Saturday, January 24, 2009

I Met the Walrus: How One Day with John Lennon Changed My Life Forever

by Jerry Levitan

In 1969, a determined 14-year-old Beatles fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon’s hotel room in Toronto during his famous Vietnam protest bed-in with Yoko Ono, and convinced John to do an interview about peace. Four minutes of this exclusive 40-minute interview, in which John speaks candidly on war, politics, what it means to be a peacenik, the scandalous “Two Virgins” album, and the supposed subliminal messages in his music, is the basis for the recent 2008 Academy Award nominated short film, I Met The Walrus. Here for the first time in book form is Jerry’s fully contextualized and illustrated account of his experience with John, with all new illustrations from the film’s acclaimed illustrator, James Braithwaite, never-before-seen candid photographs of John and Yoko, and a DVD keepsake featuring exclusive video footage and the complete 40-minute soundtrack of the interview with John. A complete annotated typescript of the interview is also included plus Jerry’s memorabilia from that day – notes from John and Yoko, drawings and doodles from John and more. The result is a spell-binding, up-close one-on-one moment with John, a tribute to his extraordinary voice, boundless wit and timeless message. Jerry Levitan is a musician, actor, filmmaker, writer and lawyer. He produced and starred in the 2007 Academy Award nominated film I Met The Walrus, winning acclaim and festival awards from around the world

Friday, January 23, 2009

The Beatles: The Illustrated Biography

by Tim Hill, Gareth Thomas, Jane Benn, Alison Gauntlet

The Beatles: The Illustrated Biography tells the history of the Beatles through photographs. From the moment John, Paul, George, and Ringo began playing together in the summer of 1962, a pop legend was well and truly born. From their Liverpool roots the Beatles crafted their musical talents and took the world of popular music by storm. Driven by the sheer genius of Lennon and McCartney, their compositions caught the imagination of young and old and their presence on stage frequently reduced teenage audiences to tears. The Beatles were not only talented, they also had the drive and determination to reach their goals. See these legends at work.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

February 27, 1964 - Abbey Road Studios, London

Taped: Thursday 27 February 1964
Aired: Monday 3 August 1964

At Abbey Road Studios on this day, 'And I Love Her' was finished, plus complete recordings made of John's 'Tell Me Why' and 'If I Fell'.



Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Beatles Phenomenon: A Celebration in Words, Pictures and Music

by Barry Miles

This title is printed in colour throughout and contains 240 photographs. The world's most celebrated band has been the subject of countless books and articles over the years. But "The Beatles Phenomenon" is a unique new Beatles chronicle that brings their astonishing legend to vivid life using sheet music, rare photographs and a detailed chronology of their gigs, venues, public quotes and most memorable moments. Based on the exhaustive research of the legendary Miles, intimate member of the Beatles' Sixties circle, "The Beatles Phenomenon" weaves together the whole spectacular Beatles' story, the full sheet music of their most important songs in chronological order, and 240 rarely-seen colour and black-and-white photographs. The result is a truly amazing personal history of The Beatles, a collectible book that will become a treasured and evocative keepsake for those who grew up with their music, and an essential reference tool for anyone seriously interested in rock's must influential phenomenon. With insights from colleagues and band members themselves, "The Beatles Phenomenon" stands apart from all other Beatles books., Each of the 100 songs featured in this prestigious collection is printed with topline, guitar chord boxes and full lyrics. The result is a magnificent musical, visual and textual commentary on the life, times and music of the most phenomenal rock 'n' roll band the world has ever seen.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

How Capitol Got the Beatles: And Then What Happened

by Charles Tillinghast

How was the seemingly ridiculous decision by Capitol made to reject the Beatles? Which of three possible Capitol executives successfully managed to reverse that decision, bringing the fame and fortune of these artists to the Capitol label?

Many were the bumps in the ride taken by Capitol and the Beatles during the years of their greatest productivity, none totally lacking in humorous aspects as related by the author, a Capitol "insider."

Tillinghast, a lawyer, spent almost twenty years in the record business, mostly at Capitol Records where he headed the Law Department and was point man for day-to-day relations with the Beatles.

Monday, January 19, 2009

March 19, 1964 - Beatles Get Show Biz Top Award

Taped: Thursday 19 March 1964
Released: Monday 23 March 1964

The Variety Club of Great Britain 12th Annual Show Business Awards were presented at a luncheon at the Dorchester Hotel. Harold Wilson, Leader of the Opposition, presented The Beatles with the award for "Show Business Personalities of 1963" and, somewhat shrewdly, had his picture taken with them. John referred to his award, a heart shaped shield, as his "purple heart."

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Artificial Paradise: The Dark Side of the Beatles' Utopian Dream

by Kevin Courrier

There is an epigram in this book from the Phil Ochs song "Crucifixion," about the Kennedy assassination, that states: "I fear to contemplate that beneath the greatest love, lies a hurricane of hate." On February 11th 1963, the Beatles recorded "There's a Place," a dazzling, unheralded tune which was included on their electrifying debut album, Please Please Me. This song firmly laid the foundation on which a huge utopian dream of the sixties would be built. Within that dream, however, also lay the seeds of a darker vision that would emerge out of the very counterculture that the Beatles and their music helped create. Thus, even as their music attracted adoring fans, it also enticed the murderous ambitions of Charles Manson; and though the Beatles may have inspired others to form bands, their own failed hopes ultimately led to their breakup. The disillusionment with the sixties, and the hopes associated with the group, would many years later culminate in the assassination of John Lennon and the attempted slaying of George Harrison by deranged and obsessive fans. In this incisive examination, author Kevin Courrier (Dangerous Kitchen: the Subversive World of Zappa, Randy Newman's American Dreams) examines how the Fab Four, through their astonishing music and comically rebellious personalities, created the promise of an inclusive culture built on the principles of pleasure and fulfillment. By taking us through their richly inventive catalogue, Courrier illustrates how the Beatles' startling impact on popular culture built a bond with audiences that was so strong, people today continue to either cling nostalgically to it, or struggle -- and often struggle violently -- to escape its influence.

Yellow Dog Discography

YD 001 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 1 (1962-1963)
YD 002 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 2 (1964-1965)
YD 003 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 3 (1966-1967)
YD 004 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 4 (1968)
YD 005 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 5 (1969)
YD 006 - Celluloid Rock
YD 007 - The Who - The 'Tommy' Demos
YD 008 - Unsurpassed Demos
YD 009 - Acetates
YD 010 - Bob Dylan - Live, Finjan Club, Montreal, July 2, 1962
YD 011 - The Original Decca Tapes
YD 012 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 6
YD 013 - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 7
YD 014 - Get Back And 22 Other Songs
YD 015 - The Complete Rooftop Concert
YD 016 - All Things Must Pass (Pt 1: Electric)
YD 017 - Bob Dylan - Folksingers Choice
YD 018 - Bruce Springsteen - The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 1
YD 019 - Bruce Springsteen - The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 2
YD 020 - Bruce Springsteen - The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 3
YD 021 - Bruce Springsteen - The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 4
YD 022 - Eric Clapton - The Unsurpassed Clapton Vol. 1
YD 023 - Elton John - Dick James Demos Vol. 1
YD 024 - Elton John - Dick James Demos Vol. 2
YD 025 - Elvis Presley - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 1
YD 026 - Elvis Presley - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 2
YD 027 - Elvis Presley - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 3
YD 028 - Elvis Presley - Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 4
YD 029 - The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds Rehearsals
YD 030 - Eric Clapton - The Unsurpassed Clapton Vol. 2
YD 031 - Complete Christmas Collection 1963-1969
YD 032 - Control Room Monitor Mixes
YD 033 - The Rolling Stones & The Beatles - Karaoke
YD 034 - Hollywood Bowl
YD 035 - WBCN Get Back Reference Acetate
YD 036 - Bruce Springsteen - The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 5
YD 037 - Bruce Springsteen - The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 6
YD 038/39 - The Ultimate Live Collection Volume 1
YD 040 - Derek & The Dominoes - Layla And Other Assorted Unreleased Songs
YD 041 - Janis Joplin - Woodstock 1969
YD 042 - The Jefferson Airplane - The Saga Of Sydney Spacepig
YD 043 - Elton John - Dick James Demos Vol. 3
YD 044 - Simon & Garfunkel - Back To College
YD 045 - The Byrds - Boston Tea Party
YD 046-48 - The Rolling Stones - The Black Box 3CD Boxed Set
YD 049 - Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash - Nashville 1969
YD 050 - Jimi Hendrix - Studio Takes
YD 051 - Jimi Hendrix - The Official Bootleg Album
YD 052 - The Who - Life With The Moons
YD 053 - All Things Must Pass (Pt 2: Acoustic)
YD 054 - Rock And Roll
YD 055 - The Auction Tapes, Vol. 1
YD 056 - Pete Townshend - Lifehouse Demos
YD 057 - Bob Dylan - Studs Terkel's Wax Museum
YD 058 - Bob Dylan - The Banjo Tapes & NYC Town Hall
YD 059/60 - Simon & Garfunkel - Welcome In Holland
YD 061 - The Decca Tapes
YD 062 - The Ed Sullivan Shows
YD 063 - Studio 2 Sessions At Abbey Road, Vol. 1
YD 064 - Studio 2 Sessions At Abbey Road, Vol. 2
YD 065 - Studio 2 Sessions At Abbey Road, Vol. 3
YD 066 - Studio 2 Sessions At Abbey Road, Vol. 4
YD 067 - Leaning On A Lamppost
YD 068/69 - Fanthology
YD 070/071 - Australian Tour 1964
YD 074/75 - Broadcast Collection Trailer 1
YD 076/77 - Broadcast Collection Trailer 2
YD 078 - Love Me Do
YD 079 - A-Cam + B-Cam: Stereo At Twickenham, Jan 3th 1969
YD 080/81 - Acetates
YD 082 - The Seven Years Of Christmas
YD 083/84 - Complete Controlroom Monitor Mixes Volume 1
YD 085/86 - Complete Controlroom Monitor Mixes Volume 2
YDB 101 - The Early Years, 1962, Decca Tapes Revised, Right Speed
YDB 102 - TV Appearances (Ed Sullivan Shows)
YDB 103 - Miscellaneous Tracks
YDB 104 - The 1st Recorded Hour Of The Let It Be Sessions
YDB 201 - Live, Live, Live
YDB 202 - Studio Sessions, Feb. 11, 1963
YDB 203 - Studio Sessions, March 5, Sept. 12, 1963
YDB 204 - The 2nd Recorded Hour Of The Let It Be Sessions
YDB 301 - The Radio Years At The Beeb
YDB 302 - Studio Sessions, 1964
YDB 303 - Studio Sessions 1965-1966
YDB 304 - The 3rd Recorded Hour Of The Let It Be Sessions
YDD 001/2 - Day By Day Series Vol. 1
YDD 003/4 - Day By Day Series Vol. 2
YDD 005/6 - Day By Day Series Vol. 3
YDD 007/8 - Day By Day Series Vol. 4
YDD 009/10 - Day By Day Series Vol. 5
YDD 011/12 - Day By Day Series Vol. 6
YDD 013/14 - Day By Day Series Vol. 7
YDD 015/16 - Day By Day Series Vol. 8
YDD 017/18 - Day By Day Series Vol. 9
YDD 019/20 - Day By Day Series Vol. 10
YDD 021/22 - Day By Day Series Vol. 11
YDD 023/24 - Day By Day Series Vol. 12
YDD 025/26 - Day By Day Series Vol. 13
YDD 027/28 - Day By Day Series Vol. 14
YDD 029/30 - Day By Day Series Vol. 15
YDD 031/32 - Day By Day Series Vol. 16
YDD 033/34 - Day By Day Series Vol. 17
YDD 035/36 - Day By Day Series Vol. 18
YDD 037/38 - Day By Day Series Vol. 19
YDD 039/40 - Day By Day Series Vol. 20
YDD 041/42 - Day By Day Series Vol. 21
YDD 043/44 - Day By Day Series Vol. 22
YDD 045/46 - Day By Day Series Vol. 23
YDD 047/48 - Day By Day Series Vol. 24
YDD 049/50 - Day By Day Series Vol. 25
YDD 051/52 - Day By Day Series Vol. 26
YDD 053/54 - Day By Day Series Vol. 27
YDD 055/56 - Day By Day Series Vol. 28
YDD 057/58 - Day By Day Series Vol. 29
YDD 059/60 - Day By Day Series Vol. 30
YDD 061/62 - Day By Day Series Vol. 31
YDD 063/64 - Day By Day Series Vol. 32
YDT 001 - The Twickenham Sessions Disc 1 & 2
YDT 002 - The Twickenham Sessions Disc 3 & 4
YDT 003 - The Twickenham Sessions Disc 5 & 6
YDT 004 - The Twickenham Sessions Disc 7 & 8