So many quality books with a Beatles connection have appeared in March, and “Ringo Starr: I Play The Piano in C” is another great one. Truly indicative that March Madness also applies to the guy who sang “Drumming is My Madness.” This brand new book by Italian based author, Luca Perasi explores the musical career of a guy who like his former bandmate, Paul McCartney, continues to please the public by performing and to continue to record in their Golden Years. Ringo’s new country music-based LP, “Look Up” is not only doing well in the charts, but he is continuing to collaborate with many formidable musicians. He also continues with his All-Startours. Luca Perasi’s Ringo book, knowing his track record with his many McCartney book successes, will be another memorable addition to our Beatle-related book libraries. Perfect timing as I recently received my email from Amazon that my copy is on the way… and remember there is going to be a Vol. 2!!!
The back cover of the book:
Here are the various Amazon links to the book provided to me by one of my UK friends, Seamus Hayes!Seamus
also provided me with the notification of this book’s release. Thank you, SH!
When you wish upon a Starr you not only get one Ringo Discography, you get 2 volumes. Volume 1 is out now but keep a lookout for Vol 2 in the near future. Luca Perasi is a very busy guy!
Many Beatles collectors are aware of the work of Doug Sulpy who over the years with his magazine entitled The910 (yes, a pun of the One after 909) has helped to do a wonderful job of attempting to catalog and criticize the tremendous amount of unreleased material by the Beatles. Doug has numerous book titles dealing with this subject and here are a few of them:
This title below deals with the existing video of the Beatles from 1964. Doug issued this as a hardback in an edition of only 100 copies of which I purchased a copy. Doug’s 910 magazine is now sold digitally only, in pdf format. This transition to the digital format is primarily due to high printing costs. However, Doug does continue to print the occasional limited edition hardback volume like the one below which is always exhaustively researched and well-documented.
The Beatles 1964 Video Guide
The back cover of the 100-copy hardback:
The Beatles 1964 Video Guide
Doug’s “John Hancock” on this special hardcover title of only 100 copies:
The Beatles 1964 Video Guide
Thomas The Tank
Ringo did a series of audio narrations of the Thomas the Tank children’s books. Expanding on his role as the conductor in the Thomas the Tank TV series, this is an example of one of the cassettes with book volumes based on the series. For collecting purposes I bought the complete Ringo cassette and CD collections of his storytelling ventures!
Thomas the Tank Engine
I love special releases like this that appeal to both children and adults. The book detailing the lyrics to Starr’s song appeals more to the children. The alternate version of Octopus’s Garden on the CD appeals to the Ringo music collector, primarily being adults.
Octopus’s Garden
A picture of the cd contained within the book and a brief bio on the author and the illustrator:
Octopus’s Garden
The back cover of my copy of the book which is available on Amazon:
Though this is a photography book containing other artists beside the Beatles, we can surmise why they were chosen for the cover. This wonderful photography book by noted photographer, John Rowland is signed by Mr. Rowland, and I acquired this signed copy from the book search service known as Abe Books.
The book was published in 2010 by Desert Springs Publishing. For further info contact: www.rockphotobook.com
The signature page of the Rowlands book:
The back cover of the book:
The Beatles Monopoly
Technically, this is not a Beatles print item, yet it does exhibit the overlap in collecting interests that I have for both Beatles print material and Beatles board games. Here is the special Yellow Submarine edition of Monopoly
The Beatles Yellow Submarine Monopoly
The back cover of the Yellow Submarine edition:
The Beatles Yellow Submarine Monopoly
An edition of the Monopoly board game that I bought that has the classic Abbey Road album cover:
The Beatles Monopoly
The back cover of the edition shown above:
The Beatles Monopoly
Another one of the world’s most popular board games and it is only fitting that there would also be a Beatles edition of SCRABBLE: I bought my copy either from eBay or The Fest for Beatles Fans:
The Beatles Scrabble
The back cover of the Scrabble game:
The Beatles Scrabble
Skywriting by Word of Mouth
A special limited edition of 500 copies only in a slipcase of John Lennon’s final self-penned book entitled “Skywriting By Word of Mouth.” Each copy was signed by Yoko Ono.Published by Harper & Row in 1986!
Skywriting by Word of Mouth
The cover of the book within the slipcase:
Skywriting by Word of Mouth
Yoko’s signature and the number of the edition:
Skywriting by Word of Mouth
In 2014 Tosh Berman, son of Wallace Berman, one of the individuals who appears on the cover of Sgt. Pepper, released this limited edition booklet of only 300 signed copies that details the story of his dad giving permission to Brian Epstein to use his photo on the cover of the LP and of Wallace Berman’s son’s interest in the Beatles. It is a small item of not many pages, but it is wonderful to read the special set of stories contained within!
The image of Mr. Berman contained on the Sgt. Pepper cover and the one that is within my copy of the Tosh Berman book which I love as a special collectable:Copies can often be found on both Ebay and Abe books!
Tosh Berman’s signature in my copy of the limited edition book:
Found this book in a Fest for Beatles catalog! It is a 3-volume set that features a special part dedicated not only in about 108 photos of the Beatles rarely if ever seen before, but details of the Beatles interactions over the years with members of the Hare Krishna movement. Here is an introduction of the book “Chasing Rhinos With the Swami”:
My copy was purchased through the Fest For Beatles Fans. I have seen copies advertised additionally on Ebay and Abe Books. The first volume was published in 2016. Volume 3 came out in 2021. This was followed by the 3 volumes set encased in a slipcase which was also being offered at The Fest for Beatles Fans!
A fabulous hardback Ringo Starr discography by author, Andrew James. It is detailed and all encompassing and it is a wonderful pickup for Beatles collectors. However, discographies all suffer from the same built-in problem. Unless the recording artist has passed away, in most cases the discogrpahy will not be up-to-date or current because the minute the artist issues another recording the book becomes lacking of the new releases. The completeness of their recorded legacy depends upon constantly updated versions of the book. It is frustrating to those who want a sense of completeness in their collections. However, we of course would much prefer the artist to be active healthy and with us for the natural course of their lives and to keep recording additional memories for us to savor.
My comments above may seem somewhat silly but the intention and purpose of the comments was simply to highlight a problem inherent in writing any books about artists that continue to record and remain active until they are elderly! Everyone’s primary concern should naturally be the well-being of the artist in question!
The well-researched discography was released in 2023 and I purchased it Online on Amazon. The book was independently published:
The back cover of the Andrew James book about Ringo’s recording career:
The Ringo Starr Discography
What do you think? What do Want to See?
In conclusion, is there a particular Beatles print/ related subject matter that you would like to see covered in greater detail on the blog? Please let us know what you would like to see more of, or less of, for that matter!
Thanks! Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
Some great books about The Beatles at the Beatles Bookstore
It should come as no surprise that Ringo is recording another Country album in Nashville; Ringo Starr “Look Up”. He is the Beatle most known for his love of country music, though all four Beatles were big country music fans.
Ringo Starr has announced his next album: a country record, produced and co-written by T-Bone Burnett. Look Up is due out in January 2025. It’s his first new LP since 2019, and his first country record in more than 50 years.
In addition to Burnett, who co-wrote nine out of 11 songs on the record, Look Up features a host of country, bluegrass, and Americana talent including Alison Krauss, Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, Lucius, and Molly Tuttle. The first single from the album, “Time On My Hands,” is out today.
A BOOK BY ANTHONY HOGAN: FROM A STORM TO A HURRICANE – RORY STORM AND THE HURRICANES
“Alan Ernest Caldwell,” also known as Rory Storm, had the bright distinction of being in the most popular band in Liverpool. No, Rory was never in the Beatles. Rory’s group, the “Hurricanes” were the most popular band in Liverpool while the Beatles were pursuing their climb to fame. Until the Beatles paid their dues in Hamburg, Rory and his band were to hold the reins. Ironically, the drummer in Rory’s band was none other than Ringo Starr, who was to permanently join the Beatles in 1962.
Here is an excellent book about Rory. At times a very tragic story as it deals with Rory’s problem with stuttering and the tragic finale of Rory’s mom finding Rory deceased in his bed following a short illness. The author thoroughly disputes the rumor and proposed notion that Rory took his own life and gives his evidence in the book. Rory’s mom was to pass away very soon after her son’s death.
Title: FROM A STORM TO A HURRICANE-RORY STORM AND THE HURRICANES
The book is available on Amazon, sometimes on eBay and also occasionally at Abe Books!
A few years ago I was able to obtain this handwritten letter by Rory Storm, dated April of 1964. Ironically only 2 months after the Beatles had conquered the world. The letter is an answer to an inquiry to a person trying to arrange a gig with Rory and his band…
LETTER FROM RORY STORM
This Wikipedia entry provides a lot of interesting info concerning Rory!
This post was inspired by a recent Beatles novelty record that I was able to acquire about Maureen Starkey and her husband Ringo. While purchasing the novelty record at the record search service of Discogs, I was able to find one of the things that interests me as a collector of Beatles-related oddities or mistakes that occasionally appear on those records. I refer to the novelty record “Treat Him Tender, Maureen (Now That Ringo Belongs to You) by Angie and the Chicklettes. This record appeared after Ringo had asked Maureen Cox to become his first wife in 1965.
Here is the song as it appears on a YouTube post that I was able to find:
This is a photograph of the novelty record that I purchased with the correct label and with Ringo’s name spelled correctly for the release:
Treat Him Tender Maureen
Here is the oddity; On this copy of the 45, a misspelling of Ringo’s name as “Tingo” appears:
This type of error is especially appealing to me as a collector. First of all, most novelty records do not sell well at all so there are not many copies in existence in the marketplace. Mistakes associated with those records are even more obscure and difficult to find or obtain!
Now That Tingo Belongs To You
Apple Records
When the Beatles had formed Apple Records, those that are experts know that the first catalog number was Apple 1. However the Apple 1 recording never appeared to the public-at-large. Ringo was aware that his wife Maureen was an intense Frank Sinatra fan. So, for her impending birthday, Ringo through his celebrity connections was able to request for Sinatra to record a special birthday song for Maureen. Songwriter, Sammy Cahn was able to modify one of Sinatra’s big hit songs with a new set of lyrics adapted for Maureen’s birthday.
Frank Sinatra
Supposedly, only one copy was officially printed by Apple of the Sinatra recording which Ringo presented to Maureen as a birthday gift. The one copy supposition is just that, as numerous others claim multiple copies were printed for close Beatles associates. Maybe Mark Lewisohn knows what the true story actually is…?
Years later, an enterprising collector in the Netherlands created a reproduction Apple 1 record of what they suspect it may have looked like. They were offering several copies for sale on their website and I bought a copy, knowing it was a reproduction but I enjoyed the song and the story associated with it.
I have seen several posts of the number on YouTube and this is one of them:
This is a picture of the Apple 1 reproduction offered by the collector in the Netherlands:
Another Interesting Maureen Starkey story:
This is a special item I acquired from the UK company called Tracks back in 2019. It is an invoice that Maureen Starkey signed on December 21, 1966. On that day, the Beatles were in the studio recording the song “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
Ringo and Maureen were to have three children, Zak, Jason and Lee. Years later in 1975, they were to divorce and Maureen was to marry Isaac Tigrett one of the founders of the Hard Rock Cafe in 1989. Maureen was to pass away from cancer in 1994. Her husband Isaac and her children were with her when she passed as was her former husband, Ringo.
Ringo’s good friend, Paul McCartney, wrote a beautiful tribute song for Maureen following her passing. The song was called “Little Willow”. It is only fitting that the final words to this post are in the song….
Acquired this book recently from the estate of Ringo Starr’s late business manager, Hilary Gerrard. Hilary was born on January 17, 1933 in London, UK and he died on January 11, 2023 in Monaco, just prior to his 90th birthday! This item was received by Hilary as a birthday gift for his 74th birthday from Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach!
About this Item
First edition, first printing, inscribed on the front free endpaper by Ringo Starr to his business manager, “Dear Hill, Have a great 74th, Happy Birthday, Love Ringo xxx”, additionally signed “Barbara xxxx”. Provenance: from the collection of Hilary Gerrard, Ringo Starr’s business manager from the early 1970s and a director of the Beatles Apple Corps Limited. Stone’s memoir discusses his experiences in the 1960s counterculture, including encounters with Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac from his time spent travelling with them.
The front cover of the book: it was a nice birthday gesture for Ringo to give his friend and legal advisor a book about the sixties which simultaneously was a decade hard to forget, and for some, a decade hard to remember!!!
Remembering the Sixties – by Robert Stone, published by Ecco in 2007
Remembering The Sixties
About this Item – the inscription page where both Ringo and Barbara wish Hilary a happy 74th birthday!
Signed by Ringo and Barbara
Though the following are not my items, they do indicate the respect the other Beatles had for Ringo’s legal representative and friend:
This photo appears on the wonderful Sara Schmidt’s “Meet the Beatles for Real” website. I do not know who the photographer is for this photo, but it featuresHilary, Ringo and Barbara! Obviously, three great friends!
Hope you enjoyed this – someone universally appreciated by all four Beatles.
