Brian Epstein Archives - Page 3 of 7

Posted on 23/02/202319/03/2025 by liddypool — Leave a comment

Bruce Spizer’s Beatles Books – Part 2

Another format to some of Bruce’s album series is this boxed set of 4 of his titles packaged and available together (above)

Bruce’s Books – The Beatles’ Records

This is Part 2 presenting some of the works of noted Beatles author, Bruce Spizer!

This is Bruce’s website provided for your perusal:

The Beatles on Capitol

A fascinating 2 book series chronicling the Beatles history and association with the record label and company that saw their explosion in the world’s largest record market of the time-the US! Without question, a must-have for your book collections!

The Beatles Are Coming!

An excellent book detailing the evolution and the development of the Beatles invasion and the details preceding the revolution:

The Beatles On Apple Records

I love the Apple Records story and learning what the Beatles’ goals for the company were. However, the quote about the “best-laid plans of mice and men” surely applied to this story. A fabulous 2 volumes documenting the Apple label story!

The Beatles on Apple Records - Part 2 — The Beatles on Apple Records – Part 2

The Beatles on Parlophone

A detailed history of UK record releases by the Beatles on Parlophone!

The Beatles on Vee-Jay

A fantastic book dealing with one of the record labels the Beatles were on in America before they were signed to Capitol. Once again a fascinating story as to the details of what happened. You do not want to miss the details…

The Beatles on Swan Records

The first Beatles record that I ever bought was “She Loves You” on the Swan record label. This was another record label that the Beatles appeared on before they were locked in with the US label, Capitol. Once again another fascinating story presented by Bruce Spizer. Bruce is without peer as an investigator and this tale will amaze you!

The Beatles Hard Day’s Night and More

The Beatles Hard Day's Night & More — The Beatles Hard Day’s Night & More

Beatles For Sale To Help!

Bruce’s new title able to be pre-ordered on April 4, 2025 and to be published in August of 2025. No doubt that it will be another wonderful and informative title in the Bruce Spizer catalog:

The Beatles For Sale To Help!

A fantastic series of books on The Beatles’ records. Check out Bruce’s website for more information.

Home – beatle.net

What did you learn about the Beatles that you did not know before as a result of reading these fantastic books?

Buzz

Posted on 29/10/202231/05/2024 by liddypool — 5 Comments

Best Beatles Discography in the World but Very Rare!!!

Beatles Covered – Reference Book

Beatles reference books have a difficult legacy to live up to. The reason for this observation is as soon as a discography is published, it can become outdated instantly as new releases come out. Unless book addendums or revised editions are issued, the older book is always missing significant detail as time progresses.

One thing that can be said conclusively, though, is that this book can clearly be claimed as the best Beatles discography in the world. The title was written in the English language by German author, Joachim Noske, and published in 2009, by Ajono Books.

Only 500 copies of this massive book were issued with over 14,000 scans of LP’s singles, Ep’s. 78’s picture disks, flexi-disks, and more, featuring discographies from more than 60 countries. Upon release the 500 copies were quickly snapped up by collectors and it is out of print. Copies of the book when they come up for auction command significant high prices! The author has claimed that he does not envision he will ever reprint the book despite the ever increasing demand of collectors.

The book is over 800 pages long and features full color/colour throughout. It must have been very expensive to produce this book.

Buzz

Posted on 20/10/202231/05/2024 by liddypool — 1 Comment

Derek Taylor – Genesis of an Idea

George Harrison – I Me Mine

The king of producing limited edition Beatles-related books is undoubtedly, Genesis Publications Ltd, based in the UK. Since the late Brian Roylance made the arrangements to publish George Harrison’s signed “I Me Mine” volume back in the early to mid 1970’s, the publishers have continued to publish books of intense interest to Beatles fans. At last count, more than 30 Beatles-related Genesis books have been issued.

Beautifully produced and bound in Italy, the mostly leather-bound volumes are superb in the way they are crafted, and the materials used to present them. Many Beatles fans however are skeptical and cynical about the higher prices the limited-edition books command as for many the cost is prohibitive.

The Cover from It Was Twenty Years Ago Today

Derek Taylor

Many collectors of Genesis titles may wonder what the rarest Beatles-related title is that they produced. Many people are not aware that the hardest to acquire Genesis Beatles-related title is actually a reprint of what was an already released book by the late Derek Taylor, the Beatles former publicist. His book, “It was Twenty Years Ago Today” was issued as a signed 100 copy issue by Genesis.

The publishers honored my request to allow me to purchase the last numbered copy, number 100, for my personal collection. Many people have asked me why the fascination with the last numbered copy of a limited-edition book. Here is the logic behind the reasoning. Obtaining the first numbered copy is virtually impossible to do as a result of the high demand for that numbered copy of the book. Having what turns out to be the last copy, holds an equally important fascination to me as no more limited-edition copies will ever appear or be made. That is the psychology behind requesting the last numbered copy. That coupled with the excellent writing ability of Mr. Taylor, makes this a book to be treasured.

Derek’s book, marking the 20th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper and Derek’s recollections of the essence of the counterculture of the ’60s make this a wonderful book to have!

Alternative Covers

Buzz

Posted on 10/10/202231/05/2024 by liddypool — Leave a comment

With A Little Help! From Our Friends

Three books from a few of the character actors in the Beatles movie, “Help!”

Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, and Victor Spinetti

Leo McKern Just Resting — Leo McKern – Just Resting

Leo played the character Clang/Klang in the movie and Eleanor portrayed the role of Ahme.

Victor had the role of the conniving Foot

Leo McKern’s book was published by Methuen in 1983, Bron’s book was published by Jonathan Cape in 1985. Spinetti’s book was published in 2006 by Pavilion Books.

Buzz

Posted on 07/10/202231/05/2024 by liddypool — 2 Comments

Beatles Graffiti

Beatles Graffiti

It is amazing the variety of Beatles-related book titles that have appeared over the years. This one holds a special place in my heart for several reasons.

A while back I came across an Online Kickstarter campaign designed to help finance the sale and distribution of what I saw as a very special Beatles-related book. A gentleman named Jonathan Armstrong was assisting a lady named Jo Holden to publish a book of Beatles graffiti that appeared on the famous Abbey Road wall outside the EMI studios. Jo’s husband, photographer Martin Holden had spent 12 years photographing the various postings of Beatles grafitti on the wall because he was fascinated with the worldwide impact of the group and how fans still maintained their intense interest in them

To quote Marton Holden’s friend, Jonathan Armstrong:

“In October of 2018, Martin was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer. Despite this prognosis, he continued to visit the studios and remained determined to keep the project going. He lost his battle in August 2019, and now Martin’s widow Jo is committed to finishing his work, both as a tribute to him and as closure to the long personal journey they took together.”

Sketch on Abbey Road Wall

As a special feature for the people that contributed to the Kickstarter campaign to finance the book, an artist would draw a little sketch like the walrus shown below and a message written by the pledge donor would accompany the sketch on the Abbey Road wall. The artist would photograph it before it was washed away the following month. My contribution to that book is presented in the middle panel of the picture below the book cover. The artist that did the walrus drawing for my post and I believe the person that took the photograph is named Robert Rubbish. People that purchased this book were also contributing to brain tumor research.

I believe there is a website where interested parties can still find and purchase this book if they are interested! I was so happy to have been able to acquire a copy of this wonderful title which encapsulates the continuing importance of the band to our culture.

Buzz

Posted on 28/09/202231/05/2024 by liddypool — 3 Comments

Apple to The Core – The Unmaking of The Beatles

Apple to the Core was the book that attempted to get to the heart of the Beatles business problems which ultimately led to their breakup. There were several editions of this book released with many cover variations – some of which are below. The most difficult edition of this book to find is the hardback, 1972 edition. The book was co-written by authors Peter McCabe and Robert D. Schonfeld.

The hardback is of course more expensive, so it is often the case, the hardback editions are issued briefly as a quick run then the softback or paperback editions take over the bulk of the sales of the title. Even when titles are released simultaneously in both hardback and softcover, the bookstores would often choose to stock only the softcover. I do not know how you feel about this issue, but I personally prefer hardcover books as they are more durable over time. Often, the paper used for hardcovers is superior and the yellowing of pages is a much longer process. Of course, hardcovers usually have a superior binding as well.

In regard to the book below, the picture is the hardcover, with a selection of other covers below it. Despite having a huge Beatles book library, I went many years without even knowing there was a hardcover edition of the book until I acquired one a few years ago on the Abe Books Bookstore/search service.

Buzz