastle on June 19, 2012
Laurence Olivier and the John and Yoko mix up
Spinetti recalled recently: ‘When I told Olivier that we now had John Lennon’s permission to go ahead, he said, “I’d very much like to meet with Johnny Lennon.” John and Yoko arrived at the National dressed exactly alike, in white, with their long hair. Olivier said, “Which is which, my dear baby? I can’t tell them apart!
This is the book of the play co-authored by Lennon, Kennedy, and Spinetti
This is my copy signed by the late Victor Spinetti and a Fest for Beatles Fans that was held in New Jersey several years ago.
Front cover of the book:
The Lennon Play: In His Own Write
The signature page of Spinetti’s inscribed message, signed at a Fest for Beatles Fans:
Signed by Victor Spinetti
The back cover of the book:
The Lennon Play: In His Own Write back cover
Adrienne Kennedy also shares her memories of working with and meeting a Beatle in the following title co-authored by her son Adam! This book is more difficult to find than the Spinetti title. I have seen this being offered on Ebay and book search services such as Abe Books!
Mom, How Did You Meet the Beatles by Adrienne Kennedy and Adam P. Kennedy
One of my favorite types of rare Beatles books is the titles about gigs they performed at locations in Europe that may not be well-known to many who live in the US or other countries outside of Europe.
Author Simon Hurford has written a couple of UK Beatles titles that were of great interest to me. The more recent title “There’s a Place” is featured on top followed by a photo of his earlier work, “Twist and Shout, The Beatles in Bath 1963.”
These rare Beatles books and the stories surrounding them are so interesting because they virtually always feature stories and information that are not commonplace or well-known by the typical Beatles fan. That coupled with the titles being usually limited to a UK release makes them more appealing than the more widely circulated Beatles books that appear all over the world.
Front cover of the 2nd Simon Hurford Beatles book:There’s a Place
There’s A Place
Back cover of the “There’s a Place Hurford title:
There’s A Place Back Cover
The signature page of the 2nd Simon Hurford Beatles book:
Simon’s first Beatles Book:
This book was incredibly difficult to find. Would like to thank Geoff Clode for his assistance in acquiring a copy of this title.
Twist and Shout
Inquiries about these 2 books can be sent to:sphurford@yahoo.co.uk
A message from the author:
“My approach to writing about pop music is to contact local newspapers and ask fans who have attended concerts to get in touch with me with their memories and stories. It is amazing what information comes out of that.
Many fans have visited the concert halls the Beatles performed at, and stayed in the same hotels as well. I also visit these places myself, speak to people, and spend hours in the local library and the homes of any archives that still exist.
Of course with venues closing and fans getting older it is becoming a disappearing world. Seeing or meeting The Beatles is the highlight of many fan’s lives and they love to talk about those times.
I write as a hobby. I saw there was a need for a book on The Beatles concert in Bath in June 1963, people still talk about it 60 years on. That was my first book and the start of this ridiculous obsession I have with pop.
If anyone wants copies of my books they can be obtained from Mr B’s Emporium 14-15 John Street in Bath, which is a wonderful independent shop that is perfect to browse in.
I have written 2 books on the Colston Hall in Bristol (now called Bristol Beacon) and both were commissioned by the Hall. One contains a chapter on The Beatles concerts. Copy attached of the covers.
Stay groovy
Simon”
Do you collect or buy books like these? Do you have a favourite? Let me know.
William Pobjoy, John Lennon’s headmaster at Quarry Bank School signed this testimonial for a student in one of his remaining classes as he faced his retirement years. Mitch Poole, a former member of my Facebook group sent me Mr. Pobjoy’s signature for my collection. That was so kind of him to do that. Pobjoy was one of the few teachers that John Lennon had, who he spoke fondly of in a public forum.
Mr. Poole gave me permission to post this testimonial on several occasions for which I am very grateful. Mitch was so kind as he realized that I also collect the signatures of people who played a role in the lives of the Beatles, and he kindly donated this to me knowing that I probably am going to donate all of the signatures to a Beatles museum!
Thank you, Mitch! Your kindness will never be forgotten!
William Pobjoy
William Pobjoy
Mitch Poole’s testimonial, signed by William Pobjoy, shortly before Pobjoy’s retirement. You will notice that it also was signed in the year that John Lennon was murdered in New York:
Legendary session guitarist David Spinozza has assembled a 17-piece band for a special tribute concert to the Beatles, done big-band style! Fans of the Fab Four are aware of his playing on several of the Beatles’ solo albums (McCartney’s “Ram,” Lennon’s “Mind Games,” and Ringo’s “Ringo the 4th.”) Spinozza’s resume beyond this is so impressive, lending his guitar skills to the likes of Paul Simon, Dr. John, James Taylor, Don McLean, and Billy Joel among others.
Spin The Beatles Big Band
David will be the conductor for “Spin The Beatles Big Band” at New York’s The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd. St on Nov. 17 at 4pm (et.)
Joining him in the band is session keyboardist Kenny Ascher, who worked with David on the “Mind Games” album. Kenny is also known for writing songs with the great Paul Williams, including the soundtrack for “The Muppet Movie.”
The Beatles catalogue has been so endurable that the songs have lent themselves to arrangements in every musical genre. Both David and Kenny are extremely versatile in their playing and for their love of jazz. This can only be a knockout show!
A superb French language book about Paul McCartney – Yesterday and Today
My Beatles-related book collection consists primarily of English language titles, primarily because that is my native language, so the convenience of being able to understand the text is the primary motivator as well as the quality of the respective book. Occasionally, I run across a book in a language other than English that impresses me so much that I feel compelled to purchase it.
In 2019 I came across this title in the French language that was recommended to me by a fellow Beatles collector friend in Belgium named Philippe Colinge. The book: “Paul McCartney Yesterday and Today” was written by Francois Plassat who did the artwork and the text for the title which was primarily available in France and Canada. The edition I purchased was around 35 Euros plus postage back in 2019. Canada had the book listed for around $50 Canadian. The copyright in the book is attributed to Hugo Image Publishing of Paris, France.
The images in this book by Mr. Plassat are superb and trace Paul’s recorded musical legacy from My Bonnie with the Beatles up until the Egypt Station LP. The illustrations by Mr. Plassat are superb and made me very happy to have purchased this wonderful hardcover 200+ page book that comes in a slipcase. For those that may be interested in finding a copy of this title for their collections, try Amazon France, Amazon Canada, orthe publisher in France, Hugo Publishing. You can also try book search services like Abe Books. Happy hunting for this wonderful title. Providing a few sample pages of the slipcase front and back covers, the front and back covers of the actual book and a few index pages for your perusal.
Front page of the slipcase container for the hardcover book:
Paul McCartney Yesterday and Today
Back cover of the slipcase for the hardcover book:
Paul McCartney Yesterday and Today
The front cover of the hardcover book:
Paul McCartney Yesterday and Today Cover
The back cover of the hardcover book:
Back Cover
An index of the contents of this wonderful book:
The Contents
The years covered in the title of McCartney’s great musical legacy up until 2019…
And the engine keeps on running…
A fascinating book by a good writer with excellent illustrations too.
John “Buzz” Bezzini
To find out more about Paul McCartney, check these out:
