In keeping with the original premise and intention of the JPGR Hodgepodge posts, these posts present a random collection of Beatles-related print items that I have added to my collection over the years. Some are books that are entirely about the group. Others may only feature a story about one of them. Some may feature cover configurations that were changed or withdrawn but not before a few copies were purchased by early adopters such as yours truly.
These posts are not limited to just books. They may feature magazines or other print-related items as well.
These posts are generally lengthier than the regular Buzz’s Beatles Book/Print posts. They are designed to deal with a number of subjects in the hope that you find something that you may have not seen or been aware of before. Hope that you find something that sparks some interest and curiosity!
The first book deals with the drumming style and the vastly underrated contributions of Mr. Starkey to the Beatles. Though the focus of the book is primarily from a musician’s perspective, it contributes an excellent framework of Ringo’s unique drumming style and why his abilities were so crucial to the band’s success.
Ringo Starr and The Beatles Beat
Authored by Alex Cain and Terry McClusker-published in 2016 by Matador – this is the limited edition hardback.
Copies of the softcover are available at the Beatles Bookstore, on Amazon, Abe Books and Ebay and among many other book search services:
The back cover of the book;
Alex and Terry’s signature in my copy of the book:
Alex and Terry also combined their talents to write a book about Ringo’s contributions to the “White Album.” Remember- this was a time where Ringo felt disengaged from the band and left the group for a short while. For a short term, while Ringo was away, Paul did some of the drumming on a few White Album tracks. This book appeared in 2019 and was independently published by Luddypool Books:
The back cover of the book:
Alex and Terry also dealt with Ringo’s unique contributions to Abbey Road. You do not need to be either or a musician or a drummer to be able to enjoy both Alex and Terry’s insights and perspectives on Ringo’s unique contributions to the “sound” of the Beatles!
Andy White
Since we are in a drumming frame of mind:
I have a particular fascination for this signed drumhead that I purchased on Ebay. Signed by the session musician, the late Andy White, who played on one of the released versions of the song “Love Me Do.” Also has the signature of the drummer who preceded Ringo Starr in the Beatles, Pete Best. I know it is highly unlikely but I would love to be able to get Ringo’s signature on this as an historical document!
LIPA
The following book is a special one for me. It demonstrates Paul McCartney’s willingness to give back something from the city that helped spawn his genius and talent. Life is a temporary thing but Paul has helped to ensure that talent development will continue to venture forth and flourish in the city by the Mersey!
LAVENHAM PRESS; First Edition (January 23, 2006) Authored and signed by Mark Featherstone-WittyPublished by Schools for Performing Arts (SPA) Press, 2006
Sir Mark Featherstone-Witty OBE (born 2 June 1946 in London is an educator and entrepreneur. He is the founding principal and chief executive of the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts (LIPA) which he founded along with Paul McCartney in the mid-1990s! This wonderful book is filled with photographs and stories behind the development of this great institution for the performing arts in Liverpool, England. One of our dear friends and author of the book “It’s All Too Much” which is also available at the Beatles Bookstore, David Stark, is a yearly presenter of a special award given at the LIPA graduation ceremonies!
The back cover of my copy of the book:
Mark’s signature in the book:
Rolling Stone
For many Beatles fans, this gentleman is controversial as they claim he was extremely biased with a focus on John Lennon in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine rather than his counterpart Mr. McCartney. Paul himself has expressed those sentiments in a few interviews. Some have also accused Wenner of delaying Paul’s solo entrance into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. I don’t know how many or if any of those accusations are true, but one thing I am sure of is that Mr. Wenner made a great journalistic contribution, especially in the early years of his magazine, which held a tight grip on the imagination of the youth culture that was coming of age in the sixties. It is sad to see in this digital age in which we live that magazines importance in shifting cultural opinions now lies in the realm of social media. Here is Jann Wenner’s memoir: Published in 2022 by Little Brown and Company part of The Hachette Book Group.
Back cover of the book:
I bought a signed copy on Ebay!
A coming-of-age Beatles novel by journalist Barbara Guardino: Published by Wordclay with a publication date of January 1, 2011
This coming-of-age novel set in the 60s deals with the issue of idol worship in the entertainment industry and how the reality of that situation can often lead to disappointment and disenchantment when coming face to face with one’s perceived idols. I enjoyed reading this unique fictional approach to dealing with hero worship in general. Good job, Barbara!
The back cover of the book:
Barbara’s signature in my copy of the book:
George Harrison Fan Club
Two special books in my collection written by Pat Kinzer Mancuso who was the founder of the only independent Fan Club that was sanctioned by a member of the Beatles. The stories that Pat has to tell in her two books are special and are unique to an individual who has run a Fan Club. Pat’s devotion to George Harrison is a wonderful story that also has some heartache and great disappointments associated with it. I don’t want to spoil it for you but I strongly suggest you seek out these two special books and add them to your Beatles library. Both of the titles can be found on Amazon at eBay and on special book search services like Abe Books!
Published in 2005 by Infinity Publishing
Back Cover of the book:
Published in 2021-Cover design by Pat Mancuso and Andrew Croft Publisher tredition Hamburg, Germany
Another wonderful book that gives the details to the end of Pat’s wonderful George Harrison Fan Club:
The back cover of Pat’s book:
The Beatles How Long Will They Last?
My copy of the Parade supplement to our old daily newspaper, The Hartford Courant from August 2, 1964. I was startled when I looked at this issue to see the mention of Marina Oswald, the former wife of Lee Harvey Oswald. It brought back so many memories of those years!
I have an extensive collection of the tribute issues of John that were printed following his murder. They are too difficult to look at anymore and I am on the verge of getting rid of all of them. They simply hurt too much to open and read! This is the UK magazine New Musical Express with their Dec 13th, 1980 issue:
A couple of fascinating books from noted photographer Ian Wright. Even though the primary focus of these books is not on the Beatles specifically, they do reveal photos and stories that are not too commonplace in Beatles lore. Written by Ian and Lauren Wright these two books provided an excellent backdrop to the photographer’s experience of amassing so many wonderful and professional photographs of artists in the 60’s. You will enjoy this book throroughly. Published in 2021 by Ian and Lauren Wright. I purchased the two following books on Amazon and eBay. I have also seen them advertised on Abe Books.
Back cover of the book – note the praise from Denny Laine:
A book about the Globe Venue in the UK
Amazon’s description of this title by Ian and Lauren Wright:
A illustrated history of the Globe Theater at Stockton on Tees, England from its beginning in 1935 as a grand art deco theater showcasing performers like opera stars including Beniamo Gigli through the 1950s with the emergence of rock and roll performers like Cliff Richard and into the 1960s revolution and the Beatles
Paperback-Published August 22, 2021
Back Cover of the book:
A book by an enginner that has worked with Paul McCartney among may other musical greats. There are many interesting stories are to be found in this entertaining paperback. Richard Digby is a great bloke in my book. Check this one out at Amazon if you get the opportunity: Published in the UK in 2020 by The Book Guild!
The back cover of the Digby book:
Mr. Digby’s signature in my copy of the book:
To Know John Lennon
Published in 2020 by Political Animal Press and written by author Aidan Prewett, this is one of my favorite explorations of people that knew John Lennon and what they had to say about him based on their individual perceptions. I highly recommend this volume to any Beatles/John Lennon fan and/or collector. Both informative and revealing. Put together by conducting exhausting interviews with about 20 people that knew John fairly well, it provides many pieces to the jigsaw puzzle of what people that dealt with John thought of him and his complicated personality! Have seen the book advertised on Amazon, Ebay and Abe Books!
Back cover of the Prewett book:
Aidan’s signature on my copy of the book:
Having Read The Book
Author Greg Sterlace has written a couple of books that have places secured on my bookshelves:
This is a first edition from 2016 published by Adequate Life Publishing
This is a book that has alternate covers. I was able to acquire copies of both of the covers to this title by Greg which was his brave attempt at writing a bibliography which fortunately or unfortunately for bibliography compilers continues to grow at a rate of between 50-100 new Beatles book titles per year. Acting quickly when purchasing new Beatles books has always seemed to work in my favor because if the book is withdrawn or they decide to change the cover for whatever reason, I have the advantage of having acquired both covers! Acting quickly and keeping that in mind would have allowed many people to have acquired the Butcher Cover in the mid-sixties!
This is the back cover of the book:
This is the alternate cover of the title and is more prevalent than the other cover so I can only assume that this is the officially sanctioned cover: Published by Lulu-Independent Publisher in 2016. This is the 2nd edition!
This is another Beatles volume by Greg Sterlace also published by Independent book publisher Lulu in July of 2016
The problem evident in writing both bibliographies and discographies is that they become dated as new releases continue to infiltrate the marketplace. However, that critique did not stop me from purchasing Greg’s books for my collection and i am happy that I did.
Paul McCartney
Not the most well-known McCartney biography but I did enjoy it. This one is by author Peter Ames. Published by Touchstone Publishers in 2009. For someone who remains so active in continuing to record, Paul’s workaholic habits prevent the full comprehensive biography that he merits to be written. Perhaps Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair will be able to accomplish that in their fantastic McCartney Legacy series…
Back Cover of the book:
Peter Ames signed this copy:
As stated so many times before on this blog, I am also interested in books that may even have a peripheral interest in the subject matter of a Beatle or a solo member. They produced this wonderful book about the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus which encourages kids to pursue both musical and video projects as a form of self expression. When musical education often lacks funding in the public school arena, this is a worthwhile contribution to the arts. This book was published with the authorization of Yoko Ono in 2007 by Thompson Course Technology Publishing. I found my copy to purchase on Ebay.
The back cover of the book:
Yoko Ono
Published in 2022 by Sutherland House and authored by Donald Brackett, this book represents yet another reassessment of the artistic contributions she has made to the culture and/or the art world. I enjoy and continue to collect the Yoko biographies and I am looking forward to the next one to appear in April of 2025 authored by David Sheff.
Back Cover of the Brackett title:
The signature of Mr. Brackett in the book:
The upcoming David Sheff Yoko bio scheduled for April of 2025:
A fantastic book issued in Japan-written in both Japanese and English and published in 2020. Authorized by Yoko Ono. I purchased my copy, the one you see here from Ebay. It contains many wonderful rare and obscure pictures. A truly wonderful addition to anyone’s John/Yoko library!
Back Cover of the book:
In my personal opinion, this is the best Yoko Ono biography in the marketplace. Author Madeline Bocaro has received endorsements from Sean Lennon, Lennon close friend, Elliot Mintz, Olivia Harrison, and Lennon associate, Dan Richter, for her book of nearly 600 pages! Books can be ordered at her website and at the Beatles Bookstore:
In Your Mind – The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono -Madeline Bocaro
Fifty Fabulous Years
In closing this post would like to present this hardback book written by author Robert Rodriguez and the dvd documentary contained within is by Les Krantz. The book was published in 2010 by Wildwood Books a division of Facts That Matter, Inc. The book presents a beautiful compilation of fifty years worth of fascinating Beatles history featuring many excellent photos to highlight those events. The DVD hosted by Les Krantz is equally as engaging in helping to chronicle those 50 golden years. The book is available in multiple outlets including Amazon, eBay, and Abe Books.
The dvd to accompany the book:
Closing question:
Any suggestions of a particular item or items or Beatles-related subject matter that you would like to see more of, on the blog – please let us know your suggestions! Thanks…
Be healthy and be happy!
BUZZ
CHECK OUT MORE GREAT BOOKS AT THE BEATLES BOOKSTORE
The Beatles
Books about The Beatles as a group
This, like all of the other Hodge Podge posts is well worth reading and keeping for future reference! Many thanks ‘Buzz’