A very Rare 6 cd set that was released to highlight the promotional activities of noted record producer, Mo Ostin. Here are the details of the set which I was able to purchase a signed copy of that was signed by none other than Mo Ostin himself on ebay. Of the highlights of the 6 cd set was the song that George Harrison wrote specifically for the 6 cd set and the track was called “Mo”.
Mo’s Songs CD Set
This song has been posted by several sources on YouTube and features the classic Harrison slide guitar work that had become his signature over the years…..
A fascinating aspect of collecting Beatles print-related material is the many privately published books that are lurking out there for the discerning collector. There are many treasures that are not well-known by the public as they are not affiliated with a major publisher and are published privately by the author. As a collector, these books have many special collector attributes. Because they are privately published, often the number of these books issued is severely restricted or limited because of the high cost of printing a large volume of the title. Would like to highlight one of these privately published books that I was able to acquire recently on eBay, thanks to being alerted by a fellow collector, Seamus Hayes.
Beatles Songs of Lennon/McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr
This book deals with people who have covered the songs of Lennon and McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. At 522 pages, it looks at CDs, albums, and singles from virtually every corner of the world. What makes this book especially attractive for collectors is that at the present time, there are only 30 known current copies of the book in existence.
Second-Hand Beatles back cover
Would love to see this book be available to a much wider audience with a major publisher. However, I must also be honest, as a collector, the smaller number of privately published copies enhances the special quality of possessing a very rare item. Personally extending my best wishes for the author to find the mass circulation publisher that he is looking for.
I am not currently selling any more via eBay but if you know of anyone who wants to purchase a copy please give them this e mail address below to make contact. Many thanks Alan Lord
alanlorduk@yahoo.co.uk
Special books like this deserve to be made available to the large Beatles book collector audience.
What is your favourite cover of a Beatles song? Let me know in the comments below.
This is the picture sleeve that Klaus Voormann used to introduce himself to the Beatles. I have been trying to find this sleeve for many years but it simply is too expensive for me to acquire!
Klaus introduced himself to John Lennon at one of the German clubs where they were playing long hours – The Kaiserkeller – and truly honing their musical craft. To impress John, he showed John a picture sleeve he had recently designed the cover of. The sleeve was “Walk Don’t Run” by the Typhoons.
The song was also a hit for the Ventures. The sleeve is what holds the interest to many collectors as it was one of the first commercial record designs that Klaus Voormann created. When Klaus showed the sleeve to John Lennon, John told Klaus, go see “Stu” (Sutcliffe) as he is the artistic one.” This quote has been relayed by Klaus on several Youtube videos.
Astrid
When Klaus told his friend Astrid about the band and brought her to see them, she met and fell in love with Stu, and also began a time when she photographed the band and took some of the best photos ever of them. Sadly, her romance with Stu was to be short-lived as he died of a cerebral hemorrhage at a very young age. Fate was also to deny Stu the opportunity to see how big his former bandmates were to become in the musical world. Shortly before he died, Stu had left the Beatles to pursue his artistic career.
I have been looking for this picture sleeve for quite some time but unfortunately, it commands some very high prices, and I have had no luck securing a copy for what I deem to be a reasonable figure.
A subject matter that seems to have been thoroughly examined in books is the 1968 Beatles’ sojourn to India. Largely influenced by the impact of Eastern culture on Beatle George Harrison, the Beatles became transfixed on learning Transcendental Meditation and the ancient philosophy of Indian culture.
George in particular, through his association with sitar virtuoso, Ravi Shankar, was able to commingle spiritual Indian music, with the realm of pop music.
The Beatles White Album
Not only did their journey to India inspire the writing of nearly all of the songs on the Beatles “White Album” but years after their trip, both John and Paul were to write songs about India in their solo years.
Paul Saltzman
Undoubtedly, the best photographs taken of the Beatles in India were by film producer, Paul Saltzman. The photos were presented in a number of book releases of which a couple are shown here.
The first one is the limited edition published in October of 2006 by Insight Editions-
Signed and numbered Limited Edition, only 1968 copies were issued.
Paul allowed me to purchase copy #1968 which is also the year the pictures were taken and the year of the release of the fabulous “White Album” aka “The Beatles.”
The photos in this book are stunning and may be the best photos of the Beatles taken at a specific location, somewhat akin to the Mad Day Out photo session in London, though the Beatles seem to be more relaxed in the Indian setting.
This hardcover edition was released in Feb of 2018-Has a preface by Tim Wride, an Afterword by Donovan and a Foreword by Pattie Boyd Also published by Inside Editions.
The Beatles in India
The Beatles in Rishikesh
This edition under a different title was published in October of 2000 by Viking Studio.
The Beatles in Rishikesh
This book is more of a history of India and the cover shot was probably used a marketing tool for sales. The book is written by author Sam Miller and is an outstanding historical perspective of a foreigner and how he perceives the beauty and wonder of Indian culture. Published in July of 2015 by Vintage Books.
A Strange Kind of Paradise
With The Beatles, by Lewis Lapham, was published in October of 2005 by Melville House Publishers. I found this book to be very informative and the author delves into the goings-on behind the scenes in this book which may or may not alter your perspectives of what has been written before about the Beatles’ disillusionment when the Beatles left the Maharishi’s camp.
With The Beatles
Dear Prudence
At a Fest for Beatles fans in NY, I was able to meet Mia Farrow’s sister and the lady who was the inspiration for the famous song “Dear Prudence.” I was able to give her as a gift the demo that John had written of the song which she told me she had never heard. She was so kind to sign a copy of her book for me at a later date with some of the lyrics from the song as part of the inscription. A very kind soul was my distinct impression of her.
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; First Edition (June 26, 2015)
Dear Prudence
This book by Nancy Cooke Herrera was one of those books I accidentally stumbled upon at Abe Books, looking for Beatles-related titles. This book was authored by the lady who was the inspiration along with her son for John Lennon’s song “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” featured on the “White Album.” Nancy was the mother of the man who shot the tiger which was detailed in the song. She was also a friend of the reclusive Greta Garbo. I was able to obtain a signed edition of this book. Nancy is now deceased.
Beyond Gurus
This somewhat updated version of the book was published in 2005 by Rupa & Co.
All You Need Is Love
The Maharishi
Author Paul Mason has written two wonderful books about both the Maharishi and the Beatles’ trip to India. The first one is a biography of the Maharishi. Published in 1994, the hardcover edition was published by Element Books.
The Maharishi
This is Paul’s book that is more directed towards the Beatles’ element in India.
Published by Premanand (May 15, 2017). This is a unique book in the Beatles Indian collection. It is a volume that I enjoyed very much.
The Beatles, Drugs, Mysticism & India
Author Susan Shumsky has written two books with the theme of the Maharishi and the Beatles. The first title discusses her many years of interaction with the leader of TM.
The book was published by Skyhorse; First Edition (February 13, 2018)
Maharishi & Me
The Inner Light
Susan’s new release is shown here. I have just begun to read this title published in 2022 by Permuted Press. Interested in learning Susan’s more analytic approach to this subject. Obtain a signed copy of the book from the Fest for Beatles fans.
The Inner Light
I thoroughly enjoyed this relatively obscure account of an actor’s recollections of being there in India in 1968. Many fascinating anecdotes in this one. Judd Linger’s interesting book was independently published in October 2021.
The Beatles: All Too Much
I wanted to discuss one of the many Beatles in India books that has the perspective of a man native to India as he not only discusses the impact that India had on the Beatles but also the impact that the Beatles had on India. I found this book to be very informative and entertaining and reinforced my opinions of how deep the cultural impact of the Beatles truly extended. How the band was able to incorporate stimuli from so many sources, assimilate them, and make them a part of their musical vocabulary.
Thís book was written by Ajoy Bose, published in 2018 by India Viking.
Across the Universe
Another book that deals with the impact of Eastern mysticism on the Beatles
NOTHING IS REAL: WHEN THE BEATLES MET THE EAST By Luca Beatrice
Publisher: Silvana Year of Publication 2017
Nothing Is Real
The subject of The Beatles in India is such an interesting one and a fascinating collection of books help us understand The Beatles more.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: The Biography of the Man Who Gave Transcendental Meditation to the World (2020)
This is an updated version of the earlier book (see above) and includes more information as well as more photographs too.
Maharishi Biography by Paul Mason
The songs inspired in India can sometimes divide Beatles fans. Did you like the Indian influences? Let me know in the comments below.
Our resident Beatles Memorabilia expert Terry Crain takes a look at another great piece of memorabilia – the Beatles Beach Hat.
Beatles Beach Hat
Now Beatles fans could “follow the sun” in a stylish protective fashion! It was likely a scientific fact that the sun shone more brightly on Beatles fans at the beach, and what type of headgear could they trust? Well, The Beatles Beach Hat, of course!
Manufactured in the U.S., the beach hat (or “sports hat” in some advertisements) was available in red and white, black and white, or blue and white fabric. Pressed onto the white space of the cap were graphics with Beatles faces and facsimile autographs in black ink. When fanned out, the hat was 9″ in diameter.
The Beatles Beach Hat
The Beatles Flocking
The advertisement for the hat lured the consumer with enticing language: “Cotton Twill Stitched Brim Hat with The Beatles Flocking. Blue and white and red and white. One size fits all. Hurry! 99¢. Be In Rhythm with ’em!”
The label inside the beach hat contained the logo from the United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union (Union Made). It also had a tag that said: “Made in U.S.A.”
The hat first came out of England in black, then headed across the waters to the U.S. with the additional red and blue colors to the inventory for the American market.
Puritan Fashions had the license from NEMS to produce the beach hats via the U.K. company Kangol and U.S. solicitor/middleman Budd Hellawell. Many of the early Sixties ads for Puritan products included their sweatshirts, shirts, and beach hats grouped.
Kangol Wear
Kangol Wear UK
An interesting side note: Kangol Wear in the U.K. talked via phone on February 10, 1964 (the day after the first Ed Sullivan appearance), to Puritan representative Bud Hellawell. It granted Puritan a sublicense to manufacture and distribute “hats” in the United States. During that phone call, Kangol reminded him that he owed them $1000 as a “down payment” for the license.
NEMS and the Business of Selling Beatles Merchandise in the U.S. 1964-1966 (2ND EDITION)
The book covers the approximately 150 licensed items that dotted store shelves and helped fuel the band-crazed fan during the time right after the band landed in America and performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. Toys, games, dolls, jewelry, clothing, wigs, and more!
Is George Martin the Fifth Beatle? A rare concert program from 1998 in Australia where Sir George Martin conducted an orchestra featuring some of his favorite Beatles songs that he had produced in the decade of the 60s. George’s contributions to the Beatles recorded legacy are both legendary and immense. If anyone deserves the moniker of “The Fifth Beatle”, my vote goes to Mr. Martin!
All You Need Is Beatles
The Beatles Recording Sessions
When I acquired this signed Mark Lewisohn Beatles Recording Sessions book I came up with two treasures, the excellent book by Mark and the signature of Beatles producer, George Martin, who helped to create and produce all those golden nuggets contained within the book.
The Beatles Recording Sessions
George Martin’s Autograph
The Fifth Beatle?
Who do you think is the Fifth Beatle? Do you agree it is George Martin? Who gets your vote?
Inside Number Three – The Illustrated History of Apple Records
Bill Zygmant – Where Did You Get That Shirt? (Signed Limited Edition)£75.00
The Fab One Hundred and Four: The Evolution of The BeatlesOriginal price was: £49.00.£20.00Current price is: £20.00.
