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Bent Coppers – The Story of Norman Pilcher

Bent Coppers
Bent Coppers

Signed edition of the late Norman Pilcher’s book “Bent Coppers.” Published by Clink Street Publishers in 2020.

Signed copy
The signed copy

Bent Coppers

Semolina Pilchard“. There is conjecture in Beatles circles that John Lennon used this term in his song “I Am The Walrus” to refer to police officer Norman Pilcher. There was a mass trade edition of this book written by the notorious policeman who was responsible for arresting several of the most important rock figures of the 1960s on drug-related charges.

Norman Pilcher Signing the Books
Norman Pilcher Signing the Books
Norman Pilcher Signing the Books
Norman Pilcher Signing the Books

This book is Norman Pilcher’s version of the stories that captured the imagination of many who were part of the counterculture movement of that era. The version of the book shown below represents the signed edition of which only 250 copies were issued before Norman Pilcher passed away from cancer in March of 2021.

An interesting revelation according to Norman’s good friend, Reg, was that Mr. Pilcher after John had been charged at the police station, Norman sat down with John, and it was then that John and Norman had a long chat. It was there that Norman was swayed by John and what he believed in. John actually did send Norman postcards following his arrest from various locations, 6 in all from Japan France etc. 

Back Cover of Bent Coppers
Back Cover of Bent Coppers

I am sure when the two of them were in the police station neither of them could have envisioned at that time what the long-term consequences of that arrest would be!!! 

So what were those consequences? Let me know in the comments below!

If you wish to purchase a limited editioned signed copy of Norman’s book, they are only available through the author’s friend Reg, at contact.bentcoppers@gmail.com and not the publishers.

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A Cyn Full Portfolio – Cynthia Lennon

John Lennon in 1963 by Cynthia Lennon
John Lennon in 1963 by Cynthia Lennon

Cynthia Lennon on John Lennon

Sorry for the pun in the main title!

Though this is not a book, it certainly represents Beatles-related print material. In the year 2000, Cynthia Lennon created this special box set portfolio of 4 signed prints she did of John as a gift to her son. I was able to obtain one from Ebay several years ago. The photos below are my set that I acquired. I was very happy to acquire this beautiful set for the collection.

Hope you will enjoy this post!!!

The website link provided here has the full description of this wonderful set

John Lennon: Limited edition box set. In 2000, Cynthia Lennon, the 1st wife of John and mother of (the-saleroom.com)

John Lennon: Limited edition box set.

The John Lennon Boxset
The John Lennon Boxset

In 2000, Cynthia Lennon, the 1st wife of John and mother of Julian, painted four portraits of John and gave them to Julian as a birthday gift on the 20th anniversary of John’s death in 1980. A production company in London contracted to produce a “limited edition” of these portraits in colour lithograph prints. The promotion never went through but there were 300 sets of these prints produced. This example is in near-mint condition.

Inside the John Lennon Book
Inside the John Lennon Book

The four-piece artwork set was printed by Napier Jones to Fine Art Trade Guild Standards

Print #1 (top) is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1963 in his collarless jacket.

Print #2 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1965, the year the Beatles received an accolade from the Queen of England.

John Lennon in 1965 by Cynthia Lennon
John Lennon in 1965 by Cynthia Lennon

Print #3 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1967, during the period of time that Sgt Pepper was released and John and the other Beatles had finally stopped touring

John Lennon in 1967 by Cynthia Lennon
John Lennon in 1967 by Cynthia Lennon

Print #4 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1980, when John`s life was so quickly and cruelly taken.

John Lennon in 1980 by Cynthia Lennon
John Lennon in 1980 by Cynthia Lennon

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Other Books About John Lennon at the Beatles Bookstore

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A Very Rare Lennon Photo Book

This privately published edition is no longer available. Soon a mass market edition will be available on Amazon

Lennon Reality or Fantasy
Lennon Reality or Fantasy

When John Lennon had finished recording Double Fantasy, shortly thereafter he was assassinated. After several years had passed, many photo compilations of pictures taken in the last year of his life began to hit the marketplace. I had become aware that one of the photographers that had taken some of the last professional photos of John, was involved in several projects with Yoko to issue some of those photos for public consumption. David for example was responsible for the cover photo of the John Lennon “Acoustic” cd.

Reality or Fantasy
Reality or Fantasy

Starting Over by Ken Sharp

Starting Over
Starting Over
Starting over
Starting over

He was also to have several of his photos published in the “Starting Over” book by Ken Sharp and the book “John Lennon Summer of 1980”, a book of photography compiled by Yoko Ono of John and Yoko photos taken by 8 photographers, of which David was one of them.

Summer of Love
Summer of Love
Summer of Love
Summer of Love

Many years later I happened to come upon David Spindel’s website (spindelvisions.com) where I saw a photo of a hardcover book that I had never seen before and I quickly made inquiries to David to see if I could purchase a copy.

David Spindel
David Spindel Website

Even though the book is published privately and therefore more expensive, I quickly made arrangements to buy a copy from David. In doing so I quickly became a good friend of his as he is both kind, generous, and a very funny man. He provided many little signed extras for me when I purchased something from him and he is a very nice guy. In addition, I love his photos of John and Yoko and he is an extremely talented man.

David Spindell Autograph
David Spindell Autograph

I have included two emails to reach him if you would like to inquire either about his book or his photos or the many celebrities he has interacted with over the years. I have never met David but I truly consider him a good friend and I wish him well in all his endeavors. I love this book and it deserves a much wider circulation in my humble opinion and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with you when I contacted Mr. David Spindel!!!

dbspindel@cox.net

spindelvisions59@gmail.com

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David Spindell
David Spindell
Double Fantasy Photographs
Double Fantasy Photographs
John Lennon Postcards
John Lennon Postcards
David Spindell
David Spindel in his office
Lennon Poster
Lennon Poster
Yoko Letter
Yoko Letter
David Spindell Article
David Spindel Article

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“Run for Your Life” from Rubber Soul

Run For Your Life by The Beatles

Run for Your Life by The Beatles

John’s turn today, although he said in a Rolling Stone interview that he didn’t like the song much:

I never liked ‘Run for Your Life,’ because it was a song I just knocked off. It was inspired from …“Baby, Let’s Play House.” There was a line on it…”I’d rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man” – so I wrote it around that but I didn’t think it was that important.

In fact, in the early ‘70s he said that it was his least favorite Beatles song, although he knew that George liked it a lot.

There is an interesting lineage for the song, however, that started with a country and western song written for Eddy Arnold in 1951, “I Want to Play House with You.”

Four years later, that song title had morphed into “Baby, Let’s Play House.”

This was a song written for Elvis Presley by a young songwriter named Arthur Gunter.  His song included the following lines:

Now listen to me baby
Try to understand
I’d rather see you dead, little girl
Than to be with another man

The Gunter song was an unambiguous “I want you” song. Ten years later (1965) Lennon, however, remembered a couple lines from it, and made them the centerpiece for a song about a “wicked guy” who was “born with a jealous mind.”  It’s an interesting case study in how derivative music can be, and I’ve talked here before about how the Beatles listened to everything they could get their hands on, then made it their own.  

For this derivative, “knocked off” song, John sang lead, Paul and George did the harmonies, and everyone played their regular instruments with the exception that John had both electric and acoustic tracks on the song to go along with George’s energetic lead and Paul’s bass.

Flash forward over 55 years to a time when the nation has been running for its collective life, and we all are working to adapt the best we can to the new reality.

From:

When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles

(All their songs with encouraging words for challenging times)

By Tim Hatfield

[Go to www.amazon.com, search “Tim Hatfield Beatles” and download the free app to read the ebook on your device]

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Just Imagine- Photographer Tom Hanley

With A Little Help From My Lens
With A Little Help From My Lens

Tom Hanley had been taking photos of the Beatles as early as ’63/ ’64. He was with them at the end of their collective career as well, taking many ‘fly on the wall’ photos of the business meetings that were to spell the group’s demise. He was also around for John Lennon’s early solo years taking many photos of the Imagine sessions, for example.

Years later, he was also involved with the Beatles as they were coordinating efforts for the Anthology project. He even assisted in helping Apple in acquiring the Beatles’ copyrights for photos taken by other photographers. Tom took several photos of Paul, George, and Ringo during the preparation and making of the Beatles Anthology.

Tom Hanley was to pass away in November of 2021 and his son, Tony has taken the words to the story that his father authored some ten years previous about his time with The Beatles and curated over 300 of Tom’s images in an excellent limited edition book of 1,000 copies.

Mark Lewisohn with Tom Hanley

Below is a photo of the slip-cased limited edition with a signed Imagine photo exhibition invitation sent by Tom included as I intend to use the signed invitation as a bookplate to the limited edition book making the book, the only signed copy by Tom in existence.

Tom’s limited edition Beatles book ‘With a Little Help From My Lens; was released in October of 2022.

Inquiries about the book can be addressed to tony@tommyhanley.com

With A Little Help From My Lens
With A Little Help From My Lens
The Imagine Photos by Tom Hanley
Signed Article about The Imagine Photos by Tom Hanley
With A Little Help From My Lens by Tom Hanley
With A Little Help From My Lens by Tom Hanley

Here is a signed book of some of Tom’s Imagine photos taken in 1971 published by Pavilion Books in 1995

Imagine - A Celebration of John Lennon
Imagine – A Celebration of John Lennon
Imagine - A Celebration of John Lennon
Imagine – A Celebration of John Lennon

Here is the toughest Tom Hanley book to find among collectors. Now, out of print, this book was also signed by Tom. Published by Hodgson Press in 2010, featuring photos of many of the musical icons that Tom had photographed over the years.

The Esher Collection by Tom Hanley
The Esher Collection by Tom Hanley
The Esher Collection by Tom Hanley
The Esher Collection by Tom Hanley
The Esher Collection by Tom Hanley
The Esher Collection by Tom Hanley

Tom was one of the few photographers that was able to capture the stellar images of the four guys from Liverpool who helped change the world through their music all those years ago!!!

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Other Books About John Lennon

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Julian Lennon – Valotte

Julia Lennon Valotte
Julian Lennon Valotte

Here is a nice print item that I was able to acquire for a reasonable price. After the early 70’s it became impossible to be able to afford a handwritten Beatles lyric as the prices went upwards in leaps and bounds as people were becoming more aware of the possibility that the Beatles might never reform.

After December 8, 1980, the fan-desired possibility became non-existent and very few people can afford a handwritten Beatles lyric after 1980. 

When Julian Lennon released his excellent debut LP in 1984, I made a decision that if any of his handwritten compositions ever made it to the marketplace, I would attempt to purchase one as I love his work. I was able to acquire the handwritten lyrics to Julian’s song “Valotte” at a Las Vegas auction as well as a signed Valotte album cover. Julian had donated his handwritten lyrics to the Nordoff-Robbins charity to raise funds for children with disabilities.

Julian has a warm heart and that is demonstrated through the many beautiful melodies he has written and released over the years. I am very grateful that I was able to acquire these lyrics.

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Books About John Lennon