As Beatles fans, we often find ourselves speculating about Beatles history and asking, yes, but What If…….
What if John and Paul did not meet?
What if The Beatles didn’t go to Hamburg?
What if they didn’t meet Brian Epstein?
What if they didn’t meet George Martin and work with him?
What if The Beatles didn’t break up in 1970?
Now, in one book, all of those questions have been asked, and potential answers given, for what would or could have happened.
Through over 70 different key moments in Beatles history, David Bedford and Andrew Phillips have examined these key moments and, using their knowledge and research, give their opinion as to what the outcome might have been.
Through these scenarios, you will gain a better understanding of Beatles history in a new way, and also start some great discussions too.
GET YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK NOW – SIGNED LIMITED EDITION COPIES AVAILABLE – SELECT EITHER US/ CANADA OR UK/EUROPE
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.
Ever since author Nigel Pearce published his book, Inside Number 3: The Illustrated History of Apple Records, Beatles fans have had the best chance ever to relive those colourful days once again inside The Beatles’ Apple Headquarters at 3, Savile Row. Nigel’s book takes us inside Apple, and the only successful part of Apple: Apple Records.
All this was done via a brand-new angle, with Nigel showing part of his incredible and unique collection of products and artefacts captured in the book. There will be artists and records, as well as documents that you will be discovering for the first time.
However, in this multi-media age, he has now brought those photographs and images to life in a unique presentation that has already wowed the audience at the recent Felixstowe Beatles Festival in June 2025.
Nigel’s Record Collection of Apple Records
The whole presentation lasts for over two hours, though it doesn’t feel like at all! This is a trip, not via a history book, but via a superb collage of content, visuals, and stories told by Nigel. You are taken back to 1966 to understand Apple’s vague start, through those colourful years and brought back to the modern day, by that one immoveable force that was The Beatles.
Apple Boutique
March 1966 is the starting point and immediately you find yourself in the Revolver sessions with the Beatles’ promo videos of “Rain” and “Taxman”. Nigel illustrates the first public knowledge of Apple with some slides and then we move into the technicolour world of The Apple Boutique at 94 Bakers Street with colour film showing the insides and with Dame Maggie Smith and Bob Newhart – a unique and fantastic piece of film.
Number 3 Savile Row
Onto 1968, and the whole “Hey Jude” broadcast, which caused so much stress and panic to ITV executives that night is re-constructed and is shown in full and you are back there again in 1968. From then on it is a rollercoaster of video and photo content, both rare and well-known, and it is so well put together that the whole book and Apple building is brought to life. We see perhaps the world’s first ever DVD/ Video presentation of “Our First Four”, which is a very rare production of the first artists to appear in a set by Apple as we travel through the archives of Apple Records. But it is a vibrant and colourful voyage of Beatles discovery through Apple Records.
Our First Four
Who is included in the presentation apart from The Beatles? We have The Radna Krisna Temple, The Iveys and Badfinger, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, James Taylor, and so much more.
Badfinger
If that is not enough, then to give it all context, time pops are placed throughout the presentation that expertly frames these times and events and wraps you in the living history of the ‘60s.
When it is all over, you are not only brought back to today’s world having delved into the previously little-known history of Apple Records.
The angle in which Nigel has presented this is unique and fascinating and is only possible via his collection and illustration of the artefacts to which he has collated over the years. Yes, The Beatles story has been told many times, but The Story of Apple has never been revealed in this detail.
Book him for your event, school or simply a presentation to a group that you have put together, you will re-live those great times, and you will feel that you have glimpsed into the rarely told part of The Beatles’ story: Apple Records.
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.
When The Beatles were carrying the whole world in their wake, it seemed to be the case that every manufacturer that could, would make something, or anything that could be attached to them in order that they would increase their turnover and their income.
However one thing or item that largely went unnoticed was the special or first day issue cover or envelope. These nowadays are an accepted form of high quality marketing. It was this condition of High Quality that stopped many companies receiving permission or an endorsement from The Beatles Management Structure, or more importantly Brian Epstein himself.
The Beatles First Day Covers
This did ensure that many large sums of money from products did not benefit the group in any way, but the First Day or Special Event Cover seemed to pass by largely unnoticed. Over the years I have been able to obtain quite a few of these and I thought that again this part of my collection from my personal archive would be engaging for many fans.
Now these items are one off examples that I was fortunate enough to obtain. Some of them were promotional ideas and thoughts largely from EMI and other loosely linked organisations. They now make a very interesting and rare part of Beatles History.
The listing is as follows, with a brief pen picture description.
1). A standard Parlophone Stationery Envelope used at times for promotional purposes.
2). A Gibraltar Special Issue First Day Cover showing a 1967 John Lennon Photograph to commentate the Marriage of John and Yoko.
3). A Hard Days Night Special Envelope from 1964 to commemorate the release of The Beatles First Film complete with stamp and date stamp.
4). Apple 1968 Our First Four and a mint set of the individual Stamps. This is part of my Our First Four set. This set has been shown here before.
5). Isle of Man First Day Cover signed personally by Ringo Starr.
6). A one off envelope idea not preceded with.
7). A War Is Over Envelope from that period. This was obtained from EMI Records . Apparently only a very few were issued.
8). A Dark Horse Records Special Stationery Envelope used for Press Releases. This one was for the duo Splinter on the occasion of their first album. The Place I love.
9). The Special Envelope used by Capitol Records to enclose the re-call letters for the Butcher Covers for the Yesterday and Today Covers.
10). A general shot of the letter; one finished in Red and one in Blue Emblazoned Inks. Both of these and the envelope came via EMI in London England. These had been sent to EMI as courtesy copies from Capitol Records in the USA.
11). A single close up shot of the Red Sample letter. Note the emblazoned word SAMPLE placed on the letter.
This completes the description of the illustrated items, and I add that there are more to be shown at a later date. These are priceless artefacts from my archives, and are kept in the dark and out of contact with direct sunlight. This is the first viewing undertaken for over two years.
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.
The ongoing success of Inside No3 continues to make its mark with the Apple Records story going to radio!!
The revolutionary style of this book Inside No3 has shown the mark of Apple Records in a totally different way to many Beatles fans and has now been rewarded with the novel approach undertaken by author Nigel Pearce.
Radio Series
Apple Records – Inside Number Three
Inside No 3 has now been commissioned to be turned into a Radio Serial that delves so much deeper into the entire Apple Story. This will cover the entire first 10 years of the label from conception to its closing in 1976. Starting in 1966, the next Ten Years proved to be something that no one cover ever imagine. The ideas and scope of everybody who was involved with the label and the company, have ensured that a huge legacy has not only been left to the world, it continues to provide a “Revolutionary” inspiration to the art and music world, while at the same time still changing social attitudes everywhere.
Number 3 Savile Row
The Beatles may have left the world as a group in 1970, but the force and impact of this foursome still continues to grow and strengthen and Apple is a huge part of that. In short, it still lives up to its central theme of being a “Foundation for the Arts”.
Our First Four Set
Nigel’s book was indeed a completely different and novel way of showing the impact and direction of this ideal. While the book only shows around 10% of his entire collection, what is shown is in beautiful detail and colour, with the aim of supporting the artist shown to its fullest extent.
Nigel has much more in his archives including demo recordings, memos, photographs as well as every record issued from No 3 Savile Row London W.1, which at the present time is available for renting .
What’s The New Mary Jane
The series is currently in production and is being framed, for release next year along with a launch event to officially announce the series going to airwaves on the UK Radio network. More will be revealed about its scope and content along with its style, but suffice to say this has never been done before, so this is a real radio and music first . It is so exciting to contemplate. Stay tuned,, there is so much more to follow ……
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.
This beautiful set, The Beatles From Us To You, redefines a most important period in the development and growth of The Beatles. This is a compendium of the group’s early broadcasts done for the BBC in 1963/64 and is priceless in the sense that this period of time has now been re-imagined. This means we can now hear them exactly as the studios at the BBC record them, and it is staggering to listen and understand, that their records were exactly as the quartet played. They were totally unique and Brilliant!!
The passage of time has only enhanced what we already knew, but now it can be confirmed to millions of new fans who continue to fall under their magical spell.
This is the front cover presentation of the 4-set pack
The Beatles From Us To You
This is the front view again but with the CD set open to view
The Beatles From Us To You – CDs
This is the rear of the pack, again with the CDs relevant to each pack
The Beatles From Us To You – Rear of the Cases
The important thing to note is the use of the early 1960s LP Presentation, which solidifies the complete set-up, including the black-and-white photographs.
As a final note, while it is 2024, it cannot be underestimated just how much influence and standing The Beatles continue to have in the whole music business and social attitudes the world over. Their output, standing, and influence are not just notes for reference, it’s not just history in words and sounds, it is a whole new generation of influence and standing that just grows and enhances with the passage of time. The influence really continues to grow like no other. Yes, other bands and artists have a re-birth at times, but when one looks at this business, The Beatles do not have a re-birth, it is a total vindication and re-enhancement of what is always going to be… the Greatest music phenomenon ever!
GET NIGEL’S GREAT BOOK ON APPLE – INSIDE NUMBER THREE
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.
