Tag: The Beatles

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A DUTCH TREAT FOR THE DARK HORSE IN ALL OF US

The International Dark Horse and Ring O'Records Discography
The International Dark Horse and Ring O’Records Discography

A is for Apple

In a previous post on this blog I highlighted the superb A is for Apple, Apcor Publishing, tremendous book series about the Beatles company, Apple. This book series is unquestionably one of the best Beatles-related book series on the planet. One of the owners and administrators of Apcor, is the distinguished author and musician, Ed Dieckmann.

Here are a few samples of his rare now out-of-print books that he has published. I was fortunate to be able to find all of these excellent books in Beatles collecting circles and I treasure them dearly. Ed is a great guy and he strives to unearth those rare previously unknown bits of information that Beatles fans yearn for…..

Dark Horse Records

The first book was a collaborative effort about Dark Horse Records that was compiled by noted collector Franck Leenheer and Ed Dieckmann. The other two books are a fabulous discography of Beatles-related releases in Holland! Top Notch!!!

The Discography
The Discography
The Dutch Beatles Discography
The Dutch Beatles Discography

Made In Holland Too
Made In Holland Too

Buzz Bezzini

Books About The Beatles

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Beatles Wallpaper – From Manchester, not Liverpool!

Press preview of the Daily Mail Ideal home Exhibition at Olympia. Left to right, Margaret Stewart (24) and Jean Evans (17) admiring Beatles wallpaper after they had bought a Beatles hairspray at the exhibition. 2nd March 1964.
Press preview of the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia. Left to right, Margaret Stewart (24) and Jean Evans (17) admiring Beatles wallpaper after they had bought a Beatles hairspray at the exhibition. 2nd March 1964.

Beatles Wallpaper

Amid the worldwide phenomenon known as Beatlemania, Beatles wallpaper came to the U.S. and Canada via Wall Paper Manufacturers Ltd of Manchester. They produced the rolls and shipped them across the Atlantic to awaiting bare-walled fans with adhesive glue in hand! The wallpaper was not manufactured in either North American country but distributed throughout the states and provinces through paint, department, and other stores.

Beatles Wallpaper on a Fan's Wall
Beatles Wallpaper on a Fan’s Wall

Ed Sullivan

On February 21, 1964, just two days before the Beatles made a third appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (pre-taped), 24,000 rolls of Beatles wallpaper landed at North American airports and headed for waiting retail shelves.

England

These wallpaper rolls from England were labeled ‘Beat770’ and had a ‘sizing strip’ attached. You would remove this strip – about 1″-2″ wide with perforated color bars and writing – when installing. The wallpaper pattern was four-color photos with surrounding facsimile signatures that repeated every 21″.

Canada

Later some rolls were manufactured in Canada. These were 20.5″ (52.07cm) wide and labeled ‘Made in Canada 33300’ with no sizing strip.

Early sales trended towards the wallpaper quickly becoming a must-have item for teenage girls across the country, who would plaster their walls with images of their favorite bands.

Beatles Wallpaper had a modest store run but fell short of expected sales goals. Retailers started realizing that the buying fans would purchase one roll, cut it in strips, and disseminate it among their friends as wall hangings or decorations for their record players and other items. The market for someone to purchase enough to decorate an entire room was less lucrative than they thought.

Beatles’ Popularity Slipping

Because of this, articles were showing up in newspapers as early as April 1964, announcing that, in their opinion, the Beatles’ popularity was ‘slipping’ because shops had to reduce the price of the wallpaper to move their inventory because it wasn’t “going as well as expected.”

Get Terry’s fantastic book:

NEMS and the Business of Selling Beatles Merchandise in the U.S. 1964-1966 (2ND EDITION)

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!

Barnes and Noble site: httpss://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nems-and-the-business-of-selling-beatles-merchandise-in-the-us-1964-1966-terry-crain/1137422952?ean=9783347096165#

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London Rock – The Unseen Archive

London Rock The Unseen Archive
London Rock The Unseen Archive
London Rock The Unseen Archive
London Rock The Unseen Archive

Though not a Beatles book per se, London Rock – The Unseen Archive, is a wonderful book of fabulous photos by noted photographer, Alec Byrne. I was overjoyed to find and purchase this beautiful signed edition of the book several years ago. It is entitled “London Rock” published by Insight Editions in 2017.

London Rock Back Cover
London Rock – Back Cover

Many superstars of the London rock scene are featured in this great title, including many photos of the individual Beatles. This is the type of book that holds a special fascination for me as these wonderful photos help to capture a special time in the history of both rock and popular music. Hope you will enjoy being exposed to this great title!!!

Buzz

Signed by Alec Byrne
Signed by Alec Byrne
John Lennon
John Lennon – photo by Alec Byrne

Buzz

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Do You Know The John Lennon Factor?

The Lennon Factor
The Lennon Factor

Obscure John Lennon Book

This is one of my favorite obscure Lennon-based books. Written by Paul Young and published in 1972 by Stein and Day. Paul Young’s superb analysis of the importance of John Lennon, in particular, to the cultural revolution that occurred in the ’60s, is a fascinating and innovative approach to the subject.

Using the writing style of many luminaries such as E. E. Cummings, Young details his suppositions of how important John’s persona was to the cultural fabric of the ’60s. In my personal opinion, this book is stylistically both a novel and an interesting way to tell the story of the impact of John Lennon on the tumultuous Sixties!

What I find of particular interest in Young’s writing style in this book is that there is always a Message within the Message. Once you read this book, you will understand what I mean by that. Young challenges you with this particular writing style and some people find this means to convey the subject matter as being very frustrating. I found it to be both thrilling and exciting. Ultimately, I found myself agreeing with many of Young’s suppositions.

  1. Publisher- Stein and Day
  2. Publication date-January 1, 1972

What is your favourite John Lennon book? Let me know in the comments below.

Buzz

Other Books on John Lennon

John Lennon

Books about John Lennon

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Beatles In New York? Dear Sir or Madam, Will You Write This Book?

Beatles In New York: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with Mal Evans, Arrive in New York. Photo by Fred W McDarragh
Beatles in New York: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with Mal Evans, Arrive in New York. Photo by Fred W McDarragh

Above photo: Beatles in New York: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with Mal Evans, Arrive in New York. Photo by Fred W McDarragh

Start Spreading the News……..New York, New York

A book that needs to be published and many would be interested in seeing it. I sincerely hope that someone out there can acquire the appropriate rights to do a project such as this:

John and Paul of The Beatles in New York to announce Apple in 68!!!

When this blog began it was noted that as well as showing rare Beatles-related books and magazines, a few posts would appear speculating as to what books were needed or would present a good story both visually and verbally.

One book I have always longed for, and that I hope someone can undertake, is a detailed study of John and Paul’s trip in 1968 to announce Apple. There are many fans that took their own photos and would need to give permission for their use in the book.

John and Paul gave a press conference at the  Apple announcement and people that were there can give their accounts of the event.

Beatles Fan Photos

John and Paul, along with Neil Aspinall, and a few others took a walk in Central Park and there are fan photos that exist. I am sure there are some amusing stories from that walk that must survive as well.

The Tonight Show

The Tonight Show with John and Paul was erased by NBC but some 8-millimeter footage still exists. The entire audio of the show survives. There must be some great recollections of that show that survive from members of the stage crew or even from members of the audience.

John and Paul also visited the apartment of Brian Epstein’s attorney, Nat Weiss, and stayed with him at his apartment. Photos survive of the door that John and Paul signed at the apartment with possibly the largest autographs they ever made in their lifetime.

Lennon and McCartney

Many photos exist of Lennon and McCartney, along with Mal Evans, and many others of the Beatles contingent, like Ron Kass, on a Chinese junk that circled Manhattan. The business of Apple was discussed there and if there are any survivors from that junket to tell their stories accompanied by the photos, it would be a great way to bring the book to a close. Sure hope someone takes on the task one day!

Any other books that you would like to be published that haven’t already been covered? Let me know in the comments below.

Buzz

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Second-Hand Beatles Songs – A Covers Story

Second Hand Beatles by Alan Lord
Second Hand Beatles by Alan Lord

Privately Published Beatles Book

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
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.

Buzz

The Newest Arrivals in The Beatles Bookstore