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.
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Just a reminder that these are some of my personal Beatles-related scrapbooks that I had maintained and compiled when I was much younger and before the internet exploded beginning the decline of newspapers as a forum for providing the public the news. From a number of people who knew that I collected news clippings about the Beatles along with relatives who kept an eye open for me, I collected the massive number of articles that I cut-out and put into the almost 100 scrapbooks that I made and compiled over the years. My old set of scissors was a welcome companion to me as you will see by the incredible wealth of information I was able to preserve in the scrapbooks. My biggest regret is that as a youngster, I did not see the importantance at that time to preserve all the dates to the corresponding articles and all of the sources of the information. Keep in mind my sole goal was just to preserve the info for my personal archive, never thinking that this information would be of any great interest to others. That is why I invite those who may know of a missing date of a particular newspaper article shown here as well as the respective author who may be missing associated with the article, please let me know and I will fill in the missing info and give the proper acknowledgement.
My goal with these Beatles-related scrapbooks is to share with you many of my younger memories that I was able to save for my personal archive between the covers of these time capsules. I also hope you enjoy those memories that I am sharing with you…
A confirmation from Genesis publication that the last signed and numbered copy of George Harrison’s Live in Japan book had been reserved for me…
TWO BOOKS WITH AN ARTISTIC FLAIR WITH THE WHITE ALBUM THEMES:
Recently I acquired a couple of books on eBay that had previously slipped by me in my seemingly endless task of searching for interesting books about the Beatles. Maybe it is a sign of me slowing down with age as I do not recall having seen these two titles before. In any case, I was very happy to run across them on eBay. It is truly amazing to see how so many angles can be devised for book publications with the Beatles as the inspiration for their respective projects! Both of the books in question have artistic expression as their focal points.
The first title “The White Album: A Collection of Images Inspired by the Songs of the Beatles was put together to mark the White Album’s 40th anniversary. The songs in the book are not strictly limited to White Album numbers!
The first book was put together by artist and writer Russell Walks. Despite having The White Album as part of the title, there are some songs illustrated by the various respective artists within that are featured in the book that are not from the White Album. I have provided a few links for you to learn more about this release!
The two White Album titles explored in this post, perfectly fit the type of Beatles book that strongly appeal to the collector in me. They are small books in the number of pages and had a smaller circulation than larger mass appeal Beatle titles. It is these independently published books that I love to show to others when they view my collection as they have a special appeal to other collectors as well. For example, when one of these titles is shown to a fellow collector, you can often hear “Wow, where did you find that book?” or “Can you find a copy of that book for me?”
Those type of questions are music to this collector’s ears!
I obtained my copy of “The White Album: A Collection of Images Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles” from this eBay vendor
OFTIMESPAST | eBay Stores
THE PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION:
“Artist and writer Russell Walks gets a little help from his friends and explores the work of the greatest band ever in “The White Album: A Collection of Images Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles”. Think of “The White Album” as a series of “visual cover songs”, each of which was inspired by the Beatles song of the same name. In addition to the images, each contributing artist speaks about their work – Not just about the songs that originally inspired them, but about the choices they made as they worked. There’s no doubt that The Beatles influenced the way many of us look at the world, and in “The White Album”, we can see those influences in the gorgeous, meaningful work of 17 artists at the top of their game.”
The White Album
The copy of the book that I obtained on eBay was signed by artist Jeff Pittarelli
The White Album
The website of the above book featured artist renditions of the songs Good Day Sunshine and Revolution that appear in the book. Here a few sample excerpts from the book:
Good Day Sunshine
Revolution
The back cover of the book:
The White Album
The original press release for THE WHITE ALBUM BOOK by Russell Walks with many contributing and the work of participating artists that appear in the title as well!
Original Press release:
“Forty-five years ago, The Beatles invaded America, bringing with them a sound and attitude different from anything any of us had seen or heard before. They challenged and inspired us, forcing us to think about how things could be if we would only realize the importance of love.
Its now 2009. Although its been nearly forty years since The Beatles broke up, and yet their message is as relevant and influential as ever. The greatest band in history is still inspiring hope and dreams, still changing lives and fostering creativity, still shaping the way we look, listen and think.
Announcing THE WHITE ALBUM: A Collection of Images Inspired by the Music of The Beatles.
Compiled and introduced by writer and illustrator Russell Walks, and showcasing work by artists including Spencer Brinkerhoff III, Matt Busch, and others, THE WHITE ALBUM presents an exciting array of dynamic, emotional works of art, each of has been inspired by a song from The Beatles extensive catalogue.”
The book made its debut back in 2009 as is evidenced in this description from one of the websites describing the book:
“THE WHITE ALBUM looks at the work of The Beatles through a kaleidoscope of artistic styles and viewpoints. Â THE WHITE ALBUM will be available for the very first time ever this summer at the San Diego Comic-Con (July 22 -26, 2009). Don’t miss your chance to pick up a copy at the only location where every artist will be available to personalize your book.”
THE WHITE ALBUM PROJECT ART BOOK2014 – BY FRANK VACANTIFirst pressing numbered copy 092/150 36 PAGES OF WONDERFUL ARTWORK DONE ONORIGINAL BEATLES WHITE ALBUM COVERS!
Frank Vacanti’s website for interested parties of the book:
The book that I purchased: (the photographs shown below are the photos from the eBay advertisement that I purchased the items as a result of)
I obtained this book through this eBay site: Beatles Yesterday,Today andTomorrow | eBay Stores
Though a small book in the number of pages, this 2nd book that I acquired recently was also a true pleasure to obtain. This White Album book’s primary focus are Frank Vacanti’s visions of designing a piece of art on an individual copy of the White Album.
This book entitled The White Album Project is truly a unique presentation of using the stark white Beatles album cover to be adorned with individual artistic designs by Frank Vicanti on individual copies of the LP. A work of art on a work of art. I am sure John and Yoko would have loved this idea.
This 36 page booklet was put together and organized by Frank Vacanti out of San Francisco, California and was published in 2014 by Garland Graphics!
The front cover of the book:
The White Album Project
Credits and acknowledgements from my copy of this book:
A special artistic surprise under the Apple sticker in the book:
A few samples of the cover artwork designed for the White Album by Mr. Vacanti and a visit from Sir Walter Raleigh on this one!!!
KING KONG on the cover of the White Album?
For those of you who would like to have a copy of this wonderful book, here is Mr. Vacanti’s website:
Would like to end today’s post with a brief discussion about artist Richard Hamilton whose minimalist cover follow-up to the grandioise Sgt Pepper previous album design of Peter Blake raised quite a few eyebrows in the critic circles. The Beatles reputation for always doing something different was certainly secure. Richard Hamilton is the artist that the Beatles hired to design both the White Album cover of “The Beatles” the double white album and the poster contained within the LP. Several years ago I bought this Richard Hamilton book featuring his signature for my collection.
The all white motif of Hamilton’s was to become a fixture in the Lennon household specifically, with the white piano used on Imagine and the pure white room at Tittenhurst Park used for the Imagine video. The White Album cover with no pictures/photos on the cover, fit in well with Yoko’s affinity for minimalist art. I can see why John’s favorite Beatles album was THE WHITE ALBUM as he was coming back from his psychedelic haze of 1967.
Hamilton’s signature:
Back cover of the book:
A photo that I saw on the internet and the photographer was unfortunately not listed. It is a photo of Richard Hamilton working on the White Album poster as Paul is there to check on the poster’s progress.If anyone knows the photographer of this shot please let us know and we will offer proper acknowledgement. Thank you!
This is another example of having a collecting obsession. As I was writing this post, Copy #9 of THE WHITE ALBUM PROJECT ART BOOK 2014-BY FRANK VACANTI also became available on eBay atthe beatlesplusbaseball seller ID!
I could not resist having copy Number 9, Number 9, Number 9 so I purchased it as well. well, I guess the only harm that I caused as a result was to my wallet.LOL!
Happy hunting!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
OUR BOOK OF THE WEEK AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
It’s All Too Much
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 encounters which have never been told before.
Won’t You Take a Look…Having Read the (Beatles Scrap) Book
TIME IS A CONCEPT BY WHICH WE MEASURE OUR COMMON INTERESTS.
The Beatles Coming To America and The McCartneys Smoking POT!
A dominant interest in the earlier part of my life which has extended to my twilight years was to chronicle articles about the Beatles in my personal scrapbooks about the band. When interest in newspapers and print media in general began to dissipate and dissolve due to the explosion of the internet and digital media, my keen desire in keeping and maintaining the scrapbooks began to wane. It did not prevent me however from still buying Beatles-related books and magazines as new technologies will never destroy my love and interest in having physical print media to store the tales about the memories!!!
As you read these Beatles scrapbooks, remember I collected articles of various opinions and merely because I put the article in the scrapbook does NOT mean that I necessarily agree with what is being said in the respective article. Too often, when people read anything on the internet, there is a tendency to personalize the opinions that are expressed in the given articles as the opinions of the person that posted the articles themselves. It is not a fair assumption to make.
I am presenting this material on the blog to just expose you to many things that may have appeared in the press from a select period of time in our history. “WHAT A STORY”.
Hope you enjoy the ride on the coach…
I have only commented on a handful of the items that appear in this particular scrapbook and I hope that you will have an interest in viewing some of them!
So many Beatles fans miss Joe Pope ,and I am one of them!
Look at those prices then:
In the 1984 time frame that most of these articles appear, I was also very fortunate to be able to teach a collegiate course about the Beatles in Connecticut to mark the 20th anniversary of their arrival in the US. It was a rousing success and it convinced me that the study of this band would go on in the centuries to follow. They are HERE TO STAY!!!
Hope you enjoyed the latest Beatles scrapbook presentation from my personal collection.
There are many more of you are interested in seeing them! Please let me know if you would like to see more of them posted on the blog.
Thanks!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
OUR BOOK OF THE WEEK AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
It’s All Too Much
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 encounters which have never been told before.
I have posted this book before and it always attracts a lot of intense interest from viewers. It is by Carole M. Hopkin who is a painter and an artist who also happens to be the sister of Mary Hopkin, who we as Beatle fans are very aware of because of her association with Apple records, Paul McCartney, and the Beatles. This book entitled: Beatles & Beyondby Carole M.Hopkin was published in 2013 by Merton Press.
As a collector, it was one of the most difficult books for me to find and locate for my Beatles-related book collection. It must be noted that the book’s primary connection does not have the Beatles as its main focus. It is about the fascinating experiences of the life of Carole M. Hopkin. A friend in the UK wrote to me when I ran my old Beatles in Print Facebook page and was looking for a copy of this book. The Facebook friend told me he had an additional copy in his collection and that I could purchase it from him if I was interested.
I was delighted to say that I certainly was and quickly moved to add the wonderful book to my library. This is the book I acquired from him (shown below). As you may or may not know I try to collect many of the books that even haphazardly have something to do with or provide additional information that have a connection to the Beatles or the people that made contact with them over the years.
Sometimes you learn more about the true nature of the individuals that comprised that great band from these more obscure books than from an official biographer! That is usually due to the primary celebrity being more at ease in those situations. However, being in contact with the Beatles and their menagerie can also be a curse because those people often lose their own personal identity because they ONLY become defined based on their contact or association with the band. Relatives of any celebrity face the same dilemma. They are often unfairly compared or measured against the accomplishments of a brother or sister, or mother or father.
Mary Hopkin
Witness the trials and tribulations of Julian and Sean Lennon and James McCartney who are constantly compared with the accomplishments of their respective fathers. After acquriing this book I wonder if Carole Hopkin experienced the same pressures of being compared with Mary due to her initial success at Apple with the worldwide hit of Those Were The Days.
Carole is an accomplished artist and painter and even though I know she has deep respect for her sister, the recognition she may receive can often be presented in public news forums as being under the shadow of her sister’s musical accomplishments.
The cover of the book:
Beatles & Beyond
Some biographical information from Carole’s book:
The back cover of the book:
Beatles & Beyond
A George Harrison Friar Park Garden sketch by Carole M. Hopkin. These few page excerpts from the book are presented under fair use.
Carole’s sketch of the mansion at Friar Park done at the request of George’s brother. Carole mentions that Friar Park was a Convent at one time. There have been reports since, that dispute the Convent descriptor as a group of nuns did reside there in an educational function but it was not officially known as a convent. Scott Cardinal, an authority on Friar Park could set us straight on that matter, for sure!
Photographs apparently taken by Carole Hopkin that appear in her book of several prominent people in the Beatles story, great Beatles friend and confidante, Mal Evans, and the notorious individual often described as the villain who led to the breakup of the Beatles, Allen Klein. It is my personal belief that their breakup was due to far deeper problems than the easy way out of blaming a single individual. It may simply may have been due to the natural progression of their lives.
A beautiful sketch by Carole M Hopkin of the Casino at Monte Carlo that appears in her wonderful book:
Advice for Collectors
I highly recommend this book to you if you are fortunate enough to locate a copy. It took me close to 3 years before I could find someone that had a copy in their collection in the UK. You will see many wonderful sketches, read many wonderful stories, and you will get a distinct flavor for the time.
As a collector, I love this rare unique book and you will too!!!
Keep your eyes open on such sources such as eBay, Abe Books or other international book search services if you are trying to track down a copy to purchase for your collections!!!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
Another Great Book at the Beatles Bookstore to Check Out
To find out more about Mary Hopkin and Apple Records, you need this book by Nigel Pearce
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
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.
I have written before about the many books authored by Angie and Ruth McCartney but I just had to add this additional post with the latest book that I purchased from them that I recently received in the mail. I always have loved limericks but when you combine that unique category of poetry with the subject matter of Liverpool and the Beatles, that serves as a menu item that I could not resist!
A very nice inscription and signing from Angie and Ruth plus a unique limerick sent to me by them:Thank you!
Sorry to be so presumptuous, as I am certainly not claiming to be a limerick writer, but I do have to be honest to admit that as a teenager, I attempted a few, which I would have needed a good editor or censor back then to keep them as acceptable.
In the subsequent years, I learned to tone things down.
Ruth and Angie, with their Limerick book have inspired my desire to attempt just one more to illustrate my special fondness for their book published in 2023 by McCartney Multimedia, Inc.
I extendmy sincere apologies toboth Angie and Ruth for my attempt at this writing of a limerick:
Your Mother Should Know is the second book from Dr. McCartney, who published her first, My Long and Winding Road, in 2013. Now 90 years old, she shows no signs of slowing down. Her latest work is a collection of often hilarious and always heartfelt quips, memories, lifehacks, salty one-liners and witty observations. Along for the ride is McCartney’s ever-loyal and equally saucy daughter Ruth, who, as a young child greeted her future stepbrother Paul at their first meeting with “I know who you are! You’re on my cousin’s wallpaper.”
TWO BEAUTIFUL RUFUS STONE BEATLES BOOKSPLUS A SIGNED BOOK BY THE LATE PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN PARKINSON
Beautiful book of photos taken in 1963 by Norman Parkinson: With The Beatles
A beautiful book of Beatles photos taken in 1963 by noted British photographer, Norman Parkinson. His son, Simon Parkinson signed all 350 copies for his late father. Simon had assisted his father in taking several photos on the day this photo session occurred. This is a wonderful book to add to your collection if you can locate a copy. To state the obvious, since there are only 350 copies of this book, it is on the expensive part of the ledger!
Details of the date of publication and the publisher are noted below.
To me, this is a clear example, of one of the prime jewels of collecting limited-edition Beatles books.
Norman Parkinson – With The Beatles
Hardcover – “Recycled Leather” Slipcase Edition with Clamshell box.
Limited Edition: 350 signed copies worldwide. Each copy is hand-signed by Simon Parkinson, Norman’s son, who took some of the shots with his father on that day, September 12, 1963.
Date: Published 2016
Page: 288 pages
Publisher: Rufus Stone Limited Editions Ltd
This edition of 350 copies signed by Norman Parkinson’s son Simon. I was able to secure copy #350 the last numbered and signed copy. Simon had accompanied his dad at the 1963 Abbey Road studio shoot and his dad also allowed him to take a few of the photographs appearing in the book!
Though he had passed away before his Beatles photography book was published, I was able to obtain his signature on his Lifework book which was published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson back in 1983 and signed by Mr. Parkinson then, seven years before he passed away.
Quite the unique signature that Mr. Norman Parkinson had:
The back cover of the Parkinson Lifework photography book:
About Norman Parkinson
Norman Parkinson was an English portrait and fashion photographer. Born April 21, 1913 – Died February 15, 1990
This is the mass market hardback trade edition of Norman Parkinson’s Beatles book of photos taken during the fall of 1963 at the President Hotel in Bloomsbury and at the Abbey Road studios while they were recording tracks for an album!
Also was able to recently acquire on eBay a magazine of Norman Parkinson Beatles photographs that was published in 1964 by Hutchinson and Company. Ironically, much of the text written for the magazine was by Lennon friend and journalist Maureen Cleave, who was to later write an article/interview with John for Datebook magazine that was to cause quite the controversy in the Bible Belt States of the USA in 1966.
A few page excerpts from the magazine the 1964 magazine that I recently acquired:
The credit page of the magazine:
THE BEATLES MONOCHROME BY JOE ALLEN
There were only 350 numbered copies of the black covered limited edition book which featured images of the Beatles 1964 tour taken by photographer Joe Allen and the book was edited by Mark Naboshek. The book was entitled “The Beatles Monochrome,” and was published in 2011 by Rufus Stone Publishers!
The details describing the The Beatles Monochrome books that I purchased are from the Rufus Stone website:
In 1964 the Beatles ….on their first tour of America, a two week visit that took them to Ed Sullivan show, playing live in Washington and New York before finishing in Florida with a second Ed Sullivan experience. Photographer Joe Allen followed them on the entire tour taking hundreds of black and white exclusive photos to document this historic first trip to the USA.
For the first time, all of Allen’s negative have been meticulously retouched and restored to better than their original glory and assembled in this huge, limited edition photo album . Beautifully printed and bound using the latest technologies MONOCHROME is destined to be a true collectors item.
The Technical Details 2500 Copies worldwide, numbered 308mmx 308mm square, 260+ pages. Quarterbound with white and black cover with embossed logo.
Proceed with cautionif you attempt to order a copy as I am not aware if it is available anymore as it may be completely sold out as of this writing!
The ordering information may no longer be available for this book as I believe it may be completely sold outbut I could be in error about thatspeculation!
And because we thought that both The Beatles collectors and Joe Allen’s work deserved even bigger exposure we thought to create the HARDKASES edition
The Technical Details 350 Copies worldwide, numbered 308mmx 308mm square, 260+ pages. Quarter-bound with white and black cover and embossed logo. Presented in a black slipcase with a debossed acrylic graphic. Thread sewn and bound in the UK. Certificate of authenticity and born on date. 4 x giclee colour photoprints, unique to this version Packaged in black, printed flight case with recessed foam compartment.
To order this book go to : http://www.rslimitededitions.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54
There were only 350 numbered copies of the black covered limited edition book which featured images of the Beatles 1964 tour taken by photographer Joe Allen and the book was edited by Mark Naboshek. The book was entitled “The Beatles Monochrome,” and was published in 2011 by Rufus Stone Publishers!
What is not commonly known is that Rufus Stone also published a limited edition version of the book that was bound in white leatherand only 10 numbered copies were made of that version of the book.Below are my photos of copy #9 of this beautiful photography book which I was able to acquire.
One of only 10 copies in the world bound in white leather: My copy was #9, #9,#9!
Hope you enjoyed the description of these 2 special Beatles photography books from Rufus Stone Publications as well as the signed book by fabulous portait photographer, Norman Parkinson and the wonderful book by Joe Allen as well!
I will always treasure these books!
Be healthy and be Happy!
Buzz
DISCOVER MORE GREAT BOOKS AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono (Softback)
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
The true story of the woman John Lennon loved. Includes the work and music they made together, the love story of John & Yoko, and her relationship with the Beatles.
Ono’s incredible story goes way beyond what most people know.
There are astounding details about Yoko’s life (thirty-three years before meeting Lennon, twelve years with him, and over forty years of creativity since his death).
The author has followed Ono’s career since the mid-1960s, assembling a vast media archive on the artist. Yoko’s own voice, along with Lennon’s and others (in cited, published interviews) tell her undeniably true and complete story, disproving many myths. Bocaro has spent valuable time with Ono, gaining incredible insight.
Here is the ultimate exploration of Yoko’s childhood, her relationship with Lennon, her art, films, music and activism for peace and women’s rights.
