SOME OF THE BEATLES-RELATED PRINT WORKS OF THEIR FRIEND, RAY CONNOLLY!!!

Ray Connolly was not only a friend of the band. He could be considered as a confidante. For example, he was the first journalist that knew that the Beatles had split as John Lennon had told him that the band was finished, but John asked Ray not to say anything. Then Paul announced it to the world and John expressed his regret that he had not given the OK for Ray to break the story. Ray holds the same level of regret that John had not given him the OK to let the world know about the historic scoop and event.

The book below represents Ray’s speculating about the impact of the origins of John’s restless nature, and why he never felt satisfied with the way things were or played out.  Ray discusses how John’s early life helped to ingrain that restless spirit in his nature until the end of his life, is the main theme of the book.

Being John Lennon Hardcover – November 27, 2018

Pegasus Books

Ray was so kind to send me a signed copy of his book:

A selection of many of the interviews and stories that Ray was involved with in his many interactions with the Beatles over the years-an excellent book:

The Ray Connolly Beatles Archive Paperback – July 17, 2016

by Ray Connolly  (Author) Plumray Books

Ray’s biography of John Lennon published in 1981 by Fontana publishers:

‘Sorry, Boys, You Failed The Audition’ Paperback – June 20, 2019

by Ray Connolly

Independently published-June 20, 2019
(Author)

A fantasy work of fiction by the celebrated author which speculates what might have happened if the Beatles had failed their audition with EMI/Parlophone:

Ray’s 2023 Memoir: I recently ordered a copy of this book

Born At The Right Time Hardcover – August 13, 2023

Independently Published-Available on Amazon

The back cover:

Ray as a friend of The Beatles has written some of the great interviews with The Beatles and has produced some superb books.

Buzz

TONY PALMER’S BOOK ASSOCIATION WITH JOHN LENNON AND THE BEATLES

This was Tony Palmer’s 1970 book about the music scene in the late 1960s. It featured illustrations by Ralph Steadman who had often worked with writer, Hunter Thompson.  The book featured a foreword by John Lennon and the 1970 edition featured a cover photo of John and Yoko being arraigned in the UK for the charges of marijuana possession. These charges eventually led the US government and the Nixon administration to try and deport John Lennon when he moved to the United States. Some people have speculated that it was not the conviction that the US government was worried about. Many postulate that John’s power with the youth especially during the social upheaval of the Vietnam conflict was the real reason the government tried to deport John!

Born Under a Bad Sign

Tony Palmer, Illustrations by Ralph Steadman

Published by William Kimber, London, 1970

The 126-copy limited signed edition-technically the book below is a 100-copy edition that was numbered 1-100.

Then there was a 26 copy limited lettered edition below this one:

This is one of 26 lettered copies of the new edition signed by Palmer and Steadman with an original signed artwork by Ralph Steadman. The copy that I was able to obtain was no. “H” of 26 books “numbered” A to Z. So it is no. 8 of 26 books issued in this very limited edition

Publication: [London / Maidstone], Lexington, KY and Tucson, AZ: Isolde Films / Steam Press with Petro III Graphics and Sylph Publications, 2004

The book came in a slipcase:

Tony Palmer was responsible for both an excellent book and a superb television series about the history of popular music. 

Here is the book:

Tony Palmer’s classic series, The Story of Popular Music: All You Need is Love.  A five DVD set which contained all 17 episodes of the fabulous TV series was issued!

The DVD set:

John Lennon and Tony Palmer were to have another connection as Palmer wrote a book called “The Trials of Oz” which John Lennon and Yoko wrote a few songs to raise money for the defendants in the OZ trial. Here is the Apple picture sleeve for those two songs. The A-side was sung by Bill Elliott, later of Splinter, and was produced by Mal Evans. The B-side , called “Do the Oz” was sung by John and Yoko. The songs did not do well commercially. The lead singer on the “God Save Us” track was to pass away in 2021.