THE BEATLES IN CANADA – TWO SPECIAL BOOK EDITIONS!
Just received a truly wonderful book that I recently purchased from one of my favorite Canadian Beatles book authors, Piers Hemmingsen!
To view an interview with the author and David Bedford, click here.
Piers has written the Canadian equivalent of a Beatles bible with his stunning, more than 600-page study of the Beatles in Canada. To say the content is detailed and well-researched is a gross understatement. The Beatles in Canada- The Evolution 1964-1970 represents the second of two masterworks by the author about the Beatles association and involvement with Canada over the years. You will be amazed by the extensive detail of how Beatlemania hit the Canadian mainland before it ever hit the US.
The first book, The Beatles in Canada-The Origins of Beatlemania!, was published in 2015/16 and is shown at the conclusion of this post. I was so impressed with Piers first volume that I knew I had to have the sequel and once again he has greatly exceeded my expectations. This book is excellent and that is only one of the positive descriptors I can use. This title will be “THE” source to turn to whenever you want to learn anything about the Beatles in Canada or their cultural impact on the Canadian population.
For those interested in purchasing this wonderful new book, here are the links:
1. North America link
https://www.thebeatlesincanada.com
2. UK/Europe link
The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970 – omnibuspress.com
Please read the content distinctions provided below for the Bookplate Signature edition of the book and the Author’s Signature edition before making your decision as you want to be able to make the best-informed decision applicable to your wants and collecting needs!
 Piers Hemmingsen with Forewords from Sandy Gardiner, John Brower and Ritchie Yorke The following information is from the https://www.thebeatlesincanada.com website. I have included a large segment here for your convenience. If you have any unanswered questions, please access the link! THE BOOK DESCRIPTION: Almost ten years in the making, this is the second volume in the two volume book series The Beatles In Canada. Following right where the first book—The BEATLES IN CANADA – The Origins Of Beatlemania!—left off in 2015—The BEATLES IN CANADA – The Evolution 1964-1970!— is the definitive history of the group in Canada, starting in late 1964 and winding along the Beatles road all the way through to mid-1970. Between late 1964 and early 1970, the musical evolution of The Beatles impacted many aspects of social life in the Great White North. This second volume of The Beatles In Canada series chronicles the six years following The Beatles’ first tour of Canada in 1964. The group returned to Canada for four fab concerts in 1965 and 1966. In a population of 20 million people, hundreds of thousands of Canadian teens were tuned in to the music of The Beatles. The Beatles’ TV appearances, films and recordings exerted a profound influence on young Canadians, whether it was fashion, religion, politics or community. Canadian-manufactured Beatles records were selling in the hundreds of thousands too. Nowhere was their influence greater than on Canada’s performing arts and on the new music coming out of Canada. Some of Canada’s greatest musical artists of the Sixties and Seventies have shared their stories inside this book. Read the excellent review of The Beatles in Canada – The Evolution 1964-1970 in Spill Magazine – click here. THE TWO SPECIAL EDITIONS THE SIGNATURE NAMEPLATE EDITION BOOK DESCRIPTION: (Limited to 200 books worldwide – No.1 to No. 200 available online direct from Hemmingsen Publishing) 640-page full colour hard cover coffee table book printed in Canada by Marquis Books, Shawinigan, Quebec Strictly limited to 200 numbered editions worldwide signed by the author. Includes: A signature nameplate bearing the autographs of Sandy Gardiner, the first journalist to publish a review of Love Me Do in March 1963, and John Brower who, along with Ritchie Yorke, convinced Beatle John Lennon and Yoko Ono to appear with the Plastic Ono Band at the Toronto Rock & Roll Revival in September 1969. A glossy 4-page “Of Beatles And Mounties” insert from noted American Beatles researcher and author Bruce Spizer, including a full colour image of the one-of-kind stereo ‘butcher cover’ slick sent to Paul White of Capitol Records of Canada in June 1966, signed and dated by Bruce Spizer. A specially created ‘Book Mark’, individually numbered and signed by Beatles expert Mark Lewisohn. A 50-track companion audio disc A 14″x20″ full colour poster detailing key moments in The Beatles’ history in Canada throughout the Sixties and into 1970 THE AUTHOR’S SIGNATURE EDITION BOOK DESCRIPTION: (Limited to 850 books worldwide – No.201 to 250 and No.501 to No.1,500 available online direct from Hemmingsen Publishing) 640-page full colour hard cover coffee table book printed in Canada by Marquis Books, Shawinigan, Quebec Strictly limited to 1,300 numbered editions worldwide signed by the author (includes 250 available via Omnibus Books in the U.K.) Includes: A 50-track companion audio disc A 14″x20″ full colour poster detailing key moments in The Beatles’ history in Canada throughout the Sixties and into 1970 A bookmark featuring Mark Lewisohn and Piers Hemmingsen Items include: Bruce Spizer “Of Beatles and Mounties” booklet, Mark Lewisohn bookmark, companion audio CD with booklet and The Beatles in Canada – The Evolution poster.  About the Author Piers Hemmingsen (b. Salisbury, UK, 1955) is a British-Canadian music historian based in Toronto, specializing in all aspects of The Beatles and their connections to Canada. His 476-page book, The Beatles in Canada: The Origins of Beatlemania!, was published in 2015. He has handled numerous media interviews, written articles, given lectures, conducted tours, and curated museum exhibits on the subject of the Beatles in Canada. Between 2017 and 2025, Piers contributed chapters on The Beatles relating to Canada to all nine volumes of Bruce Spizer’s popular Beatles ‘album series’ books in the USA. Publishing Details Publication date: December 2025 ISBN: 978-0-9878293-4-4 Category: Popular Music, The Beatles, Social History, Music Industry Binding: Hardback Extent: 640 pages, large format Images: Colour and B&W images throughout Distribution Canada & U.S.A. (online and select retail locations) U.K./Europe (Omnibus Press via online sales beginning in early 2026) Items include: Bruce Spizer “Of Beatles and Mounties” booklet,Mark Lewisohn bookmark, companion audio CD with bookletand The Beatles in Canada – The Evolution poster. RESERVE YOUR COPY NOW!Choose from either a Signature Nameplate Edition or an Author’s Signature Edition, or both! The Signature Nameplate Edition is limited to 200 books worldwide.Includes nameplate signed by Sandy Gardiner, John Brower and the author. Each book also includes: Bruce Spizer “Of Beatles and Mounties” booklet,Mark Lewisohn signed bookmark, companion audio CD with bookletand The Beatles in Canada – The Evolution poster. The Author’s Signature Edition is limited to 1,300 books worldwide. Each book is signed by the author. Each book also includes: Bruce Spizer “Of Beatles and Mounties” booklet,Beatles in Canada bookmark, companion audio CD with booklet and The Beatles in Canada – The Evolution poster. Reserve your copy by placing an order on our web site and requesting the number of your choice. Those who purchased a specific number of the first book The Beatles in Canada – The Origins of Beatlemania! If you have already reserved your book, we Thank You Girl… or Boy!] 😉 Home | Beatles In Canada |
A couple of videos for your viewing enjoyment that have connections to the books that you are reading about!
Revival 69 Behind The Scenes Ft. John Brower
#90 – The Beatles In Canada – Featuring interviews with John Brower and Piers Hemmingsen
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RATIONALE FOR A BEATLES BOOK COLLECTOR TO ACQUIRE 2 COPIES:
I will take a brief moment to explain my reasoning and justification as a collector for buying a copy of each special signed edition that was being offered of this wonderful new book. I just want you to understand that collecting is not a simple or always easily explained phenomenon. There are many psychological variables that can channel a choice or decision to be made. Some may accuse me of being obsessive for buying 2 copies of a book and they may be correct but as a collector here were my reasons for the choices. First, I am retired and collecting Beatles books makes me happy, especially books of this sort. Secondly-the book has excellent quality, so we are off to a good start!
THE PLOT DEEPENS:
THE SIGNATURE NAMEPLATE EDITION – I also collect the signatures of people that have played important roles in the history of the Beatles. Buying this edition allowed me to have the signature of John Brower the promoter of the concert at Varsity Stadium that featured the return of John Lennon to performing live on stage, though minus his former three famous colleagues. Some say this concert gave John the confidence he needed to be able to say his official goodbye to his former group! The 200-copy edition of the book also features the signature of Sandy Gardiner who was the first journalist to write a review of a Beatles record in North America with his review of Love Me Do. The review appeared in the Ottawa Journal in March of 1963 according to Piers Hemmingsen!
THE AUTHOR’S SIGNATURE EDITION:
The back cover of the book:
The signatures of Sandy Gardiner, John Brower, author Piers Hemmingsen and the # of the Signed Bookplate edition:
The bookplate edition of the book included a special bookmark signed by the Beatles trilogy author, Mark Lewisohn! Sounds and looks like a great endorsement of the book, Piers!
The author’s signature in the bookplate edition of the book:
Another fabled Beatles author and historian, Bruce Spizer wrote a wonderful insert for the book entitled: OF BEATLES AND MOUNTIES where he discusses his fascination of collecting rare Canadian Beatles records & artifacts. The cover of the insert featured a photo of a rare Stereo Canadian Butcher cover slick of which Bruce is the justifiable proud owner of!
In the insert there is also a photograph of the two Beatles authors with their signatures and the number of the copy of the book which is #200. That is one of my collecting obsessions. Piers had informed me through the advertising email about this edition of the book, that there were only 200 copies of this special signed bookplate deluxe edition. I have a special inclination to try and collect the last numbered & signed copy of limited-edition Beatles books. Knowing this was the last one of the 200 copy bookplate edition, I asked if the last copy was available and when I received the affirmative reply, I purchased it.
As an added incentive this edition featured the special bookplate signatures that I discussed above. However, that was not the end of the story as the balance of the signed limited-edition book was actually 1500 copies though the first 200 copies had features exclusive to those copies. So, I gave it great thought, and I made the determination to also purchase copy #1500 of the book to officially have THE last copy of the signed edition for my collection! I guess they call that double indemnity! Maybe that would be a good alternate identity for me to use on the computer!
The signatures of Piers and Bruce Spizer in the special insert that accompanies the signed bookplate edition:
My copy of the special 50-track audio disk featured in the 200-copy Nameplate edition. This disk also accompanies the Author’s Signature edition!
AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT TO BEING A BEATLES COLLECTOR:
AUTHOR’S SIGNATURE EDITION
(Limited to 850 books worldwide – No.201 to 250 and No.501 to No.1,500)
This is from copy #1500 of the limited signed author’s edition of the book. Thank you for the wonderful inscription, Piers! I just had to have that last official copy of your great title! It is difficult if not impossible to acquire the first copy of any limited edition so I decided many years ago that I would try to acquire the last signed and numbered copy for my Beatles library! I have been very successful in that pursuit…
Here is a photo of the first part of this beautiful book series by Piers Hemmingsen. Holding to the Beatles business fascination with the colors of red and blue, (the red and blue double album sets), the earlier book had the color red as its visual focal point and the new one has the color blue! It must also be noted here that two other Beatles book authors have released or plan to release Beatle book titles that feature the popular red and blue motif!
For those interested in purchasing this wonderful new book, here are the links:
1. North America link
https://www.thebeatlesincanada.com
2. UK/Europe link
The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970 – omnibuspress.com
Wishing you all the best! Beatles book collectors, take my word for it, the new blue Piers Hemmingsen book is already one of my favorites and I just received it in the mail. If you collect books about the Beatles, this one will hold a prominent place in your Beatles library!
Be Healthy and Be Happy!
Buzz
