Category: Buzz’s Beatles Book/ Print Blog

John Buzz Bezzini

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.

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Don’t forget that there are hundreds of Blog Posts here, so check them out on the Index at the bottom of the page!

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Posted on 15/02/202331/05/2024 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Happy Birthday Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono’s 90th Birthday

To celebrate Yoko’s 90th, I bought a couple of Yoko-related items for my collection:

1) a rare LP collaboration between the Flaming Lips and Yoko Ono

Here is the description from eBay:

The Flaming Lips/Yoko Ono/ Plastic Ono Band multi-colored vinyl 1/1400 NEW. This is a weird one. 600 pressed in glow-in-the-dark vinyl. 1400 colored vinyl pieces sold at exclusive indie record shops. The Fear Litany, Do It! and Brain Of Heaven on side A at 33rpm. Atlas Eets Christmas on side B at 45rpm.

All songs were written by Flaming Lips, Yoko Ono, and Sean Lennon. With The Fear Of Litany featuring lyrics from Frank Herberts Dune. Released in 2011 with the glow in the dark 600 pieces were sold at New Year’s Eve shows exclusively.

2). Avant Garde Magazine 9 November 1969 John Lennon Yoko Ono-this is not the controversial lithograph issue of the magazine

Since good things come in threes:

3) A book that now resides in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame archives and has received universal acclaim-Author Madeline Bocaro.

Find out more here from Madeline’s websites:

inyourmindbook.com

conceptualbooks.com

4) Picked up this LP from 2012 which features a Yoko appearance on a John Cage experimental piece from 1961. Yoko’s first husband Toshi Ichiyanagi is on piano.

John Cage– 26’55.988″ For 2 Pianists & A String Player Piano [Pf] – David Tudor, Toshi Ichiyanagi Violin [Vn] – Kenji Kobayashi Vocals [Vo] – Yoko Ono

John Cage – Shock

Label:	EM Records – EM1107DLP, Edition Omega Point– OP-0011
Format:	2 x Vinyl LP
Country:	Japan
Released:	Sep 2012

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Buzz Bezzini

Books About John Lennon

In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono (Signed Hardback)

£44.00

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In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono (Softback)

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Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records

Rated 1.67 out of 5 based on 6 customer ratings

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Bill Zygmant – Where Did You Get That Shirt? (Signed Limited Edition)

£75.00

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Just Like Starting Over: John Lennon and The Quarrymen

£15.00

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The One After 9:09

£2.16

Buy the book or ebook
Shoulda Been There (Vol. 1) 1940 – Dec 1961

£7.20

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Shivering Inside (Vol 2) Dec 1961 – Jan 1963

£7.20

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She Loves You (Vol. 3) 1963 – 1st March 1964

£7.20

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Posted on 11/02/202327/05/2024 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Novelty Beatles Records

A Novelty- A Cricket Wants to be a Beatle

Sonny Curtis of the Crickets’ novelty record about the Beatles (above) is one of many novelty Beatles records.

Part of the fun in collecting Beatles items is that there are many areas where collectors can decide to concentrate on. For example, many people love to collect Beatle novelty records or 45s. Here are a few items from my collection of novelty 45s and a brief sentence about why they hold a particular fascination for me.

Paul Is Dead Record

Jose Feliciano’s novelty record (below) about the Paul is Dead hoax. Jose uses the pseudonym

Werbley Finster

Jose Feliciano's Record about Paul — Jose Feliciano’s Record about Paul

Cher

A Beatles novelty record produced and partially written by Phil Spector and sung by none other than Cher using the name Bonnie Jo Mason.

Two Virgins Too Far

“John, You Went Too Far This Time” by the group Rainbo featured the actress Sissy Spacek singing about her frustrations with John Lennon doing the nude album cover with Yoko called “Two Virgins,” on this Roulette 45.

Buzz

Discover More About Beatles Memorabilia

Posted on 06/02/202327/05/2024 by liddypool — 4 Comments

Rod Davis: A Quarryman – On Record Before The Beatles

Rod Davis

Little is known that one of the original Quarrymen, Rod Davis, actually was on an official 45 “release” earlier than the Beatles were. After Rod had left the Quarrymen he played banjo on this 1961 recording. Rod was on this record by The Trad Grads.

He signed the slipcase sleeve for this 45 as shown below for this Decca 45 release.

Buzz

Learn More About The Quarrymen

Just Like Starting Over: John Lennon and The Quarrymen

When John Lennon and his group The Quarrymen stepped onto the back of a wagon in Rosebery Street on 22^nd June 1957, Charlie Roberts borrowed a camera and took a few photos of the event. It was just a group of friends having fun at a street party.

What Charlie didn’t know at the time was that he was capturing a piece of Beatles history. This was the first time that John Lennon had been photographed performing with his group. Skiffle was the new music and soon, John would meet Paul McCartney who would then introduce George Harrison to John.

£15.00

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Posted on 02/02/202331/05/2024 by liddypool — 5 Comments

Bent Coppers – The Story of Norman Pilcher

Signed edition of the late Norman Pilcher’s book “Bent Coppers.” Published by Clink Street Publishers in 2020.

Bent Coppers

“Semolina Pilchard“. There is conjecture in Beatles circles that John Lennon used this term in his song “I Am The Walrus” to refer to police officer Norman Pilcher. There was a mass trade edition of this book written by the notorious policeman who was responsible for arresting several of the most important rock figures of the 1960s on drug-related charges.

This book is Norman Pilcher’s version of the stories that captured the imagination of many who were part of the counterculture movement of that era. The version of the book shown below represents the signed edition of which only 250 copies were issued before Norman Pilcher passed away from cancer in March of 2021.

An interesting revelation according to Norman’s good friend, Reg, was that Mr. Pilcher after John had been charged at the police station, Norman sat down with John, and it was then that John and Norman had a long chat. It was there that Norman was swayed by John and what he believed in. John actually did send Norman postcards following his arrest from various locations, 6 in all from Japan France etc.

I am sure when the two of them were in the police station neither of them could have envisioned at that time what the long-term consequences of that arrest would be!!!

So what were those consequences? Let me know in the comments below!

If you wish to purchase a limited editioned signed copy of Norman’s book, they are only available through the author’s friend Reg, at contact.bentcoppers@gmail.com and not the publishers.

Buzz

Posted on 26/01/202327/05/2024 by liddypool — Leave a comment

The Beatles – Yeah Yeah Yeah

Yeah Yeah Yeah by Roy Bisson and Fred Fowler

As a Beatles book collector, I do not limit what I collect to just books about the Beatles. I also love parodies and books that indicate the significant impact the band had on world culture. One of the reasons given by music analysts for the Beatles’ immense success, beyond their musical talent, was also their sense of humor. This 1964 Australian book, yeah Yeah Yeah, by Roy Bisson and Fred Fowler highlights the band being on the receiving end of that humor.

Buzz

Some of the amazing artwork — Some of the amazing Artwork

Posted on 23/01/202331/05/2024 by liddypool — 2 Comments

Oh Sisters, Oh Sisters – Mary Hopkin

Mary & Carole Hopkin

Yes that is Mary Hopkin’s sister, Carole, who wrote this rare and obscure book released in 2013 and is now out of print. The book was published by Merton Press. (Beatles Before and Beyond)

Carole had met George’s brother, Harry at a Henley pub and he had expressed the thought that George would love for her to be able to do some sketches of George’s home at Friar Park. Being an illustrator, Carole was thrilled to be given that opportunity and a few of those sketches are included in the book.

Following the picture of the cover of this rare book is Carole’s sister, Mary Hopkin’s autograph and a very rare Apple 45, released only on Apple in the Philippines. It was a Christmas tune that was issued on Apple after her contract with the company had expired and it is the only country where the 45 appeared on Apple.